Academic Excellence Showcase
2026 Presidential Plenary
Keynote Speaker: David Heil, innovative science educator
What started as a child with adventurous wanderings in the Dallas, Oregon city park, later became a lifelong endeavor to encourage others to explore and discover the many wonders of the world with confidence and curiosity. David will reflect on his 50-year career as a scientist, educator, host of the Emmy Award-winning PBS science series Newton’s Apple, OMSI administrator, author, and global consultant. His years at WOU (then, known as WOSC) were seminal in that journey.
“How Research Experiences Enhance Diverse Careers & Lifelong Learning: One Scientist/Educator’s Case”
Read David Heil’s full biography.
Western Oregon University faculty speakers
- Brianne Salvati, Assistant Professor, OTD, OTR/L: Telehealth Lifestyle Pilot Study for Improving Occupational Performance in Older Adults
- Ryan Topper, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Literature: Tree Prisons, Environmental Memory, and African Literature
Volunteers
Want to Volunteer for AES? Click the button below to find the form. All AES volunteers are greatly appreciated and will be given some WOU swag for how long you volunteer for!
Meet the AES Planning Committee
Comprising faculty and staff from across campus and chaired by the PURE coordinator, the AES Planning Committee is dedicated to the event’s success. In order to ensure the highest level of participation, the group includes faculty volunteers, representing academic disciplines across campus, to serve as session chairs. Please consider joining us in our celebration of student scholarly excellence!
