About the Research & Creative Achievement Conference
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Merrimack’s annual Research & Creative Achievement Conference celebrates faculty, graduate and undergraduate research and creative work.
The Research & Creative Achievement Conference aims to celebrate the incredible work that our Merrimack College community has accomplished. This day-long event will be held virtually and will showcase a wide variety of faculty, staff and student research and projects from the 2020-2021 academic year. We’re also proud to share that the McQuade Library’s annual Tolle Lege celebration will be held as an integral part of the conference this year. Go to Schedule
Welcome Message from the Provost
I want to welcome you to explore this year’s virtual Merrimack College Research & Creative Achievement Conference. At Merrimack, we are deeply committed to promoting and facilitating meaningful student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. This virtual conference is designed to highlight that commitment and celebrate academic and creative excellence of undergraduate and graduate student work. We are also honored to highlight mentored student work based on the College’s commitment to engagement with our community partners. These reciprocal and collaborative partnerships serve to enrich the scholarship, research and creative activity of our students and faculty while strengthening our institutional mission of fostering civic responsibility, addressing societal issues and contributing to the public good.
This year, we are also recognizing the research efforts of our faculty through school-based research presentations as well as our Tolle Lege Celebration. Established in 2003 and sponsored by McQuade Library, the Tolle Lege Collection recognizes and celebrates the academic scholarship of the Merrimack College community. This collection, housed in the library, showcases and preserves Merrimack community publications, and each year we celebrate Tolle Lege with a reception where selected faculty contributors speak about their work.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our student researchers and faculty collaborators and mentors have had to face additional challenges and roadblocks this spring. The fact that so many students were able to respond to and rise above these unprecedented challenges reminds us of the importance of perseverance and resourcefulness as well as creativity. At a time when we face so much difficult and sad news, it also helps to pause and take note of the continued accomplishments and good work of our students and faculty.
On behalf of Merrimack College, I applaud and commend the excellent student scholarship represented here and take great pride in their accomplishments.
John “Sean” Condon, Ph.D. Provost
Research & Creative Achievement Schedule: May 5, 2021
Faculty Presentations Register for events below to join some of our esteemed faculty from all schools as they deliver talks about their scholarly activities.
Student Presentations Register for live events below to join talks and discussions by students from this past year. Also, view posters and narrations celebrating students’ research and creative achievement.
A CULMINATION OF RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT
Last year’s conference on May 2, 2019 gathered together hundreds of students and faculty. All five schools were represented at the event where we highlighted a year of inspired work, dedication and creativity at Merrimack College.
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5009-bring-on-the-merrimack-college-marching-band"><h3>Bring on the Merrimack College Marching Band</h3></a> <p>Merrimack has launched its inaugural marching band to accompany the College’s Division I athletic program. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.jpg" alt="The Merrimack College Marching Band launched with 40 members and plans to grow to around 100 members who will provide entertainment at Merrimack’s Division I sports events." loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4947-merrimack-college-awarded-nsf-grant-for-machs"><h3>Merrimack College Awarded NSF Grant for MACHS Scholars Program</h3></a> <p>Merrimack secures NSF grant for new STEM program to support high-achieving, low-income students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.jpg" alt="Principal Investigator Dr. Rickey Caldwell, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering" loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21759_MC-logo-only.rev.1599138227.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="https://www.merrimack.edu/about/offices_services/communications/notable-quotable/"><h3>See What Our Talented Faculty Have Been Up To</h3></a> <p>Merrimack professors across all disciplines have been winning awards, publishing papers, participating in academic panels and workshops, and featured in the media. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21759_MC-logo-only.rev.1599138227.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21759_MC-logo-only.rev.1599138227.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21759_MC-logo-only.rev.1599138227.jpg" alt="Merrimack College logo with shield" loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4921-faculty-fast-five-with-janet-ierardi"><h3>Faculty Fast Five with Janet Ierardi</h3></a> <p>In this week’s edition of “Fast Five: Quick Q&As with Members of the Merrimack Community,” we talk to obstetrics nurse and associate clinical professor of nursing Janet Ierardi who teaches in the <a href="/nursing">nursing program at Merrimack</a>. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.jpg" alt="The first in her family to attend college, Janet Ierardi has been teaching nursing for more than 15 years and tells her students to "squeeze every drop out of learning."" loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22646_sie1_3.rev.1620410963.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5075-merrimack-students-pass-the-securities-industry"><h3>Merrimack Students Pass The Securities Industry Essentials Exam</h3></a> <p>More than 20 Merrimack College students have passed the Securities Industry Essentials® (SIE) exam, administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Passing the exam is a prestigious achievement and demonstrates immense promise for students interested in the finance industry. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22646_sie1_3.rev.1620410963.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22646_sie1_3.rev.1620410963.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22646_sie1_3.rev.1620410963.jpg" alt="“The opportunity to take the SIE while enrolled in college increases my knowledge of the securities industry,” said Merrimack Senior Jared Carvalho." loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21675_LM-FF.rev.1594916487.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4940-alumni-fast-five-with-nurse-lauren-maher-16"><h3>Alumni Fast Five with Nurse Lauren Maher ’16</h3></a> <p>In this week’s edition of “Fast Five: Quick Q&As with Members of the Merrimack Community,” we talk to alumnus Lauren Maher ’16. Lauren shares her path to becoming a nurse, how Merrimack influenced her career choice and how she’d like to come back and share her knowledge with current nursing students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21675_LM-FF.rev.1594916487.