From the Dining Hall to the classroom, Furman Engaged takes over campus

Furman University’s signature student event, Furman Engaged, dominated campus all day Friday as students, faculty, staff and business partners came together for a 17th year and a glimpse into the meaningful work that students in every major accomplish each year.

More than 800 students put together 930 presentations ranging from undergraduate research and study away opportunities to theatrical performances, art shows, community activities and service-learning initiatives.

Each one is a celebration of The Furman Advantage, the university’s constant dedication to engaged learning, academic excellence, mentoring and its growing global network.

The entire campus community along with local entrepreneurs, loyal alumni and business leaders came together on Friday, and this is just a glimpse of what they saw:

9-10:15 a.m.

Research and Internship Experiences in Biology Session One

Parker Marshall ’25 shares his biology research with Associate Professor of Biology Adi Dubash during Furman Engaged, April 11, 2025. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.

Furman Engaged opened with the kind of student-driven research this even has become known for. On display was research by biology major Parker Marshall ’25 about the relationship between large cat predators like cougars or pumas and their prey (mule deer, elk). It highlighted the importance of food chain stabilization for both animal and plant life.

“Seeing the concepts I’ve learned in ecology classes play out in the field was amazing,” Marshall said. 

Visual Strategy Poster Presentations, Duke Library

Kayla Moses ’25, a Japanese studies major, walked us through her internship and study away experiences in Tokyo, Japan, where she worked as a brand and marketing intern helping Awa’Tori, a creative agency dedicated to bridging the creative industries of Africa and Japan, with a rebrand.

“This internship was right up my alley as I’m looking to go into intercultural communications and bridge the cultural connections of Japan and Africa,” Moses said.

Master of Science in Community Engaged Medicine Poster Presentation, Kohrt Commons

Kevin Galindo M’25 focused his research on Hispanic adolescents who are less likely to receive adequate mental health services. Galindo specifically mentioned language barriers as a major factor and was thrilled to have an opportunity to present his findings in a setting like Furman Engaged.

“Seeing how passionate everyone is about their projects and for healthcare has been eye opening with Furman Engaged,” Galindo said. “I have never done this before, but learning how each of us comes to our research interests and how that research can be implemented is fascinating.”

Brooke Diederich M’25 worked in a detox facility during her research into the effect of socioeconomic status on infective endocarditis (IE) in people who use intravenous drugs. IE is an infection of the heart’s lining, but its diagnosis and effect on those without direct access to quality healthcare carries a higher mortality rate. She will carry her research at Furman to medical school when she attends Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in New Jersey.

“It’s a complex issue with many possible solutions, but what stood out to me the most was how much policy affects addiction around us,” Diederich said. “I feel like having a better understanding of that policy can only make me a better healthcare professional.

Humanities Lab Projects – Furman Hall

Inspired by the films she loves, Ava Shutze ’25, who is completing an individualized curriculum program in multimedia storytelling, shared some of the techniques she employed in making her short film, “Holdon.” A story about two friends growing apart as one moves across the country, “Holdon” uses shots from filmmakers like Wong Kar-wai and Drake Doremus, Shutze said. Her film, along with others, was running all day in the digital photo lab. 

Cole Kennedy ’25 discussed his documentary film about his great-grandfather accepting the surrender of a Japanese garrison on the Philippine island of Cebu near the end of World War II, presented in Furman Hall during Furman Engaged, April 11, 2025. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.

Cole Kennedy ’25, a communication studies major, grew up hearing stories from his great grandfather, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Howard Arnold, about his time serving in the Pacific theater of World War II. Kennedy’s grandfather accepted the surrender of a Japanese garrison on the Philippine Island of Cebu only four days before the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri. Kennedy’s documentary film about his research into his grandfather’s experience, titled “Victor II: Cebu,” helped him “learn more about my family history and hone my skills for documentary filmmaking.” 

Since childhood, English major Kristen Gainey ’27 has been a storyteller. She challenged herself to reconnect with her creative side by writing a story told through a collection of poems about a young Black girl’s journey learning to accept and love her natural hair. Her time in a poetry class taught by English lecturer James Engelhardt made her feel “really excited to share my own works, which I had not felt in years.” 

