Research and Innovation: May 2025
Twenty HPU undergraduate students and four faculty members presented their original research at the American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting and expo in San Diego, California. Pictured at the ACS event in the front row from left were Dr. Keir Fogarty, associate professor of chemistry, Lexie Young, Maggy Henkel, Lillie Wilson, Madison Hill, Lauren Vossen and Renee Monge. Middle row from left: Webb Garrett, Chloe Cox, Dr. Sarmad Hindo, assistant professor of chemistry, Macie Fox, Kiara Busby, Owee Kirpekar, and Dr. Meghan Blackledge, associate professor of chemistry. Back row from left: Owen Mader, Erik Peterson, Gabe Valenzano, Imogen Irons, Dr. Kelsey Kean, assistant professor of chemistry, Makenzie Wiseman, Nadia Khan, Parker Nyboer and Ryland Brady.
HIGH POINT, N.C., May 5, 2025 – Members of the High Point University community frequently conduct, publish and share research and creative works in a variety of ways. Below is a recap of recent research and innovation initiatives.
Students Present Research to American Chemical Society
Twenty HPU undergraduate students and four faculty members presented their original research at the American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting and expo in San Diego, California. The ACS is considered the foremost professional society for chemistry and one of the world’s largest scientific societies.
Three HPU students were selected to give oral presentations, and 18 students presented posters during the four-day event. This represented work from the labs of six faculty members in HPU’s Department of Chemistry.
“Having the opportunity to share their original research on this stage as an undergraduate is a big accomplishment and highlights some of the unique opportunities HPU offers to our students,” said Dr. Kelsey Kean, assistant professor of chemistry. “Presenting on a national stage can have a profound impact on a student’s career and graduate school prospects and is a big contributor to the success of our students going on to top graduate and professional programs. These conferences also provide invaluable opportunities for our students to interact with and learn from other scientists, this year including Nobel Laureate Dr. Frances Arnold. Not only do our students get to rub elbows with scientists at the top of their fields, but interactions at these conferences often develop into future mentorship and professional relationships.”
The breadth of fields represented at the ACS conference encompassed various disciplines within chemistry and related sciences. This diversity allowed students to gain exposure to a wide range of research areas, from organic and inorganic chemistry to biochemistry, materials science and environmental chemistry.
“Attending the national ACS Spring 2025 conference in San Diego was a great opportunity to practice presenting difficult topics to people at different knowledge levels, which is something I will have to practice a lot as a physician,” said Owee Kirpekar, a senior pre-med biochemistry major who plans to attend the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “I also got to network with other students and scientists doing similar research and exchange tips and tricks that we’ve learned along the way. As a senior, it was also a great way to connect with some of our underclassmen as well. Overall, this annual trip is extremely beneficial for students to network with grad schools and future employers while honing their presentation skills.”
Researching antibiotic resistance in MRSA biofilms for the last four years in Dr. Meghan Blackledge’s lab helped refine Kirpekar’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Her experience using various lab instruments led to her summer internship at the Oak Ridge National Lab.
“I’ve had the incredible opportunity to present my research at three national conferences in Indianapolis, New Orleans and San Diego, beginning in my sophomore year, which I’m sure helped boost my medical school application,” said Kirpekar, who is from Knoxville, Tennessee. “I consider these trips to be one of the highlights of my last four years at HPU.”
Dr. Keir Fogarty, associate professor of chemistry and co-director of HPU’s Natural Science Fellows, and Jalen Dixon, a senior biochemistry major, were selected to present their work in Sci-Mix, an interdivisional poster session and mixer.
“I am proud of our chemistry and biochemistry research students who presented their work at the national meeting,” Fogarty said. “Several of their research presentations were recognized as exemplary by conference-organizing committees and researchers from other institutions. The students also valued the opportunity to professionally network with potential future employers, attend workshops to improve their professional skills, and they all agreed San Diego wasn’t too bad either.”
History Professor Presents to National Council on Public History
Dr. Amanda Wrenn Allen, assistant professor of history, presented a poster at the annual National Council on Public History in Montreal, Canada, on March 27.
