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Fusion Day

Fusion Day is a time set aside to celebrate your academic work by providing an opportunity to showcase original research, scholarship, or creative work with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the larger community. This year Fusion Day will be on April 23-24.  Classes will be canceled on April 24 so students can participate by both presenting and attending sessions.

2024 Photo Gallery

Speakers

Alumni Speaker

Matt Stell ’06

April 23, 7 p.m.
Judy Thompson Executive Conference Center

Matt Stell ‘06, a Center Ridge, Arkansas native, blends his musical influences from Classic
Country to Indie-Alternative into heartfelt songs. Initially balancing music with college
basketball, he honed his craft playing local gigs. He went on to release successful singles
like “Prayed For You” and “Everywhere But On.” Stell tours extensively and founded the
Give A Damn Foundation to support various charities. He aims for emotional honesty and
musical integrity in his music, rooted in his Arkansas upbringing.

Alumni Speaker

Karen Williams ’85

April 24, 11:15 a.m.
Judy Thompson Executive Conference Center

Karen Lynn Williams ‘85, Ambassador (ret.), served in U.S. national security and foreign
affairs leadership positions specializing in military operations and policy, counter-
terrorism and security assistance as well as public diplomacy and multi-cultural team
leadership before retiring as a career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service in 2023.
She protected U.S. citizens and interests in both foreign and domestic roles, including
as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname (2018-2022). Her most recent role in the
U.S. government was establishing the position of and serving as, the first Foreign Policy
Advisor to the Chief of Space Operations (Space Force) at the Pentagon (2022-2023).

Keynote Speaker

Olga Custodio

April 24, 6 p.m.
Judy Thompson Executive Conference Center

Olga E. Custodio is a Retired Captain from American Airlines and her achievements
are truly remarkable. She was the first Hispanic female to graduate from USAF
Undergraduate Pilot Training, graduating in the top 5%, and has received numerous
awards for her exceptional airmanship and leadership, including being recognized as the
first Latina pilot inducted into the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame.


Schedule


Certificate Panels

Room 205

9:30-9:50 – Get Out and Plug In: Intercultural Connections

9:50-10:10 – Holistic Health and Wellbeing

10:10-10:20 – Break

10:20-10:40 – Get Out and Plug In: Intercultural Connections

10:40-11:00 – Holistic Health and Wellbeing

Room 210

9:30-9:50 – Data Analytics: Big Problems, Big Data Solutions

9:50-10:10 – Professional and Visual Communication

10:10-10:20 – Break

10:20-10:40 – Data Analytics: Big Problems, Big Data Solutions

10:40-11:00 – Professional and Visual Communication

Room 300

9:30-9:50 – Ancients Alive: The Classics in Context

9:50-10:10 – Sports Leadership: Going Beyond the Game

10:10-10:20 – Break

10:20-10:40 – Ancients Alive: The Classics in Context

10:40-11:00 – Sports Leadership: Going Beyond the Game

Room 240

9:30-9:50 – Holistic Health and Wellbeing

9:50-10:10 – Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: Facilitating Learning in a Professional Setting

10:10-10:20 – Break

10:20-10:40 – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

10:40-11:00 – Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: Facilitating Learning in a Professional Setting

Room 200

9:30-9:50 – Graphic Storytelling

9:50-10:10 – Life in Close Up: Film, History, and Society

10:10-10:20 – Break

10:20-10:40 – Graphic Storytelling

10:40-11:00 – Life in Close Up: Film, History, and Society

Room 220

9:30-9:50 – Designing Solutions for Environmental Problems

9:50-10:10 – The Activists Tool Kit: Transforming Society through Civic Engagement

10:10-10:20 – Break

10:20-10:40 – Designing Solutions for Environmental Problems

10:40-11:00 – The Activists Tool Kit: Transforming Society through Civic Engagement

Room 245

9:30-9:50 – Ethical Leadership

9:50-10:10 – Justice Denied: Wrongful Convictions

10:10-10:20 – Break

10:20-10:40 – Ethical Leadership

10:40-11:00 – Justice Denied: Wrongful Convictions

Room Compass Center

9:30-9:50 – Different in the New Normal: Celebrating Neurodiversity

9:50-10:10 – International Immersion

10:10-10:20 – Break

10:20-10:40 – Different in the New Normal: Celebrating Neurodiversity

10:40-11:00 – International Immersion


Fuse Talks Livestream