8th Annual Graduate Student Research Conference

November 22, 2016

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The Graduate College once again held a conference for graduate student to showcase their studies and projects. Held on Nov.15-16, it was the Eighth Annual International Conference for Graduate Student Research at Texas State University. Mass Communication graduate students presented their research and plan for furthering their research questions and studies. All the presentations were reviewed and open for questions by those who sat in on the presentations.Mass Communication student Dylan Lochridge-Fletcher presented her research on “Women of Color on Television.” She delved into the stereotypes women of color usually have on screen as well as the set roles they are limited to play. She picked three different television shows that represented the stereotype role, has a woman of color play the sidekick role and then one show that had a woman of color as the lead role. She brought attention and insight to the topic of stereotypes of women of color as they are portrayed on television.Another Mass Communication graduate student, Sara Shields, presented her topic of “Exploring Effects of Social Media on Brand Perception.” She explains that brands online reach not only more people but have transformed to a more personal and relatable technique to sell. She gave examples of commercials that show stories or things that have little to do with the actual product and more of what she calls “pulling of the heart strings.” She brought fresh insight to the new method of brands connecting to their audience.There were many presenters from all fields and majors of the graduate program that shared new ideas and fields of research to be considered. The conference not only had student speakers but  the keynote speaker for the luncheon on the 16th was Dr. Cal Van Aacken, the Learning Lab Coordinator at the Student Learning Assistance Center at Texas State University. He presented “Veterans Transitioning to Graduate School: What it is like and what you can do to support them.”Overall the panels, speakers and student presenters brought new ideas, insight and thought to their fields of study as well representing the students who further their study and education. Story by Annabel Fidler