Nichols College celebrates hands-on learning at REAL Symposium

Is livestream shopping the “next big thing” in retail? How might Costa Rica represent a global model for sustainable tourism? And what does it take to run a profitable student-led business? Those questions and more were explored at the fourth annual Research, Experiential, and Applied Learning (REAL) Symposium at Nichols College, a day-long event celebrating the many unique and impactful projects of Nichols students and faculty, both in and out of the classroom.

The campus buzzed with discussions as students and their faculty mentors across disciplines shared projects and insights throughout the day. With over 35 sessions featuring the work of more than 250 student presenters and over 25 faculty mentors, the symposium offered a wide range of topics, from the effects of young investors on the stock market to the use of AI in fourth-down decisions in the NFL to the effect of misinformation on our most trusted memories, as well as experiential opportunities such as the Super Bowl practicum, the Bison Consulting Group, and the Dudley Hill Golf Club and Bison Den clubhouse at Nichols College.

A day of ideas and opportunity

The day opened with a morning keynote by Rob McDiarmid ’98, vice president of women’s wear at Burlington Stores and co-chair of the Nichols College Board of Advisors, who offered a packed crowd of students a candid look at turning adversity into opportunity and building an impactful career.

Drawing on his journey from public housing and peach-picking at $1.95 an hour to leading billion‑dollar retail businesses, McDiarmid highlighted the power of grit, mentorship and saying yes to ambitious goals—from buying his first apartment building to helping turn around major brands like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and American Eagle. He urged students to recognize key “10 percent moments” where extra preparation can set them apart. “I shouldn’t have been able to go to college, I shouldn’t have been able to graduate, and I shouldn’t be running a billion‑dollar business—but I am,” he said. “If someone like me can do that, why can’t it be you?”

Following the keynote, students and faculty mentors shared projects that reflected the hands-on focus of a Nichols education.

One student research team studied the connection between sleep, recovery and athletic performance. Sport management majors Ema Jaskova ’26, Taylor Breen ’26 and Anna Dziecinny ’26 presented “Using WHOOP Technology to Examine Sleep Performance and Recovery in Collegiate Hockey Athletes,” which analyzed biometric data gathered from Nichols men’s ice hockey players wearing a WHOOP device, which is a 24/7 health wearable, across multiple games during the season.

Through examining data and variables for sleep before the game, body workload during the game and recovery after competition, the team found that athletes who slept on a consistent schedule had more deep sleep and recovered better after games.

“We spent many hours collecting and sorting through all the data to see what it actually could show us. Being able to share it today and see people appreciate it is really rewarding,” said Jaskova, who along with Dziecinny is a member of the women’s varsity ice hockey team.

Another student’s project addressed a current issue in the correctional system. Criminal justice major Mitchel Brown ’27 presented “Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Correctional Officer Burnout and Staffing Shortages in State Correctional Systems,” which reviewed data highlighting how high turnover, mandatory overtime and workplace stress can weaken outcomes of these institutions. Brown’s findings suggest that better career development within the ranks would improve staffing stability and safety in the facilities.

“I’m interested in joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and corrections issues can impact the ability of officers to do their job,” said Brown. “Getting to do a research project on something I’m interested in and sharing it with others is definitely a pretty cool opportunity. It’s not something I really expected to do when I came here—I’m glad I got to take this on.”

Faculty mentors shared similar sentiments about seeing the students sharing their projects today.

“What we’ve found is that by letting the students choose which area to delve into, they think more creatively about how to solve the problem, and they tend to enjoy the research process more. It’s so exciting to see them presenting something they’re passionate about,” said Associate Professor and Criminal Justice Program Chair Allison McDowell Smith.

The REAL Symposium also highlighted experiential learning beyond the classroom, including study abroad opportunities. Criminal justice major Sarah Maher ’27, who studied in Greece, shared how her travel experiences challenged her to grow personally, and what it was like to take classes on Greek museums, monuments and culture and explore them in real life.

“I jumped at the opportunity to present my experiences to REAL attendees because I want to inspire other students to study abroad. It can feel scary going across the world by yourself, but we did it and it was worth it—I learned so much and became even more independent.”

Experiences that shape what comes next

Many students viewed their projects as a springboard for opportunities after Nichols.

Marketing major Victoria Symock ’27, who plans to pursue a career in fashion and dove into the College’s library archives to study how women’s fashion at Nichols evolved over the years as women’s roles changed, believes this research will aid her career.

“I am so grateful to be attending Nichols at this time and to have the support of the Institute for Women’s Leadership and so many strong female leaders and mentors to look up to. They say that all fashion is cyclical, so I’m preparing for what’s next by studying what came before.”

An afternoon alumni panel offered students advice on next steps after REAL and launching their careers. Tim Born ’18, HR generalist at Henke Sass Wolf of America; Taylor (Kerr) Meacham ’19, director of operational excellence at Minuteman Security Technologies; and Joey Wright ’20, mortgage loan originator at Milestone Mortgage Solutions, encouraged students to take full advantage of Nichols opportunities—from public speaking class to faculty mentorship to alumni connections—and provided AI-savvy job search tips.

They also discussed the importance of staying open to career pivots and being willing to take risks. “I’ve had so many growth opportunities because I was open to change. Don’t be afraid to take that leap of faith, even if the outcome is a bit unknown,” said Kerr.

Organizers said the symposium reflects the broad range of ways Nichols students apply what they learn while at Nichols and beyond. Dean for the School of Business Jean Beaupre, a member of the REAL Symposium committee, spent much of the day attending presentations and speaking with students.

“I always look forward to the REAL Symposium and taking in the wide range of impressive projects our students complete under the guidance of our dedicated, experienced faculty, a hallmark of the Nichols College academic experience,” she said. “The emphasis we put on experiential learning ensures that our curriculum is dynamic and meaningful, and the REAL Symposium reflects that spirit while showing how Nichols develops and supports thoughtful, career-ready leaders.”

(Pictured in story header photo: Ryan Michonski ’26 presents his project during the REAL Symposium.)