From a Single Observation to a Campus Tradition

Four years ago, a professor noticed something: her students were producing genuinely impressive work — and almost no one was seeing it. That observation sparked what has since grown into one of Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg’s most distinctive academic traditions.

The Frederick Douglass “Topics That Matter” Poster Session, developed in partnership with the Department of Accessibility Programs, began with 30 first-year students presenting in Navy Hall. Today, the event has expanded to three sessions in a single day to accommodate the volume of entries — and its reach keeps growing.

The driving philosophy isimple: students don’t see themselves as researchers. This event challenges that assumption by giving students a platform to present on whatever topic genuinely matters to them, across any discipline. 

Past presentations have ranged from microplastics and genetic sequencing to service dogs, climate change, and Steph’s Subs. 

Faculty incorporate the session into their syllabi as an alternative to traditional presentations, drawing participants from geology, social work, political science, sales and marketing, and beyond.

This Year’s Standout Scholars

This year’s featured scholars included a student who earned Scholar of the Year for a comparative analysis of problem-solving courts versus the traditional adversarial model. Another presentation examined the misidentification of students of color on the autism spectrum as emotionally disturbed when they may be experiencing PTSD — and proposed solutions.

Beyond the Poster Board

Students can submit presentations to the library, making their work a permanent, searchable part of Bloomsburg’s academic record. Some have gone on to present at national conferences and publish their research. A digital participation option is now available as well.

As Carolyn Reid Brown, a coordinator with Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg’s Department of Accessibility Programs, put it: “Research is for everybody, and your voice matters.” This event embodies exactly that.