Senior Symposium

The Senior Symposium is a day-long conference that provides the opportunity for HWS Seniors and Masters students to present their intellectual passions to the HWS community. Students present on concurrent interdisciplinary panels that are moderated by HWS faculty.

Senior symposium 2024 abstract book

Meeting Links for participants

Stern 203 Zoom Meeting Link
Stern 204 Zoom Meeting Link
Stern 303 Zoom Meeting Link
Stern 304 Zoom Meeting Link

 

 

Schedule

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Stern 203

Building Communities

Moderator: Lisa Kaenzig, Dean of William Smith College

Madelyn Kilmer
The Effects of Inclusive Education from Preschool to College
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Diana Baker

Maddi Meyer
Journey in Activism: The Power of Community and Networking 
Dean of William Smith College Lisa Kaenzig

Katelyn Oswalt and Brenda Plascencia
FLX Folks: Exploring How Identity and Land Relate across the Finger Lakes
Assistant Professor of Media and Society Harry Gu

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Stern 204

The HWS Experience

Moderator: Chris Kerber, Head Coach, Hobart Rowing

Samantha Quinones and Florence Rodman Stout
The Noise We Don't Notice: An Examination of Decibel Levels across the HWS Campus and Its Impacts on Academic Life
Associate Professor of Psychological Science Daniel Graham

Leanna Smith
Supporting Academic Excellence: The Effect of Peer Mentorship at Hobart and William Smith Colleges 
Associate Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Hannah Dickinson

Kassidy Wilmot and Sadie Winton
Creating Room to Cultivate Communities: HWS Student Spaces
Professor of Sociology Jack Harris

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Stern 303

Thinking and Learning

Moderator: Kristen Welsh, Associate Professor of Russian Area Studies

Lyla Corbett
Using Anne Green Gilbert's BrainDance to Improve Focus in Adolescents and College Students
Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Michelle Ikle

Maya Ratner
Social Epistemology and Ethics of Anthropology
Professor of Philosophy Karen Frost-Arnold

Ande Richardson
An Individual Approach to Multicultural Dance Education
Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Michelle Ikle

Ella Weiss
Writing Colleagues' Role in the Intersection of Departments and Building Communal Spaces
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Stern 304

Order and Force

Moderator: Emily Fisher, Associate Professor of Psychological Science

Katherine Mahoney
Prison Systems as an Expression of State Identity
Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn

Seva Mirzali
Society Building through the Gulag: Hell on Earth
Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn

Diya Moolani
Behind the Badge: Comparing Policing in India and the USA
Professor of Sociology Jim Sutton

Kylie Rowland
Death is Violent: A Rhetorical Analysis of Stop Cop City
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

 

Schedule

10:40 - 11:40
Stern 203

Who we Are

Moderator: Blaize Gervais, Instructor of Religious Studies

Ashley Aronson
Sex and Hatred: Religion in the Discourse of Incels
Instructor of Religious Studies Blaize Gervais

Taylor Ashe
Unlocking the American Dream with Lana Del Rey 
Associate Professor of American Studies Elizabeth Belanger

Melissa Crist
Beyond Blood and Borders: Rethinking Mexican Identity
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

Sydney Foster
An Exploration of my Educational Experience through bell hooks' Teaching to Transgress
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

10:40 - 11:40 a.m.
Stern 204

Identity Based

Moderator: Leah Himmelhoch, Associate Professor of Greek and Roman Studies

Umama Ahmed
Queering the Gender Praxis
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

Madison Dicks
Classics: A Field Designed to be Engulfed by Hate, or a Chance to Rewrite the Misconceptions of the Past?
Associate Professor of Greek and Roman Studies Leah Himmelhoch

Kyle Mast
Identity-Based Research Participation: Evaluating Best Practices for Recruiting Neurodivergent Students
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Diana Baker

July Winters
There's No Shade Here: Interrogating the Leverage of Black Beauty Influencers
Assistant Professor of Media and Society Iskandar Zulkarnain

10:40 - 11:40 A.M.
Stern 303

Women at Work

Moderator: Lisa Kaenzig, Dean of William Smith College

Zoerenee Aracena, Genesis Rosario and Kimberly Saavedra-Mendez
PLEN: Preparing You to Lead
Dean of William Smith College Lisa Kaenzig

Mary Baillos
Empowering Women: Unveiling the Dynamics of Kenya's Informal Workforce 
Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn

Jessica Duma
Storying the Numbers: Women and Work in Three Northern English Cities
Professor of History Matt Kadane

10:40 - 11:40 A.M.
Stern 304

Partnerships?

