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SDSU Grad Slam

The College of Graduate Studies has partnered with the Division of Research and Innovation to host the SDSU Grad Slam competition. During the competition, graduate students will be judged on their ability to successfully engage a non-specialist audience while communicating key details about their research, scholarship, or other creative work in three minutes or less with just a single PowerPoint slide.

The SDSU Grad Slam competition qualifies students for the CSU-wide Grad Slam competition which is held virtually via Zoom each spring semester. The SDSU Grad Slam and CSU-wide Grad Slam provide additional opportunities beyond the SDSU Student Symposium for SDSU master’s and doctoral students to showcase their research, scholarship, or other creative work.

2026 SDSU Grad Slam

The 2026 SDSU Grad Slam competition took place on Wednesday Feb. 25, 2026 in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

Event Format

  • 3-minute oral presentation
  • 1 PowerPoint slide (no transitions or animations)
  • Live audience of peers, faculty, and community members
  • Judges’ feedback and scoring after each presentation

Please contact CGS.SDSU.Grad-Slam@sdsu.edu with any questions.

Finalists and Winners

2026 Finalists

  • Mayerling Ovalles, College of Education
  • Rex Peacock, College of Arts and Letters 
  • Christopher Davami, College of Engineering
  • Erik Christy, College of Sciences 
  • Tharshana Prakash, College of Health and Human Services 
  • Elizabeth Flynn, College of Education
  • Samir Kassem, College of Health and Human Services
  • Christopher Patino, College of Sciences

 

From left to right: back row: emcee Moises Aguirre, judge John Giaquinta, Tracy Love, judge Brittany Santos-Dereig, Mayerling Ovalles, Elizabeth Flynn, Tharshana Prakash, Rex Peacock, judge Sonja Pruitt-Lord, Matt Anderson; front row: Erik Christy, Christopher Davami, Samir Kassem, Christopher Patino

Tharshana Prakash presenting during the finalists round of 2026 Grad Slam

Additional photos from the finalists' presentations are available.

2026 Winners

  • 1st Place and People's Choice Award Winner: Samir Kassem on "Bilingual Children with Language Disorder in Dual Language Education"
  • 2nd Place: Erik Christy on "Chemically Enhanced iPSC Reprogramming"
  • 3rd Place: Christopher Davami on "Landing on Mars: Getting Back on Track"

The first and second place winners will go on to compete at the virtual California State University Grad Slam competition, hosted by Cal State Fullerton, on May 1, 2026.

Judges

Thank you to our judges for volunteering their time to provide valuable feedback for our presenters.

Chris Harrison Chemistry
Chris Warren School of Music and Dance
EJ Sobo Anthropology
Eyal Oren School of Public Health
Godfried Asante School of Communication
Janet Bowers Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education
Katie Hughes English
Katrina Pariera School of Communication
Kevin Harris President and co-founder- CureMetrix
Marva Cappello School of Teacher Education
Matt Anderson Physics
Niyi Coker School of Theatre, Television, and Film
Parag Katira Mechanical Engineering
Steven Gill Accountancy and College of Graduate Studies
Stuart Voytilla School of Theatre, Television, and Film
Tracy Love College of Graduate Studies
Brittany Santos-Derieg   Office of the President
Sonja Pruitt-Lord Provost's Office
John Giaquinta President/CEO Fortuna Ventures Inc.