15Th Annual Carolyn and Norwood Thomas Undergraduate Research and Creativity Expo
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15th Annual Carolyn and Norwood Thomas Undergraduate Research and Creativity Expo 2021 a unit within the University Teaching & Learning Commons utlc.uncg.edu/ursco Preston Lee Phillips Jr, Ph.D. Director Adrienne W. Middlebrooks Business Officer Traci Miller, MSA MARC Program: Academic Enhancement Coordinator Maizie Plumley Graduate Assistant Ali Ramirez Garibay Undergraduate Assistant URSCO is a unit within the University Teaching and Learning Commons Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creativity Office ~ Leadership Committee ~ Lee Phillips, Ph.D. URSCO Director Amy Adamson, Ph.D. College of Arts and Sciences Heather Holian, Ph.D. College of Visual and Performing Arts Jamie Schissel, Ph.D. and Sara Heredia, Ph.D. School of Education Kathleen Williams, Ph.D. School of Health and Human Sciences Angela Bolte, Ph.D. Lloyd International Honors College George R. Still III Student Affairs Tiffany Henry University Libraries University Teaching and Learning Commons 130 Shaw Hall Greensboro, NC 27402-6170 336.334.4776 April 19, 2021 Dear Students, Colleagues, and Guests, I would like to welcome you to the 15th Annual Carolyn and Norwood Thomas Undergraduate Research and Creativity Expo and the 2nd Virtual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Expo at UNCG. As we have all worked to navigate our lives and learning through the adjusted approaches required by this ongoing pandemic, we have seen an incredible commitment of the UNCG community to learning through research and creative inquiry. This year, we are thrilled to accept 223 presentations by more than 239 students, working with 90 mentors, and representing 29 academic departments/programs. This year includes another distinction as we have partnered with the School of Art to cohost a portion of the Senior BFA Exhibitions. The Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creativity Office (URSCO) is dedicated to promoting and supporting student success through mentored undergraduate research, creative inquiry and other scholarly experiences for the UNCG community. The URSCO is also dedicated to helping faculty become increasingly effective with mentoring undergraduate research and integrating research skills into courses and curricula. These experiences can occur in many ways, including co- or extracurricular projects involving one or more students mentored by UNCG faculty and staff. Scholarship is achieved by using disciplinary/interdisciplinary tools and approaches to answer questions that enhance knowledge and understanding. We seek to highlight the diversity of disciplinary scholarship for and through our students in order to help cultivate a culture of life-long learning. The URSCO offers financial assistance to promote faculty-mentored student scholarship and creativity. We have also provided support for 57 students through the Undergraduate Research and Creativity Awards (URCA) and 6 undergraduates through the Community Based URCA program. Finally, 7 students participated in the Pubantz Artists in Residence program, in partnership with the Lloyd International Honors College and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. This week, April 19-23, is recognized nationally as Undergraduate Research Week and is designated as a time to celebrate your scholarly accomplishments. I would like to thank all students and their mentors for taking the time to share your work with the university community. Many thanks go to the Associate Vice Provost of the University Teaching and Learning Commons, Dr. David Teachout, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development and Interim Provost, Dr. Terri Shelton, as well as Chancellor Franklin Gilliam for their support of the office and their unwavering dedication to student success. As always, special thanks go to Mrs. Carolyn Thomas for her generous contributions in support of the Expo and faculty-mentored undergraduate research. I would also like to thank Adrienne Middlebrooks, Traci Miller, Maizie Plumley, and Ali Ramirez Garibay for their efforts to ensure the success of this program. Sincerely, Lee Phillips, Ph.D. Director, URSCO 15TH ANNUAL CAROLYN AND NORWOOD THOMAS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH & CREATIVITY EXPO TABLE OF CONTENTS About Carolyn and Norwood Thomas 1 2021 Thomas Undergraduate Research Mentor Awards: 2-8 Abstracts Alphabetically by Student Last Name 9-95 Artist Statements, Alphabetically by student Last Name 96-110 NC Docks 111 Book Information 112 CAROLYN AND NORWOOD THOMAS Carolyn Styron Thomas graduated from Woman’s College, now UNCG, in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in business. She is very committed to the success of her alma mater and believes strongly in the value of education. “The experience of obtaining