Nariah Harris, a senior communications major from Alabaster, will present a research paper at the 34th Annual Theodore Clevenger Undergraduate Honors Conference April 9-12 in Birmingham in conjunction with the 96th Annual Southern States Communication Association Convention.
Harris said the opportunity to present her research meant a great deal to her personally and professionally, reminding her that taking risks can lead to meaningful opportunities.
“Professionally, it felt like validation that the hard work I put into this paper mattered beyond just earning a good grade,” Harris said. “It showed me that my research and ideas have value outside of the classroom, which has been incredibly motivating.”
Harris’ research examines corporate Pride campaigns through the lens of performative allyship versus genuine support.
“I believe that many brands use Pride campaigns primarily as a profit opportunity without consistently supporting the LGBTQ+ community beyond the month of June,” Harris said. “With the current political climate and ongoing policy debates affecting LGBTQ+ rights, I think it is important for consumers to understand where the brands they support truly stand.”
Harris shared during her time at TROY, especially in the first two years, the communications program gave her a strong foundation in academic writing. However, the experience in her Communications Research course proved to be especially influential.
“That class taught me how to conduct formal research, analyze sources critically, and build a well-supported argument,” Harris said. “I was also writing a separate research paper for that course at the same time, which allowed me to immediately apply what I was learning to this project and strengthen my research skills in real time.”
Along the way, professors have also played an important role in her academics and developing her research.
“Dr. Amanda Diggs was instrumental in teaching me how to conduct meaningful research and guiding me through the research process,” Harris said. “Additionally, Dr. Shari Hoppin provided valuable feedback and recommendations that helped strengthen my arguments and improve the overall quality of the paper. Their support and guidance were essential in shaping this project into something I felt confident submitting for conference consideration.”
Harris hopes that her presentation encourages people to look more critically at brand activism.
“Specifically, I want them to consider whether companies have a consistent history of supporting the causes they profit from and whether their actions align with their messaging,” Harris said. “My goal is for audiences to think more intentionally about where they invest their trust and money as consumers.”
