The Conference & The Journal

Made in Millersville: Conference and Journal

By: Michelle Himmelsbach

Hello Readers!

First off, students, welcome back from Spring Break! The hope is that you've had time to recharge your mind and body, as I have done myself. It's important to be mindful of when your body does need a break, especially when the finish line is in sight!

As you have been reading, you have learned about the premise of the Made in Millersville Journal, and what the team can do for you. In case, you haven't had the chance, please take a look at the listed articles, demonstrating what the publication process entails with the MiMJ, and invites you to see who can, in fact publish with us!

1. Who can publish in MiMJ?

2. Publishing Process with the MiMJ

   
   

In regard to the Made in Millersville Conference, follow this link to see the aims the Conference provides:

https://www.millersville.edu/madeinmu/conference.php

The Story of How They Came to Be

The Made in Millersville Journal was started after collaborating on a Made in Millersville Conference project, where students in Kerrie Farkas’s Advanced Writing course wrote profiles for student presenters for the Conference. Research was conducted on the feasibility of creating a journal, faculty and student perceptions and interest in an undergraduate journal. Students found there was a demand for the journal and that students would be interested in reading about the work others were doing on campus.

A conference proceedings journal based on the annual Made in Millersville Conference would complement existing publications on campus and could serve to capture the presentations from the conference to allow the cycle of scholarly conversation to continue year-round. The idea was pitched to the conference directors, who welcomed the idea of a journal that would feature student works presented at the conference. With funding obtained, the decision to provide the opportunity to students to serve on the editorial board through an internship program was determined. This would allow students a more extensive experience where they could be fully involved in the publication process.  In 2016, the Journal was published concurrently with the Conference so as students worked on their conference presentations, they could, at the same time, work on their journal publications. Publishing concurrently with the conference was more successful, and since then, improvements with the internship experience and the Journal have been ongoing!

The Connection

Thus, every Spring, the MiMJ captures and preserves the student projects presented at the annual Made in Millersville Conference! It provides students a unique learning opportunity as they participate in a personalized publishing process and share their research and creativity with a public audience through a digital collection. That in mind, the annual Made in Millersville celebration provides students two ways to share their research, creative work, and other scholarship: the one-day Made in Millersville Conference and the Made in Millersville Journal. We sincerely look forward to this year's Made in Millersville Conference, Tuesday, April 14, 2026 in the Student Memorial Center! This event will feature live and virtual presentations through various topics. Even if you're a new student or curious about this amazing opportunity, here at Millersville University, consider attending! Come see what we're all about and be on the lookout for the 2026 MiMJ Issue coming April 20, 2026!