51����

2024 Distinction in the Field Candidates 

MAUREEN MURPHY WILKENS SCHOOL OF NURSING AND CLINICAL SCIENCES

Brooke Thompson, Nursing
�Impact of Parental Substance Use on Children's Health and Nursing Interventions for Mitigating Risks�
Advisors Carol Femia, DNP, RNC; Deanna Faretra, BSN, RN-BC

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT

Theresa Hennessey, Marketing
�Marketing In the Age of Artificial Intelligence�
Advisors: Kelly Basile, Ph.D.; Eric Siebert, M.B.A.

Cameron R. Howard, Economics
�The Economics of Appellate Litigation�
Advisor: Xirong Lin, Ph.D.

Gage Libby, Sports Management
�The Unintended Impacts of the Updated NCAA Transfer Portal on Student Athletes.�
Advisor: Daniel Holbrook, M.B.A.

Sarah R. McLane, Finance
�AI and its effect on finance�
Advisor: Leonard Guida, M.B.A.

Adom A. Oshagan, Economics
�Assessing the Impact of AI on the Job Market: A Comprehensive Analysis and Policy Recommendations�
Advisor: Xirong Lin, Ph.D.

Jake Penny, Economics
�The Impact of US Tariff Policy on Domestic Manufacturing Employment 2018-2024�
Advisor: Xirong Lin, Ph.D.

Divanni S. Polanco, Economics
�An analysis of the effects of information communications technology or ICT on the labor market�
Advisor: Xirong Lin, Ph.D.

Emmaline I. Riendeau, Economics
�The effects of climate change on food insecurity and agricultural trade in Tanzania�
Advisor: Xirong Lin, Ph.D.

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Mia Puglia, Secondary Education
�Non-traditional Grading in Secondary School Settings�
Advisors: Miriam Gates, Ph.D.

Joshua Rainone, Secondary Education
�Scholarly Saints: A Training Program for Educators to Master their Skills in the Classroom�
Advisors: Deirdre Bradley-Turner, M.S.

Thomas Sullivan, Secondary Education
�Examining Declining Male Enrollment in American Undergraduate Institutions�
Advisors: Sr. Karen Hokanson, SNDdeN

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Emily Anderson, History
�Nationalism as a Form of Oppression: The Case of Portugal�
Advisor: Violette Ravagnoli, Ph.D.

Meghan Arpin, Communication & Media Studies
�Social Media Political Discourse: Comparing Political Parties, Issue Scales, and Platforms�
Advisor: Caitlin Lawson, Ph.D.

Julia Beal, Individualized Major: Art History 
�Aligning Film with Abstract Art:  Derek Jarman's Blue�
Advisor: Cythnia Fowler, Ph.D.

Conor Bellone, History
�Hit the Road: Industrial America Rambling Around�
Advisor: Violette Ravagnoli, Ph.D. 

Deanna L. Bourque, Political Science
�International Food Aid: Not All are Created Equal�
Advisors: Adam Silver, Ph.D.; Katrin Kriz, Ph.D.

Emmalee Clark, Philosophy
�Democracy in the Balance: The Ethical Implications of Concentrated Media Ownership�
Advisor: Michelle Maiese, Ph.D.

Anne Costello, History
�You Are Feeling Good: Sots Art and a Reflection on Soviet Culture�
Advisor: Violette Ravagnoli, Ph.D. 

Elizabeth Derderian, History
�The Medici family : Detriments or Benefactors to Florence, Italy�
Advisor: Violette Ravagnoli, Ph.D.

Jennifer Dias, Writing, Editing, & Publishing
�Ethics and Narrative in Documentary Film�
Advisors: Kelly McGuire, Ph.D., Erich Doubek, Ph.D.

Trish Dinh, History
�India's National Icon: Mother Goddess, Bharat Mata�
Advisor: Violette Ravagnoli, Ph.D.

Connor Donnelly, Philosophy
�Multiculturalism and Internet Spaces�
Advisor: Michelle Maiese, Ph.D.

David Gydus, Modern Languages: Spanish
 �Living Contrasts: Spain vs. United States Lifestyle�
Advisor: Jose Alvarez-Fernandez, Ph.D.; Lauren Mitchell, Ph.D.