Moderator: Susan Cushman, Director of Introductory Biology Laboratories

Tessa Baker
The Constants and Variables of the US-Israeli Special Relationship
Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn

Samari Brown and Autumn Washington
Geneva 2030: How Connected is the Collective? 
Professor of Sociology Jack Harris

Malak Fadlou-Allah
Sine Oculis in Drosophila Eye Development: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Neuroscience
Professor of Biology Kristy Kenyon

 

Schedule

11:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Stern 203

What Conditions?

Moderator: Elizabeth Belcher, Assistant Professor of Psychological Science

Aarushi Agarwal
A Graceful Labeling Game on Graphs
Associate Professor of Mathematics Erika King

Solveig-Margrete Jensen
The Impact of Short-Term Mindfulness Meditation on Sustained Visual Attention and Inhibition 
Assistant Professor of Psychological Science Elizabeth Belcher

Frances Wilson
Sports Writing and the Refrain: Swimming Blind
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

11:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Stern 204

Beginning Here

Moderator: Mary Kelly, Associate Professor of Educational Studies

Ava Brazie, Riley Craft and Kristoffer Viviano
Who's Next: Mapping the Waitlist
Professor of Sociology Jack Harris

Heather Kerns
The Long and the Short of It: Microplastics in Seneca Lake and Their Possible Regulations
Professor of Geoscience Nan Crystal Arens

Jennica Simon
Physical Restraints in the Classroom
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Diana Baker

11:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Stern 303

But in this Case

Moderator: Christine de Denus, Associate Professor of Chemistry

Hannah Davis
SME Creation in South Korea and Taiwan
Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn

Samantha Quinones
Beyond the Plate: A Comprehensive Examination of Avoidant Food Intake Disorders 
Professor of Psychological Science Julie Kingery

Matthew Siegel
A Case Study in the Traumatic Effects of Gatekeeping
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

11:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Stern 304

What Makes Us Human

Moderator: Katherine Walker, Associate Professor of Music

Sylvia Hudak
Human Education in the Age of AI
Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing Alla Ivanchikova

Sean Kalinchenko-Pesin
Social Motivation: Is Socially Explicit Content Connected to Socialization Behavior? 
Associate Professor of Psychological Science Emily Fisher

Elinor Kennedy
Music and Meaning: On the Origins of Human Musicality
Associate Professor of Music Charity Lofthouse

Claire Kapitan
Well-Fed Artists: The Future of Art in the Age of Automation
Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing Alla Ivanchikova

 

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Stern 203

Stages of Development 

Moderator: Chrissy Jacobs, Coordinator of Teacher Certification and Accreditation

Isaiah Cotton, Emily Rourke and Britta Wilkerson
The First 1,000 Days Program: Transforming Lives
Professor of Sociology Jack Harris

Peter James Duchesneau
State, Class, and Developmentalism in Tunisia and Syria
Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn

Annette Stephens
Stories from the Lost and Found
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Stern 204

The Message

Moderator: Bill Woodson, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Hannah Lax
Simulations of Message Passing on Cortical Networks in Schizophrenia
Associate Professor of Psychological Science Daniel Graham

Sophia Mughal
From "Drug Song" to "Peace": The Music of the Jesus Movement 
Professor of Religious Studies Richard Salter

Florence Rodman Stout
Parallel Narratives in Christian Extremism and the Dobbs v. Jackson Decision
Associate Professor of Religious Studies Shalahudin Kafrawi

Gabriella Trevisani
From Lectures to Legacies: Angela Davis and the University 
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Stern 303

Other Strategies

Moderator: Rob Carson, Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing

Drew DiMeolo
US Aid within Zambia
Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn

Kristen McCormick
The Impact of CAR T-Cell Therapy on Cognitive Functioning in Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study 
Assistant Professor of Psychological Science Elizabeth Belcher

Emma VanGorder
Kinesthetic Classrooms
Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Michelle Ikle

Emma Yeager
Informing the Choreographic Process with an LBMA Framework
Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Michelle Ikle

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Stern 304

Performance

Moderator: Gabriella D'Angelo, Associate Professor of Art and Architecture

Taylor Gauthier
Injury Prevention for Competition Dancers
Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Michelle Ikle

Hope Guzman
Commedia Unmasked: You May Not Recognize Us Yet, How about Now?
Associate Professor of Theatre Chris Hatch

