Class of 2022 Honors Program Graduates

Thirty-Three members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2022 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 2022 undergraduate Honors Program graduates, their faculty mentors and their research projects.

Tiannah N. Adams, New York, New York, graduated, magna cum laude, as a psychology major. Adams worked with faculty advisor Patrick T. Orr, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, on a thesis titled "The Effects of Apparent Race and Resume Strength on Company Response Rates."

Sophia V. Alderman, Oreland, graduated, summa cum laude, as a psychology major. Alderman worked with faculty advisor Emily J. Hopkins, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, on a thesis titled "Individual differences and a hierarchy of learning: How children learn from educational television." Alderman was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Christina F. Alfano, Red Bank, New Jersey, graduated, magna cum laude, as a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major. Alfano worked with faculty advisor Kathleen G. Dwyer, Ph.D., Department of Biology, on a thesis titled "Generation of CRISPR Construct pCA1g61370CR2 Targeting the Arabidopsis thaliana At1g61370 Receptor Like Kinase (RLK) Gene and Restriction Site Loss Analysis of pGSMFSCRL26CR2 Knockout Transgenic Plants."

Emily L. Allen, Scott Township, graduated as a biology and Hispanic studies double major. Allen worked with faculty advisor Marc A. Seid, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Effect of Age on Cellular Respiration in Camponotus floridanus Ants."

Stephanie R. Alvarez, South Setauket, New York, graduated, magna cum laude, as a political science and criminal justice double major. Alvarez worked with faculty advisor Michael E. Allison, Ph.D., professor of political science, on a thesis titled "The Future of US-Cuba Relations."

MaKenna L. Bryant, Dallas, graduated, magna cum laude, as a physiology major. Bryant worked with faculty advisor Christopher Howey, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Effects of Ambient Light at Night on the Metabolic Rates of Anolis carolinensis."

Claire J. Carrera, North Bergen, New Jersey, graduated, magna cum laude, as a psychology major. Carrera worked with faculty advisor Christie P. Karpiak, Ph.D., professor of psychology, on a thesis titled "Student Perceptions of Microaggressions by Authorities & Peers."

Lauren E. Cleary, Lynbrook, New York, graduated, magna cum laude, as a neuroscience major. Cleary worked with faculty advisor Jill A. Warker, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, on a thesis titled "The Effects of Rhythmic Priming on Word Learning."

Mary-Katherine J. Cotter, Massapequa, New York, graduated, magna cum laude, as a history and political science double major.         Cotter worked with faculty advisor Michael E. Allison, Ph.D., professor of political science, on a thesis titled "United States-Chinese Relations: The Prevention of Violence."

Patrick Dawid, Exeter, graduated, summa cum laude, as a neuroscience and philosophy double major. Dawid worked with faculty advisor Christie P. Karpiak, Ph.D., professor of psychology, on a thesis titled "Predicting Treatment Stigma Using Constructs Associated with Self-Reliance." Dawid was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and was the recipient of a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship at Scranton.

Koebe S. Diaz, Dumont, New Jersey, graduated, magna cum laude, as a psychology major. Diaz worked with faculty advisor Jessica M. Nolan, Ph.D., professor of psychology, on a thesis titled "Crisis at the Southern Boarder: A Scenario Study."

Mia K. Gianello, Old Forge, graduated, summa cum laude, as a neuroscience and biomathematics double major. Gianello worked with faculty advisor Steven T. Dougherty, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, on a thesis titled "Distances in Graphs of Permutations."

Sarah C. Hickey, Scranton, graduated, summa cum laude, as a history major. Hickey worked with faculty advisor Susan L. Poulson, Ph.D., professor of history, on a thesis titled "False Memories: A History of Racism in the Women's Suffrage Movement and its Historiography."

Megan G. Johannesen, Rocky Point, New York, graduated, magna cum laude, as a political science and philosophy double major. Johannesen worked with faculty advisor Jean W. Harris, Ph.D., professor of political science, on a thesis titled "The Americans with Disabilities Act - Title I: Employment." Johannesen was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Isaiah J. Livelsberger, Hanover, graduated, summa cum laude, as an international studies and philosophy double major. Livelsberger worked with faculty advisor Gretchen J. Van Dyke, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, on a thesis titled "Transitioning into Justice and Peace: A Comparative Study of Elites and Civil Society in Post-Genocide Rwanda and Guatemala."

Nia N. Long, East Stroudsburg, graduated, magna cum laude, as a neuroscience and philosophy double major. Long worked with faculty advisor Marc A. Seid, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled "The Effects of Synthetic Hydraulic Fracturing Solution on Locomotion and Brian Morphology in Camponotus floridanus." Long was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Ryan J. Maguire, Chester Springs, graduated, magna cum laude, as a biochemistry major. Maguire worked with faculty advisor David A. Rusak, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, on a thesis titled "Effect of Sewer Treatment on Nitrate and Phosphate Levels in the Lackawanna River."

