The titles of their presentations got you there. What they said kept you there. That’s the overwhelming sentiment of those who attended the University of Montevallo’s first Faculty Research Symposium March 8.

The program featured the research of 23 faculty members. Kathy King, professor of English and adviser to the vice president for academic affairs for academic initiatives, directed the symposium.

“Although I attended most of the Faculty Research Symposium presentations, I found myself wishing I could have attended them all. I felt not only that I learned something from every presenter, but also that what I learned was important and even essential,” said UM President Philip C. Williams.

“From Haiti to Huntsville: What to expect and how to help in the aftermath of crisis” was the topic of a presentation by Stephanie Puleo, professor of counseling. Sherry Ford, associate professor of communication studies and director of the honors program, titled her research: “Your Mama Wears Combat Boots!: The Influence of Temperance and Emotional Intelligence on Communication During Interpersonal Conflict.”

Samantha Webb, associate professor of English, talked about “’Food for Fickle Tasters: Romanticism, Mass Culture, and the Consuming Pleasures of Books.” Other presenters included Stacey Ayotte, assistant professor of French, ’Mashups’ and the Foreign Language Classroom,” Karen Graffeo, associate professor of art, “re:re:re:fwd:fwd:Forward,” and Jim Day, associate professor of history and chair of the department of behavioral and social sciences, “Diamonds in the Rough’: A History of Alabama’s Cahaba Coal Field.”

As the day ended, compliments began to pour in.

“Perhaps more than any experience in my 26 years at Montevallo, this event exemplifies the very best qualities of higher education, on this campus or any other,” said Terry G. Roberson, vice president for academic affairs. The symposium is slated to become an annual event at Montevallo.