St. Mary’s Project Presentation Information – Academics

The SMP has been the signature Capstone Experience since 1996, when the Honors College curriculum was adopted following the SMCMs 1992 designation as Maryland’s Public Honors College. Over half of SMCM graduates complete the capstone requirement via the SMP. In all Capstone Experiences, students work closely with faculty instructors/mentors to create a project that incorporates analysis, synthesis, and reflection in the process and/or end product. The final projects are presented to classroom and/or public audiences at the conclusion of the semester.

Monday, May 4, 2026

Anthropology & Sociology – Anne Arundel Hall, Blackstone Room – 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
Art – Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons – 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Biology (with projects also in Marine Science) – Schaefer Hall 106 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Chemistry & Biochemistry – Goodpaster Hall 117 – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
English – Daugherty-Palmer Commons – 9:15 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Environmental Studies – Cole Cinema – 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
History – Kent Hall 120 – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Philosophy – Montgomery Hall 151 – 10:30 a.m – 12:20 p.m., 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Political Science & Public Policy – Kent Hall 213 – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Psychology (also with projects in Neuroscience) – Goodpaster Hall 195 – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

ALL PROGRAMS Posters Presentation – Rec Courts, Michael P. O’Brien Athletics & Recreation Center – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Economics & Business – Kent Hall 222 – 9:00 a.m – 11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m – 12:30 p.m.
Educational Studies – Dean Learning Commons 214 – 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
International Languages & Cultures – Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room – 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Performing Arts: Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies – Montgomery Hall, Bruce Davis Theater – 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m

Wednesday, May 7, 2026

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies – Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room – 4:30 p.m - 6:00 p.m.

List of Projects of Distinction

Carter Summers, History

Margaret B. Marlay Award, which recognizes excellence in a St. Mary’s Project in either English or History

Project Title: The Seamless Society: A Historiographical Literature Survey of Imagined Perfected Societies at the End of Historic Change
Mentor: Dr. Christine Adams
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 4, 2026, Kent Hall 120, Panel 3: 2-3:30 PM

Krystal Moore-Nicks, Marine Science

Myron G. Marlay Award for Science, which recognizes excellence in a St. Mary’s Project in a field of the sciences.

Project Title: Feedbacks Between Snail Grazing and Fungal Endophyte Communities
Mentor: Dr. Lorena Torres Martinez
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 4 11:40 AM, Schaefer Hall 106

Summer LaRocco, Asian Studies & English

Margaret B. Marlay Award, which recognizes excellence in a St. Mary’s Project in either English or History

Project Title: Charity, Confederates, and Catholicism: Point Lookout During the American Civil War
Mentor: Dr. Charles Musgrove
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 4, 2026; 12:30 PM, Kent Hall 120

Isabel Walder, Mathematics & Computer Science

Geneva Boone Award for Outstanding St. Mary's Project

Project Title: On the Seidel polynomial of equivalence classes of graphs
Mentor: Dr. Emily Barranca
Presentation Information:

Isabel’s project has been presented at two conferences and has fulfilled the presentation component of the Capstone.

National Joint Mathematics Meeting, January 20, 2026, Washington, D.C.
MAA (Mathematical Association of America) Section Meetings for the DC-Maryland-Virginia Section, April 24, 2026, Frederick, Maryland

Read About Walder on InsideSMCM

Alli Thress, International Languages & Cultures-Spanish

Geneva Boone Award for Outstanding St. Mary's Project

Project Title: Graffiti as an Indicator of Contact-induced Language Change within Multilingual Environments
Mentor: Dr. Haley Patterson
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 1:00 PM, Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room

Michael Oliver, Art

Patti Runco Arts Alliance Award for Outstanding Work in the Annual Student Art Exhibit

Project Title: Lovers
Mentor: Prof. Tristan Cai
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 4, 2026, 3:15 PM, Montgomery Hall Upper Commons

List of Students Who Have Presented at Conferences

Ashley Fenwick, Marine Science

Poster presented on March 19, 2026, at the American Fisheries Society Tidewater Chapter Meeting at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Chesapeake Biological Laboratory.

Project Title: Gut Analysis of Blue Catfish in the Potomac and St. Mary's River, MD
Mentor: Matthew Breece
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 4, 2026, 1:30 PM, Schaefer Hall 106

A woman stands next to a scientific poster titled "What Are The Blue Cats Eating: Clams? Plant Matter? Fish?" at a research presentation event.

Sophia Lin & Joshua Swanson, Computer Science

Poster presentation April 10-11, 2026, at 30th annual conference of the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Northeast Region (CCSCNE), Northampton, MA
Read about Lin & Swason on InsideSMCM

Project Title: Gamifying the Campus Experience: A 3D Interactive Campus Exploration
Mentor: Dr. Simon Read
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Tuesday, May 5; MPOARC, Board 95

Lee Beary, Anthropology, with a concentration in Archaeology

Paper presentation March 13, 2026 at the Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Project Title: Communicative Consumption: An Analysis of Tin-Glazed Earthenware at Two High-Status Sites in Colonial St. Mary's County, Maryland
Mentor: Dr. Julie King
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 4, 2026, 10:45 AM, Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room

Liz Brown, Biology

Presented March 28, 2026 at the Ecological Society of America (ESA) Mid-Atlantic Conference, Towson, Maryland

Project Title: Bridging Tradition and Science: A Review of Medicinal Plant Knowledge in St. Mary’s City, Maryland
Mentor: Dr. Lorena Torres Martinez
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 10:00 AM, MPOBARC Recreation Courts, Board 57

Kaleena Gonzalez, Psychology

Poster presentation April 17, 2026 at the University of Virginia L. Starling Reid Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference, Charlottesville, VA

Project Title: The Role of Parenting and Attachment on Social Anxiety Development
Mentor: Dr. Ayşe Ikizler
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 10:00 AM, MPOBARC Recreation Courts, Board 16

Kaylee Holston, Psychology

Poster presentation April 17, 2026 at the University of Virginia L. Starling Reid Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference, Charlottesville, VA
Read About Holston on InsideSMCM

Project Title: The Impact of Bilingualism on Social Spheres and Life Satisfaction
Mentor: Dr. Jessica Leffers
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 10:00 AM, MPOBARC Recreation Courts, Board 20

Nicole Osborn, History

Presented March 28, 2026, at the Phi Alpha Theta Mid-Atlantic Conference 2026, Shepherd University

Project Title: From Villain to Martyr: Narratives of the Lynching of Benjamin Hance
Mentor: Dr. Garrey Dennie
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 4, 2026, 2:00 pm, Kent Hall 120

Mason Lipscenko, Philosophy

Presentation April 17, 2026, at the SUNY Oneonta Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, Oneonta, New York

Project Title: Wittgenstein and Nāgārjuna: Philosophy as Therapy
Mentor: Dr. John Schroeder
Presentation Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 4, 2026, 10:30 AM, Montgomery Hall 151

A person stands at a podium speaking in a room with large windows and closed blinds; two people sit in the audience facing the speaker.

The Tuesday morning of Capstone Days (9 am – 12pm), is a dedicated time for students to present their projects in poster form. Students are responsible for designing a large-format poster in the traditions of their particular discipline which summarizes the key elements of their project including: rationale, relevant literature and/or theory, methodological design and data collection, data analysis, findings and conclusions. In a style seen in many academic conferences, these posters are mounted on bulletin boards and organized in a large common space. The students are based at their respective posters for an assigned period of time, and attendees (including mentors, SMCM faculty and staff, family, friends, and community members) circulate among the posters, learning about the different projects and peppering the students with questions about their research.

The St. Mary’s Project includes an expectation of a public presentation of the student’s work in the endeavor. These presentations can take multiple forms (e.g., presented paper, poster presentation, panel discussion, recital, performance, gallery show, among others), and can be in venues internal or external to the SMCM Community. Other capstone experiences embed a presentation requirement either within the coursework or in a style similar to the SMP. The majority of presentations occur over the first Monday and Tuesday following the official last day of classes in the spring semester. Known initially as “SMP Days” and more recently termed “Capstone Days,” programs across campus host their students’ presentations. Typically, these presentations are held in a program’s primary academic space and invite all members of campus (and beyond) to the sessions. Some presentations do occur outside of these traditional Capstone Days, notably recitals of students completing a major in Performing Arts, with a concentration in Music, or students whose work has been accepted for presentation at a professional/academic conference outside of the campus.