Caralynn E. Hampson, Theology & Religious Studies
�Born in Relation: Queer Kinship as an Essential Aspect of Baptism�
Advisor: Brianne Jacobs, Ph.D.

Jaylee E. Hiersche, English
�Nathan For or Against You: The Ethics of Postmodern Satire�
Advisor: David Palumbo, Ph.D.

Luke Hines, Political Science
�51���� Public School Education Policy Analysis�
Advisors: Adam Silver, Ph.D.; Katrin Kriz, Ph.D.

Alyssa A. Hogan, Modern Languages: Spanish
 �Franco's Dictatorship on Spain Political memory�
Advisor: Jose Alvarez-Fernandez, Ph.D.; Anupamu Seshan, Ph.D.

Alyssa A. Hogan, Political Science
�Hostage Diplomacy: When the Private Becomes Public�
Advisors: Adam Silver, Ph.D.; Petros Vamvakas, Ph.D.

Madeline Hollett, Philosophy
�Moving Away from Pop Feminism: Using Existentialist Thinking to Return to Radical Feminist Theory�
Advisor: Michelle Maiese, Ph.D.

Julia Jenks, International Studies:Diplomacy and Security
�The Devil Wears a Powdered Wig: Unraveling the Influence of Religion on Abortion Policies - A Comparative Study of Ireland and the United States�
Advisors: Laurie Johnston, Ph.D., Violetta Ravagnoli, Ph.D.

Emma M. Krantz, Political Science
�Presidents, Polarization, and Foreign Policy: Presidential tactics to achieve foreign policy goals under a polarized Congress�
Advisors: Adam Silver, Ph.D.; Marie Natoli, Ph.D.

Kenneth Laurent, History
�From Santo Domingo to Lawrence: History of a Dominican Migration�
Advisor: Violette Ravagnoli, Ph.D.

Brigid Moriarty, Modern Languages: Spanish
 �The Hispanic Experience in the U.S. Healthcare System�
Advisor: Jose Alvarez-Fernandez, Ph.D.; Anupamu Seshan, Ph.D.

Divanni S. Polanco, Political Science: International Relations & Comparative Politics
�Trust in government institutions in Mass democracies�
Advisors: Adam Silver, Ph.D.; Petros Vamvakas, Ph.D.

Loren Skelly, English
�Seasons of Love: Lady Mary Wroth's Depiction of Constancy as Protofeminism�
Advisor: Kelly McGuire, Ph.D.

Samantha Schumacher, Political Science
�Evolution of Framing Devices in January 6th Online Discourse�
Advisors: Adam Silver, Ph.D.; Mark Sherman, Ph.D.

Caroline Tempesta, History
�Ensuring Humanity: The Geneva Convention and Refugees Of Genocide�
Advisor: Violette Ravagnoli, Ph.D.

Emma E. Willard, English
�The Implications of Gendered Language in an Ecocritical Reading of David Jones In Parenthesis�
Advisor: David Palumbo, Ph.D.; Kelly McGuire, Ph.D.

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & HEALTH

Christina Akut, Biology
�Lets get CERTIfied�
Advisor: Padraig Deighan, Ph.D.

Arlette Cabral, Biology
�Beneath the SKN: The Dual Regulation of Aging via SKN-1 and KLF-1 in C. elegans�
Advisor: Natalie Karagodsky, Ph.D.

Cosette Chesley, Chemistry
�Synthesis of tris-urea supramolecular hosts to capture reactive sulfur species�
Advisor: Michelle Watt, Ph.D.

Samira Fawel, Biology
�Fostering Belonging: A Research Journey into Undergraduate Student Experiences in STEM at 51�����
Advisor: Anupama Seshan, Ph.D.

Grace Gaultier, Biostatistics
�Lifestyle Choices of College Students�
Advisor: David Earls, Ph.D.

Anya Gemos, Neuroscience
�Investigating the Role of the Gut Microbiome on Neuroinflammation in an E46K Synucleinopathy Kindred�
Advisor: Melanie Leussis, Ph.D.

Kira Glasmacher, Biostatistics
�Deciphering Mutation Dynamics: A Computational Analysis of Selective Pressures in Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma�
Advisors: Yulia Dementieva, Ph.D.; Vincent Cannataro, Ph.D.

