The following story originally appeared on the Charles Center website. – Ed.

Six William & Mary students joined researchers from across Virginia for the inaugural Undergraduate Research Showcase at the Capitol hosted by the Network of Undergraduate Research in Virginia Feb. 6 in Richmond’s General Assembly Building.

Students were selected through the Charles Center and were among the 67 presenters representing over 30 research projects from 16 Virginia universities at the event, which drew dozens of guests to capitol conference rooms throughout the day.

Veda Kalidindi ’26, an English and computer science double major, reflected on her experience interacting with various research projects across many fields represented at the showcase.

“Since our research is so interdisciplinary, everyone who came up to our poster was interested in different aspects of it, which allowed us to have thought-provoking and varied conversations throughout the event,” Kalidindi said. “Getting to talk to people about our research has given me more confidence in what we’re doing and why it matters.”

The showcase is the partial brainchild of NURVa co-founder and Board of Directors Chair David A. Salomon, the director of undergraduate research and creative activity at Christopher Newport University. After combining resources with board members and coming up with the initial plans, the idea was postponed in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, with the help of Virginia Del. Shelly Simons and her chief of staff, Cheryl Wilfred, NURVa’s dream was finally realized.

“Providing undergraduates with the opportunity to engage in scholarly, research and creative work is important to our students’ educational experience and professional development. We encourage faculty to have their students submit to their campus committees to help those in Virginia who fund higher education understand why these experiences are so important,” the NURVa Board of Directors wrote in its call for submissions.

Salomon also said that he hopes to maintain the event as an annual tradition. “Undergraduate research is a vital part of undergraduate education,” he said. “It sets a precedent.”

Each Virginia university was invited to submit multiple proposals to the showcase. After a careful selection process from both W&M representatives and a NURVa vetting committee, projects titled “Charting Freedom” and “Evolution of a Canon: Transformations in anthologies of African American literature” were chosen as the two W&M finalists.

The first project is an ongoing digital humanities and history project focused on institutions of chattel slavery, convict labor and indentured servitude in the Atlantic world. Particularly, the project examines how enslaved individuals sought and found their own paths to freedom.

Elisabeth “Libby” Eick ’26 is one of the students contributing research to the project, which is overseen by Associate Teaching Professor of History Nicole Dressler. Eick said that her experience presenting her work during the Charles Center’s Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium inspired her to apply for a spot in the NURVa showcase.

“Talking to a variety of students and faculty, both within and outside of history, caused me to reflect on my research interests and goals,” Eick said. “The Charles Center made me feel supported every step of the way, from preparing my materials to driving me to Richmond to promoting my research. Everybody was very friendly, and it was a great experience!”

The second project is the result of a collaborative effort between nine W&M students, five of whom presented at the showcase. Advised by Arthur Knight, associate professor of English and American studies, and Alexander Nwala, assistant professor of data science, the project combines data science and literature to examine how the African American literary canon has changed and grown over the past century.

This research is part of the W&M Anthologies-Canons Lab, which collaborates with University of Richmond Visiting Assistant Professor of Data Science Erik Fredner and University of Pennsylvania Digital Humanities Specialist J.D. Porter to study “general literary anthologies as an important form for representing the literary canon.”

Fredner, who co-wrote one of the lab’s main academic papers with Porter, attended the showcase in support of W&M’s contributions. He hopes that this work creates heightened interest in reading among those who learn about the project.

Fredner said that the team is working on expanding this research to accommodate other anthologies, culminating into a much larger body of research.

Ashlynn Prentice ’26, expressed that the showcase and the presence of their faculty advisors made her “feel proud to be a part of the Anthologies-Canons Lab.”

Anthropology and government major Jaenya Cooper ’27 has been working with the team for about a year. Her specific area of research focuses on Anne Spencer, a prominent Harlem Renaissance writer and activist. Cooper reflected on her experience during the showcase, saying that it was a great way to increase exposure and become more comfortable presenting research in front of larger crowds.

Martha Holler ’25, an English major with a minor in history, also works with the Anthologies-Canons Lab and said that it has been fun to interact with student researchers from across disciplines. To her, all of their various talents and strengths complement one another and make it easier to bounce ideas around the team.

Along with a wish for the future of the showcase, Salomon reflected on the event as a time when students could network, bond and share with one another. As an event where interdisciplinary topics are embraced, he discussed the additional bonus of how diverse, well-informed and passionate research often opens up new, professional doors for undergraduate students following graduation.