Last Name, First Name	Project Title	Project Abstract	Program	Mentor	Date	Time	Location of Presentation
Ackerman, Luka	Exploring the potential of P450 BM3 in electrocatalytic reductive dehalogenation of long-chain halogenated compounds	The sheer amount of wastewater generated by the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries adds up to over 380 trillion liters, with a large portion of this containing deleterious halogenated compounds including pesticides and personal care products. As a result, researchers have utilized a variety of methods to filter out or dehalogenate these compounds in order to reduce the harm they risk to the environment and human health. Using the natural ability of P450 enzymes to reductively dehalogenate compounds is one such method which has previously been explored, however this has been almost exclusively done on smaller halogenated compounds. To expand the potential of P450s to be used in the reductive dehalogenation of larger halogenated compounds, P450 BM3 was explored due to its large active site, and a variety of mutants were computationally analyzed to determine the ability to bond to one such long-chain halogenated compound. In addition, methodology for experimentally determining the ability of BM3 to reductively dehalogenate 1-bromooctane was devised for future experimentation.	Chemistry & Biochemistry	Dr. Yunling Deng	Monday, May 4	9:30 AM	Goodpaster Hall 117
Ahlquist, Emily	Perspective Colors	Color surrounds our everyday lives from smell, taste, fashion; we cannot escape it. In her series, Emily would explore the concept of color and how our interactions with the world shapes our perceptions and identity. She became interested in the concept loosely as a teenager, but that interest grew after exploring topics of color theory, art therapy, fauvism art movement, and other color-related discussions and observations. Color is used in our identities, both intentionally and subconsciously. To explore this topic deeper, all five muses were presented with a color by random and asked to state the first thing that came to their mind – whether it be a smell, sight, personal or cultural moment; and all answers were diverse and personal. Each asymmetrical portrait is posed in a natural state that revolves around a singular, vibrant color palette. This could not have been completed without the supply of mixed-medium materials: watercolor for the wash and abstraction lines; acrylic and alcohol markers for color and value blocking; and colored pencils for detailing. Even though these are realistic portraits, the detail centers around the focal point of the face, while the necks, hair, and accessories are erased and drawn over with abstract lines. Viewers are invited to observe the expressions and create their own interpretations. An extensive researh surrounding color in our world and how our identities are shaped by it. This explores color through everyday lenses from personal, social and cultural construct to how it consciously or subconsciously shapes our identities for the better ot the worse.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	9:50 AM	Montgomery Hall Upper Commons
Anderson, Morgan	Delivery Mode and the Neonatal Microbiome: Implications for Immune Function and Early-Life Health	Early life is a critical window for the gut microbiome and immune system development. Delivery mode is a major component in shaping initial microbial exposure, where vaginal birth promotes colonization via maternal microbes and C-section deliveries are associated with delayed and altered microbial patterns. This literature review examines how these early differences influence neonatal development and long-term health outcomes. While studies link early microbiota to vaccine responses and disease risks, these relationships are still mostly associative and influenced by confounding variables such as antibiotics and feeding practices. Evidence is increasingly suggestive of the idea that microbial function, rather than composition alone, plays a key role in immune system development. Overall, delivery mode impacts early microbial colonization, but its long-term clinical significance still remains uncertain.	Biology	Dr. Abby Beatty	Monday, May 4	9:00 AM	Schaefer Hall 106
Aso, Jaedon	The Relic	The Relic is a psychological science-fiction short film that explores how internal emotional states shape the perception of external environments. Rather than presenting space as a neutral setting, the film constructs environments that function as extensions of the mind, responding to memory, tension, and uncertainty. The project is driven by an investigation into the relationship between perception and reality, questioning whether what is experienced as external is in fact shaped by internal conditions. Through minimal dialogue and an emphasis on atmosphere, the film relies on visual and auditory elements to communicate its themes. Lighting, spatial design, and sound are used to create a sense of instability and psychological pressure, positioning the environment as an active participant in the narrative. The central object, the relic, operates as both a visual and conceptual anchor, symbolizing confrontation with internal states rather than an external force. Created using Unreal Engine 5 and DaVinci Resolve, the project incorporates over 100 motion-captured animations and more than 10,000 frames. The Relic demonstrates how digital tools can be used to construct immersive, emotionally driven experiences that prioritize perception, atmosphere, and psychological depth.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	3:30 PM	Montgomery Hall Upper Commons
Atta-Poku, Afua (A-fee-a)	His Thermodynamic Triptych		English	Dr. Karen Anderson	Monday, May 4	Panel I: 9:15-10:30 AM	Daugherty-Palmer Commons (DPC)
Babylon, Morgan	Evolving histories: Portrayals of the Modern Civil Rights Movement in The American Pageant Textbook from 1956 to 2025	This study analyzes the evolving portrayal of the Modern Civil Rights Movement in The American Pageant: A History of the Republic textbook from its 1956 edition to the 2025 edition. By examining the frequency and depiction of key figures, organizations, and racial groups, this research traces shifts in historical narrative. Early editions largely omitted or minimized the contributions of Black activists and organizations, focusing instead on political leaders and legislative achievements, often framing the movement as a story of national moral progress. Later editions, influenced by evolving historiography and societal demands for inclusivity, have increased mentions of Black actors and grassroots activism. However, the analysis reveals persistent limitations, including the underrepresentation of women and a tendency to present a simplified, “us” narrative. This research highlights how textbook content is shaped by political pressures and cultural priorities, ultimately influencing how future generations understand the complexities and ongoing legacy of the Modern Civil Rights Movement.	Educational Studies	Dr. David Morris	Tuesday, May 5	1:30 PM	Dean Learning Commons 214
Beary, Lee	Communicative Consumption	This project uses data from the Colonial Encounters Project to examine the assemblages of tin-glazed earthenware recovered from features at two high-status late 17th- to early 18th-century sites in St. Mary’s County, Maryland: the Van Sweringen site (18ST1-19), an inn in St. Mary’s City catering to high-status clientele; and Mattapany (18ST390), the plantation estate of Governor Charles Calvert and his descendants and the location of the colonial magazine. The examination of these assemblages intends to identify patterns in tin-glazed earthenware distribution and decoration and to interpret those patterns in terms of the roles and meanings of the ware to its users, with a focus on the process of constructing and communicating status.	Anthropology	Dr. Julie King	Tuesday, May 5	10:45 AM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
Boboshko, Ella	We Left a Trace	As a double-major in Environmental Studies and Art, Boboshko has always found beauty in nature. Outdoor landscapes frequently influence her work, making topics of conservation and environmental education a natural theme in her practice. The sheer volume of man-made products and trash that find their way into natural spaces is not just an eyesore; it actively disrupts the ecosystems it invades. This leads to an important outdoors concept: ‘Leave no trace’, or leaving natural areas as they were when you found them—or preferably better than how you found them. Boboshko's sculpture is built entirely from objects collected over a single school year — gathered from sidewalks, lawns, parking lots, shorelines, drainage ditches and more. Plastic bottles, drink cans, glass shards, mirror fragments, food wrappers, straws, plastic cutlery, medication bottles, charging cords, discarded wood planks, fishing wire, and a bicycle dredged from the St. Mary's River form the physical body of this work. Concentrated into a single form, these objects become overwhelming — forcing viewers to face the scale of what accumulates in just one year. This work is not an abstract argument about pollution. It is physical evidence of it. The objects in this sculpture were already out there. They still are.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	1:05 PM	Montgomery Hall Upper Commons
Boehm, Raven	Understanding Querents	Raven Sky Boehm utilizes both her skills her in digital art and as well as her love for mixed media to tell a story of introspection between different ways of life as well and poses the question of whether people are in control of their own destiny or is fate predetermined. The series follows the perspective of The Fool and his journey to bring his village out of financial ruin due to the continuous war which spreads between four surrounding kingdoms. The dioramas which stem from the beginning of his journey where he leaves the comfort of his woodland village to an agreement with his two mentors who agree to aid him on his journey to get involved in the chaos around him without any knowledge to how or what’s going on in the world beyond the comforts of his village. The main characters consist of the Fool, the Magician and the High Priestess and how their past influences their journey now. Through these characters and the mixed media worlds they are encompassed by rather addresses issues such as the conflicts with economy during war, how society integrates religion into control, and what power an individual can hold versus what a community has power over.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	2:20 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Bonazelli, Gina	Synthetic Investigation of Aza-BODIPY as an NIR-II Fluorophore: Will It Fluoresce Above the Rest?	Metastasis remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, underscoring the urgent need for earlier and more precise detection methods. While conventional imaging modalities such as CT, MRI, PET, and ultrasound provide valuable clinical insight, they are limited in their ability to detect small, heterogeneous tumors at early stages. Near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging has emerged as a powerful alternative, offering deeper tissue penetration, reduced photon scattering, and improved signal-to-background ratios compared to traditional imaging approaches. Central to this advancement is the development of small-molecule fluorophores with optimized photophysical properties. This review evaluates major NIR-II fluorophore classes; including cyanine, benzobisthiadiazole, BODIPY, xanthene, and cyano-based systems. After close examination, new found hope is placed onto aza-BODIPY derivatives, an underexplored yet highly promising platform characterized by superior photostability, structural tunability, and efficient donor-acceptor design. Through analysis of molecular design principles, including control of absorption, emission, Stokes shift, and HOMO-LUMO energy gap, this work demonstrates how aza-BODIPY-based fluorophores can achieve high-resolution deep-tissue imaging and multifunctional therapeutic capabilities. Ultimately, these systems represent a compelling direction for next-generation cancer diagnostics and theranostics, with the potential to significantly improve early detection and clinical outcomes.	Chemistry & Biochemistry	Dr. Dan Chase	Monday, May 4	2:30 PM	Goodpaster Hall 117
Brichacek, Maya	Violence in the Francophone World: The Role of the French Language during and after 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda	This paper will explore the role of the Francophonie in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, looking at the issue of responsibility in the face of the violence that happened during the genocide. The Rwandan genocide, which took place from April 7 to July 19, 1994, was led by a Hutu-dominated government against the Tutsi population. During the conflict with the mostly anglophone Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), created a further division based on language. To understand how such violence became possible, the paper examines how the social divisions between Hutu and Tutsi were redefined as rigid ethnic identities by outside Francophone sources. The paper views the 'franophonie' not only as a shared language, but as a form of political and cultural influence deeply rooted in Rwandan history, arguing that this influence played a decisive role in shaping international relations. The study suggests that 'Francophonie' served as a pretext to justify French involvement, even as evidence attesting to the planning and execution of the genocide was already available to be seen by the French forces. Finally, the paper examines the events that unfolded in the aftermath of the genocide, focusing specifically on how Rwanda redefined its relationship with the French language and the Francophone sphere. Although some influence persists, Rwanda has gradually shifted toward a different path, both politically and linguistically.	Student Designed: French	Dr. George MacLeod	Tuesday, May 5	1:30 PM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
Brown, Jack	Fostering Community Relationships with Nature Through Seed Stewardship	Our project is working to empower people in Maryland to get involved in their communities, specifically through the cultivation of native seeds and attendance to local seed swapping events. We hope to create a user-friendly, fact based, and accessible package for people who want to be involved to gather all of the right information for environmental protection through native plants. This resource will be called the Maryland Seed Swapper Guide (MSSG) and will be available publicly. For more localized involvement, we also plan on planning a campus seed swapping event and informational meeting, which is a continuation of a past student group’s Capstone project. With these efforts, we hope to inspire the community to continue to be involved in environmental restoration through seed stewardship.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Tuesday, May 5	11:10 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Bruno, Fladaïna	Dramaturgical Work through Space Girl while House Managing	My presentation will focus on the what I did as the dramaturg for my senior capstone project alongside my classmates. It will explain what I did, how I did it, and what I learned overall from this experience	Performing Arts-Theater	Dr. Diego Villada		6:00-8:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Bruce Davis Theater
Burkhardt, Meredith	The Burden of Gender: A review of Literature and Data on the United States Gendered Apparel Tariffs	Tariffs are a major issue in 2026’s political and economic landscape. This paper intends to draw a correlation between tariff usage and consumption trends across the gender divide to determine whether tariffs disproportionately affect women. Apparel tariffs are specifically used due to their rapid growth across the past two decades and their abundance of gender-specific tariffs. Using data from 2001 to 2024, consumer expenditures, cultural expectations, and labor markets are discussed to determine the effects of tariffs on women in the United States. Overall, women are the primary consumers across the gender spectrum and complete most household purchasing–potential effects on apparel expenditures will likely be felt greatest by women. Economic considerations include women’s ability to equally participate in the workforce and how much of their income goes to apparel, while political considerations include cultural and legislative changes over time surrounding consumption expectations. Aspects for further research include a more thorough examination of tariff rates across garment types and identifying quantitative reasons for women’s garments having higher tariffs. This issue can be remedied through government action and is predicted to increase the economic gender divide without immediate intervention.	Political Science& Public Policy	Dr. Sahar Shafqat	Tuesday, May 5	9:00-10:15 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
Bushey, Brittany	The Witch and the Arcane Boy	“The Witch and the Arcane Boy” is a hand made pop-up book that focuses on a study for how illustrations can tell a story in another perspective. It is understanding how illustrations can help define words in another language of understanding what a story could be about. I wrote a story about a girl who happens to be a witch and has to leave her home behind, due to the witch hunts and society seeing her as a threat and disgrace to their kind. Fast forward to the 1980’s we are introduced to another character, a boy who is also a reject to his own society and is treated poorly, and likes to seek revenge on the town who has taunted him and his family, until he meets the witch, who happens to help him in the end. The story I wrote is based on folk tale stories, and gothic literature. As an Art Major and creative writing minor, I enjoy learning to write new stories everyday, while also providing illustrations that help support the themes, and elevate the story even further for how envision it to be about.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	3:45 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Cannavo, Gabriel	Models and Manipulatives in Math Classrooms	This paper will discuss various types of modeling and manipulatives that can be used in classrooms, with a particular focus on middle school. The intent of the paper is to be a call to action, bringing attention to math pedagogy and the importance of having these more physical aspects in math classrooms. There are several lesson plans with models to go with them so that teachers can understand and implement these models regularly. I will also be using my experience as an educator to frame this paper as I discuss various issues I see within the current system.	Mathematics & Computer Science	Dr. Susan Goldstine	Monday, May 4
Carroll-Gavula, Aoife	Susan's Adventure	Susan’s Adventure is a digitally illustrated children’s book. The inspiration to create this piece comes from Carroll-Gavula’s love of and passion for sharks and shark conservation. Sharks have been an interest of the artist for many years and they are frequently depicted in popular media as aggressive, bloodthirsty animals. Overfishing and targeted killings have led to a decline in shark populations, endangering both them and the ocean ecosystems they inhabit. Through this work, Carroll-Gavula hopes to expand and change the common misconceptions that the world has about sharks. The central plot of the book is about an anthropomorphized shark's adventure to find a friend. She travels around the ocean and interacts with many different sharks until she finds one to call her her very own chum. Printed in-color by Leonardtown Printing press, the children’s book Susan’s Adventure seeks to engage readers with bright colors and stylized illustrations, while exploring themes of friendship, resilience, and exploration.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai		1:20 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Carven, Bridgette	Insights to Pathological and Physiological Calcification: Implications for Understanding Vascular Calcifications	Pathological calcification is a complex process which requires an interdisciplinary approach to be studied, characterized and fully understood. The complexity of the processes has complicated unraveling the calcification mechanism(s), and therefore appropriate methods of treatment are unclear. My aim to analyze and identify these complications, explain areas of confusion, clearly outline several potential treatments, and bring overall awareness that vascular calcification should be viewed as a biogeochemical process. Mineralization of soft tissues is incredibly harmful, especially in vascular tissue, and therefore understanding the mechanistic roots will likely lead to improved medical treatment.	Chemistry & Biochemistry	Dr. Geoff Bowers	Monday, May 4	9:00 AM	Goodpaster Hall 117
Catanzaro, Kyle	The Effect of Institutional Investors on Housing Affordibility	Housing affordability is a pressing issue facing many Americans in today's economy. This study inspects if large scale institutional investment contributes to rising home and rental prices at the U.S. metropolitan level. A panel dataset was constructed for 91 metropolitan statistical areas from 2015 to 2025, using housing market, general economic, and firm-level information derived from publicly available databases and filings. A difference-in-differences (DiD) style regression framework was used to estimate the effect of institutional investors on MSA’s impact on housing and rental prices, while controlling for local economic conditions and housing market activity. The results indicate that institutional investor presence correlated with higher home values, rental prices, and median sales prices. An additional event study was conducted to assess the effects over time, which reveals that price growth accelerates prior to entry and stabilizes afterward, suggesting that institutional investors may both respond to and temporarily amplify existing market trends. Overall, the evidence suggests that institutional investors may contribute to short-term price pressures at the local level, but are unlikely to be the primary driver of broader housing affordability challenges.	Economics & Business Administration	Dr. Peter Wang	Monday, May 4	Panel II: 11:30 AM-1:00 PM	Kent Hall 222
Cleaver, Joanna	Connection to Land: Local Black and Indigenous Narratives	Traditional Ecological Knowledge is observational, generationally transmitted, and acknowledges the interconnectedness between humans and the rest of the natural world. Suppression of traditional lifeways and disregard for the perspectives of Indigenous and black populations are included in Maryland’s violent history of colonialism. This project highlights narratives which have not been valued, utilizing mixed inductive-deductive qualitative coding of twelve black and Indigenous oral histories collected by the Accokeek Foundation. Mother Earth was important to many interviewees in her role as teacher, sustainer, and connector. Themes related to the environment, shared through childhood memories, family stories, and personal reflections, highlighted the importance of community, knowledge transmission, and conservation. Resource use was grounded in both practicality and respect for the natural world, as well as enjoyment from practices such as fishing or hunting. Sharing these perspectives amplifies the voices of tribes who have been fighting for visibility, such as the Piscataway, and helps readers see that connecting to the land matters. Expanding our understanding of the natural world beyond the contemporary Western paradigm positions us to be more empathic community members and better face the crisis of global climate change.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4	10:10 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Cooke, Lexie	Cultural Preservation in the Face of Climate Displacement (Climate Affect)	Climate change and sea level rise are increasingly threatening coastal communities and forcing some residents to relocate. This project explores the question, How can the culture of a place be preserved if its community members have to move away? We focus on island communities in the Chesapeake Bay, specifically St. George’s Island, which have experienced significant flooding, erosion, and land loss. Our research combines archival sources and oral history interviews to examine both past and recent experiences of displacement. Archival materials document patterns of environmental change and migration, while interviews provide insight into how former and current residents maintain cultural identity and connection to place. These findings, along with our individual research, are compiled into a literature review that situates our case studies within broader discussions of climate-related displacement and cultural preservation. To share our research tangibly, we are creating an immersive art installation for the Climate Affect event. Presenting archival materials and personal narratives through an artistic medium allows audiences to engage with these stories emotionally. By experiencing these histories in an immersive way, viewers are encouraged to form personal connections to the communities affected and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural consequences of relocation due to environmental challenges.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4	9:50 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Cooper, Isabella	Space Girl: Designing Sound	This project details the process that went into designing sound for a mainstage production of the play Space Girl by Mora V. Harris.	Performing Arts-Theater	Dr. Diego Villada	Monday, May 4	6:00-8:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Bruce Davis Theater
Cooper, Ryan	Communication in Marine Science: An SMP in Propagating Knowledge	This project aims to demonstrate the importance of scientific communication by creating a collection of journalistic articles on various research subjects within marine science. The proper communication of research, data, and statistical findings is extremely important for the propagation of scientific knowledge. Supporting literature has underlined the importance of scientific communication, established the occurrence of drops in scientific funding, and outlined issues relating to accessibility, readability, and confidence in scientific research. This project will address these problems by creating pieces of writing that transcribe the complex science behind research investigations for consumption by the general public.This project will target local researchers and projects to interview with the goal of learning about their background, work, motivation, and approach. Some main points of these interviews include: the methods of the investigation, why the research is important, what larger global themes it is tied to, what the findings were, and what steps were taken to initiate the study. I want to learn about the science of the project, but also the story around it, and so I will aim for a discussion-style interview. The articles will be from information gathered directly from the interview, and will tell the story of the research.	Marine Science	Dr. Matthew Breece	Monday, May 4	2:30 PM	Schaefer Hall 106
Covington, Lillee	The Persistent Maternal Health Crisis Among American Indian and Alaska Native Women	Maternal mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women in the United States remains one of the most severe health disparities. This paper argues that the crisis is driven by systemic factors, including colonization, underfunding of the Indian Health Service, racial misclassification in the data, and the loss of Indigenous birthing traditions, not individual behavior. Drawing on research, policy analysis, and community case studies, the paper shows how structural inequality shapes maternal outcomes. Comparisons with countries like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand highlight alternative approaches, while Indigenous led programs in the U.S. demonstrate effective, culturally grounded solutions. The paper concludes that solutions already exist, but meaningful progress depends on stronger political commitment to funding, policy reform, and Indigenous led healthcare systems.	Political Science& Public Policy	Dr. Todd Eberly	Monday, May 4	10:30-11:45 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
