ULM holds College of Business and Social Sciences Symposium Oct. 12-17, with keynote panel on Oct. 14

Published October 12, 2026

ULM College of Business and Social Sciences Symposium

MONROE, La. – ³ÉÈ˶¶Òô will hold the annual premier lecture and seminar series, the College of Business and Social Sciences Symposium, from October 12-17, 2026. The theme for 2026 is “It Happens Here.â€� The event will feature a keynote panel, an elevator pitch competition, a career fair, a cookout, the annual CBSS Brain Bowl, and many speaker sessions covering a wide range of topics.ÌýÌýÌýÌý

The Elevator Pitch Competition, held in conjunction with the Office of Career Development and the Career Ambassadors, will be held on Tuesday, October 13, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in The Hangar. Student competitors will have 90 seconds to pitch their vision for a shot at the top prize. Student attendees will also be entered to win a door prize.ÌýÌý

The keynote panel, featuring three local business leaders, is entitled “It Happens Here,â€� and will be on Wednesday, October 14, at 11:00 a.m. at Bayou Pointe Event Center. Keynote panelists include Michael Crenshaw, CEO of Crenshaw Analytics; Ruslan Hemed, Director of Business Intelligence & Strategy at Kennedy Rice Mill/4 Sisters Rice; and Stephanie Polk, CEO of Holy Dippers. Ìý

The annual CBSS Brain Bowl also takes place on Wednesday, October 14, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in The Hangar. The Brain Bowl is a CBSS-wide trivia competition with teams representing each School within the College. Each team is made up of three students, one faculty member, and one professional. The competition is open to CBSS students. Students may contact their school director for more information.Ìý Ìý
Ìý

CBSS Symposium sessions are free and open to the public. The College of Business and Social Sciences invites anyone who is interested to attend. Click the schedule link below for times and details about each session.ÌýÌýÌýÌý

Ìý

CBSS Symposium ScheduleÌý

(selected events; full schedule linked below)Ìý

Tuesday, October 13Ìý

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Rush Hour Career Fair – Hemphill Hall, 1st floorÌý

3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Career Elevator Pitch Competition – Hangar AÌý

Wednesday, October 14Ìý

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. -Keynote Panel – Bayou PointeÌý

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - CBSS Brain Bowl Competition – The HangarÌý

6:30 – 7:30 p.m. - RMIN Alumni Panel: "Risk Happens. Careers Beginâ€� - Hangar AÌý

Thursday, October 15Ìý

9:30 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. - CBSS Symposium Speaker Sessions – The Hangar Ballrooms A, B, DÌý

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - CBSS Symposium Cookout – The Hangar South LawnÌý

Ìý

For a full list of events, view the 2026 CBSS Symposium Schedule. Ìý