Announcements
Mar 16, 2026
Wiley University is creating new opportunities for students to turn curiosity into discovery, ideas into impact, and learning into leadership through its inaugural Research & Career Symposium, which will take place on March 31 at 9:30 a.m. in the Fred T. Long Student Union Ballroom. Designed as a dynamic new annual signature event, the symposium will highlight student research while showing how academic inquiry can lead to meaningful careers, innovation, and service. The event is being organized by the Henry Cecil McBay Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence (CTLE).
At Wiley University, students are not only scholars in the classroom. They are emerging leaders, creators, problem-solvers, and change agents preparing to make their mark in the world. The Research & Career Symposium reflects that reality by reimagining the traditional research experience in a way that is more interactive, more relevant, and more connected to the future students are building. Rather than relying solely on poster presentations, the symposium will feature digital storytelling and multimedia research presentations, including video, podcasts, infographics, digital portfolios, and iPad-enabled projects.
“This symposium is innovative because it brings research into the modern digital learning environment,” said Dr. Ouida McAfee, Assistant Provost of Innovation and Director of the Henry Cecil McBay Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence. “Students will present their work through multimedia platforms, which better reflects how research and ideas are communicated in today’s workforce.”
The event will also feature Wildcat Tank, a live innovation pitch competition in which students will present three-minute solutions to real-world challenges. Together, these experiences will create a space where student voices, creativity, and critical thinking take center stage.
What makes the Research & Career Symposium especially meaningful is its direct connection to career readiness. At Wiley University, research is not viewed as an isolated academic exercise. It is a pathway to purpose. It is an opportunity for students to explore how their ideas can shape industries, strengthen communities, and prepare them for leadership in a rapidly changing world. The symposium helps students see a clear connection between what they study, what they create, and who they are becoming.
This focus aligns closely with Wiley University’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Wiley CARES: A Roadmap to Success, which emphasizes helping students identify and pursue meaningful career pathways.
“Our Quality Enhancement Plan challenges us to ensure that students graduate with a clear vision for their future,” McAfee said. “By combining research with career exploration, this symposium helps students see how their academic work can translate into leadership, innovation, and community impact.”
Students participating in the symposium will also have opportunities to earn digital micro-credentials recognizing competencies in areas such as research communication, digital innovation, leadership, and AI literacy. These added opportunities reinforce Wiley University’s commitment to equipping students with skills that are both academically grounded and professionally relevant.
The Research & Career Symposium is more than a new event. It is a reflection of Wiley University’s continued investment in experiential learning and in the full promise of its students. It highlights the University’s pillars by celebrating scholars who pursue knowledge, leaders who think boldly, activists who seek solutions, debaters who engage ideas critically, athletes who embody discipline and resilience, and vocalists and storytellers who know the power of voice and expression. In this space, Wiley University students are not simply presenting projects. They are demonstrating what it means to be future-focused, innovative, and prepared to lead.
By establishing the symposium as an annual initiative through the Henry Cecil McBay Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence, Wiley University is building a lasting platform that elevates student scholarship and positions graduates for success in an evolving workforce.
“Our goal is simple,” McAfee added. “We want students to dream, become, and lead.”
For more information about Wiley University or the Research & Career Symposium, please contact Catherine G. Sellers, Executive Director of Marketing, Communications, and Brand Management, at communications@wileyc.edu.
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About Wiley University:
Wiley University, formerly known as Wiley College, is a premier liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university is dedicated to fostering social good and developing leaders who make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