Crook, John	Identity and Digital Being: Gender and the Ethics of Online Spaces	My St. Mary’s Project explores how the social construction of gender reinforces gender norms that permeate digital spaces and discourse. I articulate how, while the internet is neither oppressive nor liberatory in its own right, the internet has acted as an accelerant for existing forms of oppression and has produced new forms of oppression. I also delve into how one might come to reinforce one's own oppression by holding onto certain identities, such as hyper-masculine identities, in ways that reproduce the initial point at which one is oppressed. I consider this “wounded masculinity” to be a hallmark of modern gendered embodiment in the digital age. In light of this, I advocate for what I describe as cyberfeminist consciousness, an awareness of the ways that digital technologies impact gender identities and the epistemic and moral significance of that consciousness. This consciousness sheds light on the important connections between physical, corporeal experiences and digital realities and vice versa, allowing feminists to attend to these emerging forms of oppression as societies become increasingly digitalized.	Philosophy	Dr. Michael Taber	Monday, May 4	11:10 AM	Montgomery Hall, Room 151
Cumber, Alex	I Love You, But I Don't Understand You /		Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	9:35 AM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Damte, Ruth	Education as Liberation: An Analysis of Oppression in America and the Bounds of Resistance	The American nation, the quintessential democracy, is one that was built upon the unjust imprisonment and forced labor of Africans. The Transatlantic Slave Trade trafficked and transported millions of Africans throughout the course of four centuries. Slaves were physically, emotionally, and psychologically abused in a way that has deeply impacted African Americans today. While slavery has since been abolished, socio-economic and other racial obstacles are still heavily intertwined with the average African American’s experience throughout the country. This project will draw a clear connection between the abolition of slavery and the creation of Jim Crow laws as well as other means of oppression including legally compelled discrimination, Black voter disenfranchisement, mass incarceration, and lack of educational attainment, which are all mechanisms of further oppressing African Americans. The paper will then analyze the nuanced emotions of fear and anger throughout the Black experience through a philosophical perspective, with attention to its oppressive nature and anger as a catalyst for justice reform. The project will propose educational attainment as the means of achieving liberation for African Americans throughout the country, as well as policy recommendations to make education more accessible to members of marginalized communities in an attempt to equip the people of these communities with the repertoire to be able to understand their obstacles and mobilize by being aware of the mechanisms that are working tirelessly to further their oppression and exploitation.	Political Science& Public Policy	Dr. Diana Boros	Monday, May 4	12:00-1:00 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
Degner, Thomas	Views Within France and Abroad on Napoleon's One Hundred Days	Historically the historiography of the Hundred Days has been dominated by the examination of the military campaigns of Waterloo, however the reactions and narratives built and fought over in newspapers and memoirs are just as important as what actually happened. By examining newspapers from France, the UK and the US, there is an examination of the narratives and reactions on Napoleon's Hundred Days. This project explores the role that newspapers and other first hand accounts can have on the lasting narrative and the creation of the Napoleonic Legend and how the Hundred Days plays into that lasting narrative.	History	Dr. Christine Adams	Monday, May 4	9:00 AM	Kent Hall 120
Dodson, Clara	Bodies and Burlesque	This St. Mary’s Project is an ethnographic study from the perspective of a member of the SMCM Burlesque Club. The purpose of this study is to to interrogate how members of the club affirm, explore, and create their identities through burlesque performance, and how this process impacts their overall self-perception—both inside and outside club spaces. The SMCM Burlesque Club is dedicated to the exploration of body positivity, body neutrality, and the creation of safe, inclusive, spaces for self-exploration. My analysis focuses on both why individuals on the St. Mary’s campus are drawn to the Burlesque Club, and how these individuals use the club structure and ideology to create new ways of being that privilege self-actualization rather than societal expectations or normatives. Through quantitative survey data, intensive participant observation, and ethnographic interviews, members of the club share how the Burlesque Club (participating in weekly meetings, dance practices, showcases, etc.) has influenced the way they view and express their developing identities.	Anthropology	Dr. Brian Smithson	Monday, May 4	9:00 AM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
Douglas, Eve	Growing Through Darkness: Tree Burial as a Modern Death Practice	My project explores tree burial’s role in healing one’s relationship with mortality and reconnecting with the natural world. Simply put, tree burial is an eco-friendly burial practice, which involves wrapping the body in a biodegradable material and burying it beneath a tree to support its growth, thus becoming a tree post-death. I argue that much of the modern world has a toxic relationship with death, as well as with the environment, and advocate for tree burial as a remedy for these existential and ecological crises. Tree burial is a death ritual that reveals the security to be found in one’s mortality and one’s fundamentally interdependent relationship with the natural world.	Philosophy	Dr. Brad Park	Monday, May 4	11:50 AM	Montgomery Hall, Room 151
Dyer, Mia	Transformative Experiences: Book Arts as an Interpretive Tool for the Environmental Movement	With all of the threats facing our natural environment today, it is essential to properly engage and educate people towards attitudes of resilience and care. As the modern environmental movement has grown, art and creative work have become central to environmental pedagogies due to their unique engagement with complex emotions arising from environmental upheaval. Book arts, specifically, brings audiences into a dialogue with artists by requiring interaction. Through this interaction, book arts offer opportunities to reinforce key elements of modern environmental education such as agency and hands-on learning. Through the creation of original works, this project explores the role of artist as teacher and the opportunities that arise from working in this highly interactive, experience-based medium. Through a process of research, practice, and interaction, this project explores book arts as a tool for environmental interpretation by focusing on themes of change, exploration, and bioregionalism. Four activity-based, copiable zines were developed to accompany each art book, allowing key interactions to extend past initial viewings and reinforcing the relationship between artist-author and reader-viewer. These art books emphasize dialogue, emotional literacy, and creative problem solving as essential skills for environmental work and showcase this artform as a uniquely appropriate approach to environmental interpretation.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Barry Muchnick	Monday, May 4	8:30 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Ejekwu, Ugonna	An assessment of different farming practices in the promotion of rhizobia bacteriophages	White clovers are beneficial plants to the environment, contributing to the fixation of Nitrogen in the soil and the pollen availability, necessary for crop production. Within the rhizosphere of these plants reside Rhizobium leguminosarum, a mutually beneficial bacterial species that assists in the maintenance of the soil environment and the nitrogen fixation capabilities of the plant. However, the influence and abundance of bacteriophages selecting for these species in Southern Maryland is not fully understood. In this experiment we used growth techniques and phage identification procedures to detect and quantify the population of bacteriophages within the rhizosphere of clover plants grown in different soil samples.	Biology	Dr. Lorena Torres Martinez	Monday, May 4	9:20 AM	Schaefer Hall 106
Emerson, Zach	Absurd Words for an Absurd Time: Writing in an Age of Change	This project is a collection of creative pieces intended to discuss the issues plaguing the graduating classes of this year and the future, namely the rise of artificial intelligence, a struggling job market, and a pervasive sense of angst towards the future. All of this social commentary, however, is to be delivered in the form of comedic writing, whether it be parody, satire, pastiche or wit, in an attempt to alleviate the stress and worry of dealing with a rapidly hostile world. It is the goal of this project to figure out whether or not such a comic lens is appropriate for such a serious discussion, and how people like myself can best handle the chaos of entering into the "real world."	English	Dr. Brian O'Sullivan	Monday, May 4	Panel III: 2:00-3:15 PM	Daugherty- Palmer Commons (DPC)
Engelstad, Haley	The Lights Along the Shore	The Lights Along the Shore is a process based series of multi-plate woodblock prints of U.S. lighthouses. Depicting Old Point Loma lighthouse in San Diego California, Lime Kiln Lighthouse on San Juan Island Washington, Bodie Island Lighthouse in Nags Head North Carolina, Point Lookout Lighthouse in Scotland Maryland, and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton North Carolina, each has a unique character that tells of local histories and the changing of America’s coastlines. Working from mostly daytime reference photos, the artist has translated these images to create nighttime depictions of each lighthouse through the medium of woodblock. For each lighthouse four or five plates were carved including an initial black “key block” and several color blocks, which when printed in a specific order create the final image. To create a sense of realism, variations in color were based on environmental conditions even depicting different levels of star constellations visibility based on light pollution. During this process 22 woodblocks were carved and printed for a total of 11.6 square feet of carved image. Engelstad chose multi-plate woodblock printmaking because of the quirks of the once living wood and challenges of the medium, requiring three-dimensional thinking, effort, and time.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	2:05 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Fabey, Aislin	Play-in-a-Day: Expanding Environmental Stewardship With Arts-Based Pedagogy	Education is to equip students with the ability to succeed upon independence, for them to feel confident and capable in seeking to accomplish their goals, cultivating good that equips ongoing momentum for positive change. How we engage students is essential, as this connects them to explore their personal meaning to content presented within the classroom. This paper discusses how multi-modal learning increases student engagement, and cultivates accessibility to environmental education. Live experiences of arts-based pedagogy as a form of multi-modal learning are presented, detailing case studies from across continents and a case study of the Play-in-a-Day held this spring at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. This is completed to cultivate environmental stewardship by inspiring the facilitation of a future environmental play-in-a-day experience that draws on arts-based pedagogy with multi-modal learning to expand, equip, and encourage students in environmental education.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4	11:30 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Faller, William	Testing Novel Technology to Monitor Oyster Reef Expansion	Due to the collapse of the wild population of the Eastern Oyster in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States of America, significant investments have been made towards population restoration. The St. Mary’s River in the state of Maryland, the site of a major oyster restoration project, was selected as the study region for this project. Monitoring and management of these restoration projects can be costly and labor intensive, so this study explores a low cost alternative monitoring system utilizing Side Scan Sonar (SSS) technology. It was found that reliable identification of bottom composition was possible using SSS, and a sediment pattern, which appears in the shallow water shore region, was identified as a likely candidate for oyster expansion. Although limited dive sampling restricted further validation, preliminary size comparisons indicate variability in oyster populations, opening a pathway to future work. Overall, this study demonstrates that SSS is a reliable and efficient method for mapping benthic habitats and monitoring oyster restoration. The identification of transitional zones as potential indicators of reef growth provides a promising direction for future research, with implications for improving large-scale restoration monitoring efforts.	Marine Science	Dr. Matthew Breece	Monday, May 4	2:10 PM	Schaefer Hall 106
Fenwick, Ashley	Gut Analysis of Blue Catfish in the Potomac and St. Mary's River, MD	Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) are an invasive species that originate in river basins in the southern and central areas of the United States. They have since invaded the Chesapeake Bay watershed after being introduced into the James River, Virginia for trophy fisheries. They have now reached nearly all major tributaries in the watershed such as the Potomac and St. Mary’s Rivers while continuing to expand in population. Other than being omnivorous and opportunistic feeders there is limited knowledge about the diet of the Blue Catfish in these rivers. The purpose of this study was to determine what the Blue Catfish are consuming in Southern Maryland rivers. To observe the diet of the Blue Catfish a gut analysis is being conducted through dissection. Prey items removed from the digestive tract are being identified to form a broad scale diet analysis. Counter to our hypothesis, there was no significant difference between size class dependent on prey weight. It is important to understand the diet of the Blue Catfish to protect native species, the environment, and the economy.	Marine Science	Dr. Matthew Breece	Monday, May 4	1:30 PM	Schaefer Hall 106
Forgione, Jasha	All in a Name: The Relation of Urban Development to the Retention of Indigenous Place Names Within Waterscapes	The project “All in a Name: The Relation of Urban Development to the Retention of Indigenous Place Names Within Waterscapes” seeks to identify and understand the relationship between levels of development and the retention of Indigenous names for waterways. Through patterns of both historical colonialism and modern urbanization, how do the two correlate with each other? Do these patterns create a statistical significance in how likely a waterscape retains its Indigenous name depending on the level of urbanization in an area? This study will use both a literature review and survey to understand the relationship between urbanization and one’s personal connection to water. Through a hydrosocial lens, we argue that different colonization histories across the United States craft different patterns of retention, and through waves of urbanization, Indigenous names are eventually eradicated in favor of names that highlight an area’s founding by Europeans. My research finds that waterways in rural areas tend to retain their Indigenous names, whereas urban areas do not follow this pattern. Additionally, the experiences of people who live in rural areas tend to be characterized by a more personal connection to water, highlighted by cultural significance. Urban residents see water in a more functional way, seeing water that is contextualized by the infrastructure that carries it.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Brian Smithson	Monday, May 4	10:30 AM	10:30 AM
Frederick, Corinne	Environment in Pluriverse: Educator Approaches to Evolving Pedagogies	This study investigates how environmental educators in formal and informal contexts guide students in developing critical consciousness, agency, and environmental reciprocity. Through qualitative interviews with educators in the Chesapeake Bay region and Washington state, this study documents the constraints imposed by the institutional structure of formal education on transformative pedagogy. A gradual paradigm shift towards place-conscious education co-created by students is being progressed by the many motivated educators and administrators who continue to act despite constraints posed by an institution of education produced by and reifying a Western, universalizing epistemology and a normative projection of humanity. They enact strategies of targeted, broad-access, beginning education with young students, and centering reciprocity, social action, and student voice in contextualized pedagogy. Their actions reflect a movement toward a pluriverse of knowledge and away from singular, Western epistemology; a movement that is far easier in informal rather than formal settings. The question arises whether alternative pedagogical approaches to environmental education are enough to affect a positive shift in the environmental ethic of the United States, or if we must galvanize the failing traditional system to make use of its amplifying power.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4	12:10 PM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Freeman, Jayda	The Dragon's Nightmirror	The Dragon’s Nightmirror welcomes viewers into a reimagined Arthurian legend with digital illustrations that depict ancient magic, fractured lineage, and the tension between destiny and identity. Presented as a series of illustrated scenes and dialogue on an interactive website, the story begins with a Yuletide celebration accompanied by a gift of an ancient golden mirror. Throughout the story, the central character emphasizes the struggle to reclaim oneself when outside forces alter the mind and body. The attempt at restoring lost humanity requires the intervention of a determined wizard, Merlin, and the power of nostalgic memories. The digital format allows for the story to unfold gradually as a digital comic book. The illustrations combine medieval appearance with contemporary fantasy. Light, shadow, and texture show the contrasts between enchantment and peril, memory and illusion. These visual choices create the shift between illusion and reality by showing the internal conflict between humanity and monstrosity. The overall message suggests that change, while often unsettling, can lead to growth and renewed understanding. Traditional ideals are combined with modern elements to underline the idea of approaching a subject with curiosity and connection, and can cause stereotypes held by a society to change.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	10:20 AM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Gaalswyk, Davis	By the Rivers of St. Mary’s We Sat: Negotiating Identity and Survival in Transnational Religious Communities of Southern Maryland	The increase in immigration to the United States has created transnational enclaves across the country that manifest themselves in a variety of ways, often in the form of organized religion. The goals of this research were to explore the effect that religious communities have on the senses of identity and belonging of Spanish-speaking communities within the rapidly shifting demographic landscape of Southern Maryland, and to analyze the responses of said communities to state violence and social stigma surrounding immigrant groups. This research was conducted using participant observation and semi-structured interviews at two different bilingual churches in the Southern Maryland area, one Catholic and one Baptist, across a total period of seven months. Major findings revolved around two different but interrelated strategies adopted by each church as survival mechanisms in the current political climate. The first of these two strategies was focused on building an insular community via the use of traditional rites and rituals as a means of enforcing sociospiritual boundaries between insider and outsider, whereas the second involved creating a hybrid space to facilitate assimilation while preserving as much of the cultural identities of its congregants as possible. Ultimately, transnational religious communities are sites where identity is perpetually negotiated in accordance with the power structures within which they exist.	Anthropology	Dr. Brian Smithson	Monday, May 4	10:00 AM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
Gambrell, Haley	The Economic Impacts of Ethanol Plant Siting: A County-Level Analysis of GDP and Spatial Spillovers	This paper examines the relationship between proximity to ethanol plants and county-level economic performance in the Midwestern United States. While prior research has focused primarily on agricultural outcomes such as land values and farm income, this study evaluates macroeconomic effects using county-level gross domestic product (GDP) as a measure of economic activity. Using cross-sectional data from 1,176 counties in the Petroleum Administration for Defense District 2 (PADD 2), the analysis employs an Ordinary Least Squares regression framework with both GDP and distance to the nearest ethanol plant in logarithmic form. The model includes a continuous distance measure and a host-county indicator, along with controls for population density, dependency ratio, educational attainment, and corn production. The results indicate that counties hosting an ethanol plant experience significantly higher GDP, suggesting strong localized economic benefits through direct production, supply chain linkages, and consumption. However, greater proximity to ethanol plants is not associated with higher GDP in surrounding counties; instead, counties farther from ethanol plants tend to exhibit higher economic output. This pattern reflects underlying regional economic structure. Overall, the findings suggest that ethanol plant siting generates concentrated, place-based gains rather than widespread regional spillovers, highlighting limits of biofuel policy for broad rural development.	Economics & Business Administration	Dr. Amy Henderson	Tuesday, May 5	Panel I: 9:00-11:00 AM	Kent Hall 222
Garvin, Indigo	A Collection of Self	A Collection of Self is an exploration not only into physical objects that the artist has collected over time, but the types of objects they find valuable. The piece invites the viewer to an emulation of the artist’s bedroom, a commonly vulnerable and personal space. The setting is packed with personal collections of pre-owned objects and previously created artwork. In this environment, they raise the question of what forms of art are considered valuable, and how historical and cultural standards influence what is or is not taken seriously.Ranging from cardboard, to satin ribbon, to paper lace doilies, Indigo takes a variety of materials typically considered trash or disposable and juxtaposes them with illustrations on more traditional materials. Although her original purpose of upcycling stems from the objects’ availability and abundance, they develop the overall concept of how consumerism influences value in material. With consideration, the environment expands through its incorporation of found objects that are usually not considered to be of value in a traditional artistic perspective. Including but not limited to crocheted blankets, children’s toys, and upcycled furniture, they are given a new context in the curation of the setting.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	11:00 AM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Gibson-Thoele, Tessa	Growing Minds: Implementing Hands-On Agricultural and Environmental STEM Education in K-5 Title I Schools	Many students find hands-on classroom activities to be their most engaging early educational experiences. However, these opportunities are often infrequent in Title I schools due to fiscal constraints and rigid adherence to standardized testing mandates. Such systemic limitations frequently prioritize metric-based performance over holistic conceptual understanding. This paper evaluates the integration of Montessori and farm-based education models alongside established frameworks like SNAP-Ed and Farm-to-School initiatives. Additionally, it examines strategies for English Language Learners (ELL), arguing that inclusive pedagogical approaches benefit the broader student population. Central to this study is an analysis of 18 Maryland Science Common Core Standards across elementary grade levels, paired with proposed experiential activities designed to fulfill these requirements. The research also explores how institutional partnerships with local agricultural sites, such as the Kate Chandler Farm, can facilitate these instructional shifts through structured field experiences. Ultimately, the findings suggest that achievement disparities between Title I and non-Title I schools are not a reflection of student or educator aptitude, but are instead products of structural inequities. Addressing these gaps requires a strategic transition from rote instruction toward a rigorous, hands-on curriculum that prepares students for diverse professional pathways.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Barry Muchnick	Monday, May 4	11:50 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Giddins, Ja'Kai	Under Pressure	Under Pressure is an exploration of a charcoal-and-graphite series that analyzes how hypermasculinity is constructed and reinforced in black media and culture. The project examines how identity is shaped by repeated exposure to one's visual expectations, linked to themes of dominance, the pursuit of wealth, and emotional suppression. I approach masculinity not as an inherent trait but as a learned notion shaped by visual representations of culture, particularly in hip hop and on social media. Through high-contrast and monochromatic portraiture, I focus on the tension between external appearance and one's confidence, and on its relationship to internal vulnerability. My subject appears frustrated and in serious emotional turmoil, but is limited to anger as a result of the elements of control shown in different connecting pieces. The use of charcoal and graphite reinforces this contrast, balancing intensity with structure. Ultimately, Under Pressure challenges viewers to reconsider how identity is constructed and the psychological effects of conforming to rigid expectations of masculinity.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday May 4	12:15 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Glaser, Allison	Tangled Roots: An Exploration of Siblinghood in Literature, Life and Their Intersections	Tangled Roots is a series of creative nonfiction pieces exploring the nature of siblinghood and my relationships with each of my six siblings. It manifested into a collection of fragmented vignettes, rumination and imagined scenarios that come together to ask what it means to be a sibling, to lose a sibling, to watch a sibling change.	English	Dr. Karen Anderson	Monday, May 4	Panel I: 9:15-10:30 AM	Daugherty-Palmer Commons
