9:00 - 9:50
Session 1: Criminology
Room: Kricker 150
Moderator: Dr. Scott Douthat
“Modern Slavery”
Absalom Solomon Hall, Shawnee State
University
Mentor: Dr. John Lorentz
This presentation will discuss the current state and long-term effects
of human trafficking and slavery (with a special emphasis on the United
States.)
“Aggression and Violence: A Product of Genes and Culture”
Marlana Welch, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Chip Poirot
This presentation will show that aggressive and violent behaviors are
caused by the complex interaction between genes and culture.
Furthermore, both males and females evidence these behaviors.
“Etiology of Sex-Based Violent Crimes”
Jacqueline Duty and Pamela Jefferson,
Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Scott Douthat
This presentation will discuss the etiology and commonalities of
sexually violent offenders, including case studies of famous serial
murderers. PowerPoint presentation with slides of actual crime scene
photos linking body mutilation with post-traumatic experiences. (Mature
subject matter: graphic content included)
Session 2: Mathematics
Room: Kricker 153
Moderator: Dr. Robert Mendris
“Mathematical Foundation for Chemistry Education”
Dianna Whitaker, Shawnee State University
Mentors: Dr. Robert Mendris, Dr. Andrew Napper
This presentation answers the following question: Do students have the
necessary mathematical skills to be successful in the general chemistry
sequence CHEM141, 142 and 143.
“Diophantine Equations”
Hoai Tran, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Jinlu Li
Description of Diophantine Equations and different methods for solving
them.
Session 3: Mathematics
Room: Kricker 154
Moderator: Dr. John Whitaker
“Dirichlet Problem”
Buddy Niece, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. John Whitaker
This presentation will provide background material to understand the
Dirichlet Problem on a circle. He will also present the solution to the
Dirichlet Problem.
“Number of Syntactically Correct String of N-Sets of
Parentheses”
Jonathon L. Grimm, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. John Whitaker
This presentation will present a formula that computes the number
possible syntactically correct string of n-sets of parentheses. He will
show examples to illustrate this formula and finally provide a proof as
to why the formula works.
Session 4: Gender and Society
Room: Massie 109
Moderator: Dr. Michael Powell
“Death, Dishonor, and the Cosmic Wheel: Gender-Based
Suicide Rates in the Thoughts and Practices of Eastern Society”
Garland Roof, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Michael Powell
A look at why suicide rates among Eastern women are higher than that of
women in Western societies.
“Defending the V-Word: How The Vagina Monologues
Helps Prevent Violence Against Women”
Aimee Taylor, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Michael Powell
A presentation that shows that, despite the controversy it causes,
The Vagina Monologues has helped raise awareness of domestic
violence, particularly against women.
Session 5: Academia
Room: Kricker 155
Moderator: Dr. Jim McPherson
“Faculty Gender Characteristics, Sex, and
Perceived Teaching Effectiveness”
Jane Tolle, Shawnee State
University
Mentor: Dr. Rhoni Maxwell-Rader
Qualitative research project which examines instrumental and expressive
gender characteristics of male and female faculty in social sciences,
business, and humanities at SSU, and student perceptions of overall
teaching effectiveness.
“Academic Freedom: Right or Wrong? Right or Left?”
Caleb Arnold, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Larry Mangus
Academic freedom is of the utmost importance in the pursuit of knowledge
at colleges and universities. This presentation explains why the
academic freedom of students must be protected.
Session 6: Artistic Influences in Rome
Room: Massie 108
Moderator: Dr. Isabel Graziani
“The Many Faces of Roman Portraiture”
Colleen Hatch, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Isabel Graziani
A look at Roman portraiture from its classical antiquity period. This
presentation covers distinguished people such as emperors, their wives,
and others of high status. It is through this portraiture that their
position in life, status, and fashion can be best understood.
“Romanesque Architecture: A Musical Perspective”
Evan Musin, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Isabel Graziani
A PowerPoint presentation addressing major themes in Romanesque
Architecture, timed to music.
“Alternative Renditions of Bocaccio’s Decameron: Ancient,
Modern, and Contemporary”
John Campbell and Rachel Webb, Shawnee
State University
Mentor: Dr. Deepa Sitaraman
The students will present an analysis of the Decameron and how it has
been the source for multiple imitations over time.
