Inspiration was a key takeaway for students who gave research presentations at a Diversity, Equity and Social Justice undergraduate conference.
Ethnic and Gender Studies majors Mason Fuller and Owen Wagner participated in the 14th conference sponsored by SUNY Cortland’s Multicultural Life and Diversity. “Rivers of Culture: Flowing through Diversity” was the theme of the conference held Nov. 1.
Both Mr. Fuller, who is also a Social Studies: Adolescence Education major, and Mr. Wagner, also an Honors program student, began their research in the Social Change Capstone course last spring, taught by program coordinator Dr. Jeanette McVicker. They also presented research posters at Fredonia’s OSCAR expo last spring.
Learning about other undergraduate students’ research filled me with hope about positive change in the future. As someone planning to pursue a career in academia as a university librarian, being at this conference gave me ample experience for the future conferences I will have to attend.” - Owen Wagner
The Cortland conference offered the opportunity for students to expand their research for a different audience and format, as each presented their work as part of panel discussions.
Wagner agreed with Fuller that presenting at the Cortland conference was inspiring and meaningful.
Fuller’s paper, “Shaping Education: Civics, Activism, and Their Place in Modern Day Schooling,” was selected for a panel on “Humanities Pedagogies.”
“The biggest thing that I gained from the conference was seeing that I am not alone in my work,” Fuller commented. “Being from a little western New York town, seeing hundreds of people from across the state come together to share in the benefits of diversity was very impactful. My presentation was a beautiful experience to show people that education is something that everyone can play a role in.
“Many attendees echoed that education has felt isolating and expressed to me that the work I was doing felt not only impactful but applicable,” Fuller added.
Fuller, who will be student teaching in the spring and graduating in May 2026, is applying to graduate programs in History for next year.
Wagner’s paper, “Native American Data Sovereignty in Archives and Museums,” was part of a panel titled “Consider the Museum.”
“This opportunity was incredible as it was my first research conference I had been given the privilege to attend” beyond Fredonia, Wagner said.
“Learning about other undergraduate students’ research filled me with hope about positive change in the future. As someone planning to pursue a career in academia as a university librarian, being at this conference gave me ample experience for the future conferences I will have to attend.
“Being able to listen to others’ experiences and learn from it is a foundational aspect of Ethnic and Gender Studies and attending this conference was proof of that,” Wagner said.
Wagner has interned with Reed Library over the past two semesters, working closely with research librarians Christina Hilburger and Mandi Shepp. His paper grew out of Reed’s archival holdings of Native artifacts, recently returned to the Seneca Nation, and discussed the importance of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Wagner will graduate in May 2026 and is applying to graduate programs in library and information sciences for next fall.
“It was a brilliant showcase of the work of students throughout the SUNY system. While most of the attendees were from SUNY Cortland, there were over 11 schools in attendance. The event was focused on building bridges between cultures, systems and people,” Fuller said.
“Presenters were applying Ethnic Studies in impactful and meaningful ways, taking themselves from students to Ethnic Studies scholars,” Fuller added.