Godfroy, Kal	Becoming: On Grief, Hope, and the Nonhuman	Becoming is a poetry collection centered around the convergences between grief, hope, and our relationship with the nonhuman world. The collection follows the speaker’s grief at the loss of their childhood dog, and the way that this grief has seeped into their relationship with the environment around them. The speaker attempts to understand the natural world as an observer before realizing that they are permanently enmeshed, inseparable from the nonhuman, which gives way to hope for a better future.	English	Dr. Karen Anderson	Monday, May 4th	Panel IV: 3:30-4:45 PM	Daugherty-Palmer Commons
Grzymalski, Sadie	To 𝛃 or not to 𝛃: Determining Neural Correlates of Acting via EEG	Acting is a complex process where a person tells a story by taking on a character’s perspective. Acting utilizes many different cognitive tasks all at once, including spatial memory, muscle memory, empathy, and language. However, there has been limited research pertaining to what physiologically happens in the brain while someone is acting. This project aimed to rectify a piece of this research gap using EEG. Actors with over one year of experience had EEG readings taken while they were acting and while they were not. Then, the Alpha and Beta wave frequencies were compared across conditions. Results showed no significant differences in frequency power across conditions. However, this could indicate a dual deactivation/activation associated with acting that occurs across the prefrontal cortex and the precuneus.	Neuroscience	Dr. Liz Leininger	Monday, May 4th	11:35 AM	Goodpaster Hall 195
Haddon, Henry	The Political Feasibility of American Democratization		Political Science& Public Policy	Dr. Diana Boros	Monday, May 4	12:00-1:00 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
Hager, Margaret	Mean Things Men Have Said To Me	MEAN THINGS MEN HAVE SAID TO ME is a series of digital photographic works, organized in three triptychs, that investigates themes of sexism and harassment through the lens of personal experience. The triptychs are built on quotes men have said to the artist throughout her life. Using self portraiture and a linear narrative she is able to visualize her experiences with harassment and the effects it has on women around the world. Sexual harassment affects around 81% of women and more than 50% of students in grades 7–12. Offensive jokes made by men are frequently overlooked, while the effects it has on women are more often ignored. By disregarding the cause and effects of this behavior, we are allowing this behavior to persist. As a society, I believe that we need to be held accountable for offensive behavior to prevent the normalization of sexual harassment.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday May 4	11:45 AM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Haldeman, Bryna	Cultural Preservation in the Face of Climate Displacement (Climate Affect)	Climate change and sea level rise are increasingly threatening coastal communities and forcing some residents to relocate. This project explores the question, How can the culture of a place be preserved if its community members have to move away? We focus on island communities in the Chesapeake Bay, specifically St. George’s Island, which have experienced significant flooding, erosion, and land loss. Our research combines archival sources and oral history interviews to examine both past and recent experiences of displacement. Archival materials document patterns of environmental change and migration, while interviews provide insight into how former and current residents maintain cultural identity and connection to place. These findings, along with our individual research, are compiled into a literature review that situates our case studies within broader discussions of climate-related displacement and cultural preservation. To share our research tangibly, we are creating an immersive art installation for the Climate Affect event. Presenting archival materials and personal narratives through an artistic medium allows audiences to engage with these stories emotionally. By experiencing these histories in an immersive way, viewers are encouraged to form personal connections to the communities affected and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural consequences of relocation due to environmental challenges.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4	9:50 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Handler, Ben	Stuck at the bottom of a well	Stuck at the bottom of a well is influenced by multiple disciplines that the artist has studied in their college career. His art is influenced by the media he consumed as a child that left him with a desire to emulate this animated artform in his own style. He hopes to capture the essence of animation that he fell in love with by using exciting movements, bold colors, and easy to look at characters. His love of these animations is also an appreciation for the underlying messages that were often present in these cartoons. His studies of Asian studies and Chinese language lead to him researching Chinese idioms and the lessons that are often accompanied by these idioms. One that stuck out to him in particular was the idiom of the frog who lived at the bottom of a well (井底之蛙). After reading this and other idioms, it seemed like a good fit for the themes of this idiom to be portrayed in the form of a cartoon. This animation is an exploration of the themes of this idiom and what it means to the artist. He connects it to his own experiences and his own thought process as someone who is at a time in his life that is extremely daunting. He believes that the world could use the open-mindedness and appreciation for learning that this animation presents.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai		9:20 AM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Hanscom, Noah	Origami Constructions: In Multidimension Space	Mathematical origami is a theoretical extension of paper origami where the complex plane can represent an infinitely large piece of paper, and the “folds” of this paper are represented by a set of allowed angles. We study the structure of the set of intersection points between all pairs of angles. This has been well described in 2 dimensions; however, little is known about them in multidimensional space. We determine how an origami set that generates a lattice in three-dimensional space is altered by introducing an additional allowed angle. We also implement an algorithm in SageMath that computes the intersections of pairs of allowed angles from given starting points. The algorithm then computes the projections from the new intersection points back onto the real number line.	Mathematics & Computer Science	Dr. Sara Chari	Monday, May 4
Hansen, Samuel	Food Politics in Defining the Colonial Chesapeake	This SMP examines how food functioned as a central force in shaping cultural identities, political authority, economic systems, and conflict. Focusing on key colonial sites such as Jamestown, St. Mary’s, and Kent Island, and how access to and control over agricultural land, fisheries, and riverine networks influenced patterns of settlement, trade, and warfare. It considers histories with both colonial and indigenous focuses, placing them in conversation with one another and primarily drawing on first-hand accounts of European explorers and scholarship focused on or analyzing indigenous histories, alongside concepts like placemaking and foodways.	History	Dr. Kelsey Champagne		2:30 PM	Kent Hall 120
Harrison, William Thomas	Modern Information and Belief Manipulation	Propaganda is one of the strongest forces shaping public belief in modern society. Propaganda operates through psychological mechanisms that utilize identity, morality, group affiliation, and emotional engagement. Along with these mechanisms, propagators take advantage of modern technologies such as AI and social media in order to spread information effectively. The present study examples how different formats of propaganda would affect participants' credibility perceptions, emotional perceptions, attitudes toward the conflict, and behavioral intentions. 100 participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions, each presenting comparable content about the conflict in Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh. It was hypothesized that all conditions would produce significant emotional change but that the professional formats would be considered more credible and trustworthy than the social media condition. The results indicated that media exposure significantly altered emotional states across all conditions regardless of format. No significant difference in message credibility, source credibility, perceived bias, attitudes, or behavioral intentions were found between conditions. Notably, all conditions were rated as significantly credible above the scale midpoint. The findings suggest that the emotional impact of the information, presented by any format, led to the perceived credibility and trustworthiness of the content. This supports the broader literature showing that modern engagement in news has extended trust to social media content.	Psychology	Dr. Libby Williams	Monday, May 4	9:55 AM	Goodpaster Hall 195
Harvey, Georgia	The Effects of Weight-bearing vs. Resistance Training Exercises on Menopausal Women Suffering with Osteoporosis	Osteoporosis is a common condition among menopausal women that reduces bone mineral density and increases fracture risk, emphasizing the need for effective exercise-based interventions. This study compared the effects of weight-bearing and resistance training on bone density, muscle function, and pain/mobility outcomes. Data were obtained from previously published studies, and statistical comparisons (Mann-Whitney U tests and independent sample t-tests) were used to examine exercise interventions in menopausal women. Results showed a significant difference in muscle function between groups, with resistance training producing greater improvements. No significant differences were observed for bone density or pain/mobility. These findings suggested that while both exercise types support osteoporosis management, resistance training may offer greater benefits for muscle function. Exercise interventions remain an important strategy for improving health outcomes in menopausal women.	Biology	Dr. Jordan Price	Monday, May 4	9:40 AM	Schaefer Hall 106
Heckart, Danielle	Seasonal changes in the gut microbiome of Equus caballus	This study investigated seasonal changes in culturable fecal bacterial communities in Equus ferus caballus and evaluated whether horses with Fecal Water Syndrome (FWS) exhibited distinct microbial patterns. Fecal samples were collected from 10 adult horses across two seasonal periods (fall and winter; n = 20). Bacterial populations were cultured using three media types to capture distinct components of the microbiome: blood agar under aerobic conditions (aerobic bacteria), blood agar under anaerobic conditions (anaerobic bacteria), and MRS agar (lactic acid bacteria). MacConkey agar was included to assess Gram-negative enteric bacteria; however, no growth was observed after 24–48 hours, limiting further interpretation. Colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g) were quantified and log10-transformed prior to statistical analysis. Comparisons between horses with and without FWS revealed no significant differences in aerobic (p = 0.517) or lactic acid bacteria (p = 0.833); however, anaerobic populations exhibited greater fluctuations in FWS horses across seasons (p = 0.067). Bacterial populations exhibited high interindividual variability, which may mask consistent seasonal trends at the population level. These findings suggest subtle seasonal effects, with anaerobic communities potentially playing a more dynamic role.	Biology	Dr. Abby Beatty	Monday, May 4	10:40 AM	Schaefer Hall 106
Hess, Anneliese	LGBTQ+ Experiences of Belonging and Discrimination at a Rural University	This study aimed at examining LGBTQ+ experiences with belongingness and discrimination at a rural university. It was hypothesised that LGBTQ+ students would have different scores of belongingness, climate, microaggressions, and discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender. It was also hypothesised that there would be significant interactions between sexual orientation, gender and race on these scores. To examine this, a survey was created with items dealing with identity, belonging, discrimination, and resources. It was found that there was no significant difference in groups between the scores, and there were no significant interactions between identity factors. Interviews were also conducted to better understand LGBTQ+ belonging and discrimination in regards to school resources. Several themes emerged within the interviews, which were: belonging as acceptance and security, and visibility and shared experience; a large LGBTQ+ population and representation; stereotypes and differences in experience; educational resources; supportive staff; student-led organisations; awareness; and discrimination from social media, student groups, and staff. Overall, while there were no significant relationships, the existence of school resources as a whole provide a sense of safety and therefore belonging for LGBTQ+ students. Addressing more conservative spaces, and improving the process of changing names and pronouns may reduce discrimination.	Sociology	Dr. Katie Hill	Monday, May 4	9:30 AM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
Hill, Sarah M.	Paved over Graves: An Investigation of How St. Mary's Cemetery Fought to Rest in Peace	Black American heritage sites were—and still are—often neglected and disrespected by the governments, social groups, and businesses that were supposed to be responsible for protecting them. In July of 1992, a backhoe crudely unearthed human remains while digging sewer lines for new construction—just twenty-five feet from visible gravesites. St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ellicott City’s Turf Valley housing development, is a Black and Irish Catholic burial ground for the formerly enslaved, servants, and workers on Charles Carroll’s Doughoregan Manor plantation. Through the lens of St. Mary’s Cemetery, I examine Maryland’s relationship with the institution of slavery, treatment of Black cultural heritage sites, and presentation of Black narratives in history. This project explains how the story of St. Mary’s Cemetery exemplifies the systematic racism within Maryland’s institutions that led to the neglect and disrespect of Black cultural heritage sites. To rectify such damages, communities and institutions need to portray the narratives of those affected and revitalize these mistreated grounds. By recognizing this site, the community may begin to remedy the historic inequities that plague the modern community by holding those in positions of power accountable for their responsibility to cultural heritage sites like that of St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ellicott City.	History	Dr. Kelsey Champagne	Monday, May 4	3:00 PM	Kent Hall 120
Hill, Tommy	Monopoly Medicine: Pricing and Power Under the Orphan Drug Act	The Orphan Drug Act (ODA) of 1983 transformed the economics of rare disease treatment by creating strong incentives for pharmaceutical firms to develop drugs that the market had long neglected. Through provisions such as market exclusivity, tax credits, and regulatory support, the policy helped turn rare disease research into a viable area of investment and contributed to a major rise in orphan drug development. Yet this success has come with important trade offs. The same incentives that encourage innovation can also strengthen monopoly power, raise prices, and make patient access more difficult. This project explores how the ODA has reshaped firm behavior, pricing strategies, and the balance between public need and private profit. Using economic theory and real world evidence, it examines whether the policy has merely corrected a market failure or whether it has also created new forms of inequity within the healthcare system. By focusing on innovation, affordability, access, and ethics, this research asks a broader question that lies at the center of modern health policy: how should society reward life saving innovation without putting it out of reach for the patients who need it most?	Economics & Business Administration	Dowla, Asif	Tuesday, May 5	Panel I: 9:00–11:00 am	Kent Hall 222
Hilser, Julian	Invisible Lives and Visible Walls: Archaeology and the Institutionalization of Mental Disability in Williamsburg, 1750–1860	The goal of this paper is to use anthropological, historical, and archeological evidence to explore narratives on the treatment of mentally disabled in the transitional period between 1750 and the early and 1850 or the transition between community and institution-based care. By looking at historical narratives and material culture from, The Williamsburg Mental Hospital and subsidized from research from other mental institutions, this article hopes to develop a historical and archeological framework for discussing how the mentally ill were treated during a period when they were beginning to enter institutions but remained largely invisible in material culture. I describe the methods of institutionalization and treatment for the mentally ill during an early phase of medical professionalism working while analyzing this relationship through theories proposed by William Foucault and Gerald Grob.	Anthropology	Dr. Bill Roberts	Monday, May 4	3:15 PM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
Hulburt, Jacob	Theater Outreach: Local Theater and Public Communication	This project explores the literature on community theater outreach in order to achieve two main goals. The first goal is to synthesize an explanation about what is meant by the term ‘theater outreach,’ and examine claims of its benefits and drawbacks as a method of public outreach. The second goal is to analyze and interpret a number of different outreach initiatives across different cultural groups. By doing so, the areas where specific cultural considerations are made can be removed to find the common elements between the different outreach initiatives, therefore creating a hypothetical “base formula” that can be used as a building block for novel programs. Local or community theater can then be positioned such that the shows produced can provide responses tailored to the needs of the community. The smaller the scale of the community and the performance’s audience, the more accurate and specific the content is able to be made.	Anthropology	Dr. Bill Roberts	Monday, May 4	11:45 AM	Anne Arundell Hall, Blackistone Room
Hulburt, Jacob	Space Girl: Fight Choreography and Design	This paper is an overview of the work I did on the show Space Girl. For this show, I was responsible for creating and teaching the fight choreography, in addition to leading a fight workshop and training a fight captain. Beyond this, I also did work as the assistant skate choreographer, recording choreography for actors to reference later. In order to fulfil my responsibilities within this role, I drew on previous experience as a martial artist and stage combat practitioner and applied them to a novel experience in a choreographer’s position. This paper covers the entirety of this project, starting with the preliminary planning in January 2025 through to the reflection on the process ending around April 2026.	Performing Arts-Theater	Dr. Diego Villada	Monday, May 4	6:00-8:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Bruce Davis Theater
Jay, Sarah	A Deadly Dose: Effects of Chemical and Organic Fertilizers on Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) Survival and Behavior	Fertilizers are commonly used in gardens and agricultural lands, often without much care for the amount used or the effects that these added chemicals can have on the land, the ecosystem around, or the plants themselves. These added chemicals can have devastating effects on the ecosystem, like adding to global warming, weakening the crop yields, and damaging the soil, however they can also effect living organisms living in and around the nearby crops. These added fertilizers expose living organisms to excess nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as other trace minerals, which can affect their nervous system or, in large amounts, can cause death. This study looked at 25 spiders exposed to chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer, or no fertilizer. All spiders were fed crickets and monitored for their feeding and molting behaviors as well as their survival. This study found that there were more deaths of spiders exposed to the chemical fertilizer and thus a significant difference in the survivorship of spiders exposed to chemical fertilizer compared to both the organic fertilizer group and the control group. There was no significant difference between the control and organic fertilizer. These findings indicate that chemical fertilizer does in fact have negative effects on the ground-dwelling ecosystem surrounding crops and can be toxic to important insects like spiders. Further research could be added to this study, where future studies focus on fecundity to fully understand how these added chemicals can have devastating effects on the surrounding ecosystem.	Biology	Dr. Elizabeth Hamman	Tuesday, May 5	11:20 AM	Schaefer Hall 106
Jones, Dina	"I Wish You Love": Healing Through Songwriting		English	Prof. Crystal Oliver	Monday, May 4	Panel IV: 3:30-4:45 PM	Daugherty-Palmer Commons
Judge, Venus Kai	Decolonizing the Chesapeake: Collaborative Archaeology and Indigenous Sovereignty in Southern Maryland	I examine the development of collaborative archaeology in Southern Maryland and its relationship to Indigenous sovereignty, with a focus on the Piscataway people. The paper argues that while collaborative archaeology represents a significant shift away from earlier extractive practices, it has not fully restructured the institutional power dynamics that shape archaeological research. Early archaeological work in North America operated through systems of material and intellectual extraction that excluded Indigenous communities. In Southern Maryland, this dynamic was reinforced by a strong emphasis on colonial heritage, where Indigenous presence was often treated as incidental or confined to the distant past. The emergence of collaborative archaeology in the late twentieth century introduced new frameworks for consultation, co-authorship, and the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge. However, even in recent case studies, despite meaningful collaboration, academic and state institutions continue to retain control over research design, funding, and interpretation. As a result, Indigenous communities must still navigate these structures to assert sovereignty. This paper ultimately argues that meaningful decolonization requires institutional transformation, shifting responsibility away from Indigenous communities and toward the systems that continue to govern archaeological practice.	History	Dr. Kelsey Champagne	Monday, May 4	3:30 PM	Kent Hall 120
Kessell, Faith	Where We Take Root: Farming, Identity, and Belonging in Southern Maryland		English	Dr. Jennifer Cognard-Black	Monday, May 4	Panel I: 9:15-10:30 AM	Daugherty-Palmer Commons
Kibak, Calista J	Reconstituting Knossos: Early Convergence of Archaeology & Conservation	Ethical standards in the field of archaeology have changed over the couple hundred years of the field’s existence. Archaeologists and conservators often work in tandem, and the interactions between the two fields are constantly evolving. The excavation of the palace of Knossos on Crete is a fascinating example of early interactions between archaeologists and conservators. Sir Arthur Evans and his imaginatory reconstitutions of the palatial and post-palatial periods of Minoan prehistory can be analyzed as a case study of early archaeological standards. In the work by Evans’ two conservators on staff, Émile Gilliéron and his son of the same name, one can differentiate between the archaeological findings and imaginative reconstructions of prehistoric art. This paper will investigate the field reports and correspondence among the individuals responsible for the excavation of Knossos and subsequent conservation attempts for the artifacts known as the Snake Goddess statuette, Saffron Gatherer Fresco, and Bull Leaping Fresco. The context about the excavation of these materials lends great analytical value to the cultural identity of the civilization that created them. Commonly believed assumptions about neopalatial Minoan gender identity, spiritual beliefs, and social hierarchies at the Palace of Knossos are challenged by the restorations of these artifacts.	Anthropology	Dr. Bill Roberts	Monday, May 4	2:45 PM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
Kinzie, Casper	Museums and Literature; Preventing Memory From Falling Out of the World	Museums and Literature; Preventing Memory From Falling Out of the World is an exhibition that aims to remind individuals of the importance of their family history, as well as the costs of war. Inspired both by Anthony Doerr’s novel All The Light we Cannot See as well as by my grandfather’s experiences in WWII I aim to utilize the tangibility of a museum’s exhibit to recreate the experiences of the characters of the novel. It is important to remember our history and celebrate those who came before us and who have been lost in their fight. Museum exhibitions present one or more persons’ life details, work, and memories to sometimes thousands of other human beings for them to experience, judge, and reflect on.	English	Dr. Jennifer Cognard-Black	Monday, May 4	Panel II: 10:45-12:00 PM	Daugherty-Palmer Commons (DPC)
Kirby, K.	Revitalizing the SMCM Healing Garden: A Sustainable Landscape Restoration Project	Healing gardens are intentionally designed outdoor spaces that enhance the therapeutic qualities of natural environments to support mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Existing research demonstrates that green spaces have the ability to restore attention, reduce stress, and foster social and ecological resilience. HGs amplify these benefits through evidence-based ecological, spatial, sensory, and social design principles. Over the past several decades, HGs have been increasingly integrated into healthcare settings and public spaces, where they have shown positive effects across diverse patient populations. By designing with sustainable landscape practices, HGs are able to contribute to ecological restoration. However, despite strong evidence supporting their therapeutic and educational value, HGs remain understudied and underutilized within higher education. Considering the prevalence of mental health challenges among college students, HGs present a promising intervention. This paper argues for the implementation of HGs on college campuses by synthesizing research from environmental psychology, healthcare design, sustainability, and campus case studies. The paper also explores how this research informed the physical restoration project of the SMCM Healing Garden.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Barry Muchnick	Monday, May 4	8:50 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Kirts, Hunter	A History of Government Overreach Through the Commerce Clause	This paper outlines the complex history of the commerce clause in order to discuss the current constitutionality of Supreme Court rulings. This project goes over the history of the word commerce, its interpretation within the constitution, and its sudden shift during The New Deal era of the United States. This paper outlines the currently available research and resources to show why, how, and when interpretations of the commerce clause changed. As well it outlines modern issues that have come about due to this shift and the ways it could be fixed by The Courts.	Political Science& Public Policy	Dr. Matthew Burger		10:30-11:45 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
