Last Saturday, the College of Education hosted the Student Organization for Qualitative Methodologies (SOQM) Symposium at TECO Hall. The 7th Interdisciplinary Symposium on Qualitative Methodologies titled "Qualitative Inquiry Across Disciplines, led by SOQM president Daria Smirnova, took place on April 19-20. SOQM is dedicated to providing academic support to USF students interested in exploring and utilizing qualitative research methods. The organization aims to cultivate a collaborative environment where students and faculty members can exchange ideas, resources, and knowledge. The event had members of the USF qualitative research community, including Dr. Ilene Berson, Dr. Michael Berson, Dr. William Black, Dr. Molly Hamm-Rodriguez, Dr. Lorien Jordan, Dr. Alexandra Panos, Dr. Charles Vanover, Dr. Jenni Wolgemuth and others, joining the event as panelists, workshop leaders, and presenters. They covered a wide range of topics, such as art-based, decolonizing, emancipatory, spatial, and visual methodologies, as well as multicultural and international research.
This year, the primary objective was to create a vibrant qualitative methods community across disciplines, with the Symposium serving as a central and pivotal event in this endeavor. The Symposium featured paper sessions, poster session, round tables, and a range of panels and workshops. Over a hundred qualitative researchers and graduate students from the College of Arts, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Public Health, and The Judy Genshaft Honors College attended to present their work at the Symposium.
Highlights included the Keynote Address, "Always on Our Way: The Work of Patience in Justice-Oriented Qualitative Inquiry," delivered by Dr. Susan Nordstrom from The University of Memphis, featured lecture "Critical Autoethnography in Critical Times," delivered by Dr. Aisha Durham, USF, as well as a diverse array of expert panel discussions and workshops covering topics, such as art-based, decolonizing, emancipatory, spatial, and visual methodologies, as well as multicultural and international research. Approximately 150 participants joined us for our virtual day on April 19, with an additional 90 participating in person on April 20.
This year, the organization formed a Distinguished Student Paper Award Selection Committee with representatives across colleges to review and evaluate the submissions. College of Education students, Umi Saidah and Yohanis Carrera were named the winners for their outstanding paper titled "A Duoethnography on Teaching Languages Using Digital Technologies: Identity and Agency." The award winners received a $300 Cash Award along with a registration fee waiver for the upcoming International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (ICQI) 2024 conference.
SOQM aims to provide academic support to USF students interested in exploring and/or using qualitative research methods. The interdisciplinary organization will foster a creative atmosphere to facilitate collaboration and provide students an outlet for exchange of ideas, resources, and knowledge. We are proud to have it part of the College of Education. Students and Faculty Members can join today via BullsConnect.