Study Away Adventures in Rennes, France 2024, Furman Hall

When communication studies major Katy Watkins ’26 came to Furman, she didn’t speak a word of French. Her great-grandmother was the last person in her family to speak the language. When Watkins seized the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad in Rennes, France, it connected her both with her own relatives and a future career path. Watkins will be interning with French education company CFDGreenville this summer and wants to teach English in France in the future. 

10:30-11:45 a.m.

La Belle Epoque: Piano Music of Maurice Ravel and his Contemporaries, Daniel Recital Hall

More than 20 performers representing all four years of study and multiple majors took the stage for a series of works by eight composers. It was described as “a liberal arts education at work” as diverse majors across all disciplines from physics and anthropology to politics, international affairs and biochemistry showcased their prowess on the piano.

A student plays the piano during a presentation at Furman Engaged. Photo by Owen Withycombe, Furman University.

Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities “A Year in Sustainability with Shi Institute Fellows,” Blackwell Atrium, Duke Library

A standing-room-only audience was riveted by Summer Marsden ’25 presenting “Planting Seeds for Sustainability,” detailing her work as the student assistant farm manager, including the process of Furman’s closed-loop food system, staff management and education and leadership experience. With her help, the Shi Institute diverts 300 tons of food waste from landfills to the organic Furman farm each semester.

Engaged Learning in Economics, Riley Hall 

A full lecture hall put a focus on internships including Hunter Hegmann ’25, an economics and communication studies double major, who interned for the BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament in Greenville, South Carolina. It broadened his horizons and showed him that his degree didn’t have to take one path.

“I wanted to see a side of an economics degree other than finance, and I truly believe I found my calling through this experience,” Hegmann said.

Analyzing Social Institutions, Johns Hall

Sara Powell ’26 is a sociology major presenting her analysis on social institutions, particularly the study of social media and its impact on college students’ perception of their self-image. Her findings showed that Greek Life students are particularly affected in a negative way by the prevalence of social media platforms.

The Echo 2024-2025 Publication Showcase, Furman Hall 208

Kayla Burrell ’25 read aloud three of the poems she submitted to The Echo during Furman Engaged on April 11, 2025. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.

Creative expression takes many forms, and each year students submit hundreds of works to Furman’s visual arts and literary magazine “The Echo.” This session highlighted paintings, textile works, poetry, essays and photography. A collection of poems by French major Kayla Burrell ’25 highlighted inspiring moments of connection with nature. Wide-eyed poetry lovers leaned forward, celebrating each reading with a mix of applause and snaps.  

A Year in Sustainability with Shi Institute Fellows, Blackwell Atrium 

Senior sociology major Ellie Howard ’25 was the Shi Institute Alternative Transportation Fellow, and her work aimed to reduce driving on campus by making more bicycles available to students. The Furman University Paladins on Bikes program offers bike rentals, and Howard said it expanded with 17 new bikes in the past year. 

“By offering bike rentals now on a month-to-month basis we give students another option where they can see what it would be like to have a bike on campus without the long-term commitment,” Howard said. 

As the Climate Resilience Fellow, physics major Aubin Vertueux Dzossa Bontse ’27 worked to compare data on extreme heat with demographic information about the people most at risk of health complications from the heat. His research will help three South Carolina communities better direct their resources to help vulnerable people. 

Vanessa Amasi ’26 discusses home weatherization and the Community Conservation Corps during Furman Engaged, April 11, 2025. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.

Community service is the heart of the work sustainability science major Vanessa Amasi ’26 did as the Community Conservation Corps fellow. She gathered and analyzed data on the CCC’s work of weatherizing local homes, making them more energy efficient and saving the residents money on their power bills. 

“I had the chance to serve the Greenville community through this program, and I’m really grateful for that,” Amasi said. 

12:30-1:45 p.m.