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21675_LM-FF.rev.1594916487.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21675_LM-FF.rev.1594916487.jpg" alt="Merrimack alumnus and nurse Lauren Maher '16 advises students to know they don't have to have it all figured out while they are in college." loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2071/ignore_cropper/1/21746_DSC_6585.rev.1598540033.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4948-merrimack-offers-new-global-pandemics-course-about"><h3>Merrimack Offers New Global Pandemics Course About COVID-19</h3></a> <p>Merrimack’s new course Global Pandemics: Challenges and Opportunities in the Context of COVID-19 offers students the opportunity to examine COVID-19 through the lens of multiple fields of study and practice. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2071/ignore_cropper/1/21746_DSC_6585.rev.1598540033.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2071/ignore_cropper/1/21746_DSC_6585.rev.1598540033.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2071/ignore_cropper/1/21746_DSC_6585.rev.1598540033.jpg" alt="Students in Global Pandemics: Challenges and Opportunities in the Context of COVID-19 will learn about the economics of pandemics, post-pandemic recoveries and more. " loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22645_MGB_Twitter_Web_1.rev.1620394887.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5069-mack-gives-back-tackles-food-insecurity"><h3>Mack Gives Back Tackles Food Insecurity</h3></a> <p><a href="/about/offices_services/mission_and_ministry/mack-gives-back/">Mack Gives Back</a> is a community-wide series of service events where Merrimack students, faculty and staff lend a helping hand to local nonprofits and community partners. This year, the program went through a transformation to comply with COVID-19 protocols and packed more than 180,000 meals to address the growing challenge of food insecurity across Massachusetts. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22645_MGB_Twitter_Web_1.rev.1620394887.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22645_MGB_Twitter_Web_1.rev.1620394887.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22645_MGB_Twitter_Web_1.rev.1620394887.jpg" alt="Mack Gives Back provided 96,000 meals to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank this fall and 90,000 meals to the Lazarus House in the spring." loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22584_Hands.rev.1619789961.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5053-2021-lead-awards-roundup-and-celebration"><h3>2021 LEAD Awards Roundup and Celebration</h3></a> <p>This year’s virtual LEAD Awards celebration and ceremony recognized excellent students, clubs and organizations that contributed to the Merrimack College community. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22584_Hands.rev.1619789961.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22584_Hands.rev.1619789961.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22584_Hands.rev.1619789961.jpg" alt="Merrimack’s LEAD Awards honor outstanding students, groups and athletes." loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22356_studentswalking.rev.1615482935.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5015-obrien-foundation-invests-12m-to-provide-full"><h3>O’Brien Foundation Invests $1.2M to Provide Full Scholarships to Lynn Students</h3></a> <p>A gift from the James W. O’Brien Foundation will fund full tuition, room and board at Merrimack for Lynn scholars. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22356_studentswalking.rev.1615482935.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22356_studentswalking.rev.1615482935.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22356_studentswalking.rev.1615482935.jpg" alt=" The scholarship program will begin this fall and support a select number of students over a 5-year period. " loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22567_Be_the_CAUSE_Web_Twitter.rev.1619615967.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5045-new-partnership-brings-dei-to-high-school-students"><h3>New Partnership Brings DEI to High School Students</h3></a> <p>Be the CAUSE (Catalyst for Advocacy and Unified Student Empowerment) is a new community partnership between Merrimack and Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts which aims to bring diversity awareness training to high school students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22567_Be_the_CAUSE_Web_Twitter.rev.1619615967.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22567_Be_the_CAUSE_Web_Twitter.rev.1619615967.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22567_Be_the_CAUSE_Web_Twitter.rev.1619615967.jpg" alt="The first workshop of Be the CAUSE shared resources, interactive exercises and focused on broadening student awareness by stressing intersectionality." loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22652_regan1.rev.1620836488.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5080-audrey-regan-wins-2021-merrimack-medal"><h3>Audrey Regan Wins 2021 Merrimack Medal</h3></a> <p>The Merrimack Medal is awarded annually to a senior of outstanding character and achievement of service to their classmates and the Merrimack College community. This year, the award was given to Audrey Regan, president of the <a href="/about/offices_services/residence_life/austin-scholars/">Austin Scholars</a> program. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22652_regan1.rev.1620836488.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22652_regan1.rev.1620836488.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22652_regan1.rev.1620836488.jpg" alt="“Everything we’ve been through has shaped me into who I am and helped me understand who I want to be,” said Audrey Regan, 2020 Merrimack Medal winner." loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22085_mclogoone.rev.1605810788.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5074-merrimack-college-announces-honorary-degree"><h3>Merrimack College Announces Honorary Degree Recipients</h3></a> <p>Merrimack College will award honorary degrees for both the class of 2020 and the class of 2021 at this year’s Commencement celebrations. Honorary degree recipients will be recognized for their significant contributions to their communities and for their exceptional examples of Merrimack values. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22085_mclogoone.rev.1605810788.webp 1x"/>
<source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22085_mclogoone.rev.1605810788.jpg 1x"/>
<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22085_mclogoone.rev.1605810788.jpg" alt="Honorary degree recipients embody Merrimack’s core mission and values of generous service and courageous leadership." loading="lazy"/>
</picture>
</div></div></div></div></div></section>
