Students from Washburn University’s Computer Information Sciences (CIS) department represented the university at the International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS) annual conference, held Oct. 1-4 in Clearwater, Florida. The national conference brings together students, faculty and industry professionals to share research and advancements in the field of information systems.
Under the guidance of Nan Sun, professor and chair of the CIS department, three research papers from Washburn were accepted and published in “Issues in Information Systems (Vol. 26, No. 2).” The papers explored topics such as artificial intelligence in higher education, ransomware and generational perception and UI/UX design for mental health technologies.
The three research projects, supervised by Sun, was authored by Rajdeep Sah, Cameron Hagemaster, Arpan Adhikari, Ari Lee, Prayaanshu Pradhan, Kevin Ong, Utsav K.C., James Tanasyah, Elaina Pan, and Yuhei Morimoto. Several of the student authors traveled to present the paper at the conference.
Sun said she encourages students to pursue topics that genuinely interest them, as passion drives persistence and quality.
“I always tell students to pick something they care about,” Sun said. “When they do, their motivation shows through the work. Research is not just about technical skill, it’s about curiosity and persistence.”
The opportunity to present at IACIS gave students firsthand experience with academic publishing and public presentation at a professional level. Rajdeep Sah, student presenter, described the experience as “amazing and unforgettable.”
“It was my first time presenting a published paper and it’s now available on Google Scholar,” Sah said. “I learned a lot from the sessions, met people from all over the country and even got to enjoy the Florida sunshine between presentations.”
Arpan Adhikari, one of the student presenters, shared his experience about the conference.
“We wanted to understand how both students and faculty view the use of generative AI in classrooms,” Adhikari said. “Some see it as a helpful tool that supports learning, while others think it could make students too dependent. We interviewed professors from different departments and surveyed students to see how AI is actually changing the way people learn.”
Washburn’s CIS department has a longstanding record of success at IACIS. In previous years, student teams have been recognized with awards such as the Jay Liebowitz Outstanding Student Research Award for exceptional undergraduate research. However, this award category has since been discontinued and is now reserved solely for postgraduate students. Despite the change, Sun said Washburn’s students continue to perform at an impressive level, with their work accepted and presented alongside graduate and doctoral research.
“The fact that our undergraduate papers were accepted into the same venue as postgraduate studies is something to be proud of,” Sun said. “Even without the undergraduate award, our students’ work continues to stand out nationally.”
Sun said she hopes the students’ success inspires others to participate in future research opportunities.
“Research can sound intimidating, but once students start, they realize it’s achievable,” Sun said. “It’s about asking questions, exploring ideas and gaining confidence in what they can contribute.”
Washburn’s CIS department continues to encourage student-led research as a way to bridge classroom learning with real-world applications. Through projects like this, students gain valuable skills in analysis, writing, teamwork and presentation skills that extend well beyond graduation.
Edited by Anushma Dahal and Bidhya Sapkota
