Research Grant Leads to LVC Student Hosting Undergraduate Conference in the Liberal Arts

Key Points:

• An LVC student organized and hosted a multi-college undergraduate conference in the liberal arts.
• The event welcomed more than 20 student presenters from six institutions.
• The conference focused on themes of meaning, ethics, and living deliberately.
• Funding from the Elyse E. Rogers ’76 Research Fund helped make the opportunity possible.
• The event marked the first time the conference was fully organized by a single student at LVC.

Alyson Sager’s two years of brainstorming, planning, and coordination resulted in The Examined Life: An Undergraduate Conference in the Liberal Arts held at Lebanon Valley College in March. More than 20 students from six colleges shared their research at the event with three receiving top prizes. LVC students Cassidy Landis ’27 and Jakob Strohl ’29 presented at the conference.

Sager, an LVC junior majoring in Political Science, Social Justice and Civic Engagement, and Philosophy, developed a desire to bring this event to LVC after attending conferences in Washington, D.C., including the National Conference on Community and Restorative Justice. She received a grant through LVC’s Elyse E. Rogers ’76 Research Fund that supported her attendance the summer before her sophomore year.

“I started noticing that conversations about meaning, ethics, and the human experience felt increasingly sidelined?in academic settings, and?students and professors I met from?across the country?while attending conferences in D.C.?confirmed similar?observations,” said Sager.

Sager’s conference experience and lessons learned through related research provided the resources for her to host The Examined Life Conference, a rotating event not held at LVC since 2019 and never solely organized by an individual student. The conference’s theme this year, of “Living Deliberately,” challenged participants to reflect on the values that define who they are, influence the social fabric, and illuminate what it means to live a meaningful life.

“I knew I?wanted to create a space where?the?conversations?I have in?my philosophy?class and the meaningful discussions?at the conferences I attended?could happen in a serious and collaborative way?at LVC, for all disciplines,” added Sager.

Sager added that receiving the Rogers grant and pursuing a self-designed major have allowed her to take ownership of her education and collaborate with several faculty mentors during her three years at LVC.

“Professor [Philip] Benesch, in particular, shaped?my academic path in a lasting way. As a?freshman, I was struck by his dedication. I often saw him?working late into the night or early in the morning, fully invested in his students and his field.?Benesch challenged his students to?take their?interests?seriously,?and he encouraged me to approach?education?and life in general?with greater intention,” said Sager.

“Additionally, the?mentorship?I’ve?received with the Humanities Department?has?allowed me to?engage in meaningful conversations about what it means to live a well-rounded life, to think ethically, and to translate academic work into real-world impact,” added Sager.