Kopack Ware, Brooke	Community-Based Material Outreach of the Early HIV/AIDS U.S. Epidemic	This research analyzes material outreach during the early HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, investigating the interplay of trust, authority, and rhetoric in public health communication. This project aims to understand the relationship between public health authorities and the public, outline key components of public engagement, and determine how trust is (or isn’t) maintained. By examining case studies of outreach initiatives, I explore how fostering mutual trust and engagement among communities, activists, and health authorities can facilitate effective communication. My findings highlight the importance of establishing robust relationships between communities and health institutions, contributing to wider discussions on the role of trust in public health interventions. This project enhances the understanding of outreach efforts in turbulent times and advocates for strong, empathetic connections between the public and those in positions of authority.	Anthropology	Dr. Bill Roberts	Monday, May 4
Kortyna, Fiona	Fostering Community Relationships with Nature Through Seed Stewardship	Our project is working to empower people in Maryland to get involved in their communities, specifically through the cultivation of native seeds and attendance to local seed swapping events. We hope to create a user-friendly, fact based, and accessible package for people who want to be involved to gather all of the right information for environmental protection through native plants. This resource will be called the Maryland Seed Swapper Guide (MSSG) and will be available publicly. For more localized involvement, we also plan on planning a campus seed swapping event and informational meeting, which is a continuation of a past student group’s Capstone project. With these efforts, we hope to inspire the community to continue to be involved in environmental restoration through seed stewardship.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4	11:10 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Kurian, Leah	Foreign Aid and Democratization	Foreign Aid is a tool that is given by countries to other countries that are suffering. This aid is often given as a hope that countries would democratize. Despite this, foreign aid has been found to often prevent democratization, and instead keeps the countries' elites in power. There are many reasons for why this is the case such as corruption and not taking accountability. Thus foreign aid doesnt lead to a guaranteed democratization, rather it undermines it.	Political Science& Public Policy	Dr. Matt Fehrs		9:00-10:15 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
L'Italien, Stella	Influence of introduced plant species on the diversity of native bees.	Bees are essential for the survival of native plant species as well as the successful reproduction of crops around Maryland. Habitat changes and human transportation have introduced plant species into native plant communities, causing competition for resources and pollinators. The introduction of new plant species affects native bee populations, especially species that have established specialized interactions with native plants. However, we know little about how introduced plant species influence native bee populations and behavior in Southern Maryland. We hypothesized that plant communities with mostly native plants would maintain a higher diversity of native bees including specialist bees while plant communities with mainly introduced plants would have more generalist native bees and little to no specialist bees. We tested this hypothesis through field observations of 9 plots in meadows and forested areas at Historic St. Mary’s City and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. We found that there was no significant difference in the abundance, species richness or diversity of native bees visiting native versus introduced plant species. Our findings suggest that generalist bees were predominant in early spring to mid summer and that there is a gap in knowledge of the state of the status of native bees in Southern Maryland.	Biology	Dr. Lorena Torres Martinez	Monday, May 4	10:00 AM	Schaefer Hall 106
Lackey, Judas	The Closet is an Awful Place to Die: Sexuality, Gender, and Resistence in the Lesbian Identity	The Closet is an Awful Place to Die is a slogan that appeared on hand-written posters in LGBTQ marches in the late 1970s that has once again become relevant in the current political climate. Despite the risk associated with being openly queer, remaining in the closet is not a viable option for many due to the severe negative impacts on their quality of life. This series of large-scale acrylic paintings is an autobiographical representation of the lesbian identity as addressed through three core concepts: sexual expression, gender presentation, and love as a form of social resistance. As an identity that is inherently defiant of gender norms and the societal expectations placed on women, lesbians must construct their own sense of sexuality, gender, and relationships. It is through the efforts of lesbian activists before us that we are free to unify—and to unashamedly express our love for each other is a continued form of resistance against a society that still perceives lesbian relationships as a form of social deviance.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	11:15 AM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Lagana, Dominic	Bare Bones: The Development of Forensic Anthropology in a Medico-Legal Context		Anthropology	Dr. Bill Roberts	Monday, May 4	1:00 PM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
LaRocco, Summer	The Heavenly Light: A Postcolonial Analysis of Nüshu as a Living Symbol	Of the almost three hundred writing systems in the world, only nüshu, literally “women’s book,” is known to have been produced not by any one culture but by a single gender. Neither quite a living script nor a dead script, nüshu has grown from its roots as an isolated linguistic anomaly in pre-modern Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China to a symbol of female power and agency that is recognizable across much of the People’s Republic of China and the world. Nüshu can now be found anywhere from the pages of part-time artists on Chinese social media platform RedNote (小红书) to the halls of the United Nations in New York. To discuss the role of nüshu historically and in the present day, this paper examines nüshu and the Jiangyong women that created it through a lens of postcolonial analysis, focusing in particular on the power dynamics that have fundamentally shaped the fate of the script. As it was developed by the women of Jiangyong to give them agency in a Confucian society defined by rigid and immovable social boundaries, so in contemporary times, it provides agency to women around the world; a source of pride and empowerment against oppression.	Asian Studies & English	Dr. Nadeem Zaman & Dr. Charlie Musgrove	Monday, May 4	12:30 PM	Kent Hall 120
LaRocco, Summer	The Heavenly Light: A Postcolonial Analysis of Nüshu as a Living Symbol	Of the almost three hundred writing systems in the world, only nüshu, literally “women’s book,” is known to have been produced not by any one culture but by a single gender. Neither quite a living script nor a dead script, nüshu has grown from its roots as an isolated linguistic anomaly in pre-modern Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China to a symbol of female power and agency that is recognizable across much of the People’s Republic of China and the world. Nüshu can now be found anywhere from the pages of part-time artists on Chinese social media platform RedNote (小红书) to the halls of the United Nations in New York. To discuss the role of nüshu historically and in the present day, this paper examines nüshu and the Jiangyong women that created it through a lens of postcolonial analysis, focusing in particular on the power dynamics that have fundamentally shaped the fate of the script. As it was developed by the women of Jiangyong to give them agency in a Confucian society defined by rigid and immovable social boundaries, so in contemporary times, it provides agency to women around the world; a source of pride and empowerment against oppression.	Asian Studies & English	Dr. Nadeem Zaman & Dr. Charlie Musgrove	Monday, May 4	Monday, May 4	12:30 PM	Daugherty-Palmer Commons (DPC)
Lawrence, Ryan	Visions	Visions is a collection of short films by Ryan Lawrence that explores the human condition between mental and actual reality. The piece is titled “Visions” because it is the primary way we take in our surroundings, but it also looks to Lawrence’s mind’s eye and taste as a creator. The words "lucid, focus, dust, and blood” were chosen to describe these contemporary stories that highlight Lawrence’s abilities as a videographer, cinematographer, and editor. Lucid focuses on the experience of waking up from a nightmare, using various subjects that are associated with fear. Spiders, darkness and sudden noises are all used to convey the aspects of dread. Focus describes his love for motorsports and how his obsession with it was viewed as a problem, something unsettling, overwhelming, even intrusive to his life academically. Dust is meant to express the adrenaline felt by both a motocross rider and a spectator who captures photos using accelerated rhythmic cuts and transitions to communicate the intensity of the sport. Blood is an experiment on using special effects to tell a visual narrative about death and resurrection. His intent for the viewer is not to create a narrative but to find fragments of their own reality.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	2:45 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Leslie, Abby	Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Photovoltaics: ZnO Doping and its Impact on Work Function	Cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells are an emerging technology aiming to replace fossil fuels and the current industry standard photovoltaic devices that rely on silicon (Si). CdTe devices are not only cheaper and easier to mass produce than Si devices, but they also require less energy to produce and therefore are more environmentally friendly. These devices are made up of multiple semiconductor materials including CdTe, zinc oxide (ZnO), a metal alloy, and more deposited in thin layers onto a glass substrate. In order to improve the efficiency of these devices, researchers have begun exploring doping the ZnO layer with various salts. This project aims to explore how doping ZnO impacts its work function and therefore the band bending between the layers of the device. If the device can be manipulated to more easily allow electrons to pass through it, then it can create more efficient solar cells to compete with the current industry standard.	Chemistry & Biochemistry	Dr. Troy Townsend	Monday, May 4	1:30 PM	Goodpaster Hall 117
Lipczenko, Mason	Can a Stone Feel Pain? Artificial Intelligence, Language, and Wittgenstein	This project aims to outline four elements of a philosophical treatment of Artificial Intelligence, focusing on concrete, modern versions while also paying some attention to speculative future possibilities. The primary assessment of AI uses a later Wittgensteinian framework, although some departures will be made when the material departs too heavily from the source. The first section covers external, observable components of behavior and participation in language games. The second section tackles internal processes, such as consciousness, thought, and mental activity, from a specifically Wittgensteinian perspective. The third section details the commonalities and differences between humans and AI models as they exist, and the final section briefly discusses how AI interacts with language to change the way we define, interpret, and experience the world.	Philosophy	Dr. John Schroeder	Monday, May 4	10:30 AM	Montgomery Hall, Room 151
Luersen, Sarah	Fostering Community Relationships with Nature Through Seed Stewardship	Our project is working to empower people in Maryland to get involved in their communities, specifically through the cultivation of native seeds and attendance to local seed swapping events. We hope to create a user-friendly, fact based, and accessible package for people who want to be involved to gather all of the right information for environmental protection through native plants. This resource will be called the Maryland Seed Swapper Guide (MSSG) and will be available publicly. For more localized involvement, we also plan on planning a campus seed swapping event and informational meeting, which is a continuation of a past student group’s Capstone project. With these efforts, we hope to inspire the community to continue to be involved in environmental restoration through seed stewardship.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4	11:10 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Mandeville, Madolyn	Can Albert Camus' Absurdist Philosophy Treat Depression?	My SMP argues that Albert Camus' absurdist philosophy can enhance treatment for depression in a beneficial way, but that it is not applicable in every situation and must be used with care. Camus' philosophy provides a way of living in a world devoid of meaning, an experience that may resonate with those who have depression. His ideas can provide a useful way of conceptualizing depression and a useful way for approaching treatment, but only in some cases of depression.	Philosophy	Dr. Inbal Cohen Taber		2:20 PM	Montgomery Hall, Room 151
Manwell, MJ	The Voyeur	This psychological thriller/murder mystery aims to portray survivorhood in ways that don't benefit patriarchy or problematic ideals of white femininity through the fictional narrative of Katherine Wilcox, a woman in her junior year of college who is sexually assaulted at a campus party and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder in the aftermath. I draw mostly on my personal experience as both a survivor of SA and abuse to depict Katherine's life while people around her begin to slowly disappear.	English	Prof. Jeffery Coleman	Monday, May 4	Panel III: 2:00-3:15 PM	Daugherty-Palmer Commons (DPC)
Marks, Henry	Eulogizing Chevron: The Persistence of Administrative Deference After Loper-Bright	Chevron v. NRDC is arguably the most cited case ever authored by the Supreme Court. In Chevron, the Court established a two-step test for evaluating agency interpretations of statutes, and requiring courts to defer to reasonable interpretations od ambiguous statutes. Such a framework was heavily utilized by federal courts reviewing agency actions. In 2024, the Supreme Court struck down Chevron deference in Loper-Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, finding that Chevron conflicted with the Administrative Procedure Act’s requirement that courts exercise independent judgment when reviewing agency actions. Though Loper-Bright was lauded by many as a “watershed” decision, dismantling a key support for the administrative state, little analysis has taken place on whether circuit courts have actually applied less deference to agency interpretations of statutory ambiguity. This paper attempts to analyze the aftermath of Loper-Bright both doctrinally and empirically, finding that Loper-Bright was not a watershed decision from a doctrinal perspective, as it left the deferential ecosystem otherwise untouched, and that an empirical evaluation of the D.C. Circuit’s approach to Chevron-style cases reveals no significant change in agency win rates before and after Loper-Bright. Lastly, this paper examines the possibility that the Major Questions and Nondelegation Doctrines could serve as alternate constraints on agency power. It finds that the Court is unlikely to adopt the Nondelegation Doctrine, but that, absent some questions about precise composition, the Major Questions Doctrine is more likely to be consistently applied against agency authority.	Political Science& Public Policy	Dr. Matthew Burger	Monday, May 4	10:30-11:45 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
McDaniel, Joshua	Integrating Religion and Spirituality in Child Psychotherapy: A Review and Research Proposal	This paper reviews research on religion and spirituality in child development and psychotherapy and proposes a study examining whether religion and spirituality-integrated psychotherapy interventions improve outcomes for children. Prior literature suggests that religion and spirituality influence child attachment processes, child development, family functioning, and psychological well-being. Most research centers on adults, relies heavily on self-report methods, and lacks clarity as to when and how religion and spirituality should be integrated into child therapy. To address these gaps, the proposed study uses a mixed-method, multi-rater experimental design comparing four conditions: standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), CBT with religious components, CBT with spiritual components, and CBT with combined religion and spirituality components. Children across three developmental age groups, parents of the children, and the therapists working with the children will be examined with data collected before, during, and after treatment, as well as through follow-up. Measures will include psychological symptoms, religion and spirituality variables, observational coding of therapy sessions, and physiological indicators of emotion and stress. This study aims to determine whether religious and spiritual components are effective and appropriate in child psychotherapy and which developmental stages would benefit the most from their integration.	Psychology	Dr. Scott Mirabile	Monday, May 4		Goodpaster Hall 117
McKaine, Natalie	Multispecies Families: The Evolving Roles of Pets	In recent times, Western and East Asian pet owners have increasingly acted towards or thought about their animals as members of the family structure. In the past, dogs’ roles functioned as property, tool, or companion. This literature review examines the biological aspects, as well as the cultural, of the evolution of the relationship between pets and their owners, and the implications for the modern family social network. This paper draws on published works from the fields of psychology, business, anthropology, and biology to explore the socioeconomic influences and the significance of the pet-owner emotional bond. Examination of the correlation between the increase in pet ownership and the decrease in birth rates, and how dogs have been selectively bred to appeal to the nurturing instinct within humans. A brief content analysis of digital advertisements that target dog owners shows both the growth of dog-owner consumer sentiment and spending. And provide further insight into the global perceptions of this phenomenon and its effects on how the ‘proper’ family structure is understood across varying cultures and societies.	Anthropology	Dr. Bill Roberts	Monday, May 4	2:15 PM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
McMahon, Cara	The Bounds of the Political Human: A Uniquely American Misapplication of Empathy	This project examines the history and condition of humanization in the United States, with “human” being defined as a political term rather than a biological fact à la Judith Butler in Undoing Gender (2004). The project argues that humanization is frequently misunderstood and misapplied in American culture, both through exclusions and over-extensions. This is evident primarily in the de-humanization of Hispanic immigrants that exists concurrently with the over-humanization of disembodied Artificial Intelligence technologies. This project ultimately argues that the source of these simultaneous misapplications is a persistent conflation in American culture of humanity with whiteness, or at minimum, an ability to assimilate seamlessly into white culture.	Political Science& Public Policy	Dr. Diana Boros	Monday, May 4	12:00-1:00 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
Miller, Jackie	Reflecting on Production Stage Management for SMCM’s Space Girl	I was given the unique opportunity to hold the position of Production Stage Manager for one of our mainstage shows, Space Girl, working alongside a production team composed entirely of student designers. I aimed to understand the complexity of working as a student stage manager in an academic setting combined with how my position both intersects and interacts with all other departments for a theatrical production process. The most important question I posed throught this project is: How did I, as stage manager, create the culture of Space Girl? The camaraderie between the production team (specifically between the SMs and Director) is what stoked the fire for this project to live up to its fullest potential. Student engagement is at its most important in the arts, where everyone should have the opportunity to grow, experiment, and work together. I truly believe that I helped give this show and everyone who worked on it the opportunity to fully be a part of the artistic process, as a friend, a peer, a leader, and most importantly, their stage manager.	Performing Arts-Theater	Dr. Diego Villada	Monday, May 4	6:00-8:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Bruce Davis Theater
Moore-Nicks, Krystal	Feedbacks Between Snail Grazing and Fungal Endophyte Communities	Salt marshes are dynamic ecosystems that rely on complex microbial interactions to sustain the health of plants and detritivores. These systems provide essential ecosystem services, including shoreline stabilization, storm protection, and carbon sequestration, yet they are increasingly threatened by stressors such as herbivory, which can lead to marsh die-off. One key herbivore, the marsh periwinkle snail (Littoraria irrorata), negatively affects the dominant marsh plant Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) through fungal farming, feeding primarily on fungal communities growing on plant surfaces rather than directly on plant tissue. Despite this, the interactions between fungal communities and snail grazing remain poorly understood. In this study, we used two manipulative experiments to examine (i) how grazing influences fungal endophyte communities, (ii) how microbial presence affects snail grazing behavior, and (iii) how these interactions impact plant health. Results showed that snail presence significantly increased plant damage but had limited effects on overall plant performance. Microbial inoculation alone had no significant impact, though interactions between snails and microbes influenced biomass allocation. Feeding assays revealed no clear snail preference for tissues with live versus sterilized microbial communities, suggesting complex but subtle ecological interactions.	Biology	Dr. Lorena Torres Martinez	Tuesday, May 5	11:40 AM	Schaefer Hall 106
Moran, Flynn	Growing as a Prop Designer in Space Girl by Mora V. Harris	Space Girl by Mora V. Harris is a show about two aliens, Nancy and his daughter Arugula who were sent to earth to prove that humanity exists but they experience challenges due to the social norms and expectations. For this production, I was both an actor as well as a prop designer. In this presentation, I will summarize the project journey, this will include what my role was, how I accomplished it and a summarized reflection on what I have learned through this process.	Performing Arts-Theater	Dr. Diego Villada	Monday, May 4	6:00-8:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Bruce Davis Theater
Nastick, Katherine	“Somos Más Americanos”: Identity and Assimilation in Mexican American Popular Culture	Mexican American popular culture has played a significant role in shaping the modern cultural landscape of the United States throughout much of the twentieth century, and beyond. By the early 2000s, following a steady pattern of increased visibility and popularity, Mexican and Mexican American artists had become a deeply embedded part of popular culture within the United States. With an emphasis on reception and popularity, drawing primarily on newspaper reviews and examples of Mexican and Mexican American music, film, and other forms of artistic expression, this project argues that Mexican American artists deliberately carved out a space for themselves within popular culture, a platform which allowed for both assimilation and identity building, on the artist’s own terms.	History	Dr. Charles Holden	Tuesday, May 5	11:30 AM	Kent Hall 120
Nelson, Jack	The Impact of Student Loan Debt on Household Financial Outcomes	This study examines the impact of having educational loan debt on four household outcomes: annual income, employment type, net worth, and homeownership. Using data from the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) done by the Federal Reserve in cooperation with NORC at the University of Chicago, I use ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models to estimate the association between educational loan debt and each household outcome. In order to show both the intensive and extensive margin, I use two independent variables: a binary indicator of educational loan debt and the logged dollar amount of educational loan debt. The results consistently show the negative impact that educational loan debt has on the four household measures examined. Households with educational loan debt earn 25.3% less in annual income, are 8.3% less likely to be self-employed, accumulate a net worth that is roughly 56.5% lower, and are 5.4% less likely to own a home than households without educational loan debt. All estimated coefficients are statistically significant at the 0.1% level and are consistent across both independent variables. My findings suggest that student loan debt is associated with households’ earning less in annual income, being less likely to be self-employed, accumulate a lower net worth, and are less likely to own a home compared to non-borrowing households.	Economics & Business Administration	Dr. Catalina Morales Lema	Tuesday, May 5	Panel II: 11:30-1pm	Kent Hall 222
Nishiura, Meredith	Factors affecting oyster reproduction in the St. Mary's River	Ensuring the success and sustainability of the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), an ecologically and economically critical species, requires an understanding of the factors influencing its reproduction. This study utilizes data from an eight-year monitoring project to assess the relative effects of water quality, commercial harvest, and adult abundance on spatfall in the St. Mary’s River. Spatfall was exceptionally high in 2025, averaging 4,427 spat per cage and exceeding the previous record by 12.6 times. According to a linear mixed effects model, water temperature and dissolved oxygen had positive effects on spatfall and commercial harvest had a negative effect; the effect of temperature was approximately double that of dissolved oxygen and 3.5 times that of harvest. Harvest differed between the upper and lower river, where the lightly harvested upper river had a large population of spawning oysters and high spatfall, and the heavily harvested lower river had few spawning oysters and low spatfall. This pattern is likely enhanced by estuary flow patterns that transport larvae upstream, contributing to the highly successful oyster population in the upper St. Mary’s River. These results provide a detailed understanding of spatfall patterns, which can help determine optimal restoration strategies and predict population dynamics of this essential species.	Marine Science	Dr. Cassie Gurbisz	Monday, May 4	1:50 PM	Schaefer Hall 106
