Edwards Center for Collaborative Research

Our Edwards Center for Collaborative Research Faculty Fellows were prominently recognized at the 2026 Edwards College Faculty and Staff Awards, underscoring the impact of their teaching, scholarship, and service across the college.

This year’s CCR Faculty honorees include:

Sven Kube — Distinguished Teaching, Assistant Professor, Department of History

David Johnson — Distinguished Scholarship or Creative Endeavor, Assistant Professor, Department of Visual Arts

Edurne Beltrán de Heredia Carmona — John Durrell Award, Assistant Professor, Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies

Farrah Hersh — Apple Award, Assistant Professor, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

This recognition reflects the extraordinary contributions of our Fellows, whose work continues to shape student success, advance creative and scholarly activity, and strengthen the mission of the Edwards College of Humanities & Fine Arts.

CCR Graduates! Honors Convocation
INFORMATION FOR FELLOW & SCHOLAR STUDENTS

Honors Convocation is Wednesday, May 6, at 6 p.m. in the HTC Center. This is not a ticketed event, and students are encouraged to invite family and friends to attend this event.

We are excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our Fellow and Scholars students during Honors Convocation. This year, Fellows and Scholars will be recognized collectively, one group at a time, with students standing together from their seats. Students receiving more than one award will be asked to stand from their primary assigned seat.

Fellows should pick up their medallions from the Dean's Office before the ceremony, as they will not be distributed at Honors Convocation. Students are encouraged to wear their medallions at Honors Convocation and all commencement ceremonies as a lasting and visible symbol of this well-earned distinction. We look forward to celebrating all that you have accomplished.

Parking
Students and their guests are encouraged to park in the lots surrounding Hicks Dining Hall.

Student Check-In and Seating
All students should enter the HTC Center through Gate 3 by 5 p.m. to check in and get their seating assignment. It is important that students sit in their assigned seats (see below HTC Center diagram).

Guest Entry and Seating
Doors into the HTC Center will open at 5 p.m., and guests can enter through Gates 1 or 2. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and tickets are not required (see below HTC Center diagram).

Recording of the Ceremony
The ceremony will be recorded and made available for viewing on the CCU Commencement YouTube Channel.

Clear Bag Policy
Coastal Carolina University will be enforcing the Clear Bag Policy. Clear bag checks will be conducted at each gate entrance. Medically necessary items are also subject to the Clear Bag Policy. The University reserves the right to search any person, their bags, and possessions carried into the event facility. A list of prohibited items is displayed at each gate entrance and can be viewed here.

Attire
Business Attire (Please note, academic regalia is not worn by the award winners/students at this ceremony.)

Questions
If you have questions regarding the ceremony, please contact the Provost’s Office at [email protected]

🎓 Edwards CCR Graduates – Check Your Email! 🎓

If you’re graduating as a CCR Fellow, please be sure to check your email for important information about Honors Convocation and your eligibility to participate.

We strongly encourage all CCR graduates to attend this special ceremony recognizing your academic achievements and work as part of the Edwards Center for Collaborative Research Fellowship program.

📅 Wednesday, May 6
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Honors Convocation Ceremony

This event celebrates students receiving academic awards and graduating fellows across programs including CCR, HTC Honors College, Dyer Fellows, Teaching Fellows, and more.

It’s a meaningful opportunity to be recognized for the work you’ve done and to celebrate alongside your peers. All graduates eligible to participate will receive a Medallion and they will be available for pickup next week.

Hope to see you there!

Send a message to learn more

Join us this week for our many Undergraduate Research Symposium Presentations!

Tuesday, April 21

12:00–12:20
Walter Pasco
Education Access: Providing Neurodivergent Teaching Tools
LJSU A110

12:00–12:20
Mason Bryant
Fighting for “Freedom”: How the United States Justifies State Violence at Home and Abroad
LJSU A201

12:00–12:20
Sara Moody
Screens, Seats, and Society: The Future of Film Exhibition
LJSU A213

12:40–1:00
Alexander Chapman
All are Different
LJSU A213

1:00–1:20
Faith Reilly
Living Composers in the Sea of Dead
LJSU A201

1:00–1:20
Claire Hudson
Why Mental Health Training Matters: A Case for Foster Children and Parents
LJSU A214

2:00–2:20
Breanna Smith
Means, Methods, and Misconceptions: Arguments of Authorship Attribution in Forensic Linguistics
LJSU A201

3:20–3:40
Keppley Mulligan
Breaking Misinformation in Nutrition and Fitness for Women
LJSU A201

3:40–4:00
Abby Price
Tell Me What a Woman Is: Media, Gender, and the Power of Repetition
LJSU A110

5:20–5:40
Mavis Spencer
The Importance of Community Centers
LJSU A201

Wednesday, April 22

Poster Session I (1:00–2:30)
Ximena Mendoza-Heredia
Put Down the Screen Go Green

Poster Session I (1:00–2:30)
Gianna Esposito
Non-Pharmacological Approaches to PTSD: The Role of Music Therapy in Veteran Care

Poster Session II (2:45–4:15)
Lauren DeCoste
Crafting Psychological and Environmental Wellness

Poster Session III (4:30–6:00)
Julia Rotunda
When Language Becomes a Barrier: Building Pathways to Inclusive Communication

CCU Edwards College of Humanities & Fine Arts

Please join me in congratulating our student Julia Rotunda (major in Communications, minor in Spanish for Health Professions), who presented her research poster at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Richmond, VA!

Her poster, titled “Breaking Barriers: Expanding Bilingual and Culturally Competent SLP Services in South Carolina,” received great interest and positive feedback from attendees eager to learn more about this important topic. Julia has developed this work through her internship at Communication Cottage LLC in Myrtle Beach, her fellowship at the Center for Collaborative Research, and the courses she has completed at CCU.

Her work will no doubt have a meaningful impact on the communities she will serve. As we were leaving the conference, she shared that she is already looking forward to the next one, way to go! Thank you for your dedication and hard work, Julia!

[Written by Dr. Edurne Beltrán de Heredia, CCR Affiliate Faculty]
Languages and Intercultural Studies
Edwards College of Humanities & Fine Arts

Jenni Brandon showcases the power of contemporary collaboration during REP Project residency Coastal Carolina University: Jenni Brandon showcases the power of contemporary collaboration during REP ProjectJenni Brandon showcases the power of contemporary collaboration during REP Project

Congratulations to Edwards Student Research Fellow Lauren DeCoste on her outstanding presentation at the Mental Health Symposium!

Through her interdisciplinary project, “Crafting Psychological and Environmental Wellness,” Lauren explored how creative hobbies can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while promoting sustainability and social engagement through craftivism. Her work exemplifies the kind of innovative, accessible, and impact-driven scholarship we value in the center.

We are proud of Lauren’s thoughtful research, leadership, and commitment to community well-being. Well done on this important achievement!

Congrats on another great Edwards College of Humanities & Fine Arts Humanities Week presentation CCR!