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McNair Scholars Present Research at Spring Symposium April

The McNair Scholars Program will host the Spring 2017 Research Symposium on Friday, April 14, and Friday, April 21. The McNair Scholars will present on a variety of research topics spanning many disciplines.

The first symposium will be held from 10:45 a.m. to 4:13 p.m. Friday, April 14, in Sims Hall, room 241. The presenters and their topics are the following:

  • 10:46 a.m.: Carlton Warker, SN, School of Education, Health and Exercise Science
    The effect of acute mental stress on arterial stiffness in young Black and White men
    Mentor: Kevin Heffernan, Assistant Professor, Health & Exercise Science; Director, Human Performance Laboratory
  • 11:09 a.m.: Fatima Saunders, SN, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Child and Family Studies
    The STEM Migration: A qualitative study on the educational experiences of African-American college students who were once in STEM
    Mentor: Dawn Johnson, Associate Professor, Higher Education
  • 11:32 a.m.: Christiane Voufo, SN, College of Arts and Sciences, Neuroscience Integrated Learning
    Determining the role of Hmx3a, Skor1a, Skor1b and Skor2 in the development of zebrafish spinal cord
    Mentor: Katharine Lewis, Associate Professor, Biology
  • 11:55 a.m.: Mercedes Gomez, SN, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Child and Family Studies
    Factors influencing teachers experience in urban schools
    Mentor: Teresa MacDonald, Director, Sport and Human Development Institute
  • 12:18 p.m.: Jose Marerro- Rosado, SN, College of Arts and Sciences, Biochemistry
    Biocultural understanding of lead exposure in urbanized context
    Mentor: Shannon Novak, Associate Professor, Anthropology
  • 12:45-1:45 p.m.: BREAK
  • 1:55 p.m.: Taylor White (Robinson), SN, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Native American Studies
    The Students’ Education Forgot: Factors influencing Native American students educational experiences
    Mentor: Amy Lutz, Associate Professor, Sociology
  • 2:18 p.m.: Ruo Chen, 5th Year, School of Architecture, with a minor in Private Music Study
    In the Projects: Redeveloping public housing in NYC
    Mentor: Yutaka Sho, Associate Professor, School of Architecture
  • 2:41 p.m.: Stephen Benn, SN, College of Arts and Sciences/College of Engineering & Computer Science, Biochemistry/Bioengineering
    Investigation of the incorporation of an antibiotic (gentamicin) into a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) sleeve and optimization of electrospinning and expansion
    Mentor: James Henderson, Associate Professor, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering
  • 3:04 p.m.: Anthony Reid, JN, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Civil Engineering with a minor in Math
    Undergraduate experience with Abaqus, finite element analysis program
    Mentor: Hossein Ataei, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • 3:27 p.m.: Halima Shehu, SN, College of Arts and Sciences, Political Science and African-American Studies
    Why Girls? An analysis of the Bring Back Our Girls movement and the transnational significance of the Chibok girls
    Mentor: Mark Rupert, Professor, Political Science
  • 3:50 p.m.: Hatou Camara, SN, College of Arts & Sciences, Anthropology and Citizenship & Civic Engagement, with a minor in Political Science
    Where are You Really From? Exploring modes of integration and negotiation of cultural identity among emerging adult refugees in Syracuse, NY
    Mentor: A.H. Peter Castro, Associate Professor, Anthropology
  • 4:13 p.m.: Katy Salce, SN, College of Arts and Sciences/School of Information Studies, Psychology/Information Management and Technology
    How mindfulness-based interventions relate to increased positive behavioral changes based on race/ethnicity in high school students
    Mentor: Joshua C. Felver, Assistant Professor, Psychology

The second day of the symposium will be held from 10 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. Friday, April 21, in Sims Hall, room 241. The presenters are the following:

