Class of 2023 Honors Program Graduates

Twenty-Three members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2023 graduated from its Undergraduate Honors Program, which is one of the Jesuit university’s programs of excellence. Students in the Honors Program pursue a rigorous education that stresses independent work through close engagement with professors and other honors students, including the preparation, presentation and defense of a research or creative project during their senior year.

The following is a list of the class of 2023 Undergraduate Honors Program graduates, their faculty mentors and their research projects.

Maame E. Addison, Bloomfield, New Jersey, graduated as a neuroscience major. Addison worked with faculty advisor Jong-Hyun Son, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Effects of Propylthiouracil (PTU) on the Development of Zebrafish Larvae."

Teleri R. Broomhead, Lower Gwynedd, graduated, summa cum laude, as a business administration major. Broomhead worked with faculty advisor Ann (Nancy) Cummings, faculty specialist, Department of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, on a thesis titled "An Analysis of Remote Working Habits."

Conor J. Dougherty, Cape Coral, Florida, graduated, summa cum laude, as a neuroscience and philosophy double major. Dougherty worked with faculty advisor Marc Seid, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Exploring the Possibility of the Novel Object Recognition Task as a Valid Behavioral Assay Used in Camponotus floridanus." Dougherty was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Astrid P. D’Souza, Elmwood Park, New Jersey, graduated, summa cum laude, as a biology major. D’Souza worked with faculty advisor Gerard G. Dumancas, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, on a thesis titled "Physical and Chemical Characterization of Ugandan Honey and its Comparison to Manuka Honey."

Emily R. Fleming, Shavertown, graduated, summa cum laude, as a biochemistry major. Fleming worked with faculty advisor Timothy D. Foley, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, on a thesis titled "Selective Oxidation of Thiols on Alpha-Enolase Expand the physiological Significance of Protein Thiol-Based Redox Regulation and Reveal a Reductive Shift Following Postmortem Ischemia."

Nicole A. Freeman, New Tripoli, graduated, summa cum laude, as a biology major. Freeman worked with faculty advisor Vincent Farallo, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled "The Effect of Thermally Different Habitats on the Metabolism of Plethodon cinereus Salamanders: Can They Stand the Heat?"

Julia M. Gavigan, Long Beach, New York, graduated, summa cum laude, as a journalism - electronic media major. Gavigan worked with faculty advisor Brian Snee, Ph.D., associate professor of communication and media, on a thesis titled "Measuring the News Literacy of College Students."

Sydney L Gero, Somerset, New Jersey, graduated, summa cum laude, as a criminal justice major. Gero worked with faculty advisor Sinchul Back, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice, cybersecurity and sociology, on a thesis titled "The Severity and Certainty of Punishment on the Cyberstalking Offense: An Application of Deterrence Theory."

Jena R. Guilfoyle, Yonkers, New York, graduated, cum laude, as a history major. Guilfoyle worked with faculty advisor Robert Shaffern, Ph.D., professor of history, on a thesis titled "Elizabeth Cary: A Conversion Story."

James C. Hornickle, Reading, graduated, summa cum laude, as a biochemistry, cell, molecular biology major. Hornickle worked with faculty advisor Timothy D. Foley, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, on a thesis titled "Reversible Oxidations of Alpha-Enolase Thiols Show a Reductive Shift Following Postmortem Ischemia and Support the Relevance of Redox Signaling in the Brain." Hornickle was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Kyle B. Hromisin, Dallas, graduated, magna cum laude, as a forensic chemistry major. Hromisin worked with faculty advisor Michael Fennie, Ph.D., associate professor of organic chemistry, on a thesis titled "A Green Analysis of Acid-Catalyzed Aerobic Degradation of Polystyrene Under Mild Photochemical Conditions."

Adelyne R. Ibanez, Easton, graduated, summa cum laude, as a political science and philosophy double major. Ibanez worked with faculty advisor Michael E. Allison, Ph.D., professor of political science, on a thesis titled "Call of Duty: Refugees, National Security & Public Opinion." Ibanez was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Kyra M. Krzywicki, Kingston, graduated, summa cum laude, as a journalism - electronic media and theology and religious studies double major. Krzywicki worked with faculty advisor John Kilker,  assistant professor of communication and media, on a thesis titled "I was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: The Stories of Refugees in Scranton, Pennsylvania."

Sarah A.  Liskowicz, Wilkes Barre, graduated, summa cum laude, as a neuroscience and biomathematics double major. Liskowicz worked with faculty advisor Robert F. Waldeck, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Contributions of taurine and GABA to aggression in crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, and zebrafish, Danio rerio." Liskowicz was also the recipient of the University's full tuition Presidential Scholarship.

Anne K. Murphy, Flemington, New Jersey, graduated, summa cum laude, as a counseling and human services major. Murphy worked with faculty advisor Paul A. Datti, Ph.D., professor of counseling and human services, on a thesis titled "Analyzing Mental Health of Undocumented and Documented Hispanic and Latino/a/x/e College Students."

Emma C. Nessel, Randolph, New Jersey, graduated, summa cum laude, as a psychology major. Nessel worked with faculty advisor Emily Hopkins, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, on a thesis titled "Transmission of gender stereotypes from parent to child through play." Nessel was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Veronica I. Romanek, Hampton, New Jersey, graduated, magna cum laude, as a physics and Spanish studies double major. Romanek worked with faculty advisor Nathaniel A. Frissell, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics and engineering, on a thesis titled "Climatology of ionospheric Variability with MSTID Periods Observed Using Grape v1 HF Doppler Receivers."

Matthew G. Simms, Newtown, graduated, summa cum laude, as an environmental science and philosophy double major. Simms worked with faculty advisor Robert J. Smith, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Meteorological Conditions Associated with Landbird Migratory Stopover in Northeastern Pennsylvania." Simms was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Nathaniel R. Smith, Wilkes Barre, graduated, summa cum laude, as a neuroscience major. Smith worked with faculty advisor Marc Seid, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Navigational failures in Camponotus floridanus due to an Antagonist of Serotonin." Smith was also a member of the University's Magis Honors Program in STEM.

Claire K. Sunday, South Abington Township, graduated, summa cum laude, as a theology and religious studies and philosophy double major. Sunday worked with faculty advisor Christopher M. Hauser, Ph.D., assistant professor of philosophy, on a thesis titled "Free Will: What, Why, and How?" Sunday was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and was the recipient of Scranton’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship.

Julia E. Turnak, Hingham, Massachusetts, graduated, summa cum laude, as a biology and philosophy double major. Turnak worked with faculty advisor Cara Krieg, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled "The Effects of Egg Brightness and Female Aggression on Male Parental Investment in House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon)."Turnak was also a member of the University's Magis Honors Program in STEM and its Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Katherine A Welby, Scranton, graduated, summa cum laude, as a biochemistry, cell, molecular biology and biology double major. Welby worked with faculty advisor Mary L. Troy, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling and human services, on a thesis titled "Mental Health in NCAA Division III Student-Athletes."

Piper G. Yerkes, Pottstown, graduated, magna cum laude, as a neuroscience and biology double major. Yerkes worked with faculty advisor Marc Seid, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis titled "The Effect of Melatonin on the Locomotion and Circadian Rhythm of Camponotus floridanus."

Andrew LaZella, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, and Jill A. Warker, associate professor of psychology, serve as co-directors of the Undergraduate Honors Program.