Though surely all professors at 91短视频 were excited by the inaugural Academic and Creative Excellence Festival on campus last week, new faculty member Sonia Balasch Rodriguez was beaming.

Balasch, who teaches linguistics and Spanish, arrived at 91短视频 in the fall of 2017 with the goal of encouraging scholarly research among her students. On Thursday, three of her students presented linguistics research, including Abigail Shelly鈥檚 study of the historical and contemporary use of the word like.

Indeed, Shelly鈥檚 effort to participate was noteworthy: a member of the cross-cultural group currently traveling in India, she made unsuccessful multiple attempts to email a video of her presentation. So it was that classmate Lydia Haggard provided interpretation 鈥� in front of a photo of Shelly and Shelly鈥檚 poster.

鈥淚 am so pleased,鈥� Balasch said. 鈥淭his is just so exciting to see my own students’ research and their enthusiasm about their work.鈥�

91短视频鈥檚 inaugural Academic and Creative Excellence (ACE) Festival culminated the academic year with a day-long all-university celebration of scholarly research and creative arts from undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff. The schedule included oral presentations, poster sessions, gallery receptions, and theater, arts and music showcases. [Click here to view the schedule.]

鈥淭his festival highlights the productivity of our students, faculty and staff around scholarship across all disciplines,鈥� said Provost Fred Kniss. 鈥淕ood scholarship correlates to good teaching and good student learning. I have been thrilled with the energy and the turnout and the quality of work around campus today.鈥�

Professor Tara Kishbaugh, chair of the Intellectual Life Committee when festival planning began several years ago, noted a major challenge in adjusting the academic calendar. But the committee, currently chaired by Professor Kirsten Beachy, persevered.聽The celebration was a novel event to join others planned for the university’s Centennial year, and the concept united many different smaller celebrations of scholarship on campus, Kishbaugh added.

鈥淢any of these events, such as the student art shows, senior shows, the STEM poster bowl and quiz session, have been going on for years,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his festival coalesces them all into a high-energy celebration of scholarly energy across the university. It鈥檚 important that today celebrates scholarship and creativity in all disciplines, reaching across all interests and out to all audiences.鈥�

Attuned to the presence of many students not normally in the Suter Science Center, Kishbaugh especially noted the loud chatter as groups circulated through poster sessions in the center鈥檚 concourse or stopped to check out engineering projects. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been really nice to see non-STEM students here wandering around and asking questions.鈥�

That cohesive feel of intellectual engagement started with Wednesday evening鈥檚 keynote address by Fania Davis, Kishbaugh said.

Davis, a social justice advocate and Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow with the Council of Independent Colleges, connected her talk with 91短视频鈥檚 2017-18 Common Read 鈥� Ta-Nehisi Coates’聽Between the World and Me 鈥� and some of the racial justice-focused programming hosted by the university throughout the year. A long-time partner of 91短视频鈥檚 聽(CJP) and founder of Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, Davis is currently focusing her efforts on furthering truth and reconciliation processes for racial healing in the United States. As part of her Wilson Fellow activities, she also visited several classes throughout the week.

Here鈥檚 a brief overview of ACE Festival events:

• One-act performance by the advanced performance class;
• Student-facilitated playback theater session;
• Performance of The Spitfire Grill, 91短视频鈥檚 spring musical;
• Showings of digital media class projects;
• Poster sessions, including the annual STEM poster contest and STEM Quiz Bowl (see winners here);
• Photo print and portfolio class exhibit opening and student talks by 16 students;
• Senior art shows and film showing;
• Faculty authors reception;
• Selected capstone presentations by graduate nursing, education and conflict transformation students;
• Oral presentations on the themes of story and memory, contemporary culture and spirituality, race and gender in literature, wealth/poverty and development, and various topics in applied social science and environmental sustainability;
• Various musical performances.

Staff writer Christopher Clymer Kurtz contributed to this article.

Sonia Balasch, PhD, assistant professor of Spanish
Balasch earned an MA in Spanish (Hispanic linguistics) and a PhD from the University of New Mexico. Originally from Venezuela, she brings five years of faculty experience teaching Spanish and has most recently been a visiting assistant professor of Spanish at George Mason University.

David Berry, PhD, assistant professor of music
Berry earned a BM from the Eastman School of Music and an MM and DMA from The Julliard School. He brings experience as a solo pianist and chamber musician in a variety of innovative and nationally-recognized touring chamber ensembles.

Ryan Good, PhD, assistant professor of applied social sciences and assistant director of Washington Community Scholars’ Center
Good earned a BA from Goshen College and master鈥檚 degrees from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and Temple University. Good completed his PhD in planning and public policy from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He has taught at Rutgers and Eastern universities.

Michael Horst, MA, instructor
Michael Horst has worked at 91短视频 for many years, and begins this year with a new title. He earned a BS in Psychology and MA in Counseling from 91短视频 and is currently a PhD candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at James Madison University.

Ji Eun Kim, PhD, assistant professor of political studies
Kim earned a BA from the Catholic University of Korea, an MA from Seoul National University and a PhD in political science and peace studies from the University of Notre Dame. Her research interests focus on political violence and conflict, transitional justice, post-conflict reconciliation and human rights.

Joohyn Lee, PhD, assistant professor of recreation leadership
Lee earned a BA from the Catholic University of Korea, an MA from Radford University and a PhD in leisure studies from Pennsylvania State University. She has teaching experience in the leisure, recreation and sport industry field at both Florida State University and the University of Florida.

Irma Mahone, PhD, assistant professor of RN-BS Nursing
Mahone earned a BS in nursing from 91短视频 and an MS in psychiatric nursing and PhD in nursing from University of Virginia. Mahone鈥檚 extensive experience includes case management, individual and group therapy, and emergency intervention along with her psychiatric nursing experience. Mahone was most recently a research assistant professor at the University of Virginia.

Meg Sander, PhD, assistant professor of education and director of MA in Education
Sander earned a BA from Virginia Tech, an MEd from JMU, a JD from the University of Richmond School of Law and a PhD in education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Sander brings teaching experience in special education, law and ethics, and educational foundations. Most recently, she was a research associate at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education.

Kristopher Schmidt, PhD, assistant professor of biology
Schmidt earned a BS from Trinity Western University, an MS from the University of British Columbia and a PhD from Simon Fraser University. Schmidt brings teaching experience mostly recently from Goshen College in biology and also as director of the premedical sciences program.

Ann Smith, PhD, associate professor of nursing
Smith earned a BS in nursing from the University of Virginia and a PhD in community college leadership from Old Dominion University. In addition to experience working as a nurse, Ann brings extensive college teaching and administrative experience, including service as the director of nursing programs at Piedmont Virginia Community College.

Andrew Suderman, MT, instructor of theology
Suderman, who came to 91短视频 for the spring 2017 semester, earned a BA in philosophy from Canadian Mennonite University and an MT in theological studies from Conrad Grebel University. Suderman anticipates completing a PhD in systematic theology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa this year. He brings international and cross-cultural experience from living in Costa Rica, Bolivia, Columbia, and South Africa.

Ryan Thompson, PhD, assistant professor of psychology
Thompson earned a BA from Berry College and both an MA and PsyD from George Fox University. He has teaching experience as an assistant clinical professor and as a clinical psychologist.