Student Research

On-Campus Opportunities

If you’re looking for some experiences and support related to research that are available on TU’s campus, check out the list below:

• Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
• Undergraduate Research Club
• Undergraduate Research Funding Opportunities 
• Research and Creative Inquiry Forum
• Albert S. Cook Library Research Guides

Professional Opportunities

In addition to on-campus opportunities, there are a variety of professional experiences you can partake in while a student. Some of these include: 

• Eastern Communication Association’s Undergraduate Student Conference
• National Communication Association’s Student Section
• Maryland Communication Association
• Council of Undergraduate Research

COMM Student Showcase

At the end of each fall and spring semester, students completing research projects are invited to share their work at the COMM Student Showcase. This showcase is focused on highlighting in-the-field learning activities our students complete through internships, independent studies, and more. The first COMM Student Showcase ran in Fall 2023, featuring 29 of our students who actively engaged in high-impact learning. 

Check back for more information on signing up to present at future showcases and be sure to join us at the Spring 2024 COMM Student Showcase on Tuesday, May 14th at 5 p.m. in 10 West Burke Avenue.

Previous Student Research Projects and Presentations

Our students are consistently pursuing research, and we see many present their work at conferences, win research grants, or be recognized for the impact and importance of the topic being explored. Featured below are some of our previous projects from 2023. 

• Brent Bradford and Olivia Kuehner, "Student-Crafted Speech Resources: Building. a Legacy for Future Public Speakers"
  • Presented at the 2023 Maryland OER Summit
  • Description: The way students have contributed their talents, skills, and leadership qualities is a unique feature of Towson University's OER Public Speaking project. Student lead mentors at TU's Public Communication Center are developing and performing their own speeches that will be recorded for thousands of future public speaking students to view, analyze, and emulate. Participants will discover how to localize pedagogy by having students teach students and create valuable and relevant resources for ongoing learning.
• Trevin Waker, American Debate Association Public Debate participant
  • Debated at National Communication Association's 109th Annual Convention, November 2023
  • Description: A public debate between members of the Maine Department of Corrections and selected members of the college policy debate community.
• Candace Poullard, "African American and Black Women's Perceptions of Virginity"
  • Presented at National Communication Association's 109th Annual Convention, November 2023
  • Description: The purpose of this research study is to investigate how African American and Black women understand the concept of virginity in a sex saturated society. The oversexualization of Black women is rooted in slavery. The sexual violence committed against Black women by White slave masters was justified by using narratives that painted Black women as sexually promiscuous temptresses. This study is intended to highlight the lived experiences of people socialized as girls/women against this historical backdrop and contribute to the diversity of voices regarding sexual practices and beliefs.  Black women's bodies are often policed and sexual education rarely acknowledges sex as a form of pleasure for women. Women are often taught messages about maintaining abstinence and purity in order to prevent pregnancy, ignoring the intersections of nonnormative sexualities and gender variations. Through the use of a critical focus group methodology, the research will interrogate views on femininity, sexuality, media depictions, religious affiliations, and the intersections of race and gender. The research will examine the ways that oppression and privilege function within Black women's sexual education and their perceptions of sexual practices.
• Bemnette Kassa, “Communication Experiences of People of Color in Predominantly White Institutions''
  • Awarded a 2023 Summer Research Grant from the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Committee
  • Description: This project specifically explores the individual communication experiences of people of color (POC) in predominantly white institutions (PWI) and the concept that communication styles are altered when communicating with members of dominant groups, who uphold “standard” communication patterns. This research will focus on centering the experiences of people of color in an institutional context.
• Olivia Kuehner, Leadership for the Public Good Fellowship member
  • Accepted and funded for Summer 2023 by the Office of Competitive Fellowships and Awards Committee
  • Description: Through this project I will be working on multiple levels of public works, starting with small organizations looking to expand to different demographics (Mount Airy Historical Society), town governments expanding public projects and outreach ideas (Mount Airy Government), and county systems that provide safe spaces for communities to learn and foster knowledge (Carroll County Public Libraries). I have specifically chosen these organizations based on the goals that I believe I could accomplish as an intern therein, specifically supporting key-themes such as: accessibility, services and preservation. My overall mission statement through this fellowship would be to provide accessibility in the town of Mount Airy through various aspects and organizations.
• Candace Poullard, “Let's Talk About It: The Sexual Taboo - A Conversation About Black Sexuality”
  • Awarded a 2023 Summer Research Grant from the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Committee
  • Description: The purpose of this research study is to investigate how African American and Black women understand the concept of virginity in a sex saturated society through group conversation. Participants will be invited to discuss a series of questions within a focus group. The discussion will address views on femininity, sexuality, media depictions, religious affiliations and the intersections of race and gender. This study is intended to highlight the lived experiences of people socialized as Black girls/women and contribute to the diversity of voices regarding sexual practices and beliefs. By employing intersectional concepts, this study will provide a greater analysis of the social construction of virginity.
• Alexa Adams, "Megan Thee Stallion: Defying Heteronormativity and Misogynistic Norms in the Rap Community within Black Culture"
  • Presented at Eastern Communication Association’s 114th Annual Convention, March 2023
  • Description: Megan Thee Stallion has become one of the most profound mainstream women of rap in the previous 10 years. Using a Black Feminist lens, this paper discusses how she has broken misogynistic barriers and opened doors for other unconventional women rappers by overtly discussing Black womens’ sexuality.
• Olivia Kuehner, "Beyond Biomedical Explanations: A Thematic Review of Structural, and Cultural, and Communication Factors Contributing to Maternal Mortality in Sub-Sahara Africa” 
  • Presented at Eastern Communication Association’s 114th Annual Convention, March 2023
  • Description: As part of an ECA panel discussion focused on the topic of “Communicating Issues of Health and Wellbeing,” This ongoing research project is centered around maternal mortality. Olivia discussed their review of factors that contribute to prevalent maternal mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This review examines the different facets of causes of maternal mortality, such as health literacy and education, colonial power within healthcare, traditional medicine and communicative practices therein, structural accessibility barriers and telecommunications.
• Candace Poullard, “The Use of Blaxploitation Film Stylings as Authentic Gender and Racial Representation”
  • Presented at Eastern Communication Association’s 114th Annual Convention, March 2023
  • Description: The Misadventures of Miss Unity is a blaxploitation film that highlights the importance of racial and gender representation in media as a tool to challenge oppressive depictions of minorities. The aim of this project is to validate multidimensional Black experiences through the use of semiotic television codes representing authentic portrayals of Black female characters. It highlights Black life separate from Black trauma while using satire to confront racist systems of power. The film emphasizes the importance of women-centered plots and unity amongst women in a patriarchal society. Additionally, the film employs intersectional concepts to address the ways that marginalized groups have been taught to internalize and perpetuate oppression. This work is connected to a larger conversation about how harmful ideology is ingrained into the characterization of minorities in mainstream media.