Ida Gnanou, Biology
�Does Eliminating B-cells cause A Vaginal Complaint?�
Advisor: Caroline Mitchell, M.D., M.P.H. Mass General Hospital

Sophia Jones, Psychology
�Body Image in Experienced and Novice Recreational Dancers�
Advisor: Linda Lin, Ph.D.

Patience Kassini, Biology
�Decoding the "FUN" of bacterial transcription factors�
Advisor: Padraig Deighan, Ph.D.

Ugne Kurdeikaite, Biology
�The Red Puzzle: Exploring the Power of Proteasomal Activity�
Advisor: Natalie Karagodsky, Ph.D.

Amanda Lorusso, Biology
�Characterizing diagnoses, treatment, and encephalopathic outcomes of the neonatal seizure population�
Advisor: Janet Soul, M.D.C.M., Harvard Medical School

Jennifer Madu, Biology
�Becoming BUDdies with the Mitotic Exit Network by investigating GEF and GTPase function in mutated yeast cells�
Advisor: Anupama Seshan, Ph.D.

Ava Mark, Biology
�Going With the Flow: Flow Cytometry Bead Array Assay for the Identification of miRNA and Cancer Detection�
Advisor: John Tigges, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Flow Cytometry Science Center

Lauren Menzel, Chemistry
�The Effect of Roadblocks on the DNA Target Search of NdeI�
Advisor: Allen Price, Ph.D.

Nathalie Merisca, Biology
�A MENace to society: Interaction Between LTE1 and TEM1 of Mitotic Exit Network Within S. cerevisiae��
Advisor: Anupama Seshan, Ph.D.

Sophia Mirrione, Biology
�Imaging the Cerebrovascular Structure and Function in Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer Disease��
Advisor: Yi-Fen Yen, Ph.D., Mass General Hospital

Camila Moreno-Bo, Biology
�Unraveling the BCOR and Variant PRC1.1 Puzzle: Exploring Its Impact on Developmental in Drosophila��
Advisor: Janel Cabrera, Ph.D.

Gavin Nolan, Neuroscience
�Investigating the neural correlates of complex patterned auditory stimulus exposure in mice�
Advisor: Elizabeth Crofton, Ph.D.

Katerina Pantaleo, Biology
�Transcriptional profiling of dorsal root ganglia sensory neurons following sciatic nerve injury�
Advisor: William Renthal, M.D., Ph.D. Harvard Medical School

Emily Pike, Biology
�Amyloid aggregation in bacteria�
Advisor: Padraig Deighan, Ph.D.

Angela Pillarella, Biology
�Waste Not, Want Not: Food Waste and Its Environmental Impact in the COF��
Advisor: Adam Silver, Ph.D.

Sabrina Pires, Neuroscience
�The Effect of Noninvasive Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation and Visual Training on Cortical Blindness�
Advisor: Elizabeth Crofton, Ph.D.

Jessica Richa, Biology
�Taking the Bait: Capturing the interplay of a transcription termination protein with multiple RNA targets�
Advisor: Jason Kuehner, Ph.D.

Teagan Santoro, Biology
�Examining LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in 51���� Biology Courses�
Advisor: Janel Cabrera, Ph.D.

Enya Selders, Biology
�Tag, Turbo Is It: Using Proximity Labeling with TurboID to Study Polycomb Repressive Complexes in Drosophila�
Advisor: Janel Cabrera, Ph.D.

Giovanna Stefanini, Biology
�Determining how NRP2 expression is altered by mechanical stretch�
Advisor: Rosalyn Adam, Ph.D., 51���� Children's Hospital

Mary Summers, Biology
�Synthesis of N-Furyl Bisaryl-Amidine for Sequence Specific Binding to Nucleic Acids�
Advisor: Michelle Watt, Ph.D.

Justin Talluto, Biology
�To bind or not to bind? Characterizing RNA-Protein interactions in transcription termination.�
Advisor: Jason Kuehner, Ph.D.

Jack Tata, Mathematics
�Using Statistics to Understand Currency Exchange Market�
Advisors: Yulia Dementieva, Ph.D.; Shuyi Jiang, Ph.D.

Hailey Young, Chemistry
�DNA origami nanostructures as biomimetic templates for calcium phosphate mineralization�
Advisor: Aren Gerdon, Ph.D.