BOONE, N.C. — Following a delay caused by Hurricane Helene, Appalachian State University’s Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies held the 13th annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition on Friday, January 24, 2025.
For the competition, graduate students explain their research or scholarly/creative projects in jargon-free language to a general "lay" audience in three minutes with the help of only one static slide. This year, 12 students representing the Beaver College of Health Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Fine and Applied Arts and Walker College of Business participated.
The 2025 3MT participants were:
Abigail Branco (Psychological Sciences) presented "Do Stereotypes Free Up Cognitive Resources? A Replication and Extension of Macrae et al. (1994)." Branco is advised by Dr. Andrew Smith, professor in the Department of Psychology.
Autumn Cataldo (Speech Language Pathology) presented "The Importance of Behavioral Self-Regulation in Preschool-Aged Children." Cataldo is advised by Dr. George Wolford, assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Jonathan Culpepper (Technology) presented "Application of Locally Produced Arundo Donax Biochar and Fly Ash for Optimal Mechanical Properties of Hydraulic Cement Mortar." Culpepper is advised by Dr. Sharareh Shirzad, assistant professor in the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment.
Sean Doherty (Exercise Science) presented "Can the OpenCap Markerless Motion Capture Framework Detect Lower Extremity Kinematic Changes During a Fatiguing Run?" Doherty is advised by Dr. Herman van Werkhoven, associate professor in the Department of Public Health and Exercise Science.
Gloria Hope (Geography) presented "Geopolitics of Exclusive Bordering in the United States: A Case Study of Colombia and Venezuela." Hope is advised by Dr. Kara Dempsey, associate professor in the Department of Geography and Planning.
Freedom Johnson (Cellular and Molecular Biology) presented "A Chemical Approach to Gene Detection: Recognition of the clbR Gene in Escherichia Coli with Hairpin Polyamide-FRET Conjugates." Johnson is advised by Dr. Rachel Bleich, assistant professor in the Department of Biology, and Dr. Nicolas Shaw, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences.
Jose Picado (Exercise Science) presented "Does Hip-Shoulder Separation, Elbow Varus Torque and Functional Movement Relate to Pitch Performance in Collegiate Baseball Pitchers." Picado is advised by Dr. Alan Needle, professor in the Department of Public Health and Exercise Science.
Athena Sexton (Public Administration) presented "The Heart of the Park: Junior Ranger Program." Sexton is advised by Dr. Joy James, professor in the Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education.
Ngoc Tran (Business Administration) presented "Are We Ready for Autonomous Vehicles (AVs)?" Tran is advised by Dr. Jason Xiong, associate dean for advanced studies in business in the Walker College of Business and associate professor in the Department of Computer Information Systems.
Steven Vogel (Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management) presented "Performing on the Glass Stage: Examining Role Congruity’s Effect on Firm Performance." Vogel is advised by Dr. Tiberiu Ungureanu, assistant professor in the Department of Management.
Mabry Watson (Exercise Science) presented "Mental Imagery and Action-Observation with Brain Stimulation in Chronic Ankle Instability." Watson is advised by Dr. Alan Needle, professor in the Department of Public Health and Exercise Science.
Miranda Wells (Experimental Psychology) presented "Chronic Pain in Emerging Adults: The Benefits of Gratitude and Awe." Wells is advised by Dr. Lisa Emery, associate professor in the Department of Psychology.
Acting Provost Dr. Neva Specht (far left) and Dr. Ashley Walker Colquitt (far right), associate vice provost and dean of the Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies, with participants at the 13th annual Three Minute Thesis competition on Friday, January 24, 2025. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Branco, Culpepper, Doherty, Sexton, Tran and Vogel were selected as finalists. Ultimately, Culpepper received first place, Doherty received second place and Vogel received the People's Choice Award, voted by the event's attendees. All winners received cash awards to support travel and research.
The first-place winner, Culpepper, will represent Appalachian State at the regional competition held at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas, in March 2025.
Steven Vogel, a second-year graduate student in the Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management program, presents "Performing on the Glass Stage: Examining Role Congruity’s Effect on Firm Performance" during the final around of the 13th annual Three Minute Thesis competition on Friday, January 24, 2025. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
This year's competition was judged by:
Dr. Leslie Alexander ’11 ’18, superintendent of Watauga County Schools
Dr. Gabriele Casale, assistant vice provost for research and innovation and professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Judith Domer, former dean of Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies (1997-2004)
The 3MT competition was started at the University of Queensland in Australia in 2008 and has since been adopted at universities worldwide. To learn more about this competition, visit graduate.appstate.edu/events/three-minute-thesis-competition.
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About Graduate Education at App State
Appalachian State University’s Williams School of Graduate Studies helps individuals reach the next level in their career advancement and preparedness. The school offers 80 graduate degree and certificate programs — both in person and online — in a range of disciplines, including doctoral programs in education (Ed.D.) and psychology (Psy.D.). The graduate school enrolls nearly 2,000 students. Learn more at graduate.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs
January 27, 2025
BOONE, N.C.
Steven Vogel, Dr. Herman van Werkhoven, Sean Doherty, Jonathan Culpepper and Dr. Sharareh Shirzad at Appalachian State University's 13th annual Three Minute Thesis competition on Friday, January 24, 2025. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Steven Vogel, Dr. Herman van Werkhoven, Sean Doherty, Jonathan Culpepper and Dr. Sharareh Shirzad at Appalachian State University's 13th annual Three Minute Thesis competition on Friday, January 24, 2025. Photo by Kyla Willoughby