Brooke Jarvis
Celebrities as Political Actors: An Analysis of Kendall Jenner's Apology Statement
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

Abigail Schneider
"Chicken Fried": A Musical Exploration of Post 9/11 White Southern Values
Associate Professor of American Studies Elizabeth Belanger

 

2:40 - 3:40 p.m.
Stern 203

Looking at Societies 

Moderator: Chuck Vesei, Library Director and Librarian of the Colleges

Artem Buzoverya
Interplay between Linguistic Policies, National Identity, and Linguistic Nationalism
Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn

Michael Cardinali
Game Plan for Life 
Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Ruth Shields

Anna McBride
Colonialism and French Fashion: The Ethics of Stylen
Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn

Jada Smith-Padmore
Bajan Speech: An Ethnographic and Linguistic Exploration of Barbados Speech Varieties
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

2:40 - 3:40 p.m.
Stern 204

Earth's Days

Moderator: Joyce Jacobsen, Professor of Economics

Mateo Albinati
Understanding Electric Vehicle Adoption across the United States
Professor of Economics Joyce Jacobsen

MaryBridget Horvath
Welcome to the Tundra: Field Work, Climate Change and Trace Gas Production in Permafrost Lakes 
Associate Professor of Geoscience David Finkelstein

Kaia Johnson
Sustainable Cinema: Balancing Artistry and Ecology in Film Production
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Beth Kinne

Jackson Mischler
Property Rights and Eminent Domain: Can Combatting Global Climate Change Justify Invoking the "Necessity Exception"?
Dean of Hobart College Scott Brophy

2:40 - 3:40 p.m.
Stern 303

Efficiencies

Moderator: Erin Pelkey, Professor of Chemistry

Marlayna DiFante
The Synthesis and Characterization of Molecular Wire Candidates
Associate Professor of Chemistry Christine de Denus

Sean Kalinchenko-Pesin
Lithium and Beyond: Exploring the Future of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship Thomas Drennen

Alexander MacCluskey
The Economics of Energy Generation
Associate Professor of Economics Evren Damar

2:40 - 3:40 p.m.
Stern 304

Healthier

Moderator: Sarah Kirk, Provost and Dean of Faculty

Cherish Atkinson
Movement for Joy
Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Michelle Ikle

Cameron Guan
Public Health Case Study: Battling Cancer in an Undergraduate Laboratory
Associate Professor of Chemistry Kristin Slade and Professor of Practice of Chemistry David Slade

Anna O'Neill
Diet Preference of Major Salmonid Species in Seneca Lake Using Stomach Content Analysis
Director of Introductory Biology Laboratories Susan Cushman

Ahmed Wise
Everyone Move
Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Michelle Ikle

 

3:50 - 4:50 p.m.
Stern 203

As We Create

Moderator: Amanda Jantzi, Title IX Coordinator

Jonathan Garcia
ReOrienting Japan: Envisioning Post-Pandemic Tourism through History
Professor of History Lisa Yoshikawa

Cayden Smith
Do Halogen Atoms Enhance Anticancer Activity? 
Professor of Chemistry Erin Pelkey

Harper Tanguay
We are Further Holding: The Poem-Object's Relation to Memory 
Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Michelle Ikle

Katelyn Weeks
Creative Movement for a Creative Life
Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing Kathryn Cowles

3:50 - 4:50 p.m.
Stern 204

Educational Scholars

Moderator: Ann Marie Luce, Associate Director of the Centennial Center

Emily Cataldo
Tools for Creating Equitable Elementary School Classrooms
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Mary Kelly

Liam Dillon, Diya Moolani and Emilie Waters
Community Schools: A Gateway to Shared Resources 
Professor of Sociology Jack Harris

Crystal Morgans
Adapting Education: The Gamification of Educational Learning Standards and Expectations
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Mary Kelly

3:50 - 4:50 p.m.
Stern 303

Present Looks at Past

Moderator: Scott MacPhail, Health Professions and Fellowships Advisor

Cameron Guan
Holocaust Particularity, Wannsee, and Holocaust by Bullets
Professor of Religious Studies Michael Dobkowski

Kennedy Jones
Right Becomes Wrong: Social Justice Language and the Erasing of Oppressors 
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Maggie Werner

Caroline Mittleman
The Oscars Industrial Complex: Excellence, Race, and Awards during the Civil Rights Movement
Associate Professor of American Studies Elizabeth Belanger

Isabella Renzi
US vs China: Why would Venezuela Prefer One over the Other?
Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn