Bemidji State University students excelled at the 11th annual Posters at the Capitol event in St. Paul, with two projects earning Outstanding Conference Poster Awards. The event showcased undergraduate research from institutions across Minnesota.

BSU students Olivia Verley from Hugo, MN and Taysha Curry from Cass Lake, MN, were recognized for their research on Navigating Imposter Syndrome from an Indigenous lens at a Predominately White Institution (PWI). Their study, guided by Dr. Sarah Cronin, investigated how culturally relevant programming and institutional cultural awareness can help buffer against imposter syndrome.

Research has shown that American Indian students often struggle with cultural disconnection, discrimination and systemic barriers at PWIs, leading to mental health challenges such as imposter syndrome and depression. Verley and Curry’s work applied Indigenous theory, including Grande’s Red Pedagogy, to examine how centering Indigeneity in campus programming can foster resilience and student success. Using Consensual Qualitative Research methodology, they conducted semi-structured interviews with American Indian students at a four-year public university.

Preliminary findings highlight themes of cultural disconnection, the importance of institutional cultural awareness and the role of resilience in student success.

Jasmyn Moore from Hutchinson, MN, also received a top poster award for her research on The Oppressive Social Determinants Fueling Low Mental Health Among Black Youth in Ramsey County. Guided by Emily Paine, Moore’s study applied the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) framework to examine the systemic factors contributing to mental health disparities.

Her research categorized these determinants into three areas: structural, socioeconomic and intermediary. Structural determinants include governance and social policies, while socioeconomic factors encompass race, income and education. Intermediary determinants involve material circumstances, psychosocial factors and access to health care. Moore’s project highlighted how these interconnected determinants shape mental health outcomes for Black youth and emphasized the need for targeted interventions in Ramsey County.

Other BSU Student Research Presentations

In addition to the award-winning projects, several BSU students presented their research on diverse topics:

Robert Mangiamele: The Time of Semester as a Confound Variable Leading to Inconsistent Correlational Findings Between Belongingness and Other Variables of Interest

Alex Rivera: Playing the Medicine Game: Co-Cultural Theory and Indigenous Identity in the Sport of Lacrosse

Andrew Rizea: Characterization of Bacteriophage Little Ben that Infects Mycobacterium Smegmatis

Benjamin Strei: The Effect of Zebra Mussels on Minnesota Fish Communities

The annual Posters at the Capitol event in St. Paul provided students the opportunity to present their work to legislators, faculty and peers while gaining experience in professional research communication. The conference booklet, which includes all research titles and abstracts, is available online.

More information can be found at the event’s website, 2025 Posters at St. Paul.