Norton, Bridget	Playing with Poison: 17th Century France and Performance in Cultural Memory	This SMP focuses on how fears about poison are real, but also serve as a metaphor for the fears and anxieties that lurk beneath the surface of Louis XIV’s absolutist monarchy. They also show different methods through which he is trying desperately to maintain control. The rise of a more rational, skeptical and scientific approach to the world serves as a tool for him, using it to tamp down on the gossip, rumor, and female networks that serve as alternate forms of knowledge creation, and thus power. The fascination with the Affair of the Poisons undercuts his efforts to maintain order and control, even as he manages the Chambre Ardente, locks up the remaining accused, and protects the legal image Montespan and his court. The facination with the Affair continues through literture and entertainment to the modern age, with these interpretations of The Affair reflect how changing social pressures and concerns influence performance and memory.	History	Dr. Christine Adams	Monday, May 4	12:00 PM	Kent Hall 120
Nwadike, Daniel	You’re You	Daniel made a series of art about himself. The process is crucial to the artist as a means to self-reflect and put to paper the questions that either he asked himself or was too afraid for people to find out. He explores his anxieties and inner feelings along with showcasing different expressions of his gender as a means to critique gender norms. Some pieces are photos of him juxtaposed against his emotions as backgrounds. They are photographs with pastel backgrounds. Some backgrounds are physically drawn while the others were done digitally. Other pieces are less about what's going on underneath and are about what the surface is expressing. The artist draws their inspiration from fashion photography, rap culture, weather, and the portraiture work of Berkelye L Hendricks. Mark Rothko also was a big influence in how he used colors in his backgrounds. His journey with himself and accepting/ being more comfortable with who he was is the main theme of the project. He used pastels and different forms of media because they served as a way to represent the multi-faceted nature of gender and could be blended together in a way that helped represent him. The colors could be dull or super saturated. Through getting less literal with the colors and more expressive with them he was able to better express his feelings. The colors and shapes are about how the emotions made him feel and the way they interacted with him. He wanted the vulnerability and the intensity of the backgrounds to juxtapose against the confidence in his poses as what's on his surface sometimes betrays what he’s feeling. While for the other pieces the focus is strictly on the surface and is about portraying his confidence and vulnerability there.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	3:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
O'Connor, Elena	Work Function Materials Engineering of Printable Inorganic Solar Cells	Printable inorganic photovoltaics present a promising avenue to reduce the urgency to innovate renewable energy solutions. One such component of these electronics is a thin (~60 nm) solution processable conductive n-type zinc oxide (ZnO) window layer that can be printed and annealed from a zinc salt precursor ink. While previous work suggests anecdotal device improvements with indium (III) chloride metal halide doping, the effects on the electronic properties, including the work function, or whether the improvement originates from the cation or the anion, needs to be investigated. In this study, we tested the electronic properties of ZnO doped with over thirty metal salts, including those containing anions of nitrates, chlorides, bromides, and iodides to identify the effect of the anion in the precursor inks. Ink compositions were engineered to include metals and anions with molar equivalent loading amounts from a wide range of metals from Groups 1, 2, 3, the first row transition metals, and some f-block metals. The ink solutions were spin-coated and annealed at 300 °C on 25 mm^2 glass slides. The work functions of the resulting films were measured using a Kelvin probe to mark changes in band alignment with the light absorbing layer of the solar cells. Additionally, the light transmittance was characterized with UV/Vis spectrophotometry. Solution processed photovoltaic devices were then constructed with layers of indium tin oxide (ITO), cadmium telluride (CdTe), cadmium selenide (CdSe), and doped ZnO, followed by the application of a low-melting, low-workfunction (~ 3eV) alloy as the top contact. Device parameters including efficiency, fill factor, short circuit current, and open circuit voltage were measured under a calibrated solar simulator in order to determine the effects of the metal dopant and the anion on device performance.	Chemistry & Biochemistry	Dr. Troy Townsend	Monday, May 4	2:00 PM	Goodpaster 117
Oliver, Michael	Lovers	This series of black and white works explores intimacy and anxieties of relationships between people through the physicality of abstracted figurative work blended with graphical compositions, text, collage, and multimedia formats and materials. The work consists of several series of linen and wood panel canvas installations. Graphical text based collage work constructed with acrylic paint, matte medium, an assortment of scrap paper, and white out which all serve as accompanying pieces to larger works. The larger figurative paintings accompany and anthropomorphize yearning and fear of intimacy through abstracted nude figures in different states. The ephemeral projection and accompanying soundscapes sets the atmospheres and creates a dialogue with the paintings. Paint drippings and marks allude to bleeding of the bodies, and through the imagery, the focus is on the body and how the body relates to the rest of the frame. Wanting to be loved, fearing being loved, loving someone else and never knowing how we are perceived, are some of the thoughts expressed through the most vulnerable state a human can be in-which is the state of nakedness. Expression and process is as much part of the project as the final product. Creating without worry or fear and taking those negative thought patterns into the work. Create until there's nothing left to say.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	3:15 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Osborne, Nicole	From Villain to Martyr: Narratives of the Lynching of Benjamin Hance, 1887-2026	This project explores a local St. Mary's County lynching case of an African American man named Benjamin Hance. The project aims to analyze, identify, and research how various media narratives affect the public memory of extrajudicial violence. Framing Hance's story within the broader streams of racial violence and terror, his story aims to highlight the value of each human life, which serves as a reference point for other victims' stories. My findings analyze the relation between memory and history, tying in themes about society's transformation of views on lynching and narratives of redemption, especially with its victims. How the white and Black narrative is separate but eventually becomes one in the present day. The lynching of Benjamin Hance is ultimately an example of how delayed justice affects the community.	History	Dr. Garrey Dennie	Monday, May 4	2:00 PM	Kent Hall 120
Ostendorf-Snell, Addison	Ephemeral Forest Lands	Ephemeral Forest Lands is a series of Anthotype prints depicting the native plant species of Maryland. Anthotypes are non-archival; they will fade over time. This is not only a technique display, but a narrative symbolizing the fragile state and instability of our climate. Global warming, in its current state, increases the erasure and displacement of native plant species. Ephemeral Forest Lands, signifies its descent towards erasure at a local level. The painstaking and extensive exposure time taken to create the works, is in itself, a gesture of resistance to our fast pace of life. This installation provides viewers with an opportunity to acknowledge, interact, and learn about the local environmental ecosystem.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	10:05 AM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Pasko, Elena	Collaboration Within IEP Teams: Applications, Benefits, and Limitations	This study explores school providers’ views on interdisciplinary collaboration within Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams and the application, benefits, and limitations of collaboration for supporting students with disabilities. The research examines school providers’ perspectives on collaborative practices, drawing on existing literature and qualitative interviews with general education teachers, special education teachers, and school psychologists in Maryland public schools. Findings suggest that collaboration improves student outcomes by promoting increased confidence, and stronger academic, behavioral, and social support. Participants emphasized that collaboration also benefits school providers by fostering professional support, providing multidisciplinary expertise, improving relationships, and enhancing the quality of instructional materials. In addition to potential benefits of collaboration, significant challenges were identified, including time constraints, staffing and funding shortages, role confusion, navigating professional relationships, and limited opportunities for structured collaboration. Three major themes emerged: collaboration is heavily restricted by time, clearly defined professional roles are essential, and strong relationships among team members and administrators are critical for success. Overall, the study highlights the importance of intentional collaborative structures within IEP teams to maximize student outcomes while addressing systemic barriers that limit effective collaboration.	Educational Studies	Dr. Katherine Koch	Tuesday, May 5	2:00 PM	Dean Learning Commons 214
Patel, Khushi	Legacy Pollution Persistence of Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Tied to AFFF Pollution in the St. Mary’s River	Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are an anthropogenic class of chemicals used in commercial and professional applications, notably in aqueous film-forming foam for fire response in the military. Anti-degradation properties of PFAS led to the colloquial name “forever chemicals,” reflecting their persistence in the environment. Thus, leading to growing concern among military-adjacent communities about quantifying PFAS in their environment. Such is the case with the St. Mary’s River in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, which is home to Webster Field, an annex of Naval Air Station Patuxent River. There is a global debate about appropriate levels of PFAS in drinking water (4.0 ppt in the US, set by the EPA), and how long PFAS remain in the environment. Thus, it is important to monitor PFAS concentrations over a timescale. Drawing on methodology and sampling locations from a previous 2020 study, this study builds on datasets quantifying AFFF-associated PFAS in the St. Mary’s River. Aiming to identify where PFAS may be concentrated within the study area, this study contributes to a broader understanding of PFAS levels in the St Mary's River environment. Looking to the future, further testing is required to work towards remediation.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Matthew Wilfong	Monday, May 4	9:30 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Payne, Zach	Behind the Perfect Body: Gay Men’s Experiences with Body Image and Eating Struggles	This qualitative study explored how gay men understand body image concerns, disordered eating, help-seeking, and the influence of community, media, and digital environments. Eight cisgender gay men between the ages of 21 and 42 participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research (Hill et al., 1997). Findings indicated that participants experienced body ideals within gay male communities as narrow, polarized, and socially consequential, with dominant pressures toward thinness and muscularity, rigid body-based categories, and strong links between appearance, desirability, and belonging. Participants also described cultural norms, social contexts, media portrayals, and dating apps as reinforcing these ideals and contributing to body dissatisfaction, self-comparison, and, in some cases, disordered eating behaviors. At the same time, community support and self-acceptance emerged as important protective factors, although many participants reported never seeking professional help and perceived health care and mental health professionals as lacking understanding of gay men’s body image experiences. These findings suggest that body dissatisfaction among gay men develops within a broader network of community, cultural, and commercial pressures and may serve as an important pathway to more severe eating pathology. Implications for prevention, culturally competent treatment, and more ethical media and marketing practices are discussed.	Psychology	Dr. Libby Williams		9:30 AM	Goodpaster Hall 195
Pitts, Natalie	Beyond the Martyr: Reconstructing Tarkovsky in Academic Discourse	Drawing on the history of Western and Russian artistic criticism of Andrei Tarkovsky, I will be examining how these critics constructed Tarkovsky as a martyr, which came to define an entire genre of hagiographic discourse. Using American and British books and Russian articles from Iskusstvo Kino, I aim to construct a mediated framework to define Tarkovsky and his position as an artist in Soviet and Western society, striking a middle road between his history as a persecuted artist and the lenience he was given in comparison to other artists within the USSR.	History	Dr. Charlie Musgrove	Monday, May 4	11:00 AM	Kent Hall 120
Ralph, Keileigh	Prehistoric Pine Pitch Glue	Humans have been producing different types of mastics for thousands of years. Pine pitch glue is a mastic made using the resin from pine trees, ash or ochre, and an additional binder like beeswax, animal fat, dung, or sawdust. The resin is melted and strained over hot coals and then mixed with the chosen additives. The earliest evidence of the use of this mastic dates to the Middle to Late Pleistocene, and it is still used today. Pine pitch glue was commonly used when hafting stone tools. To better understand the production of this mastic, I conducted experiments to analyze how different variables ingredients change the tensile strength and quality of pine pitch glue. Experimental archaeology is a scientific way to replicate the production and use of past technology, behaviors, and environments in a hands-on way in order to test hypotheses about life in the past. I tested different ratios of wet and dry ingredients to see how they impact the durability and stickiness of the glue. I also experimented with different binders while keeping the resin and charcoal portions consistent to see what impact they would have on quality. These tests show the complexity of creating this mastic and how different materials might affect the quality or appearance of the glue.	Anthropology	Dr. Bill Roberts	Monday, May 4	3:45 PM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
Ramirez, Isabella	"Water Doesn’t Cry; Water Screams": Ontological Conflicts and the Struggle for Relational Water Rights in Colombian Artisanal Fishing Communities	This project examines the ontological conflicts between Colombian artisanal fishing communities and the dominant political and economic powers shaping water rights policy. Artisanal fisherfolk, whose livelihoods are inextricably linked to the health of their aquatic ecosystems (rivers, marshes, and coastlines), hold place-based, relational ontologies where water is viewed as a sacred, sentient entity and a "connector of life." This contrasts sharply with the Western, anthropocentric ontology embedded in current legal frameworks, which often treat water as a private resource for profit or merely for basic human consumption. Drawing on interviews with artisanal fisherfolk from Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Magdalena Medio, and Arauca, Colombia, this paper evaluates three primary legal frameworks—Water as a Private Right, the Human Right to Water, and the Rights of Rivers. Though the legal frameworks offer advances in legal thinking, they are incapable of addressing the interconnected nature that forms the foundation of Colombian artisanal fishing because of their underlying assumptions and the dualistic thinking that informs policy. The final section explores "relational thinking and design" as a non-legal alternative, highlighting how grassroots movements and communal practices, rooted in shared resources and reciprocal relationships with nature, represent a powerful, pluriversal pathway forward.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4	10:50 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Ross, Celeste	Bearskin	Bearskin is a short story and series of eight linocut illustrations bound into a book. It is an original fairy tale inspired by selkie folklore and the dark forests of European fairy tales.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	11:30 AM
Saafir, Hannah	The Journey of Marketing and House Management for the SMCM Theater Production of Space Girl	For my undergraduate senior project as a performing arts major with a concentration in theatre. I was able to collaborate with other seniors to create a theater production which was called Space Girl. I was fortunate enough to do marketing for this show and advertising and also was able to be the house manager. In this document, I will detail my entire process starting with the initial concept of how we decide to do a show, the process of making the show, then the actual performance run, and finally my reflection on how this entire process has been.	Performing Arts-Theater	Dr. Diego Villada	Monday, May 4	6:00-8:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Bruce Davis Theater
Sadowski, Lillian	Disrupting the Climate of Conspiracy: A Gamified Intervention	Climate change conspiracy theories pose a significant threat to the development of a collective climate solution. These theories are particularly prominent as a result of intergroup tension, the overwhelming realities of the climate crisis, and the evolution of how information is communicated across sources. Conspiracy content’s prominence is of particular concern because it undermines trust in science, disrupts social unity, increases extremism, and decreases willingness to engage in collective problem solving. Although conspiracy content is damaging, conspiracy beliefs are widely endorsed and encountered, and their negative effects can occur through mere exposure. On the individual level, belief in conspiracy theories is facilitated by both cognitive tendencies towards conspiratorial thinking and social, existential, and epistemic psychological motivations. Developing an effective intervention strategy has proven difficult as conspiracy theories are illogical and resistant to falsification; further, attempts to disprove conspiracy theories are often interpreted as part of the conspiracy. Consequently, a stealth design that conceals the intervention content and encourages active participation is particularly appealing. In response, I have developed a gamified intervention with a stealth design in order to address the psychological mechanisms that facilitate belief in conspiracy content and prevent collective action. My product is a collaborative deck building game wherein players must work collaboratively, engage in critical thinking, and develop a collective solution in order to conquer an existential threat to a fictional world. By addressing the psychological facilitators of climate change conspiracy theories, my product could serve to reduce their appeal, prominence, and negative effects amongst players.	Psychology	Dr. Gili Freedman	Tuesday, May 5	11:10 AM	Goodpaster Hall 195
Sandoval, Riley	Expanding Energy Access in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa	As of 2023, an estimated 92 percent of the entire global population had access to electricity, meaning 666 million people are still left without energy access. Of those without energy access, 85 percent are located in sub-Saharan Africa, primarily in rural and impoverished areas. This paper argues the need for off-grid methods to expand energy access. Using case studies of Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, this paper identifies disparate impacts of energy poverty on women and children, as well as an urban-rural divide in energy access. The case studies discussed identify barriers to energy access at the individual level and in the private and public sectors. They also highlight the need for international support to aid in funding and technical assistance for energy projects. This paper concludes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to energy access, but that a combination of methods, in particular off-grid technologies, must be implemented to achieve universal energy access.	Political Science& Public Policy	Dr. Michael Cain	Monday, May 4	9:00-10:15 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
Sbordone, Sarah	An Act of Translation is an Act of Betrayal: The Translation of Literature as an Act of Colonialism	Literature is not just a piece of the intricately woven web of culture, but is a critical representation of culture itself. It is essential to examine the complexities of the language of literature as it is translated from its native language into English and across cultures. This project argues that the translation of literature into English can work as a driving force of the colonial project. In translating literature, authors are able to take liberties that go unchecked by authors and readers. Translators must also make crucial decisions about translating words, phrases, and cultural elements that have no equivalent in the English language. When using translated literature in the classroom, it is essential for educators to not only remain aware of the complexities of translation, but to mitigate them by helping students develop a deep cultural understanding that goes beyond the text itself. By engaging students in critical reading of translated literature, educators are able to help students develop empathy skills that build social responsibility.	English	Dr. Nadeem Zaman	Monday, May 4	Panel II: 10:45-12:00 PM	Daughty-Palmer Commons
Schlichting, Kelsie	Scenic Design for Space Girl	A short presentation highlighting the important parts that I participated in during the production of Space Girl.	Performing Arts-Theater	Dr. Diego Villada	Monday, May 4	6:00-8:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Bruce Davis Theater
Schneider, Emma	Heritage, Language, and Culture Across Generations	Heritage language can be an important connection to one's heritage of origin, however, for those who come from immigrant family backgrounds, these languages may struggle with transmission over generations. The present study uses a qualitative approach to examine how heritage language has been transmitted to second and third generation college students, and how said students react to the specific manner of transmission. Researchers interviewed participants from a variety of backgrounds who attend St. Mary’s College of Maryland or other institutions. Interview data was coded in a group manner to minimize potential researcher bias, make so no crucial details were lost, and to ensure interrater reliability. Results indicated that participants had a wide range of transmission points for their heritage language, such as family, time, community and consumption of media. Additionally, participants highlighted feelings when using a heritage language, impacts of political and US influence, its impact on identity, educational experiences, opportunities to use a heritage language in college, and both loss and reconnection of a heritage language in life. Future research may want to explore how past heritage language transmission and loss could impact individuals' desires for reconnection with a heritage language, regardless of proficiency.	Psychology	Dr. Ayşe Ikizler	Tuesday, May 5	10:20 AM	Goodpaster Hall 195
Shankle, Lainey	The Personal is Philosophical: How Consciousness-Raising Groups Constructed a Feminist Epistemology	Consciousness-Raising groups emerged in the late 1960s as a feminist tool for the Women’s Liberation Movement. Consciousness-Raising groups, or CR groups, consisted of small gatherings of women who met to discuss how gender impacted their day-to-day experiences. The members of these groups would dissect personal stories and look for patterns in what they had all experienced. These discussions allowed the participating women to gain a better sense of their world and how sexism operated. The missions of CR groups varied; however, an overarching goal was to help build a new epistemology, or system of knowledge, that did not rely on the standards and beliefs of traditional patriarchal fields. The groups used a collaborative pedagogy and confronted epistemic injustices to help build their own epistemology. In addition, the groups also created a space for the women to organize protests, spread feminist literature, and work to develop political theory. The developments of these groups were not only political, but also philosophical.	Philosophy	Dr. Michael Taber	Monday, May 4	1:40 PM	Montgomery Hall, Room 151
Shannon, Cassidy	Public Art in Urban Spaces: Searching for Meaning in Urban Material Culture	Material culture is defined as the process by which immaterial identity is demonstrated through material objects; it is a tangible representation of a concentrated group of people, a culmination of human history, collaboration, and visual identity. In urban spaces, it is often public art that functions as the material culture of its space and informs the identity and visual culture of the people who view it. Looking at the urban centers of Dublin and New York as examples, public art is an entity that continuously interacts with people’s daily lives, existing not as a static formation of culture but one that is consistently engaged with and even altered by humans. Having and producing art like sculptures, murals, or mosaics in public spaces forces people to have an awareness of that space. In both Dublin and New York, infrastructure and architecture already act as visible markers of local cultural material; as such, their public art naturally joins in this visual language to produce a mutual meaning and a unique sense of place and identity. Utilizing the frameworks of urban semiotics and interpretive anthropology, this research explores how public art in the two cities serves as a manifestation of their visual and cultural identities, creating a unique, ever-changing material culture.	Anthropology	Dr. Bill Roberts	Monday, May 4	1:30 PM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
Shepard, Emma	Molecular Identification and Salinity Tolerance of Redbay Leaf Endophytes	Persea is a genus of subcanopy trees within the Lauraceae family and includes Avocados (P. americana) and it’s coastal native relatives in the southeastern United States red bay (P. borbonia), swamp bay (P. palustris), and scrub bay (P. humilis). All of these species are facing threats including both the Laurel wilt disease and habitat changes due to climate change to the extent that red bay is considered endangered in Maryland and decreased production is being experienced in the avocado industry. Little is known about the endophytes of red bay, swamp bay, and scrub bay despite endophytes being known to increase plant climate change tolerance and increase plant disease resistance. In order to know what endophytes are currently present in wild red bay, swamp bay, and scrub bay fungal endophytes were isolated from leaves. Using DNA sequencing of the ITS region fungal isolates were identified to species level and morphologically characterized. In order to understand the effects of salinity upon these endophytes the samples were tested using a spectrophotometer at NaCl salinity concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 40 ppt to mimic levels of salt water intrusion. Four species of fungi were found: Biscogniauxia dendrobii, Penicillium allii-sativi, Penicillium brevistipitatum, and Penicillium rubens.	Biology	Dr. Lorena Torres Martinez	Monday, May 4	11:00 AM	Schaefer Hall 106
