Scholars Showcase Event Programming

We are honored to celebrate the scholastic achievements of University of Indianapolis students and faculty. Learn more about the schedule and presentations below.

Schedule for April 16, 2026

Below is a basic breakdown of the events happening during the Scholars Showcase at UIndy on Thursday, April 16. Additional information, including presenters and project titles, can be found under the session options listed further on this website.

• 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. – Informal breakfast, UIndy Hall
• 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. – Poster Session I, Shreve Atrium, Schwitzer Student Center
• 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. – Poster Session II, Shreve Atrium, Schwitzer Student Center
• 11:00 a.m. - 11:59 a.m. – Poster Session III, Shreve Atrium, Schwitzer Student Center
• 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. – Lunch Break/Philanthropy Luncheon
• 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. – Poster Session IV, Shreve Atrium, Schwitzer Student Center
• 2:00 - 2:50 p.m. – Speech & Debate Showcase with Fine Arts Presentations, Trustee's Dining Room, Schwitzer Student Center
• 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. – Provost’s Lecture: Beth Ann Walker, UIndy Hall 

2026 Provost's Lecture

Confronting Inequity, Breaking Silence, Building Access: Research as a Catalyst for Global Change

The 2026 Provost's Lecture features Beth Ann Walker, PhD, MS, OTR, QIDP, FAOTA, a University of Indianapolis professor, a globally recognized pioneer, and, as her students affectionately call her, a "Research Whisperer." Dr. Walker will take us on an unexpected journey: from her own experiences as a struggling neurodivergent and non-traditional student from Mississippi, to practicing occupational therapy in inner-city long-term care, to becoming an educator and storyteller whose research was shaped by listening to the stories of people living with disabilities, and ultimately to the world stages of Brisbane and Bangkok, where she has been breaking a long-standing global professional silence, one study at a time.

What happens when a researcher starts asking the questions no one else will? For Dr. Walker, it led to the development of groundbreaking assessment tools now being translated into multiple languages, and a nomination by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists to contribute to the World Health Organization's Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation, an initiative designed to provide healthcare workers in low- and middle-income countries with practical, evidence-based guidance on delivering rehabilitation services. Her lecture will explore how rigorous science, a servant's heart, radical honesty, and a deep commitment to human dignity can transform not only a profession but also the lives of the people it serves.

Beth Ann Walker, PhD, MS, OTR, QIDP, FAOTA, is a Professor in the School of Occupational Therapy and the Master of Public Health Program at the University of Indianapolis. A Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association, honored for "Breaking the Global Silence in Addressing Sexuality and Intimacy," she developed the Occupational Therapy Sexual Assessment Framework (OTSAF) and the Occupational Performance Inventory of Sexuality and Intimacy (OPISI), tools that have reshaped how occupational therapists worldwide approach previously hidden occupations. Her research spans gerotechnology, aging in place, gaming in rehabilitation, and global sexual and reproductive health. She has authored textbook chapters and journal articles, presented at major congresses across five continents, and collaborated with the WHO on publications and training modules on COVID-19 sequelae and rehabilitation. Dr. Walker earned her BS in Psychology from Eureka College (1997), her MS in Occupational Therapy from UIndy (2001), and her PhD in Health Behavior with a minor in gerontology from Indiana University, Bloomington (2012). She is the recipient of the University of Indianapolis Outstanding Faculty Scholar Award.

Presentations

Poster presentations are located in the Shreve Atrium.