  • 10:00 a.m.: Jennith Lucas, JN, College of Arts and Sciences, Sociology and Citizenship & Civic Engagement with a minor in Disability Studies
    More than Clients: Blind industrial workers and the struggle to organize at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind
    Mentor: Gretchen Purser, Assistant Professor, Sociology
  • 10:23 a.m.: Abigail Sintim, SN, College of Arts and Sciences, International Relations and Political Science
    Afrophobia in South Africa: The case of lynching in South Africa
    Mentor: Francine D’Amico, Associate Professor, International Relations
  • 10:46 a.m.: Bridgette Leathers, SN, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Public Health with a minor in Global Political Economy
    The Influence of perceptions of the US healthcare system on health system utilization and health outcomes among African-American adults
    Mentor: Maureen Thompson, Associate Professor, Undergraduate Director Public Health
  • 11:09 a.m.: Ericka Jones- Craven, JN, College of Visual & Performing Arts; Transmedia/College of Arts and Sciences, Art Photography/Religion with a minor in Marketing
    “Let It Be:” Re-examining traditional gospel values in an art setting
    Mentor: Marcia C. Robinson, Assistant Professor, Religion
  • 11:32 a.m.:  Andra Brown, SN, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Child and Family Studies
    Express Yourself: How art influences AA college students’ mental health issues
    Mentor: Bruce Carter, Associate Professor, Psychology
  • 11:55 a.m.:  Carolee Lantigua, SN, College of Arts and Sciences, Political Science and Citizenship & Civic Engagement with a minor in Spanish
    A Content Analysis of the 2014 Immigration Crisis: An intergroup threat theory approach
    Mentor: Shana Kushner, Associate Professor, Political Science
  • 12:18 p.m.: Roshad Meeks, SN, College of Arts and Sciences, Economics
    Stuck In Place: How cultural memory and public policy shape a neighborhood
    Mentor: Breagin K. Riley, Assistant Professor, Marketing
  • 12:45-1:45 p.m.: BREAK
  • 1:55 p.m.: Miracle Rogers, SN, School of Education, Health and Exercise Science with a minor in Dance
    Wrinkled Polyelectrolyte Multilayers for Biomaterial Applications
    Mentor: James Henderson, Associate Professor, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering
  • 2:18 p.m.: Angelina Vargas, SN, School of Education, Selected Studies
    Hair it from the Pajonuas: An exploration of racial identity among Dominican women embracing their natural hair
    Mentor: Silvio Torres-Saillant, Professor, English
  • 2:41 p.m.: Genesis Felizola, JN, College of Arts and Sciences, Communication Sciences and Disorders
    The experiences of Hispanic families of children with autism spectrum disorder regarding physical activity and communication: A qualitative study
    Mentor: Luis Columna, Associate Professor, Exercise Science
  • 3:04 p.m.: Vanessa Coste, SN, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics/College of Arts and Sciences, Child and Family Studies/Psychology
    The Impact of pre-school philosophies on children’s language and literacy acquisition: A meta-analysis
    Mentor: Rachel Razza, Associate Professor, Child and Family Studies
  • 3:27 p.m.: Tinischa Lahens, SN, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Public Health with a minor in Public Communications
    Let’s talk about sex: Does sex education in high school influence sexual behavior in Black college students at Syracuse University
    Mentor: Sarah E. Woolfe-King, Assistant Professor, Psychology
  • 3:50 p.m.: Sonja Mattis, SN, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications/ School of Information Studies, Public Relations/Information Management and Technology
    Black London
    Mentor: Linda Carty, Professor, African-American Studies
  • 4:13 p.m.: Natalie Delgado, SN, School of Education, Selected Studies with a minor in Political Science
    Un lugar para mi: The presentation of LatinX heritage through the collection of artifacts in a community-based arts center
    Mentor: Myrna Garcia Calderon, Director, Latino-Latin American Studies
  • 4:36 p.m.: Felicia Campbell, SN, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology and Forensic Science
    Understanding how mass publicity of police violence affects undergraduate college students
    Mentor: Marsha Weissman, Adjunct Professor, Sociology; Founder/ Executive Director of the Center for Community Alternatives