Seton Hall Students Present Research at MSCHE Annual Conference

Two Seton Hall University students proudly represented the University at the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) 2024 Annual Conference, held on December 12, 2024. The conference, an annual event for higher education leaders in the region, focuses on fostering innovation, collaboration and the continuous improvement of educational practices across the MSCHE region. The annual Student Poster Session showcased outstanding undergraduate and graduate research, providing selected students with a platform to present their findings to leaders and stakeholders in higher education.

Hanan Abu Salih, M.S. ‘23, a doctoral student in the Education Leadership Management and Policy program, presented her project titled "Navigating Institutional Neutrality: University Presidents' Statements on Geopolitical Conflicts." Her research, conducted under the mentorship of Santiago Castiello-Gutiérrez, Ph.D., examined the themes observed in Higher Education administration when addressing geopolitical issues and their impact on institutional neutrality. This extends her ongoing research on this topic, building on her previous publication, and is currently being developed as a joint publication with Professor Castiello-Gutiérrez.

Mehwish Mirza, an undergraduate Biology student, '26, and early career researcher at the Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology (INIP), presented her project, "A Combined In-Silico and In-Vivo Rat Analysis: Alcohol-Drinking Modulation of Glioma in People with HIV." Guided by Sulie Chang, Ph.D., her work combined computational and laboratory techniques to explore the intersection of alcohol consumption, glioma and HIV. Mehwish plans to extend this work further in the academic year, testing her findings with in-vivo applications.

Both students spent weeks preparing for the conference, engaging in numerous training sessions to develop their posters and refining their presentations under the mentorship of their research faculty mentors along with Director of Experiential Learning, Professor Caryn Grabowski, M.S., CCC-SLP, and Assistant Provost of Academic Excellence and Assessment Sona Patel, Ph.D. “The preparation and dedication demonstrated by Abu Salih and Mirza are a testament to their passion for research,” said Sona Patel, Ph.D. “It’s inspiring to see students engage deeply with their work and present it to such a distinguished audience.” University leadership, including Provost Katia Passerini, Ph.D., and Deputy Provost Erik Lillquist, J.D., expressed pride in the students’ contributions, underscoring Seton Hall’s commitment to a transformative education and experiential learning.

Both students extended sincere gratitude to their research mentors for their work guiding the development of their respective projects and in preparing to present at the conference. Said Abu Salih, “I began researching the topic of institutional neutrality and university presidents in October 2023 and presented on it a few times but turning it into and empirical study was a collaborative effort with Dr. Castiello." Highlighting the faculty mentorship provided to students, Mirza shared “I am deeply grateful to my research mentor, Sulie Chang, for guiding me through every step of this study—from developing the research proposal to data collection, data analysis and publication writing." 

The students were also proud to share reflections on their development as researchers and professionals. Mirza said, “Presenting at the MSCHE conference was a wonderful opportunity to refine my research presentation skills. the frequent rehearsal sessions with Professor Grabowski and Patel helped me communicate my findings more effectively and polish my delivery for a professional audience.” Similarly, Abu Salih shared, “Presenting at the MSCHE conference in Philadelphia was an incredible experience. While I’ve had the opportunity to do platform presentations before, this was my first poster presentation, and I truly enjoyed the chance to network and engage one-on-one with so many attendees who stopped by my poster.”

The Student Poster Symposium featured presentations from nearly 60 institutions across the MSCHE region. Works spanned a diverse range of disciplines including biology, environmental science, social justice, healthcare, cybersecurity, and education. This created an invaluable opportunity for student scholars to share their research with an audience of academic leaders, faculty, and policymakers. The Office of the Provost celebrates the achievements of Hanan Abu Salih and Mehwish Mirza for their contributions to their fields of study and for representing Seton Hall with distinction. 

Categories: Education