On Friday, Nov. 6, several Doane students travelled to Kearney, Nebraska, to present at the 59th annual Nebraska Undergraduate Sociological Symposium (NUSS).
Associate Professor of Sociology, Dr. Kari Gentzler, explains the event is special as “to our understanding, Nebraska is the only state that hosts a sociology conference geared at undergraduate students’ work.” Doane has been participating in NUSS for at least 25 years and last hosted the symposium in November of 2024.
“Whether they are participating in a poster session, a roundtable discussion, or an oral presentation, they have an opportunity to share their work, receive feedback and build confidence in presenting their ideas to an audience beyond the classroom,” said Gentzler. Dr. Andrea Johnson Wysocki likened NUSS to Mind Expo, explaining the difference is that “the audience is sociology students across Nebraska.”
Seven Doane students participated in NUSS this year, senior Olivia Jones, juniors Amani Muisyo and Kayla Meyers, Sophomores Evelyn Baker, Soiyer Pfeiffer, Laney Denniston and Grace Jacobson. Their topics spanned from alternative medical treatments, trust in the legal system and the influence of sexual orientation on happiness.
Meyers won second place in the student paper competition for her work, “Inequalities from the Womb: Maternal Mortality among Black Women.”
Sophomore Soiyer Pfeiffer presented on “expanding mental health services in rural areas.” She explained she enjoyed “listening to the keynote speaker during the conference” and was grateful to have attended.
Dr. Gentzler explained that her favorite part of the day is seeing the students share their work. “It’s especially rewarding to see them gain confidence in themselves and their work, engage with others and recognize that they have something valuable to contribute to the broader sociological community,” said Gentzler. As for favorite presentations, Dr. Johnson Wysocki admitted to being partial to the work of Doane students, however, she did mention enjoying presentations from Midland University and the University of Nebraska- Lincoln (UNL). Dr. Gentzler said a presentation involving statistics gave her ideas for her future courses.
With NUSS being held at UNL next year, Dr. Gentzler hopes more students will be able to participate, including students who want to observe and experience the conference without presenting. The symposium has no requirement on students’ majors. “The only requirement for presenting is that students want to!” said Johnson Wysocki.
Those interested in attending NUSS next year should reach out to the sociology faculty members, Dr. Gentzler, Dr. Johnson Wysocki and Dr. Danelle DeBoer. However, Dr. Gentzler also advises students to “start with the basics: go to class, complete your assignments with integrity and take pride in producing high-quality work.”
