2018 Senior Presentations: Candidates for Distintiction in the Field

2018 SENIOR PRESENTATIONS: CANDIDATES FOR DISTINTICTION IN THE FIELD . Abreu, Elanna Art Therapy Advisor: Julie Duffy, MA, LMT, Art Therapy Adjunct Faculty Art Therapy Presenting Homeless and Low-Income Individuals a Catalyst to Build Better Self-Understanding, Confidence, and Motivation to Progress Art Therapy is examined as a therapeutic mechanism that can result in effectively promoting the betterment of the homeless/low-income community. Young and older adults are noted to have a better self-understanding and artistic experience when art therapy caters to their human, psychosocial, financial, and individual needs. An open studio promotes an environment where practice of self-empowerment and community empowerment, whether it is artistically or personally, is essential to human development. The homeless/low-income population is extremely marginalized in society because of a constructed financial hierarchy. I suggest that art therapy can combat this form of oppression by reducing neglect in favor of genuine human connection, artistic creation, and redefinition of identity. Alger, Marissa Biology Advisor: Paul March, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry Creating a Mixed Library of GFP ORF Fusions in Linear DNA Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) is a biological marker useful for tagging proteins by fluorescing green when exposed to UV light. The insertion site of GFP into the target, however, is vital to how the final protein will fold and function. Creating a mixed library of successful GFP insertion would allow researchers to determine which insertion best suits their needs. To optimize creating a mixed library, this new method would involve the GFP gene being inserted into a linear target gene via transposition instead of a plasmid. This transposition causes gaps in the DNA that need to be repaired, purified, amplified, and then cloned into a vector. Three techniques for purifying the GFP-inserted gene were tested: agarose gel, STV Biotin beads, and Klenow DNA Polymerase attached bead. While these techniques were not successful in purifying the DNA yet, we are still investigating how to improve the efficiency of the STV-biotinylated beads. Buckley, Meghan Education Advisor: Christine Leighton, EdD, Assistant Professor of Education An Intervention through Second Step In this presentation I will discuss the results of an intervention I conducted within a first grade, inclusion classroom at the Richard J. Murphy Public Elementary School where I completed my Moderate Disabilities practicum. I implemented five lessons from the first unit of a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum called Second Step, which focuses on teaching students to build foundational skills that are imperative to successful future learning. During the intervention, I observed and took field notes on whole class and individual student behaviors as well as student talk during the lessons. I also interviewed my supervising practitioner about her impressions of the program. Findings suggest that even with a modified implementation the students increased their practice of self-regulation strategies during whole class instruction. While the teacher did see improvements, she noted the difficulty of fitting the curriculum into her daily routine due to competing academic priorities. Bujalski, Julia Mathematics Brendan Sullivan, D.A., Lecturer of Mathematics Graphic Design for Teaching Mathematical Concepts A better understanding of the relationship between imagery and pedagogy in the mathematics classroom is important for mathematics education. Past studies have found that the use of visualizations (both still graphics and animations) in instruction and problem solving can increase student success in assessments. This project considers the effectiveness of visualizations in higher education mathematics classrooms by creating visuals and assessing student achievement and understanding. Specifically, we examine an anecdotal study of an undergraduate Real Analysis classroom and four key concepts in the course. We found evidence that the use of visuals positively impacted the students’ conceptual understanding of important definitions and theorems, as well as their confidence in their understanding and skills. Carey, Meaghan Neuroscience Advisor: Michael Jarvinen, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology Identifying Genetic Mechanisms of Neuron Shape This paper explores the genetic factors that contribute to proper neuron shape in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Previous research identified a transient “rosette,” or group of cells that come together at a single point, that forms during nematode embryonic development. A subset of neurons withdraw from this rosette early in development and have an altered morphology compared to cells that remain engaged in the rosette. To investigate the mechanisms controlling this withdrawal, I conducted a forward genetic screen to identify mutants with altered neuronal morphology. Two mutants were isolated and maintained. Analyses of neurite quantification and response to gentle touch showed that one mutant, hmn282, had altered neurite morphology and deficits in initiating reversal movements. Future directions for this project include mapping the gene(s) causing each mutation and imaging embryos to determine whether the neurons with altered morphology engage in the rosette over a longer period-of-time in mutants. Carse, Elisabeth Advisor: Katrin Križ, Ph.D., Katrin Križ, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology Labor of Love: State Directors’ Perspectives on Migrant Education Program Implementation The Migrant Education Program (MEP) relies on a federally funded and state implemented model to serve migrant students, and the program is overseen by state directors. This paper answers two research questions: 1) According to state directors of Migrant Education Programs, what are the barriers to program implementation? 2) How do they cope with these barriers? I found that the study participants experienced five barriers: 1) lack of time to dedicate to the position, 2) bureaucratic barriers, 3) lack of funding, 4) stigmatization of the students and the program, and 5) immigration policies. This study also demonstrated that the participants used five strategies to deal with these barriers: 1) Defining their work through a labor of love, 2) creaming, 3) training MEP staff and encouraging team work, 4) providing information about the program, and 5) establishing trust within the migrant community. Carson, Alyssa Mathematics Advisor: Christine Sample, PhD, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Sensitivity Analysis of Population Models: A Case Study of Yellowstone Elk Understanding the influence of model parameters on the survival of a migratory species is an essential part of making successful conservation and management decisions. We model migratory populations using a weighted and directed network, where nodes and edges have sets of attributes that are time and density dependent. Matrix calculus is used to calculate the sensitivity of population sizes to model parameters. We apply our model to study cervus canadensis (Yellowstone Elk). Through a sensitivity analysis, we determine the effect juvenile survival rates at each node and season have on the elk population. Our results indicate that small changes in the juvenile survival at the year-round habitat have the largest effect on the overall population size of the elk. Chang, Ellison Political Science Advisor: Adam Silver, PhD, Assistant Professor of Political Science Reducing Sex Trafficking: Does International Cooperation Help? The issue of sex trafficking plagues vulnerable populations around the world. Even with increased awareness in the twenty- first century, sex trafficking continues to advance in certain regions. This has led to millions of women and children being trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation and suffering from serious injuries, diseases, and severe psychological damage to their health. This paper briefly looks at the causes of sex trafficking and argues that the best method in reducing the rate of sex trafficking is the support and cooperation of the international community. To test this theory, this paper uses a qualitative study in comparing the analysis of states that have severe, middle, and lower rates of sex trafficking. The study concludes that international cooperation is only as effective if there are efforts from the domestic level. Chauncey, Paige History Advisor: Jeffrey Fortin, PhD, Associate Professor of History Damned Women: The Underlying Misogyny of Witchcraft Accusations in 17th Century Connecticut The 1692 Salem Witch Trials is the most infamous account of witch trials in New England, but it was not the first. In the paper, Damned Women: The Underlying Misogyny of Witchcraft Accusations in 17th Century Connecticut, I examine the witch trials in Puritan Connecticut in 1647 to1669. Connecticut at one point was labeled the witch-hunting capital of the New World and its witch hysteria lasted several decades in the 17th century. The majority of those convicted and executed on witchcraft charges were women. Women who deviated from the patriarchal role assigned to them were accused of being witches for fear these women would bring about the destruction of harmonious Christian communities. The fear of witchcraft and tarnishing their relationship with God caused women to remain within their subservient roles and maintain the gender imbalance that keep prevailing in the 21st century. Crossman, Mary Jane Elementary Education Advisor: Lisa Schneier, EdD,

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