Session 7: Natural Science
Room: Massie 020
Moderator: Dr. Eugene Burns
“Invasion
by Exotics: The Oncoming Collapse”
Sarah Colvin, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Jeff Bauer
Creatures of all kinds have crossed ecosystem barriers and have
disrupted fragile natural balances, which in turn affects both the
environmental health and the public health. Current calculations
estimate the costs associated with losses involving the economy, public
health, and environmental health to be nearly $33 trillion USD and
climbing.
“Science Fiction or Science Fact: The Evidence of Global
Warming”
Erik Brammer, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Clifford Poirot
Global warming and its possible causes are defined and reviewed. The
evidence of human-caused global warming is presented, along with
opinions of opposition, and, in conclusion, a rebuttal.
Session 8: Women’s Studies
Room: Massie 438
Moderator: Dr. Roberta Milliken
“Bratz Genie Magic:
Spoiled Girls”
Sarah L. Gatti, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Roberta Milliken
A critical examination of the controversial role of female characters in
the animated film, Bratz Genie Magic, including analysis of
gender stereotyping, the deliberate sexual portrayal of young female
characters, and Genie Magic’s negative impact upon the
acquisition of gender identity among the target audience of young female
viewers.
“Critique
of ‘How I Met Your Mother’”
Jessamyn Sudhakaran, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Roberta Milliken
This paper analyses an episode of the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,”
and details both the positive and negative aspects of gender relations
and stereotypes contained in the episode.
“Why Does Every Thug Need a Lady?”
Elisa Oreta, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Roberta Milliken
A critique of the popular song and its negative connotations portraying
women as property and as being inferior to men.
“Gold
Digger”
Whitney Stricklett, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Roberta Milliken
Discussion of Kanye West’s song, “Gold Digger,” through a feminist
perspective.
12:00-12:50
Session 9: Chemistry and Biology
Room: Kricker 150
Moderator: Dr. Eugene Burns
“Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dot Solar Cells”
Erik Brammer, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Andrew Napper
Using Cdbe Quantum Dots as a dye, the presenter will try to improve the
light harvesting efficiency of titanium dioxide solar cells.
“Activation of Matrilysin in Tissue Culture by
Bordetella bronchiseptica”
Breck Finzer, John Street, and Matt Watson,
Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Eugene Burns
An investigation is conducted into Gelatin zymography is used to
determine if the matrilysin produced is activated or remained as a
zymogene when cells are exposed to B. bronchiseptica.
“The Effects of Environmental Stimuli on the Coexistence
of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in Dental
Plaque”
Bryan Grooms, Josh Logan, Amy Montavon, and
Lydia Ogden, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Scott Oliver
Dental plaque is a common human biofilm. This presentation will attempt
to quantify and determine how these different factors will influence
S. mutans and C. albicans in the composition of homogeneous
or heterogeneous biofilms in the oral cavities of Spraque-Dowley rats.
Session 10: Health Care Issues
Room: Massie 210
Moderator: Dr. Jim McPherson
“AIDS
in Africa: A Case for Support”
Monica Stafford, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Mary Linde
This presentation will discuss the contemporary health crisis that has
annihilated an entire generation of people who live on this continent.
“Surgical Weight Loss: Quick Fix or Cure?”
Adria Nicole Lucas, Shawnee State
University
Mentor: Dr. Steven Doster
The presenter will define obesity and its impact on the individual, the
employer, the taxpayer, and the health care system. The criteria for
Medicare and surgical weight loss procedures will be identified.
“Get
Over It and On With It: Vaccinate Against Cervical Cancer”
Pamela Davis, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Barbara L. Kunkle
This presentation will present information in support of mandatory
vaccination against cervical cancer.
“Babies
R Us: Teen Pregnancy in the Portsmouth Area as a Local Problem”
Jessica Kingery, Daniell Marion, Ericka
Middleton and Daniel Purdin, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Deepa Sitaraman
These students developed a multimedia presentation in PowerPoint using
digital streaming video and audio to do in the field research. Their
narrative uses interviews and personal experiences of teenagers to study
the problem of teen pregnancy in our area.
Session 11: Fine Arts
Room: Kricker 153
Moderator: Dr. Isabel Graziani
“The Works of Frida Kahlo”
Amelia M. Johnson, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Isabel Graziani
This presentation is a breakdown of the pieces created by Frida Kahlo.
It explains the history of the artworks, what each one represents, and
also what influenced the artist to create certain pieces. Kahlo’s work
will also be compared to other art of the same nature. A biographical
study of her life will also help explain why Kahlo created these works.