Her poster, titled “Walking Through Medical History: Building a Medieval and Early Modern Physic Greenhouse,” discussed the process of creating a medieval medical greenhouse on campus last spring. The poster highlighted the collaborative efforts between Allen, the history department, the High Point Museum and a grant from North Carolina Humanities to create a space in which HPU students can actively learn about medieval and Early Modern medicine while also honing their public history skills in creating exhibits for the public. It led to the history department creating an experiential learning space on multiple levels.
The poster and project were well-received by professors and public historians from across America and Canada, who acknowledged the unique idea and opportunity for undergraduate students not found on most university campuses.
“It was wonderful sharing this project with such a wide audience, especially an audience of experts in creating living public history sites like ours,” Allen said. “I was especially excited to highlight the work our students have completed in the space with specific mention to our first group of six students who helped build the greenhouse from scratch: Samantha Dunn, Mac Mollins, Kaitlyn Cruz, Laura Mackie, Mara Cooper and Ben Thomas. This space is unique for a university campus, and the access to active public history for undergraduate students is also something that sets HPU apart from other campuses and history departments. I am excited to keep this project going and continuing to spread the information at future conferences.”
Greenhouse Exhibit Explores Medieval Medicine Research
The Department of History’s Medieval and Early Modern Physic Greenhouse recently opened an exhibit that highlights ongoing research within this unique greenhouse, located behind Couch Hall.
History majors Samantha Dunn and Quinn Fergusson shared their research in the new exhibit, titled “Historical Healers: The Unheard Voices of Medieval and Early Modern Medicine.” The exhibit highlights seven influential medieval medical practitioners who came from diverse backgrounds as well as the advancement of medical thought and practice during the Middle Ages in Europe, said Dr. Amanda Allen, assistant professor of history.
“This is a very rare learning lab/research opportunity for undergraduate students, setting apart HPU’s emphasis on experiential learning and dedication to liberal arts,” Allen said.
Working on the project since last semester as part of Allen’s and Dr. Jeremy Whitson’s Medieval Medicine course was fascinating for Fergusson, a junior dual major of history and English with a minor in vocal music. It expanded his knowledge in an area he had little experience in before, and the raising and caring for these various medicinal plants became a joyful pastime.
“Despite many people’s modern assumptions surrounding the medieval era, the area of medieval medicine was remarkably diverse, including men and women of various unexpected backgrounds — a fact I didn’t fully comprehend before developing this project,” said Fergusson, who is from Santa Barbara, California.
“Not only does my work in the greenhouse give me valuable hands-on experience but caring for the same plants that medieval and Early Modern physicians would have cared for is a wonderful and unique way to physically connect with the history I am studying. Dr. Allen’s continual support and commitment to the greenhouse and our research connected to it has been invaluable, and I am forever grateful for the opportunities that she has provided.”
Creating educational posters for the greenhouse was a rewarding task for Ferguson and provided experience to reach a broad audience, a skill he thinks will be extremely useful in his future career in public history education and museum work.
National Leadership Honor Society Inducts 27 HPU Students
The HPU Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), the national leadership honor society, inducted 27 HPU students on April 13.
The initiation ceremony was led by faculty advisor Dr. Amanda Allen and Circle President Angelina Lappin. ODK members Ava Collins, Lexi Way and Mac Mollins also helped make the ceremony special for the new initiates.
ODK recognizes leadership through five pillars: academics/research, athletics, service, communications and creative and performing arts. The emphasis on leadership across all fields and in its varying forms aligns with HPU’s missions to cultivate students for their life after graduation. This new group of students range from sophomore to graduate-level.
The new members are Grace Alfone, Autumn Andreeff, Catherine Beadle, Caroline Clifton, Isabella Colon, Liana Conti, Mary Beth Dicen, Meghan Dunn, Alexis Evatt, Maddie Ginsberg, Avery Good, Emily Horne, Sara Jameson, Tessa Lamb, Ansleigh Layne, Jonah Martin, Gianna Mesias, Allie Poovey, Alexis Rode, Meredith Russell, Emma Schwindt, Emree Spivey, Addison Stewart, Sydney Walen, Emily Winkler and Rocco Zanini.