my college degree at Woman’s College gave me confidence throughout my life to face challenges, raise my family and serve my church and community, all leading to a very rewarding life,” says Mrs. Thomas. To express their appreciation for Carolyn’s education, the Thomases established an endowed fund in 1996 to support undergraduate and faculty research. Mrs. Thomas has served on the board of directors for the UNCG Alumni Association and, most recently, the UNCG Board of Visitors. She is a member of the Harriet Elliott Society at UNCG. She has also been involved in numerous organizations in her hometown of Durham, NC, including the Junior League, the United Arts Council and the Methodist Retirement Home. Her husband, the late Norwood A. Thomas, Jr., graduated from Duke University in 1955. The Thomases dated in college and were married for 46 years. Mr. Thomas retired from his position as Executive Vice President at Central Carolina Bank after 37 years. He later was a founding partner of the investment firm of Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management of Norfolk, Virginia, where he worked for more than 10 years. Mr. Thomas was very active in community affairs in the Thomas’ hometown of Durham. 15th Annual Carolyn & Norwood Thomas Undergraduate Research and Creativity Expo ⋇ Page 1 ⋇ 2021 Thomas Undergraduate Research Mentor Award Non-tenure track: Dr. Aileen Reid, School of Education, Educational Research Methodology Dr. Aileen Reid approaches research, teaching, and mentoring through the lens of her lived experiences, her commitment to social justice, and her desire to transform the educational research and policy landscape. Her current research centers on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education as it relates to faculty, first-generation students and students from low SES backgrounds, and STEM education. Dr. Reid teaches classes on research methodology, assessment and program evaluation, and she co-directs the UNCG STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Laboratory (SPEL), a subunit of the Office of Assessment Evaluation and Research Services. Under her guidance, Dr. Aileen Reid undergraduate students investigate the impact of efforts to broaden participation of underrepresented and minoritized groups in STEM. Over the past two years, she has worked with six undergraduate psychology students on nine research and evaluations of STEM education projects funded by the National Science Foundation. In her lab, undergraduate students are mentored by graduate students in qualitative and quantitative research and other technical skills, and in co-authoring technical evaluation reports. Undergraduate students also participate in weekly professional development on diversity, equity, and inclusion, anti- racism, and social justice. In 2020, one of her mentoring contributions was to help prepare undergraduate and graduate students for the NCARE (North Carolina Association for Research in Education) 2020 conference in Greensboro. “Dr. Reid’s deep commitment to professionalism, excellent interpersonal skills, resourcefulness, pleasantness, and ability to communicate with students from diverse backgrounds kept students grounded and focused throughout the preparatory process for the NCARE 2020 conference presentation. It was my first time presenting and I ultimately felt prepared, due in part to the mentorship from Dr. Reid…. She works hard to balance a student-centered approach which is responsive towards building interests, 15th Annual Carolyn & Norwood Thomas Undergraduate Research and Creativity Expo ⋇ Page 2* 2021 Thomas Undergraduate Research Mentor Award skillset, peer support and celebrating successes of undergraduate students under her tutelage on the one hand, and her supervisory role of graduate assistants and teaching assistants on different projects within SPEL. Dr. Reid creates opportunities for her undergraduate students to assume leadership roles on assigned project teams including creating interview protocols, evaluation surveys, and uploading them in UNCG Qualtrics, transcriptions of focus group data, making simple statistical tables, and analyses, and writing evaluation and research memos.” -Sharon Ladokun ‘20 “When I first interviewed to join SPEL, I was a freshman with very little research experience. Despite my lack of experience with the process of evaluation and research, Dr. Reid was always kind and extended whatever knowledge and resources that I needed. From my very first day in the lab, she expressed great interest in fostering and developing the skills needed for my future career. With Dr. Reid’s mentorship, I have expanded my knowledge of the process of program evaluation and research. I now have the skills to conduct a proper literature review, fill out observation reports, and to collect and analyze data that I have obtained through procedures such as interviews. My time with