Oglethorpe University will hold its annual Liberal Arts and Sciences Symposium (LASS) the week of April 13-17. LASS brings together students and faculty to celebrate exemplary scholarly work produced by Oglethorpe students under faculty mentorship. This year, a series of events will be held throughout the week of April 13, with a full-day program on Friday, April 17.

On Thursday, April 16, Oglethorpe alumna Alexandria Ree Hadd, Ph.D. will deliver a special keynote session in the Trustee Room in the Turner Lynch Campus Center.

Hadd is a quantitative methodologist with expertise in statistical analysis and study design. In her work, she applies these skills to research questions in public health and the behavioral sciences, including recent projects on interpersonal violence reduction and early child development.

She will be discussing the liberal arts and nonlinear trajectories, based on her current research. A liberal arts education emphasizes systems thinking, effective communication, and multidisciplinary experiences that collectively situate the scholar to be an adaptable, lifelong learner. Hadd will share how these hallmarks informed her career trajectory and prepared her to navigate uncertainty.

LASS will continue Friday with a place for students and faculty to present and learn from students’ work. Papers, roundtables, oral and poster presentations, art exhibitions, and scholarly musical presentations will showcase undergraduate research across the curriculum.

“It is always a pleasure to see the depth of thought and creativity reflected in our students’ work at the Liberal Arts and Sciences Symposium,” said Provost Gabriel Barreneche, Ph.D. “Their research represents the best of our academic community, and I am confident this year’s symposium will be both engaging and inspiring.”