Class of 2018 Honors Program Graduates

Thirty-four members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2018 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 2018 Honors Program graduates, their faculty mentors and their research projects.

Erin F. Alexander, Linden, New Jersey, worked with faculty mentor Thomas P. Hogan, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Psychology, on a thesis titled “Mathematics Achievement-Attitude Relations in TIMSS 2015:  The Effect of Regional Grouping;”

Lea A. Barny, Linden, New Jersey, worked with faculty mentors David A. Rusak, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, and Patrick T. Orr, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, on a thesis titled “Quantification of Intraperitoneally Injected Silver Nanoparticles in Regionally Dissected Brains and Secondary Organs of Mice using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy;”

Erika L. Beyrent, Clarks Summit, worked with faculty mentor George Gomez, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled “Oxidative Stress Induces in the Tau Protein in Cultured Chick Embryonic Neurons;”

Tyler M. Bielinski, Dunmore, worked with faculty mentor J. Timothy Cannon, Ph.D., professor of psychology, on a thesis titled “The Face and Bipolar Disease: Exploration of Facial Differences in Bipolar Populations;”

Catherine O. Bruno, Westfield, New Jersey, worked with faculty mentor Gretchen J. Van Dyke, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, on a thesis titled “The Effect of the European Union’s Dublin Regulations on the Migrant Crisis;”

Nicholas Chaump, West Pittston, worked with faculty mentor Christine A. Zakzewski, Ph.D., associate professor of physics and electrical engineering, on a thesis titled “Medical Devices: Methods and Applications;”

Nicole A. DiTolla, Mount Vernon, New York, worked with faculty mentor Matthew M. Reavy, Ph.D., associate professor of communication, on a thesis titled “Current Events Knowledge Among Different Demographics;”

Bridget S. Duffy, Danbury, Connecticut, worked with faculty mentor Byron C. Applequist, Ph.D., assistant professor of exercise science and sport, on a thesis titled “Biomechanical Analysis of the Effects of an Ankle Brace on the Landing Phase of a Countermovement Jump;”

Regina M. Fasano, Downingtown, worked with faculty mentor Christie P. Karpiak, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Psychology Department, on a thesis titled “Cognitive Patterns Associated with Autism Spectrum and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Non-Clinical Young Adults;”

Brendon A. Feliciano, New York, New York, worked with faculty mentor Satya P. Chattopadhyay, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Department, on a thesis titled “The Impact of Environmental Deregulation on Business Stakeholders;”

Breanna L. Forgione, Hockessin, Delaware, worked with faculty mentor Hyuk-Jun Cheong, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, on a thesis titled “Millennials and Social Media Usage: The Perception of Digital Natives as Communicators;”

Jordan M. Friedrich, Cinnaminson, New Jersey, worked with faculty mentor Gretchen J. Van Dyke, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, on a thesis titled “Terrorists Find the Vacuum;”

Alexander R. Haber, Tresckow, worked with faculty mentor George Gomez, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled “The Effects of Oxidative Stress on the Subcellular Localization of Amyloid Precursor Protein in HTB-11 Neuroblastomas;”

Mary K. Halligan, Gambrills, Maryland, worked with faculty mentor Michael J. Landram, Ph.D., assistant professor of exercise science and sport, on a thesis titled “Factors Affecting Female Knee Stability;”

Kathleen M. Healey, Scranton, worked with faculty mentor Harold W. Ballie, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, on a thesis titled “Defining Professionalism in Medicine: The Ethics of Refugee Health Care;”

Margaret E. Hemphill, Scranton, worked with faculty mentor Maria Squire, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled “Prenatal Exposure to Acetaminophen and Bone Microarchitecture in Adult Male C57BL/6 Mice;”

Kathleen P. Heslin, Smithtown, New York, worked with faculty mentor Robert F. Waldeck, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled “The Effect of Taurine on Locomotion: A Model for Treating Depression-Like Behavior in Zebrafish;”

