UofM Hosts Community Mapping Engagement Showcase to Strengthen Regional Partnerships

Event brings together community leaders and faculty to identify shared priorities and spark new collaborative research opportunities

 

On Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, the University of Memphis’ Division of Research and Innovation, in partnership with the Research Development Team, hosted the Community Mapping Engagement Showcase at the FedEx Institute of Technology. The event convened community organizations, UofM faculty, and campus partners to explore shared priorities, ongoing challenges, and emerging opportunities for collaboration across the Mid-South.

The showcase opened with a keynote by Andres E. Velasquez and Dr. Pedro Velasquez Mieyer of Lifedoc Health/Lifedoc Research, who shared insights from their community-embedded research model. They emphasized the importance of long-term trust, sustained engagement, and the integration of research with on-the-ground practice to create meaningful community impact.

Following the keynote, the program shifted to a series of “reverse pitch” presentations, allowing local organizations to highlight their current initiatives, research needs, and opportunities for deeper partnership with the University.

Presenters included:

• Tomekicia Wren, Hope House
• Tim Wheat, Disability Connection Midsouth
• Lisa Bobal, A Betor Way
• Melanie Keller, Meritan, Inc.
• Erika Dillard, PopCheck Technologies, Inc.
• Alejandra Alvarez, Regional One Health
• Kim Daugherty, Aging Commission of the Mid South
• Jay Smith, Bluff City Cares
• Rebecca Arendt, The Iris Collective
• Randy Kostiuk, Church Health

Faculty from a wide range of disciplines engaged presenters in conversations about research collaborations, data challenges, program evaluation needs, and opportunities for student involvement. Discussions revealed strong alignment around issues such as health access, social services, early childhood development, and community-based research.

The event served as a catalyst for emerging partnerships, with several organizations and faculty identifying shared interests and beginning the groundwork for future collaborative projects. The Showcase reflects the University of Memphis’ ongoing commitment to strengthening reciprocal community relationships and supporting research that responds directly to local priorities and lived experiences.

For more information, please contact the Research Development team at researchdev@memphis.edu.