WCU undergraduate student presenting at prestigious D.C. conference

Kayla Harasymchuk, communication senior with a PR concentration excited to present at D.C.

A Western Carolina University communication student is set to present research at two academic and undergraduate conferences.

WCU senior Kayla Harasymchuk will present her research on “Communicating Social Support” at the prestigious D.C. Health Communication Conference, April 28 and 29.

The D.C. conference is designed for academics, and it is hard to get to for undergraduate students. Communication professor Dr. Candy Noltensmeyer, who worked with Harasymchuk, said that the application process was more competitive this year than in previous years – so it was even better to be accepted.

Harasymchuk collaborated with Noltensmeyer and Dr. David Scales of the Psychology Department to research what causes people to seek anonymous social support, rather than consulting someone they know.

“This project has enabled me to be more curious on how communication works in order to understand individuals better for the workplace and beyond,” said Harasymchuk.

Dr. Noltensmeyer will accompany Harasymchuk to the D.C. Health Communication Conference to do an “elevator pitch” poster presentation of the research and collected data.

Harasymchuk will also present her research at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research, April 6 through 8.