Anne I. Kennedy, Conshohocken, worked with faculty mentor George Gomez, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled “Activity-Dependent Modulation of Neuronal Proliferation and Differentiation in Cultured Chick Olfactory Neurons;”

Alexandra S. Koutsoubis, Monroe Township, New Jersey, worked with faculty mentor Matthew J. Socha, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled “Acute Oxidative Stress Attenuates Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Mouse Superior Epigastric Arteries;”

Haleigh N. McBride, Oak Ridge, New Jersey, worked with faculty mentor George Gomez, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled “Oxidative Stress Induced Changes on Endothelial and Vascular Structure in Embryonic Chicks;”

Catherine E. Murray, Maple Glen, worked with faculty mentor Michael A. Sulzinski, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis titled “Frequency of Natural Infesction of Burkholderia in Different Species of Onions;”

Sara Myers, Kennett Square, worked with faculty mentor Steven T. Dougherty, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, on a thesis titled “Orthogonality from Group Characters;”

Jonathan P. Nicklas, Northampton, worked with faculty mentor Robert J. Smith, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis titled “An Examination of Male and Female Gray Catbird (Dumetella Carolinensis) Feather Reflectance in the Visible and Ultraviolet Spectrum;”

Patrick Park, Havertown, worked with faculty mentor Joan M. Wasilewski, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Chemistry Department, on a thesis titled “Effect on N-9 Monounsaturated fatty Acids on Growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae;”

Anthony M. Puglisi, PasadenaMaryland, worked with faculty mentor Vanessa A. Ferrance, Ed.D., associate professor of education, on a thesis titled “The Impact of Resistance Training Exercise Program on Verbally Repetitive Behavior, Muscular Strength, and Muscular Endurance for an Adult Male with Autism Spectrum Disorder;”

Matthew J. Reynolds, Apalachin, New York, worked with faculty mentor George Gomez, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled “The Developmental Process of the Growing Motile Ciliary Tip Region;”

Dina L. Roche, Millis, Massachusetts, worked with faculty mentor Matthew J. Socha, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled “High Glucose Treatment Attenuates Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Mouse Superior Epigastric Arteries;”

Laura A. Romanovich, Peckville, worked with faculty mentor Janice Voltzow, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis titled “The Effects of Elevated Temperature and Enhanced Carbon Dioxide on Bleaching of the Symbiotic Sea Anemone Exaiptasia pallida;”

Peter P. Shaver, Shavertown, worked with faculty mentor John Meredith Hill, Ph.D. cand., professor of English and theatre, on a thesis titled “Shavertown and Two Essays;”

David C. Standen, Newtown Square, worked with faculty mentor Abhijit Roy, Ph.D., professor of management, marketing and entrepreneurship, on a thesis titled “Global Water Sustainability: The Roll of Business, the Government, and NGOs in achieving Sustainable Development Goals Pertaining to Water by 2030;”

Robert A. Staubach, Flemington, New Jersey, worked with faculty mentor Arthur J. Catino, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, on a thesis titled “Progress towards the Directed Ortho-Metalation of Boronic Acids;”

Theresa K. Webster, New Britain, worked with faculty mentor Robert F. Waldeck, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled “Post-concussion Case Study with a focus on Aerobic and Vestibular Eye Therapy;”

Devin P. Wood, Newton, worked with faculty mentor Patrick T. Orr, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, on a thesis titled “Intermittent Fasting Displays No Neuroprotective Effects against Predictable Chronic stress Insults at the Behavioral Level and Appears to Display Potential Alterations in the Cellular Redox System Favoring a Reductive Stress Environment;”

Ling Yi, Palmyra, worked with faculty mentor Ann A. Pang-White, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, on a thesis titled “Evolution of the Pericardium Meridian: How the Meridian Theory of Chinese Medicine is Evolving with Modern Illnesses.”