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Speakers
March 29, 2026 | WVU Mountainlair Gluck Theater | 2pm
TICKETS ON SALE Monday, March 9 at 10 a.m.
Arts & Entertainment Box Office in the Mountainlair commons
304-293-SHOW, ticketmaster.com
WVU Student Discount available at A&E Box Office or online
here.
The A&E Box Office in the Mountainlair will open at 12:30pm on March 29.
Hosted by Samuel Felinton
featuring talks by:Lama Alshamroukh
"Fail First: A Two-Step Guide to Becoming a Resilient Researcher"
Lama Alshamroukh is a biology pre-med student at West Virginia University and a driven student leader passionate about research, mentorship, and academic excellence. She serves as an Eberly College Student Ambassador and a Presidential Student Ambassador, and she is actively involved in multiple research environments that reflect her long-term goal of pursuing medicine. Click to read more about Lama.
Dr. Lauren Bojarski
"Am I Good Enough to Have Imposter Syndrome? How Vulnerability is an Asset"
Dr. Lauren Bojarski is a neurologist, assistant Professor, and associate program director at at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute who is redefining the "art of resilience" through the lens of vulnerability. Despite a decorated career—including a "Rising Star" award, a "Kentucky Colonel" commission, and the national ACGME David C. Leach Award for her contributions to resident education—Dr. Bojarski once found herself paralyzed by a panic attack in the ER, convinced she was a fraud. This pivotal moment revealed a profound truth: professional excellence does not cure "imposter phenomenon"—the persistent feeling of being a fraud despite clear evidence of success. Click to read more about Dr. Bojarksi.
Zim Warda Hasan
"Let Your Ambition Fly: From Concept to Confirmation"
Zim Warda Hasan is a PhD student in the Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) program at West Virginia University. She currently works as a graduate research assistant with the WVU Medicine Gastroenterology and Hepatology team. Originally from Chittagong, Bangladesh, Zim earned her medical degree in her home country and later completed her master’s degree at Western Kentucky University. Her recent work focuses on addressing the “treatment gap” in obesity care by supporting clinical studies that explore options between lifestyle change, medication, and less invasive procedures. Click to read more about Zim.
Max Hill
"Huntington: The City of Resilience"
Max Hill is an economics and finance major from Marshall University whose journey has been shaped by both resilience and his connections to his community. Growing up in the Appalachian region instilled a strong sense of community, which is shown by local projects and service initiatives. His academic work in economics, combined with firsthand experiences in the culture and challenges of Huntington, WV, and Appalachia, allows for connection-driven data analysis with the lives of everyday West Virginians. This unique insight helps and fuels his goals of meaningful, community-centered progress. Click read more about Max.
Erin Sponaugle
"The Creative Comeback: When Teacher Resilience Is No Longer Endurance"
Dr. Erin Sponaugle is an educator, author, artist, and speaker with two decades of experience teaching and leading in West Virginia’s public schools. A lifelong West Virginia resident, she earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from West Virginia University. Erin is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds a doctorate in curriculum, instruction, and assessment. She teaches visual art to students in grades 3-5 at Tomahawk Intermediate School in Hedgesville, West Virginia. A former West Virginia Teacher of the Year, Erin has worked with teachers across the state, witnessing their commitment and the challenges that drive burnout and attrition. Her greatest interest is addressing teachers' mental health and the demands of the profession. Click to read more about Dr. Sponaugle.
Whitney Stout
"DANCE-ing Through Change: The 5-step System for Managing Uncertainty and Reducing Stress During Change Initiatives "
Whitney Stout is director of strategic operations at WVU Online, where she translates institutional priorities into scalable systems that advance online education. Her career spans legal aid, enterprise technology implementation, and strategic operations which has given her firsthand experience with how change communication fragments across organizational layers. Whitney relocated to West Virginia through Ascend WV in 2024, returning to her home state after years building expertise elsewhere. Previously, she led change management and process innovation initiatives and served as Interim Director of Customer Success at Lupl, optimizing processes for global legal teams. Click to read more about Whitney.