Spring Research Conference 2026
Stephens College’s Spring Research Conference celebrates scholarly inquiry and collaborative discovery across disciplines. Held on April 16, 2026, in Columbia, Missouri, the conference brings together students, faculty, and invited scholars to showcase innovative research and creative work that address pressing questions in science, health, and leadership.
Guided by this year’s theme, Leadership & Discovery: Science & Health for the Future, the conference highlights the transformative role of research in advancing knowledge, informing practice, and shaping inclusive, evidence-based solutions. Through the keynote addresses from distinguished scholars and student poster sessions, attendees will engage in meaningful dialogue, explore emerging ideas, and celebrate the impact of research at Stephens College and beyond.
The Spring Research Conference reflects Stephens College’s commitment to academic excellence, mentorship, and the integration of research into education, fostering a vibrant community of inquiry and innovation.
Keynote Speakers
Rosemary Morgan, PhD, MSc
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Dr. Morgan is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) in the Department of International Health. Dr. Morgan co-directs the Gender and Health Summer Institute and Coordinates the Gender and Health Certificate at JHSPH. She is recognized as a specialist in gender analysis in health and health systems research, interventions, and programs and leads projects focusing on gender responsive monitoring and evaluation and women’s leadership. She has published over 100 journal articles and is Chief Editor of the book: Women Leaders in Global Health: Power and Transformation, published in 2022 by Springer.
Kenneth S. Campbell, PhD
University of Kentucky
Dr. Campbell grew up in Scotland and completed his undergraduate degree (in Physics) and PhD (in Sports Science) at the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham in England. He moved to the US for a postdoc position in 1998 and joined the University of Kentucky as an Assistant Professor in 2004. Dr. Campbell currently serves as Director of Translational Research for the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine where he works with leadership to lower the energy barriers that can prevent busy physicians from performing meaningful research.
Dr. Campbell’s own research focuses on cardiac contractility and heart failure. Much of the work uses samples of human myocardium that have been gifted by organ donors and patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In addition to performing biochemical and biophysical experiments, Dr. Campbell’s research team develops computer models of the heart that grow and evolve in response to genetic and hemodynamic perturbations. The long term goal is to use these computer models to help optimize therapies for patients who have heart failure.
Stevan P. Whitt, MD
MU Health
Dr. Whitt serves as Chief Medical Officer of University of Missouri Health Care as well as Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs in the MU School of Medicine. He is responsible for leading clinical and support missions across MU Health Care. He engages and partners with senior leadership throughout the health system to promote an integrated approach to providing services while meeting our missions of patient care, education and research. Dr. Whitt is a Professor of Medicine, with areas of active clinical expertise and Board Certifications in Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, NeuroCritical Care Medicine, and Infectious Diseases.
Submission Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in presenting at the Spring Research Conference, hosted by the School of Health Sciences. The conference is currently in the planning stages, please check back for more updates soon!
Human Subjects Review Board Information
If you are completing a research study that requires approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Committee, please visit the Human Subjects Research/Institutional Review Board (IRB) webpage and scroll to the bottom of the page to submit your IRB application. If you have any questions about the IRB process, email Dr. Haskins at mhaskins@stephens.edu.
Event Schedule
April 16, 2026
| 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM | Poster Setup |
| 8:45 AM – 9:00 AM | Opening Remarks |
| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Keynote Speaker: Rosemary Morgan, PhD, MSc |
| 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Break |
| 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM | Keynote Speaker: Kenneth S. Campbell, PhD |
| 11:15 AM – 11:30 AM | Break |
| 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM | Keynote Speaker: Stevan P. Whitt, MD |
| 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM | Lunch |
| 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Poster Session |