Undergraduate Research Conference
Held each April, the Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) is a campus-wide celebration of MCLA students’ scholarship and creativity. Part of the college’s Undergraduate Research Programs, the conference welcomes research and creative work from all disciplines, presented through posters, oral presentations, or performances.
Working closely with faculty sponsors, students share their work with peers, faculty, staff, and community members—highlighting the value of hands-on learning in a liberal arts education. These experiences help prepare students for graduate study and future careers. The conference also features a keynote address by a recent MCLA alumnus, offering insight into life after college and the lasting impact of undergraduate research.
The 24th annual undergraduate research conference
Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 8 a.m.–5 p.m., full schedule with details coming soon
Location: Bowman Hall 2nd Floor, Campus Center Gym
Keynote Speaker: Kaitlin Wright '17 Haverhill, MA City Clerk
Part of the Undergraduate Research Program, the URC highlights MCLA's commitment to nurturing a dynamic culture of research: inquiry, exploration, and mentorship and we encourage you to explore the many ways MCLA students are making an impact in their disciplines and communities.
Presentation Guidelines: Paper and creative writing presentations will be limited to 15-20 minutes, including Q&A. Time limits on performances will be set once we know how many submissions we receive. Posters will be available during the poster session. Visual artwork will remain on display throughout the conference. Special session presentations will be of variable length depending on the number of papers in that session.
Abstracts are due by Monday, March 23
URC Keynote Speakers
Kaitlin Wright '17 is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, holding both a Bachelor in Political Science and Public Policy and Bachelor in History. She also holds a Master of Arts in Applied Politics from Suffolk University. Kaitlin has spent several years working in state and local government, with time spent working at the Massachusetts House of Representatives and presently, as the City Clerk of Haverhill, MA.
Kaitlin is passionate about elections and encouraging people to get out and vote. In her work, she has an active focus on registering new voters, educating the public on the voting process, and making voting more accessible. Kaitlin has been interviewed by CBS News, WBZ News, and the Boston Globe to speak on the issues election officials are facing in the current climate. She is one of the youngest city/town clerks presently serving in MA. In addition to her role as City Clerk, she serves on the Legislative Committee for the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association and the Executive Board of the Massachusetts City Clerks Association. She has obtained the prestigious designation of Certified Municipal Clerk.
She volunteers on several local boards and commissions including the Haverhill Historic Commission, the Friends of the Haverhill Public Library, the Haverhill Rotary Club, as the Secretary for the Second Chance for Sight Foundation, and as the Vice Regent for the Brigadier General James Brickett Old Newbury Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). Through her work cleaning and preserving gravestones with the NSDAR, Kaitlin has been nominated for a state level NSDAR historic preservation award. In her spare time, Kaitlin is an avid runner and is a member of the Winner’s Circle Running Club.
- 2025: Bentley S. Munsell
- 2024: Devin Philbrick '12
- 2023: Jenna McElroy ’16
- 2022: Elsa "Rose" Mastico '18
- 2021: Ama Bemma Adwetewa-Badu '15
- 2020: Ama Bemma Adwetewa-Badu '15 - Canceled due to COVID19 pandemic
- 2019: Alexandra Nichipor '12
- 2018: James Chapman '15
- 2017: Kaitlin Hallet '10
- 2016: Chloe McGrath '13
- 2015: Alicia Girgenti, Ph.D '07
- 2014: Victoria Welch '09
- 2013: Evan Hermann '07
- 2012: Jarrod Abbott-Washburn '08
- 2011: Brendan Gaesser '07
- 2010: Maura Mills '05
- 2009: Trisha Farco '04
- 2008: Gerol Petruzella '01
- 2007: Bonnie Beal '01
We're Here to Help!
Whitney Gecker
Chair of Undergraduate Research
Clio Stearns
Associate Chair of Undergraduate Research