1102: Exhibitions as Civic Practice: Retention through Public Storytelling and Emerging Tools

This session explores how student exhibitions can function as civic practice by fostering public storytelling, shared purpose, and deeper community engagement. Drawing from the annual AU Design Student Showcase, a juried and student-led event that engages both campus and public audiences, I will share how collaborative exhibition-making supports student retention through visibility, agency, and meaningful connection. The session will highlight interdisciplinary collaboration and mentorship models, while also examining how students use emerging tools such as generative AI, augmented reality, and collaborative platforms to explore complex ideas and communicate across audiences. Participants will learn how these practices can strengthen academic persistence, promote cross-cohort connection, and cultivate a sense of civic and institutional belonging. Whether applied in design, the humanities, or STEM disciplines, this model provides a flexible, scalable approach to supporting student success through community-facing projects. Attendees will leave with concrete ideas for applying these strategies in their own units, along with examples of how modest technological integrations can enhance student-led storytelling and engagement. Target Audience: Undergraduate-supporting faculty and staff (with relevance to interdisciplinary units and programs)