Advanced Composition II Students Celebrating Their Research Accomplishments

Students enjoy perusing each other’s posters

On December 10, 2025, students of the Advanced Composition II course gathered to celebrate their accomplishments for the Fall 2025 semester.

One clear message echoed through the entire event: Stay curious. Ask questions. Always strive to learn. Piloted for the first time, the poster session served as a celebratory event where students received recognition for their work and had the opportunity to engage with the research their peers had done. The students—taught by Professor Lynne Beckenstein, Professor Elizabeth Bolger, and Professor Meghan Dahn—came together at Rose Hill’s Bepler Commons (located in Faber Hall) to present the work they completed for their inquiry-based research projects, synthesized into the form of a research poster. 

To kick off the event, Dr. Crystal Colombini, Director of the Writing and Composition Program, thanked everyone for attending and voiced her excitement for the upcoming activities. She recalled her first years at Fordham, when she looked into different models of Advanced Comp and implemented various features to make the classes more engaging for students. She then introduced and expressed her appreciation for Professor Beckenstein for her efforts as the Advanced Composition II Coordinator, as well as planning the poster session and making it possible. 

Professor Beckenstein emphasized how proud she and the other faculty were of all the students for their accomplishments. She spoke about how thrilled she was to celebrate their successes with them and for them to have the opportunity to connect with fellow students who shared a similar interest in research writing. After the success of this inaugural poster session, the organizing professors are considering the possibility of similar events in the future.

The event’s organizing professors address the room of students

As the student presenters finished their preparations, Professor Beckenstein encouraged them to walk around, chat, and ask each other questions. For the remainder of the event, that is exactly what happened. While half of the students served as presenters, sitting in a U-shaped formation, the other half circulated the room and spoke with their peers about their projects. At the midway point, Professor Beckenstein called for a switch, and the second group of students was then able to present their work. Curiosity and enthusiasm buzzed about as students wandered from poster to poster, from presenter to presenter.  Why did you choose this topic? How did it resonate with you? What was the most interesting thing you learned? These were some of the questions asked as discussions sparked to life, prompting intellectual exchanges between the students as they learned more about the variety of topics to which their peers had dedicated themselves. 

Some included: “AI and Its Impact on Literature,” which discussed the effects of AI on cognitive thinking; “Gaslighting,” which focused on emotional abuse and aimed to raise awareness about it; “Creativity and Social Media,” which explained how the introduction of social media has changed how society perceives art; and more. Other examples include the Division Between the Humanities and STEM, the White Savior Complex, the Instrumental Value of Protests, Gen Z’s Attachment Styles, and the Impact of Gender Stereotypes on Female Success. Even with the diversity, it all stemmed from a common point: curiosity.

Dr. Colombini and students circulate the room of presenters and their posters

As the poster session neared its end, refreshments arrived, and students flocked to the charcuterie- style platters filled with different vegetables, cheeses, bologna slices, and crackers. The spread also included a variety of sweet treats, such as Christmas-themed biscuits and chocolate chip cookies. 

With the conclusion of the poster session, these students ended their Fall semester with intellectual discoveries, lasting friendships, and a newfound appreciation for research writing. What they’ve gained will stay with them forever.

So, pursue what you want to discover. Lean into your interests. Stay curious and dedicated to your craft.

Be the one who changes the world.

Written by Eileen Zheng, a sophomore English major