“From Dusk till Dawn: Mark Rothko’s Work & Devotion”
Garet Martin, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Isabel Graziani
The presentation will focus on Rothko’s “classic” paintings and continue
through his final masterpiece, “The Rothko Chapel” paintings. Rothko’s
work, as well as his personal devotion to creating art, will be
examined.
Session 12: Evolutionary Psychology
Room: Kricker 154
Moderator: Dr. Christopher Kacir
“Mate Selection”
Marlana Welch, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kacir
This presentation will illustrate that mate selection is heavily based
on evolutionary factors such as parental investment and short- vs.
long-term mating strategies.
“Sex
Differences in the Human Brain” Erica
Keller, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kacir
This presentation covers the evolution of the male and female brains,
noting the differences between men and women’s language skills, complex
thinking, and spatial skills, offering explanations as to how these
differences have developed over time.
Session 13: Women in Science and Medicine
Room: Kricker 155
Moderator: Dr. Michael Powell
“Women in Science: Deficits of Intrinsic Aptitude or Lack
of Mentoring?”
Lydia Ogden, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Michael Powell
This presentation will look at how women are underrepresented in science
careers and disciplines. In addition, examples of Nobel Prize-winning
women in science—and the obstacles that they had to overcome in order to
succeed—will be provided.
“The Feminization of Medicine and the Physician Shortage”
T. J. Stidham, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Michael Powell
A brief presentation describing the predicted physician shortage and the
role that females may be playing in it. The presentation will also shed
light on the fact that despite the shortage, the benefits of an equal
distribution of male and female physicians cannot be ignored.
Session 14: Living Portraits
Room: Massie 214
Mentor: Allyson Klutenkamper
“Going Through Life”
Jacquelyne Roth, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Scott Douthat
Presenter will read her poem, “Going Through Life.”
“Studying in Spain: One Appalachian’s Experience on the
Iberian Peninsula”
Taryn L. Malone, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Simon
Are you an SSU student who would consider studying abroad or a person
who is interested in what daily life in a foreign country is like? Then
be sure to attend this presentation, in which Malone will discuss the
various highlights of—and common misconceptions about—studying for a
semester in sunny Castellon de la Plana, Spain.
“Femininity and the Self-Portrait: Examining Ourselves”
Lacy Davis and Crystal Redoutey, Shawnee
State University
Mentor: Allyson Klutenkamper
Over the course of history and art, the image of one’s self has been
utilized as a means of self-discovery. This presentation will discuss
the function of women’s self-portraits in fine art photography by
examining the works of both historical and contemporary artists. The
highlight will be an in-depth look at the self-portraits of several
female students to examine the purpose of the images in the realm of
fine art.
Session 15: Twentieth Century Literature
Room: Massie 438
Moderator: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain
“The Shattered Structure of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest
Eye”
Jessamyn Sudhakaran, Shawnee State
University
Mentor: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain
This presentation details the structure of the novel, and analyzes how
it reflects the deterioration of the main character, Pecola Breedlove.
It analyzes the introductory sections, the seasonal sections, and the
“Dick and Jane” primer sections and how they relate to Pecola.
“Immortality in Babbit's Tuck Everlasting”
Stephanie Davis-Steward, Shawnee State
University
Mentor: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain
This presentation will analyze the depiction of immortality in Babbit's
Tuck Everlasting.
1:00-1:50
Session 16: Field
Science in Ohio
Room: Kricker 153
Moderator: Dr. Jim McPherson
“The Diversity of Abundance of Breeding Frog and Toad
Populations in Southern Ohio as Related to Watershed Size and Quality”
Logan Minter, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Robert Deal
Frog and toad populations were investigated to help explain an anomaly
noticed in a previous study, which stated that calling activity was
higher on ridge tops rather than in valleys. The calling activity was
recorded weekly, and its diversity and abundance was compared to water
quality, size of watersheds, and human activity in the watersheds.
“Conodont Biostratigraphy of the ‘Olentangy’ Shale in
Latham, Ohio”
Dale Williams, Jr., Shawnee State
University
Mentor: Dr. Jeff Bauer
The presentation will give a brief introduction to conodonts and also to
the study of what is thought to be an Olentangy shale unit close to the
town of Latham, Ohio.