Shiflett, Celeste	The Confession: A 2D Animated Short film	“The Confession” is a 2D animated short film centering on a conversation between two characters. The film serves as a reflection for young adults about the current moment, where they find themselves at the crossroads between young adulthood and independence. The animation takes place on an urban subway train; the design of the space is influenced by Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture, and is evocative of a church confessional. The subway itself serves as a visual motif to represent change and the physical displacement of self. Inspired by daily commutes, the in-between space where self contemplation occurs.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	1:35 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Smith, Garrison	Once We Get Up There: The Putting Together of Space Girl	This paper covers all of the work I did for the show Space Girl. I worked behind the scenes by being the lead Roller Skating Choreographer, as well as Assistant Fight Choreographer. My paper covers the entirety of the project, from January 2025 to April 2026. The presentation will be condensed to around eight minutes of summarization.	Performing Arts-Theater	Dr. Diego Villada	Monday, May 4	6:00-8:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Bruce Davis Theater
Snyder, Jana	Cultural Preservation in the Face of Climate Displacement (Climate Affect)	Climate change and sea level rise are increasingly threatening coastal communities and forcing some residents to relocate. This project explores the question, How can the culture of a place be preserved if its community members have to move away? We focus on island communities in the Chesapeake Bay, specifically St. George’s Island, which have experienced significant flooding, erosion, and land loss. Our research combines archival sources and oral history interviews to examine both past and recent experiences of displacement. Archival materials document patterns of environmental change and migration, while interviews provide insight into how former and current residents maintain cultural identity and connection to place. These findings, along with our individual research, are compiled into a literature review that situates our case studies within broader discussions of climate-related displacement and cultural preservation. To share our research tangibly, we are creating an immersive art installation for the Climate Affect event. Presenting archival materials and personal narratives through an artistic medium allows audiences to engage with these stories emotionally. By experiencing these histories in an immersive way, viewers are encouraged to form personal connections to the communities affected and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural consequences of relocation due to environmental challenges.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4	9:50 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Stone, Michael	Investigating the Effect of MDH1 Knockout on Neutral Lipid Accumulation in HEK293 Cells	Cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (MDH1) links cellular redox balance to anabolic metabolism through its role in the malate–aspartate shuttle and cytosolic malate production. Because malate can support malic enzyme-dependent NADPH generation, we hypothesized that loss of MDH1 would reduce the metabolic support required for fatty acid synthesis and neutral-lipid storage. To test this, neutral lipid accumulation was compared between wild-type (WT) HEK293 cells and MDH1-knockout HEK293-7B cells using a Nile Red microplate assay, with Hoechst fluorescence used as a proxy for cell number. Cells were cultured in routine or oleate-loaded growth media to induce lipid droplet formation. Across three independent microplate-based experiments, oleate loading generally increased normalized Nile Red fluorescence, indicating that the assay successfully detected treatment-induced lipid accumulation. However, genotype-associated differences between wild-type and HEK293-7B cells were small and inconsistent across experiments. These results did not support the original hypothesis that MDH1 loss would consistently reduce neutral lipid accumulation under the tested conditions. Instead, they suggest that MDH1 loss did not produce a reproducible reduction in neutral lipid accumulation, although additional replicate experiments and improved control of plating variability are needed before drawing definitive conclusions.	Chemistry & Biochemistry	Dr. Pamela Mertz	Monday, May 4	10:00 AM	Goodpaster Hall 117
Stonesifer, Megan	Fostering Community Relationships with Nature Through Seed Stewardship	Our project is working to empower people in Maryland to get involved in their communities, specifically through the cultivation of native seeds and attendance to local seed swapping events. We hope to create a user-friendly, fact based, and accessible package for people who want to be involved to gather all of the right information for environmental protection through native plants. This resource will be called the Maryland Seed Swapper Guide (MSSG) and will be available publicly. For more localized involvement, we also plan on planning a campus seed swapping event and informational meeting, which is a continuation of a past student group’s Capstone project. With these efforts, we hope to inspire the community to continue to be involved in environmental restoration through seed stewardship.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4		Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Summers, Carter	The Seamless Society: A Historiographical Literature Survey of Imagined Perfected Societies at the End of Historic Change	In this project, I have surveyed utopian and dystopian novels, alongside relevant philosophical tracts and primary descriptions of attempts to build perfectly ordered societies, from the early sixteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. In doing so, I have argued that utopian and dystopian literature and real-life worldbuilding are in fact describing the same type of society, characterized by "perfect organization," and I have labeled these "seamless societies," due to the fact that the words utopia and dystopia have too much loaded cultural connotations, which I argue that authors have imagine will arise at the "end of historic change," a hypothetical future point where all political and economic quarrels permanently cease and scientific research and technological advancements permanently halt, creating a static society that will exist until the presumptive extinction of our species. In doing this project, I hope to effectively argue that the desire for perfect organization could lead to the ultimate annihilation of human freedom and thus the end of history (as Fukuyama defined it, but I do not use him in this project). I hope to show how imaginings of seamless societies have changed over the past five centuries, how and why some have supported them, and how and why some have warned against our "coming predicament."	History	Dr. Christine Adams		10:00 AM	Kent Hall 120
Tardanico, Sydney	Preventing challenges: Teaching to promote critical thinking in secondary classrooms)	This project focuses on secondary teachers and the teaching stategies that they use when teaching critical thinking with controversial literature. A survey was sent out to secondary teachers that teach trade books asking which books they think are impactful, as well as the teaching strategies that they use to teach critical thinking and keep the students engaged with the material. It also asks about what teachers do to try and prevent book challenges.	Educational Studies	Prof. Whitney Nyman	Tuesday, May 5	1:00 PM	Dean Learning Commons 214
Tasikas, Argyrios	The Transcendental Argument for God's Existence and Orthodox Christianity	My SMP argues that only the Orthodox Christian paradigm is capable of providing a sufficient account for the possibility of human knowledge. Utilizing the Orthodox Transcendental Argument for God as formulated by Deacon Ananias Sorem, I contend that the transcendental categories required for knowledge can only be grounded in the Orthodox conception of God, with its unique metaphysical characteristics such as monarchical trinitarianism, a distinction between essence and energies, and hypostatic instantiation.	Philosophy	Dr. Michael Taber	Tuesday, May 5	1:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Room 151
Thomas, Charlotte	Studies from Observation: Natural Science		Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	10:45 AM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Thress, Alli	Graffiti as an Indicator of Contact-induced Language Change within Multilingual Environments	The interdisciplinary implications of art are undeniable. In the 1960s, a new artistic medium and movement powered by language made its debut: graffiti. Graffiti quickly became a new voice for modern movements. Originating in Philadelphia, graffiti quickly spread to New York City where subway graffiti became a platform for the protest of industrialization. After the Clean Car Program erased graffiti’s subway presence, streets became the new platform, morphing into a familiar staple of locality. Soon, graffiti earned international popularity with the 1990s rise of interrail passes across Europe. However, aspects of how this voice evolved and morphed to adhere to new international audiences remain a mystery. This research aims to categorize key features of graffiti’s semantic and morphological makeup to analyze the medium’s potential as an indicator of contact-induced language change in multilingual environments. This will be accomplished by collecting different graffiti “tags” in urban and rural settings in Spain, Costa Rica, and the Eastern United States. These tags will then be categorized by location, language, area, tourism level, part of speech, and frequency to determine relevant relationships. We hypothesize that as settings become more rural, native language will become more predominant within graffiti writing. It is additionally possible that in rural environments with tourist cities nearby, multilingual graffiti will be more prevalent. We hope our findings may provide a framework for future linguistic investigation of graffiti.	International Languages & Cultures-Spanish	Dr. Haley Patterson	Monday, May 4	1:00 PM	Anne Arundel Hall, Blackistone Room
Toledo, Gerchel Mae	Modeling UV-Degradation in Polyurethane Coatings Using SPARTA		Chemistry & Biochemistry	Dr. Randy Larsen	Tuesday, May 5	1:00 PM	Goodpaster Hall 117
Tucker, Kelsey	Parameters Affecting Iron and Manganese Cycling in the Calvert Cliffs	This project explores the parameters affecting the dissolution, precipitation, and bioavailability of iron and manganese in the Calvert Cliffs. Iron and manganese cycling in the Calvert Cliffs is predicted to be controlled by the interplay of sediment biogeochemistry, redox conditions and pH, and the availability of oxygen. The Miocene-age sediments of the Cliffs provide an abundance of iron- and manganese-bearing minerals that are mobilized through weathering and groundwater flow, where redox gradients and oxygen availability dictate the transformation between soluble and insoluble forms of iron and manganese. Erosion and weathering, in additon to increased rainfall events coupled with climate change, will affect these conditions and therefore, the forms of iron and manganese present. Experimental methods, such as X-ray diffraction, a flow-through column, and reactive transport modeling are proposed to analyze past, present, and future compositions of various iron and manganese minerals in the Cliffs.	Chemistry & Biochemistry	Dr. Geoff Bowers	Monday, May 4	11:00 AM	Goodpaster Hall 117
Valdesere, Jailyn	The Preperation and Process of Directing Space Girl	For the Theater Dance and Performance Studies Capstone requirement at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, I have writtent an honors thesis, a written narrative of the preparations of directing prior to and during the mainstage production of Space Girl by Mora V. Harris. In addition to documenting the process, included is a reflection of how the production went and what recommendations and lessons were learned for the future. Followed by a presentation of my thesis approximetly ten minutes.	Performing Arts-Theater	Dr. Diego Villada	Monday, May 4	6:00-8:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Bruce Davis Theater
Vanskiver, Jena	Making People Whole Again: Compensation as a Deterrent for Wrongful Convictions	Wrongful convictions in the United States are driven by many factors, but are primarily influenced by official misconduct, eyewitness misidentification, junk science, and false confessions. These factors perpetuate wrongful convictions, putting strain on the criminal justice system. As a means of making up for the time lost to wrongful convictions, states look to compensate exonerees by paying money to make up for lost income, providing housing assistance, transition assistance, and even healthcare. This compensation acts as a deterrent to wrongful convictions because states who do not want to face the financial burden of compensation will do more to regulate the primary wrongful conviction factors. There is nothing which can make up for the years spent wrongfully incarcerated, but compensation eases the pain of reentry, establishes an accountability system for the states, and can have a hand in preventing wrongful convictions.	Political Science& Public Policy	Prof. Mary Hall, JD	Tuesday, May 5	10:30-11:45 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
Vigna, Corinne	The Benefit of Multimedia Slides in the Classroom and Their Positive Effect on Student Learning	This literature review highlights the role of multimedia slides as an instructional tool that enhances student engagement, comprehension, and overall academic performance. It explores how integrating visuals, text, interactive elements, and more makes learning more active and engaging, and promotes a deeper understanding of the content being taught. The literature review also highlights the influence of multimedia slides on metacognitive development, encouraging students to take ownership of their learning by reflecting on their learning process. The review also emphasizes the roles of teacher-student relationships. Fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment, it enhances the effectiveness of multimedia instruction and builds stronger relationships between students and teachers. Furthermore, the literature review discusses the importance of what is included on multimedia slides, such as organization, slide design, the overall clarity of the presented information, and considerations of student cognitive load, to be as effective as possible. While multimedia slides offer many benefits for student learning and engagement, this literature review also addresses limitations such as overuse, poor design, and unequal access to technology. Overall, multimedia slides can be a powerful tool for supporting meaningful and engaging learning experiences in the classroom.	Psychology	Mirabile, Scott	Monday, May 4	10:45 AM	Goodpaster Hall 195
Voos, Ella	Growing Together: Socio-Economic Impacts of Agritourism in Costa Rica and the United States	Agritourism is one of the most prominent ways for small, local farms to supplement their diminishing agricultural income from competition with industrial and factory farms. Agritourism is a division of ecotourism that is seldom studied, particularly in countries outside of the United States. This cross-cultural study focused on the socio-economic impacts of agritourism through the use of a mixed-methods, multilingual assessment survey. The study used three forms of data collection: a provider self-survey sent to agritourism sites in Costa Rica and Southern Maryland, and ethnographic and public profile assessments performed by the researcher. This research shows that providers are well-informed about how their agritourism operation impacts their local community. The findings support the idea that while agritourism can serve as a supplement to a solely agricultural income, these ventures also positively impact the communities they are a part of. However, those benefits vary depending on the cultural context. In the United States, the benefit is primarily through increased access to high-quality local foods, while in Costa Rica, the focus appears to be on employment opportunities. With this better understanding of how agritourism impacts local communities, there can be more strategic investment to create local, sustainable economies.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Barry Muchnick	Monday, May 4	9:30 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Walder, Isabel	On the Seidel polynomial of equivalence classes of graphs	Let G = (V, E) be a graph with adjacency matrix A(G) and Seidel matrix S(G) = J - 2A(G) - I. We examine the characteristic polynomial, φ (S(G)), of the Seidel matrix. We prove a general form for the coefficients of some terms of φ (S(G)) for all graphs on n vertices. We also prove a general form for the Seidel characteristic polynomial for the complete bipartite switching class and its complement.	Mathematics & Computer Science	Dr. Emily Barranca	Monday, May 4
Williams, Cho-Cho	Beyond the Distance: Understanding Food Deserts through Spatial Inequality and Structural Access Barriers	This paper examines the structural, spatial, and economic factors that shape food deserts by integrating insights from existing literature with an original spatial analysis of food access. The literature review demonstrates that food deserts emerge not simply from geographic distance to supermarkets but from intersecting systems of inequality, including income constraints, transportation barriers, market dynamics, and historical patterns of racialized development. While prior research highlights the limitations of distance-based metrics and the scarcity of causal evidence, it also points to the need for multidimensional approaches that capture affordability, quality, and lived experience. Building on these perspectives, the spatial analysis conducted in this study maps food access across selected neighborhoods and reveals how standard classifications can obscure meaningful variation in store quality, price levels, and mobility constraints. The results show that areas identified as food deserts often face overlapping structural disadvantages, while some areas that appear well-served on paper still experience limited practical access due to cost or transportation barriers. These findings reinforce the argument that food access is a complex, multi-layered system. Together, the literature and empirical analysis suggest that policy interventions focused solely on supermarket placement are insufficient. Effective solutions must address the broader ecosystem of structural inequality that shapes food environments.	Economics & Business Administration	Dr. Amy Henderson	Tuesday, May 5	Panel I: 9:00–11:00 am	Kent Hall 222
Wilson, Arin	The Mouth of Our Home: A Poetic Exploration of Plurality	The Mouth of Our Home is a poetry collection that explores our experiences with being plural, or multiple beings in one body. Resisting the popular notion that plurality is a tragedy, we shift the focus away from the trauma that formed us and toward the relationships between us, portraying the unique process of healing together and simply living together as people who share the same body and life.	English	Dr. Karen Anderson	Monday, May 4	Panel IV: 3:30-4:45 PM	Daugherty-Palmer Commons
Winters, David	Cultural Preservation in the Face of Climate Displacement (Climate Affect)	Climate change and sea level rise are increasingly threatening coastal communities and forcing some residents to relocate. This project explores the question, How can the culture of a place be preserved if its community members have to move away? We focus on island communities in the Chesapeake Bay, specifically St. George’s Island, which have experienced significant flooding, erosion, and land loss. Our research combines archival sources and oral history interviews to examine both past and recent experiences of displacement. Archival materials document patterns of environmental change and migration, while interviews provide insight into how former and current residents maintain cultural identity and connection to place. These findings, along with our individual research, are compiled into a literature review that situates our case studies within broader discussions of climate-related displacement and cultural preservation. To share our research tangibly, we are creating an immersive art installation for the Climate Affect event. Presenting archival materials and personal narratives through an artistic medium allows audiences to engage with these stories emotionally. By experiencing these histories in an immersive way, viewers are encouraged to form personal connections to the communities affected and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural consequences of relocation due to environmental challenges.	Environmental Studies	Dr. Parisa Rinaldi	Monday, May 4	9:50 AM	Campus Center, Cole Cinema
Woods, Maxwell	The Proliferation Problem: Why Do States Pursue and Abandon Nuclear Weapons Programs?	The development of nuclear weapons has been one of the more prominent issues in recent times. Frankly, they have been in the headlines and fears of people all around the world ever since Hirsoshima and Nagasaki exposed their destructive capabilities. And they have only gotten more common throughout the world, with 9 known countries possessing them at the moment, and the lingering possibility of other countries deciding to join suit. This begs the question, what could possibly prompt a country to pursue nuclear weapons? And, perhaps even more mysterious, what causes a country to abandon these pursuits, whether after they already possess them or mid-process? This paper, after analyzing the circumstances surrounding 4 current nuclear states and 3 attempted/disarmed nuclear states, makes the argument that a country's pursuit of nuclear weapons is directly correlated to their recent conflict history or recently heightened-tensions, and that a country that decides to abandon their pursuits is directly tied to immense international pressure.	Political Science& Public Policy	Dr. Matt Fehrs	Monday, May 4	9:00-10:15 (Panel)	Kent Hall 213
Woodward, Elian	Local Soldiers, Foreign Arms: The Supply and Use of North and South Vietnamese Small Arms and Light Weapons During the Vietnam War	The Vietnam War was a long, bloody conflict that saw the communist North pitted against the capitalist South, with both sides receiving the majority of their war materiel from foreign powers. Of particular interest is the small arms and light weapons provided to each side, which, when examined, paint a picture of the larger supply trends of the war and reflect the attitudes of the foreign powers that supplied them. Throughout the war, North Vietnam’s allies proved far more willing to provide them with the weaponry needed to fight a constantly changing conflict, as can especially be seen in the early years of the war when communist insurgents actually wielded greater personal firepower than the South Vietnamese army. In comparison to North Vietnam’s allies, the United States was unwilling to make sure that South Vietnam had adequate supplies and put the majority of their resources into ineffectively fighting the war on their own. By the end of the war, North Vietnam had been consistently better equipped and had shown a greater ability to entice their allies to provide them with large quantities of modern small arms and light weapons, which allowed them to emerge victorious after 20 long years of fighting.	History	Dr. Charlie Musgrove	Monday, May 4	9:30 AM	Kent Hall 120
York, Julian	Poot's Home	Poot’s Home is an exploration of the ways fandom emulates religion. Autism plays a massive role in the way York approaches his work. At a young age, York found himself fixated on many fictional properties. From Pokemon at age 6 to Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal at age 16, his interests were extreme and persistent. He became obsessed with the idea of collection, of giving his interests tangibility. This did not only take the form of getting every piece of merchandise his small allowance would permit, but also creating several series of pieces inspired by them. When gathered together, he found he had developed altars to each of his beloved interests, areas of contemplation and joy. Poot’s Home is an installation including an offering table, a 6’ x 5’ pastel drawing of Poot, figurines of Poot, paintings of Poot, and an assortment of offerings. Each piece acts as a devotional to a fictional character of York’s creation, “Poot.” Poot’s bright colors are meant to capture youth, to elicit charm and nostalgia. His flaws reveal his humanity, and his silliness collides with his undertones of pessimism. Fictional characters are a reflection of the author and their life, and those who connect with said characters may find solace in their struggles. Poot stands not as a religious figure, but a cherished“friend” to York, one that he desires to make a home for. The intention of this project is to give a window into the world of a person fixated on a single thing, to show that obsession can be warm and comforting, and can offer a home for both a character and the person who loves them.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	1:50 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
Ziegler, Brenna	Sustainability Challenges and Emerging Solutions in Rare Earth Element Mining	Rare earth element (REE) extraction has long been dominated by chemically intensive and environmentally harmful methods. Still, recent research reveals opportunities to bridge the gap between manufacturing productivity and ecological sustainability through greener, chemistry-driven separation technologies. Given that global demand for REEs continues to accelerate due to their role in renewable energy systems, advanced electronics, and defense technologies, the environmental footprint of conventional acid leaching and organophosphorus solvent extraction has become increasingly problematic, especially regarding toxic waste generation, water consumption, and corrosion-driven infrastructure degradation. This project assesses emerging separation strategies emphasizing biodegradability and closed-loop resource recovery, focusing on carboxylic acid liquid membrane extraction and zero-liquid-discharge water systems. Comparisons between traditional extractants and alternative ligands show how coordination chemistry improves metal selectivity while reducing solvent toxicity and downstream waste treatment needs. Additionally, corrosion in acidic processing environments drives metal and acid consumption and alters REE speciation, affecting separation efficiency and system longevity. By integrating separation chemistry, durable materials, and environmental engineering, this work proposes cleaner REE processing that maintains industrial performance while reducing environmental risk. These findings support development of sustainable extraction technologies. Such approaches align with industry needs for scalable, economically viable, and environmentally responsible critical materials supply chains worldwide.	Chemistry & Biochemistry	Dr. Geoff Bowers	Monday, May 4	11:30 AM	Goodpaster Hall 117
Zoz, Lizzie	Does It Drive You Insane: Interrogating Frameworks of Legibility as Acceptance for Queer Identities	Does it drive you insane explores community and queer histories by interrogating frameworks of legibility and the conditions through which recognition and acceptance are granted.	Art	Prof. Tristan Cai	Monday, May 4	12:00 PM	Montgomery Hall, Upper Commons
					Monday, May 4