Research and Internship Experiences in Biology, Kohrt Commons, Plyler Hall 

Collaboration was key for senior biology major Will James’s ’26 research into the soil makeup around a rare plant – Sagittaria fasciculata.  Working with biology professors Ahsley Morris and Dennis Haney, as well as Earth, Environmental and Sustainability Sciences Department Chair Brannon Andersen, brought a variety of backgrounds and experiences to the research. 

“It was definitely a big undertaking, and it was good for a first research experience to blend so many approaches and disciplines,” James said. 

Presenting research at a conference was no sweat for junior biology major Candace Reilley ’26, but Furman Engaged put her in the spotlight among her friends and peers. Though she was nervous, Reilley said presenting her work to people outside of her field was a great exercise for her science communication skills. 

“It’s nice to hear immediate feedback and input from people with all kinds of backgrounds,” Reilley said. 

Politics and International Affairs Department Poster Extravaganza, Furman Hall

Ethan Philips ’25, a politics and international affairs major, recently wrapped an internship at Lutheran Services Carolinas where he spearheaded a project to simplify student handbooks for international refugees in Upstate South Carolina schools.

“It has the potential to impact the international refugee population in our community, but it also has other applications,” said Philips. “For instance, our work is being used at an Upstate school for special needs students and their families. I found a calling because of this internship.”

Cait Luckow ’26 is a politics and international affairs and communication studies double major who served as an international affairs intern at Upstate International. She said that her experience “gave me a lot of insights into the non-profit world, and I learned how to apply those in my major and future career.”

Emmie Barth ’25, a double-major in psychology and politics and international affairs, said that her internship at the League of Women Voters Greenville prepared her for the future as “it taught me how to go into different communities and interact with people different than myself.”

Furman Hall

Ron Thompson, associate dean of students and director of Housing and Residence Life took a pause between sessions at Furman Hall. He was visiting presentations by residence advisors and first-year advisors and supporting those students as a staff.

“Housing and Residence Life gets together a list of the RAs and FRADs (freshman advisors) who are presenting, and we all make a point to see what they are doing with Furman Engaged,” Thompson said. “It’s a great way to see how much our students accomplish.”

2-3:15 p.m.

Ori McMullan ’25 performed a fairy tale version of their life story at The Playhouse Studio Theatre during Furman Engaged, April 11, 2025. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.

Theatre Arts Creative Projects, The Playhouse Studio Theatre 

In a back room of The Playhouse Studio Theatre, theatre arts major Ori McMullan ’25 introduced an intimate audience to “Cranky,” a hand-cranked storytelling box created from repurposed fabric and paper products. With it, McMullan told a fairy tale interpretation of their life. Paige Hemmer ’25 also played the role of storyteller, acting out the story of the “Mirror Princess” and the mysterious visitor who asks her who she is. The story erupted when Hemmer shattered the prop mirror the princess was stuck in, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. 

Student Opportunities at the Riley Institute, Furman Hall

The Riley Institute helped send five students to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Peru this past November. It was a transformative experience for those students who had the chance to see heads of state from multiple countries, engage in the cultures of multiple nations and share their own experiences of life in the United States. It was described by each student as “once-in-a-lifetime” and something that helped develop their own world view from a more global perspective.

“We were told from the beginning that the goal of this was to meet people, build relationships and make friends,” said Sumter Archer ’25, a business administration and economics dual major. “We did that and so much more.”

3:30-5:30 p.m.

Research Poster Session, Trone Student Center 

Diving into chemistry research during the summer after her first year, Anne Camille Kline ’25 said having associate chemistry professor Karen Buchmueller as a mentor was encouraging. Kline posed for a photo with Buchmueller in front of her research display during a poster session in the Trone Student Center. 

“At Furman they’re supportive of you in and outside of class,” Kline said. 

Devin Bryant ’27 presents during the Research Poster Session in the Trone Student Center during Furman Engaged. Photo by Owen Withycombe, Furman University.

As math major Devin Bryant ’27 tried to explain the concepts behind the research he was a part of, he admitted that he didn’t know anything about Coxeter groups or hyperplanes when he started. But his mentors and peers were starting from the same place; they all engaged in their research to explore a subject that was new to them. 

“We went in together to try and figure things out. I was really encouraged that we were exploring this subject together,” Bryant said.