Kristen Renn, a professor of educational administration and coinvestigator of the research project, said the conference provided a chance to show what the study is about and talk to people who they normally wouldn’t be able to reach.

Renn sat at a table for the National Study of LGBTQ Student Success where she hoped to gather information about what makes LGBT students successful in terms of their academic, social, emotional and personal success. She plans to use the information to make recommendations for other colleges to develop programs, support systems and advice for students.

“We are doing an online survey and interviews here at the conference,” Renn said. “We are looking for what environmental factors contribute to success and then looking at a person and what makes them thrive.”

Music education sophomore Emily Pelky said the conference provides more information they can incorporate into student discussions at MSU’s West Circle People Respecting Individuality, Diversity and Equality, or PRIDE, meetings.

“Bringing new material back to PRIDE is really awesome,” Pelky said. “I am excited for the opportunity to show them what I learned, and I think it will be a good thing for our members and E-Board to hear that so many people are all in this together.”

Social work junior John Swartz, also a PRIDE member, said sometimes they do not get the information they need on campus, such as definitions of different terminology among the LGBT community and an understanding of more diverse lifestyles than just what is on campus.

The MSU LBGT Resource Center also attended the conference to show they can be a resource MSU students can go to once the conference is finished.

Denzel McCampbell, program assistant for the MSU LBGT Resource Center, said he was there to represent MSU at the conference.

“We want MSU students that come to this conference to know that there are a lot of people out there that are on campus and provide an accepting environment for LGBT students,” McCampbell said.