Serena M. Mancini, Wayne, New Jersey, graduated, summa cum laude, as a criminal justice and counseling and human services double major. Mancini worked with faculty advisor Loreen Wolfer, Ph.D., professor of sociology, criminal justice and criminology, on a thesis titled "The Media's Influence on the Public's Perception of Mass Murder and its Implications."

Samuel L. Marranca, Pittston, graduated, summa cum laude, as a history major. Marranca worked with faculty advisor Sean Brennan, Ph.D., professor of history, on a thesis titled "Coping with the Nazi Legacy: An Examination of Denazification and Post-War Divided Memory in West Germany, 1945-1965."

Allison M. McGee, Peckville, graduated, magna cum laude, as a biology major. McGee worked with faculty advisor Christopher Howey, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Latex Balloon Degradation Differs Based on Environment."

Margaret R. McGrath, Drexel Hill, graduated, summa cum laude, as a biology and philosophy double major. McGrath worked with faculty advisor Christopher Howey, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled "The Effects of Ambient Light at Night on the Stress Response in Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis)." McGrath was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the Magis Honors Program in STEM.

Laura E. Miller, White Haven, graduated, magna cum laude, as a neuroscience and biology double major. Miller worked with faculty advisor Marc A. Seid, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Bacteriophage Transfer in Camponotus floridanus through Trophallaxis."

Ashley E. Mullan, Hunntington, New York, graduated, summa cum laude, as an applied mathematics and philosophy double major. Mullan worked with faculty advisor Murong Xu, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics, on a thesis titled "Musical Feature Classification: Using Techniques of Machine Learning to Detect Genre." Mullan was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and was the recipient of a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship at Scranton.

Shane D. Power, Bronx, New York, graduated, magna cum laude, as a biology major. Power worked with faculty advisor Cara A. Krieg, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Effects of Environmental Quality on House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) Reproductive Success."

Natalie G. Pullows Tetuan , Saint James, New York, graduated, magna cum laude, as a criminal justice major. Pullows Tetuan worked with faculty advisor Loreen Wolfer, Ph.D., professor of sociology, criminal justice and criminology, on a thesis titled "Examining the Perception of Recreational Marijuana and Non-Prescription Adderall use amongst College Students."

Catherine R. Renton, Ringwood, New Jersey, graduated, magna cum laude, as an environmental science major. Renton worked with faculty advisor Vincent R. Farallo, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Soil Microhabitat Differences Between Two Microendemic Salamanders."

Krista M. Segreti, Danbury, Connecticut, graduated, summa cum laude, as a neuroscience major. Segreti worked with faculty advisor Marc A. Seid, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled "Nestmate Presence Reduces Isolation Induced Digestive Impairments in the Ant Camponotus floridanus."

Amanda L. Serafin, Mechanicsburg, graduated, summa cum laude, as an accounting and business analytics double major. Serafin worked with faculty advisor Ashley L. Stampone, D.B.A., assistant professor of accounting, on a thesis titled "Integrating ESG into the Accounting Curriculum: Insights from Accounting Educators."

Elias J. Shomali, Ellicott City, Maryland, graduated, summa cum laude, as a neuroscience and philosophy double major. Shomali worked with faculty advisor Marc A. Seid, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, on a thesis titled "The Effects of Serotonergic Manipulation on Ant Feeding Behavior." Shomali was also a member of the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and was the recipient of a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship at Scranton.

Cameron J. Shedlock, White Haven, graduated, magna cum laude, as a neuroscience major. Shedlock worked with faculty advisor Katherine A. Stumpo, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, on a thesis titled "Characterizing Pancreatic Xenograft Tumor Response to Gemcitabine Treatment with Imaging Mass Spectrometry." Shedlock was also a member of the University's Magis Honors Program in STEM.

Alex O. Sophabmixay, Scranton, graduated, summa cum laude, as a biology major. Sophabmixay worked with faculty advisor Bryan R. Crable, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, on a thesis titled "The Analysis of Transport Influences."

Fatima A. Torres, Scranton, graduated, cum laude, as a criminal justice major. Torres worked with faculty advisor Ismail Onat, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, criminal justice and criminology, on a thesis titled "A Turning Point: The Relationship Between Employment and Recidivism."

Anna E. Wengyn, Chalfont, graduated, summa cum laude, as a biochemistry major. Wengyn worked with faculty advisor Billie R. Tadros, Ph.D., assistant professor of English and theatre, on a thesis titled "With the PCOS stuff, I'm like 'Am I not good enough?': Lived Experiences and Understandings of Femininity in the Narratives of Women Ages 18-24 with PCOS." Wengyn was the recipient of a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship at Scranton.

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