Student	Project Title	Program	Mentor	When it was presented	Project Abstract
Adams, Katherine	Senior Recital: Kat Adams	Performing Arts, Music Concentration	Prof. Ellington Carthan	April 13, 2025	Trumpet and piano piece, three brass ensemble pieces, and singing/playing trumpet in two songs.
Garnish, Chloe	Introduction to Mathematics Applications: Optimization and Mathematical Modeling	Mathematics & Economics	Dr. Sara Chari	April 11, 2025, at the VA-DC-MD regional meeting of the Mathematical Association of America	Throughout this paper we will showcase various mathematical modeling and optimization applications using numerous concepts that college mathematics majors will encounter during their undergraduate education. Our goal of the paper is to bring awareness to the importance of applications of mathematics, as college classes are often focused on methods of computation or theory. In the paper we will touch on applications utilizing linear, non-linear, and theoretical mathematical methods. The examples covered will range from theoretical math- ematics topics such as graph and set theory to more applied concepts relating to physics, chemistry, biology, and economics.
Kumwembe, Alexus Annika	Understanding the Large Scale Structure with Enhanced Multiplet Catalogs	Physics		Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, January 18, 2025	We demonstrate that measurements of the gravitational tidal field made with spectroscopic redshifts can be improved with information from imaging surveys. The average orientation of small groups of galaxies, or “multiplets” is correlated with large-scale structure and is used to measure the direction of tidal forces. Previously, multiplet intrinsic alignment has been measured in DESI using galaxies that have spectroscopic redshifts. The DESI Legacy Imaging catalog can be used to supplement multiplet catalogs. Our findings show that galaxy positions from the imaging catalog produce a measurement similar to the measurements made with only spectroscopic data. This demonstrates that imaging can improve our signal-to-noise ratio for multiplet alignment in DESI.
Levy, DeAvanti	Senior Recital: DeAvanti Levy	Performing Arts, Music Concentration	Prof. Jeffrey Silberschlag	April 12, 2025
Sievert, Alayna	Combating Negative Stigma Around Mathematics with Growth Mindset Instruction	Mathematics & Educational Studies	Dr. Janet Varner	April 2025, in a class session of Math 161, Math for Teachers I	Mathematics tends to be the subject in school which students fear, avoid, or even hate. There exists this notion that math is a skill that people either have, or lack. This could be due to previous negative experiences in the subject, poor content instruction, or the fact that mathematics questions typically only have one right answer. Either way, there exists a common negative stereotype towards mathematics that seems to develop as students progress through school. This negative stigma is limiting students’ understanding of mathematics real world applications and diminishing their motivation to learn the subject. To combat these negative stereotypes, I have created a series of lesson plans and lesson seeds surrounding growth mindset instruction to increase student engagement and motivation in mathematics classrooms. My lesson plans include a wide range of instructional methods to reach a wide audience of students, emphasize the importance of real-life applications, and overall, bring more liveliness into the classroom. Mathematics instruction should not fall into one category, that being lecture, and instead students should experience different ways of learning and demonstrating their understanding in mathematics classrooms.

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