Meet the NCITE Students: Reflections on ENVISION22

By Eva Burklund
NCITE Student

The mood was surprisingly light as five NCITE students sat around a long, rectangular table in the windowed student offices stuffing black folders for the ENVISION22 conference beginning the next day. Soon enough, more students and staff came into the office to roll NCITE-branded socks and joke with the other student workers.

From the beginning, students were heavily involved in the creation of ENVISION. Along with the socks and folders, student workers designed the centerpieces on tables, printed name badges for guests, set up rooms for breakout sessions, and, with the direction of NCITE staff, did much of the hidden work necessary for a conference to run smoothly. They did all this while balancing schoolwork and extracurriculars.

“I felt like the students pulled together and worked really well together to help out with the conference and make it run as smoothly as it did,” said Madison Scott, an NCITE STEM fellow.

Before the conference, students were asked to create research posters to share with conference attendees. As a sophomore creating my first poster, knowing that it was going to be seen by world-class researchers and distinguished civil servants, I nearly didn't participate because I thought I would regret it. I felt like I wasn’t worthy of the opportunity. However, like other students I spoke with, the experience of creating my poster and talking about my research opened my mind to new professional possibilities.

UNO Chancellor Joanne Li poses with NCITE students (from left to right) John Wonderlich, Bryan Botkin, and Stanley Goh.

“My topic was on the different community-led programs that DHS is funding through their Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program,” said Daniel Cook, a graduate assistant at NCITE. “Discussing my poster solidified my confidence in my work, because hearing different people’s thoughts on the impact that this will have really reassured me on my research. It also showed me where my work is on the rest of the realm of research being funded by the DHS.”

During the conference, while tidying tables and running microphones, students were encouraged to watch panels as well as connect with researchers, officials, and other students.

“My overall experience at the conference was amazing,” Scott said. “I feel like I learned a lot from all of the research presentations, was able to meet some amazing people within our field, and was able to show off some of our research on the metaverse.”

Along with insightful panels, students heard from Samantha Vinograd, the assistant secretary for counterterrorism, threat prevention, and law enforcement policy at the Department of Homeland Security.

“One of my favorite moments at ENVISION22 was the fireside chat with Ms. Vinograd and Dr. Ligon. It was truly inspiring to hear their stories and thoughts on the development of the future workforce,” said Camden Carmichael, another of NCITE’s student workers.

By the end of the conference, with the weeks of preparation amounting to an unforgettable experience that challenged them professionally and academically, NCITE students were grateful for the opportunity to make connections, expand their horizons and much more.

“It was really cool to see all the amazing researchers and other students in the NCITE consortium,” Carmichael said. “As a student I felt extremely welcomed by everyone, and it was a great opportunity to develop professionally and connect with other students from universities in the NCITE consortium.”