Session 17: Serial Murder (Mature subject matter
– graphic content)
Room: Kricker 154
Moderator: Dr. Scott Douthat
“Generalized Revenge Theory”
Jamie Lee Lantz, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Scott Douthat
This presentation will examine the theory of generalized revenge via the
analysis of a case of an organized serial murderer.
“Aileen Wuornos: The Damsel of Death”
Amber Lewis and Carrie Matthews, Shawnee
State University
Mentor: Dr. Scott Douthat
A PowerPoint presentation of the life, crimes, and an analysis of serial
killer Aileen Wuornos.
Session 18: Philosophy Symposium
Room: Massie 210
Moderator: Dr. Nicholas Meriwether
“Natural Law and the Social Contract”
Craig Webb, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Meriwether
Early social contract theorists often included natural law as part of
their political philosophies. This presentation briefly explores the
history of natural law in social contract theory, and in addition, it
examines the appropriate modern relationship between the two philosophic
concepts.
“A Defense of Gay Marriage”
Robert Kerecz, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Nick Meriwether
Mr. Kerecz will present a defense of the policy of expanding marriage to
include same-sex unions.
Session 19: Education
Room: Kricker 150
Moderator: Dr. Robert Mauldin
“Discussion and Debate in the Middle School Classroom”
Miranda Dunn, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain
The presenter will discuss various ways to incorporate discussion and
debate in the classroom, and will talk about why these higher thinking
activities are not common in many junior high schools.
“Poetry in Middle School”
Johnda Cantrell, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain
This presentation will consist of an explanation of a Language Arts
unit, including lesson plans, which is focused around poetry for middle
school students. The unit will contain five lessons in which students
will learn about different aspects of poetry and apply these aspects.
“Civil Rights Language Arts Unit”
Noel Franke, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain
This presentation will discuss a teaching unit designed for sophomore
English students studying the Civil Rights Movement.
“Child Language Acquisition”
Nikki Blankenship-Hamilton, Shawnee State
University
Mentor: Dr. Robert Mauldin
The presenter will discuss her Senior Seminar paper about child language
acquisition and the current theories which explain the phenomenon
including those theories of Jean Piaget, B.F. Skinner, Noam Chomsky and
the interactionist.
Session 20: The Fine and Performing Arts
Room: Kahl Studio
Moderator: Dr. Barbara L. Kunkle
“Penumbra”
Aimee Taylor, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Jon Jay
This presentation will discuss playwriting and the creative process.
Also, there will be a performance of Taylor’s own play, “Penumbra.”
This play was selected to be performed in the Plays for a New Millennium
Festival at SSU.
Session 21: Studying Literary Characters
Room: Massie 438
Moderator: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain
“Characterization
in A Streetcar Named Desire”
Sarah Adkins, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain
Presentation of a nine-page paper that details the diverse
characterization of Stanley, Stella, and Blanche, who are the play’s
main characters.
“Various Elements of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice”
Shanna Mustard, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain
Presenter will discuss various elements of Jane Austen’s novel, Pride
and Prejudice.
“Food for Nourishment in Anne Tyler’s Dinner at the
Homesick Restaurant”
Stephanie Davis-Steward, Shawnee State
University
Mentor: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain
This presentation is an analysis of food in the novel for the
nourishment of the body and the soul. It depicts how the main characters
manage to deal with this balance in their lives.
Session 22: Victorian Texts and (Multi) Cultural
Contexts
Room: Kricker 155
Moderator: Dr. Deepa Sitaraman
“Domination in Tess of the d’Urbervilles”
Rachel Webb, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Deepa Sitaraman
This presentation will provide an
analysis of how male domination of women in Victorian times as portrayed
in literature was indeed a reality of the times, with specific reference
to Thomas Hardy’s Tess. The presentation will also focus on
connections with Islamic culture.
“Women’s Issues in Jane Eyre”
Emily Wilson, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Deepa Sitaraman
This presentation will provide an analysis of Charlotte Bronte’s novel
Jane Eyre to see if Jane emerges as the angel in the house or an
independent woman with a mind of her own. Also includes a comparison
with Jo March from Alcott’s Little Women.
“The Appalachian Connection in Thomas Hardy’s Jude the
Obscure”
Gina Collinsworth, Shawnee State University
Mentor: Dr. Deepa Sitaraman
This presentation will provide an analysis of the classic Hardy novel in
relation to the Victorian era and Appalachian connections.
