Three Brenau students and two alumni presented at research conferences during the spring semester. The presentations, advised by professors in the Jacobs College of Business and Media, spanned across finance, marketing and communication.
Junior Gladys Blanco Choque and freshman Tyra Owusu Sekyere presented at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research in Richmond, Virginia; sophomore Sahara Destin presented at the Theodore Clevenger Undergraduate Honors Conference in Birmingham, Alabama; Yoysi Solis, WC ’25, and Alberto Ortega, BU ’25, presented at the Western Business & Management Conferences in Las Vegas.
Choque’s research, “The Role of Blockchain in Finance: Enhancing Fraud Prevention and Data Integrity,” was advised by Dhruba Banjade, Ph.D., Department Chair of Business Analysis.
Banjade emphasized that having students present at conferences strengthens their learning and the college’s curriculum.
“Student participation in conferences is highly valuable for the Jacobs College of Business and Media as it allows them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations,” Banjade said. “It also helps them develop key skills such as public speaking, professional communication, and research and analytical abilities.”
Choque said that presenting at a conference has been one of her goals since starting college and that this was an important opportunity for her academic and professional development.
“Participating in a national conference allowed me to share my ideas, learn from other researchers, and expand my network,” Choque said. “It also strengthened my preparation for future academic goals, such as pursuing a Ph.D. Additionally, I hope to apply what I learned to real-world settings, including the company where I am currently interning, Mansfield Oil.”
Sekyere’s project, “When Work Comes Home: An Empirical Assessment of Remote Work and Urban Travel Behavior,” was advised by Fassil Fanta, Ph.D., associate professor of economics.
Fanta said Sekyere’s work reflects intellectual curiosity and a commitment to addressing relevant economic and societal issues.
“Experiences like NCUR are transformative for students,” Fanta said. “They not only deepen academic understanding but also expose students to a national network of scholars and peers. For many students, this is the first step toward pursuing advanced research, graduate education, or leadership roles in their fields.”
Destin’s project, “Analyzing U.S.-China Cultural Conflict Through Intercultural Communication Theory,” was advised by Anna Deeb, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication. Destin is a double-major in marketing and mass communication.
“At a conference, students get to showcase their work to a fresh audience and receive different feedback from what they might get from their classmates or professors,” Deeb said. “They also have the opportunity to interact with other professors, fellow students, and graduate students, which allows them to learn about new aspects of business and media. This provides students with the opportunity to learn and engage more with the topic compared to traditional coursework.”
Solis and Ortega’s research, “Longevity Marketing,” was advised by Scott Ertekin, Ph.D., associate professor of marketing. Solis and Ortega earned their bachelor’s degrees in finance.
