Lake County Gazette

Seven students from Professor Holly Swyers’ Decolonizing Bodyminds and Their Relations class at Lake Forest College presented their research at the 2025 Midwest Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). The conference took place on April 11 at Indiana University South Bend.

The participating students, Ivette Cardenas ’25, Avis Elfman ’25, Adrianna Kandilakis ’25, Isabella Núñez ’26, Lejla Murati ’25, Andrea Sandoval-Torres ’26, and Eva Zacatenco-Gomez ’25, addressed the question “Can the Master’s House Be Decolonized from the Inside?” Their presentation was supported by work from classmates Isabel Bersie ’26, Sadie Fry ’27, Angelica Hryb ’25, Lily Reed ’26, Lia Romanotto ’25, and Camila Velasquez ’26.

Participation in such conferences allows Lake Forest College students to engage with current educational research and practices. By contributing to and learning from scholarly discussions, students gain valuable insights into teaching and learning dynamics.

“My biggest takeaway from our conference presentation is that we have more allies and supporters than we know. Our audience was not only interested in what we did in class but also our experiences doing it,” said Elfman. “It’s interesting to present on a research project that’s part of personal and community growth. ”

“We aren’t disconnected from the subject of study. We are part of it,” another student noted. “That vulnerability and openness was a form of strength. People genuinely wanted to listen. ”

The experience will have lasting impacts beyond Lake Forest College. “Conducting our research and sharing our findings at an important conference taught me a more nuanced way of thinking about connectedness, relationships, and the importance of just ‘being,’” Elfman added.

Professor Swyers expressed her satisfaction with the opportunity: “I’m really glad the College is able to help fund opportunities like this. While I know our students are top-notch and can hold their own in a professional setting, sometimes they need to experience it for themselves to believe it. ”

The 2025 Midwest SoTL Conference focused on “Care, Kindness, and Creativity,” highlighting compassion and innovation in teaching. Keynote speaker Dr. Cate Denial advocated for a transformative approach to higher education that prioritizes care and justice for both students and educators.