John Carroll University came alive on April 9, 2025, as students, faculty, and staff gathered for its second annual DISCOVER—an all-day celebration of research, scholarship, and creative work happening across campus.
Now in its second year, the event brings together faculty and students to showcase academic projects that span disciplines, emphasizing the collaborative and inclusive spirit of intellectual inquiry at JCU. With student presentations selected through a submission and review process, DISCOVER highlights the depth and diversity of academic work taking place across the University community.
Our Common Home
This year’s theme, Our Common Home, honored the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of people, the planet, and our shared responsibility to care for both. From research poster presentations and panel discussions to debates and live performances, the event honored that mission with projects rooted in inquiry, compassion, and justice.
The day began with faculty writing sessions and research “speed dating,” where faculty had the opportunity to connect and collaborate around shared academic interests. This was followed by a lunchtime keynote in Schott Dining Hall, where Jesús F. Sánchez, Director of the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Program at Restore America’s Estuaries, delivered an engaging talk on The Importance of Access to Nature, blending his personal story with urgent environmental insight.
“The Earth belongs to all of us,” Sánchez said. “If we want people to protect nature, we need them to care and feel connected.”
Throughout the afternoon, poster sessions transformed the Dolan Atrium into a vibrant showcase of research and creativity, many of which embraced the importance of caring for our common home. Oral presentations and panel discussions followed, with students leading thoughtful, dynamic conversations.
For Stephanie Conley ’25, a senior International Business student, the opportunity to share her research about how internships can shape someone personally, professionally, and academically felt like a meaningful culmination—a chance to give back by sharing what she’s gained.
“I appreciated being able to show off what I’ve learned the last four years and how it’s shaped me into the person I am today,” she said.
Likewise, Grace Burkin ’25, a senior Biology major and fellow research poster presenter, felt grateful for the chance to share her summer research on poisonous frogs with the John Carroll community.
“My summer research experience was a pivotal moment in my life, allowing me to do independent research to prepare me for graduate school—and letting me work with adorable poison frogs!” Burkin said.
Cultivating Learning Through Care and Connection
Malia McAndrew, Director of Teaching Innovation + Enrichment and Professor of History at John Carroll University, saw the event as a clear example of the kind of learning JCU strives to cultivate—rooted in care, connection, and community.
“At JCU, we know that powerful learning happens in the context of care and connection,” she said. “Events like DISCOVER reflect our institutional commitment to teaching practices that affirm students’ intellectual potential and connect them to a broad, supportive network of peers, mentors, and campus resources.”
Evening programming included “Desserts and Debate,” a library-hosted art show, and a serial conference session on environmental politics, capped off by Arts at Night in the Marinello Little Theater, where students performed original poetry, music, and theatrical pieces.
Rebecca Drenovsky, Professor of Biology and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, praised the community’s commitment and the depth of collaboration on display. “I was so impressed by the work of our students and how you could see the level of mentoring from the faculty shine through in their work,” she said. “Throughout the day, I saw how so many JCU students are rolling up their sleeves and really digging into the academic areas that they're passionate about.”
DISCOVER continues to expand—not only in size but in significance. It highlights what sets John Carroll apart: a community where academic exploration is tied to real-world purpose, and where students use their work to engage with the broader world around them.