Conference Information
2026 Conference – Held Virtually via Zoom, March 27, 2026.
Each year, the Michigan Academy organizes a conference where members present their scholarly work to peers and learn what research projects their colleagues are undertaking.
Conference Information
Registration
Registration
Registration
Conference Registration Fees
Regular rate (February 14 – March 6); Late rate (March 7 – March 20). No same day Registration!
Faculty Affiliated with a Member Institution
Regular $170; Late $190
Non-Affiliated Faculty and Independent Scholars
Regular $185; Late $205
Retiree
Regular $150; Late $170
Student (Graduate and Undergraduate)
Regular $110; Late $130
Directions and Lodging
Directions and Lodging
Directions and Lodging
The 2026 conference will be held virtually with no on-site option.
Section Leader(s)
Section Leader(s)
Section Leader(s)
For questions about appropriate topics, presentation types, presentation lengths, etc. please contact the appropriate section chair(s). General questions about the abstract submission process, conference registration fees, individual membership etc. can be directed to the Michigan Academy staff at michiganacademy@alma.edu or (989) 463-7969.
Anthropology & Sociology
Robert Greenwood, rgreenwood@madonna.edu
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Joseph Sucic, jsucic@umich.edu
Irfana Muqbil, imuqbil@ltu.edu
Botany and Plant Ecology
David Dornbos, dld9@calvin.edu
Business and Administration
Michael Crum, mcrum@nmu.edu
Chemistry
Jim Mazzuca, mazzucajw@alma.edu
Communication
Sara Potter, sapoggi@nmu.edu
Computers
Mazin Al Hamando, malhamand@ltu.edu
Paula Lauren, plauren@ltu.edu
Economics
Soo Sieber, sieber@oakland.edu
Education
Tiana Bosley, tbosley@uolivet.edu
Environmental Science and Ecology
Jeffrey Lake, jlake2@sienaheights.edu
French & Italian Language and Literature
Mandeta Gjata, mandeta.gjata@wayne.edu
Geography
Fred Sunderman, fwsunder@svsu.edu
Geological Sciences
Need section chair, contact the Academy if interested.
Health and Human Services
Lihua Dishman, ldish888@aol.com
History
Eric Washington, emw23@calvin.edu
Interdisciplinary Studies
Deirdre Hennebury, henne@umich.edu
Ben Bennett-Carpenter, bennettc@oakland.edu
Language and Literature
Maureen Thum, mthum@umich.edu
Law and Political Science
Reem Abou-samra, reem.abou@gmail.com
Library and Information Sciences
Suzi Teghtmeyer, teghtmey@msu.edu,
D. Ryan, ryanchel@msu.edu
Linguistics
Derek Drake, dpdrake@gmail.com
German Zarate-Sandez, german.zarate-sandez@wmich.edu
Mathematics
Bruce Pell, bpell@ltu.edu
Microbiology
Julie Zwiesler-Vollick, jzwiesler@ltu.edu
Physics and Engineering
George Pappas, gpappas@ltu.edu
Psychology
Harvey Burnett, harveyb@andrews.edu
Religious Studies
Jack Kilcrease, jdk002@aquinas.edu
Rhetoric and Composition
Need section chair, contact the Academy if interested.
Spanish Language, Literature & Culture
Maribel Colorado-Garcia, mcolorad@svsu.edu
Women’s and Gender Studies
Prathim Maya Dora-Laskey, dora-laskepm@alma.edu
Zoology
Gary Lange, gmlange@svsu.edu
Session Schedule
Session Schedule
Session Schedule
Final Program and Zoom links are being emailed to all registered attendees. Please contact the Academy if you did not receive the information.
Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker
PLENARY SPEAKER
Marilee Benore, professor emerita, University of Michigan – Dearborn
Creating An Inclusive Classroom For A Global STEM Future
Professor Emerita Benore received her Associate of Arts degree in psychology and her Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from Thomas More College, Kentucky, and her Ph.D. degree in chemistry from the University of Delaware. She conducted post-doctoral research at the former Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceutical Corporation, New Jersey. Professor Benore joined the University of Michigan-Dearborn faculty as an assistant professor in 1989, and was promoted to associate professor in 1996, and professor in 2008.
As a teacher-scholar, Professor Benore has been an exceptional instructor and leader, combining studentcentered teaching with project-based learning, and incorporating research practices into the curriculum. She previously served as the associate dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters, and received the Eugene V. Arden Interdisciplinary Research/Teaching Award in 2018. Her laboratory research focuses on the vitamin riboflavin and its transport. She is a leader in the field of biochemistry education, serving on committees and in leadership positions at the national and international level, and is the co-author of a popular laboratory manual. Professor Benore was named a fellow of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2023. She has developed new undergraduate programs and is dedicated to incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion best practices into her courses and research. Professor Benore seeks to understand factors that influence women’s persistence in STEM fields and is an affiliate faculty member of the women’s and gender studies faculty. She has won numerous awards for mentoring women including the University of Michigan’s Sarah Goddard Power Award and the Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award. Professor Benore currently serves as Editor in Chief of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, a journal of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Posters
Posters
Posters
Posters will be presented during scheduled times within each section. You will have access to share your screen to use your poster as a presentation aid.