From students to scholars: WSSU to host conference that elevates undergraduate humanities research
Keynote speaker is Georgia State University’s renowned scholar Elizabeth J. West
Winston-Salem State University will host its annual Pre-Scholars Conference on Saturday, March 28, bringing undergraduate researchers from across the region together to present original academic work and engage in scholarly dialogue.
The conference, themed “Within, Across, Outside of the Humanities,” will feature students from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia showcasing research projects developed through coursework and independent study. Organizers say the event is designed to strengthen students’ engagement with primary sources, expand critical thinking skills and provide early experience in academic presentation.
The daylong program will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Donald J. Reaves Student Center, 760 Success Way, Room 100, on the WSSU campus. Faculty, staff, students and community members are invited to attend and support emerging scholars.
The Pre-Scholars Conference has a long history of supporting undergraduate research. The first conference was held in 1993 at Shaw University in Raleigh and was organized by founder Dr. Hazel Arnett Ervin. Since its inception, the event has drawn students from public and private institutions of varying sizes across North Carolina and neighboring states, particularly Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. Typical attendance exceeds 70 participants and guests.
Organizers say the conference allows students to define the role of a scholarly researcher and literary critic by actively engaging in the work itself. Participants move from academic writing and research courses to presenting at a professional-style conference, where they submit abstracts, receive invitations to present and share research intended to inform, persuade and engage audiences.
“It is rewarding to observe the confidence exuded by student presenters,” organizers said, noting that students gain hands-on experience in close reading, critical thinking and analysis while examining how language conveys meaning across literature and broader humanities topics. Many participants refer to themselves as ‘pre-scholars,’ reflecting their transition into academic inquiry and professional scholarship.
Conference leaders also note that today’s undergraduate scholars build upon generations of literary researchers while exploring new questions shaped by the digital age. Student presenters both learn from established scholarship and contribute new perspectives, helping define the future role of humanities researchers and critics.
The conference will include a keynote address by Elizabeth J. West, professor of English and the John B. and Elena Diaz-Verson Amos Distinguished Chair in English Letters at Georgia State University.
West is a nationally recognized humanities scholar whose work examines early African diaspora literatures of the Americas, with a focus on spirituality, gender and historical memory. She serves as director of academics for Georgia State’s Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora and previously led Mellon Foundation–supported initiatives exploring intersectionality studies in the American South.
Her book, “Finding Francis: One Family’s Journey from Slavery to Freedom,” received the 2023 book award from the College Language Association. West has also served as president of both the College Language Association and the Modern Language Association, becoming the first scholar to lead both organizations.
University officials say the Pre-Scholars Conference reflects WSSU’s continued commitment to undergraduate research, mentorship and academic excellence while creating opportunities for students to prepare for graduate study and professional careers. Organizers add that the conference provides an environment where students can train and grow as future scholars within and across the humanities.
