Class of 2026 University Honors Program Graduates

Thirty-one members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2026 graduated from the University Honors Program, which is one of the Jesuit university’s programs of excellence. Undergraduate 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 2026 University Honors Program graduates and their faculty mentors and their research projects.

Amber H. Armitage, Stroudsburg, graduated, summa cum laude, as a neuroscience major. Armitage worked with faculty advisor Marc Seid, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis project titled "Neuroprotective Effects of Pagonomyrmex badius Venom on PTZ-Induced Seizure Activity in Camponotus floridanus."

David P. Banko, Wind Gap, graduated, summa cum laude, as a biochemistry major. Banko worked with faculty advisor Michael Fennie, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, on a thesis project titled "Syntheses of 4-Azidoproline and 4-Cyanamidoproline."

Connor Patrick Brophy, Macungie, graduated, cum laude, as a biochemistry, cell, molecular biology major and member of the Magis Honors Program in STEM. Brophy worked with faculty advisor Riddhiman Medhi, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, on a thesis project titled "Silver Nanoparticles & Sensing Capabilities Ysiny Machine Learning and Statistics."

Christopher G. Conboy, Yardley, graduated, magna cum laude, as a neuroscience major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. Conboy worked with faculty advisor Marc Seid, Ph.D., professor of biology.

Erica C. Czerwinski, Burlington, Massachusetts, graduated, summa cum laude, as a psychology and philosophy double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. Czerwinski worked with faculty advisor Jill A. Warker, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, on a thesis project titled "The Effect of Different Types of Lies on Destination Memory."

Philip R. Danchik, Woodbine, Maryland, graduated as a chemistry major. Danchik worked with faculty advisor Riddhiman Medhi, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, on a thesis project titled "Removal of Methylene Blue Dye from Water by Magnetic Nio.6Co0.4Fe2O4 Nanoparticles in a Silica Matrix."

Ethan C. Distler, Royersford, graduated, cum laude, as a mechanical engineering major. Distler worked with faculty advisor Mojib Saei, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics and engineering, on a thesis project titled "Transmission Maintenance Mount."

Rebecca R. Doyle, Massapequa, New York, graduated, summa cum laude, as a neuroscience and physiology double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. Doyle was the recipient of the University's four-year, full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. Doyle worked with faculty advisor Krisy Elrod, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling and human services, on a thesis project titled "Music on the Brain - A Neurological and Philosophical Review of the Emotional Processing of Songs."

Marc K. Guillet, Lindenhurst, New York, graduated, magna cum laude, as a biology major. Guillet worked with faculty advisor Robert Smith, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis project titled "Effects of Parasite Load, Body Condition."

Marilyn Keating, New Providence, New Jersey, graduated, summa cum laude, as a communication sciences and disorders major. Keating worked with faculty advisor Hope Baylow, D.A., associate professor of health and human performance, on a thesis project titled "Managing ARFID and PFD in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Scoping Review of Behavioral and Feeding Treatments."

Madison Jean Kuharchik, West Pittston, graduated, magna cum laude, as a forensic chemistry major. Kuharchik worked with faculty advisor John C. Deak, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, on a thesis project titled "Using Partial Molar Volume to Determine Differences in Glucose Molecular Properties."

Jenna M. LaBarca, Tuckahoe, New York, graduated, summa cum laude, as a English and criminal justice double major. LaBarca worked with faculty advisor Michael J. Jenkins, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology, on a thesis project titled "Comparison of the American and Italian Legal Systems through the Maxi Trials, Amanda Knox Trial and O.J. Simpson Trial."

Grace V. Lennox, Peckville, graduated, summa cum laude, as a political science and philosophy double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. Lennox worked with faculty advisor Joyanna S. Hopper, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, on a thesis project titled "Local Labor Leadership & Political Approaches in Northeastern Pennsylvania."

Grace L. Lloyd, Yardley, graduated, summa cum laude, as an individualized major and member of the Magis Honors Program in STEM. Lloyd worked with faculty advisor Marc Seid, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis project titled "Computational Modeling of Temperature-Dependent Prion Protein Misfolding."

Allison M. Magee, Harleysville, graduated, summa cum laude, as a mathematical sciences and economics - social sciences double major. Magee was the recipient of the University's four-year, full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. Magee worked with faculty advisor Aram R. Balagyozyan, Ph.D., associate professor of economics, finance and international business, on a thesis project titled "Hot-handed Effect and Gambler's Fallacy in Equity Markets: Evidence from Short-selling Data."

Ian T. Mahalek, Fairfax, Virginia, graduated, summa cum laude, as an environmental science major. Mahalek worked with faculty advisor Christopher Howey, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Biology Department, on a thesis project titled "The Effects of Prescribed Fire on Stream Habitats and Impact on Salamander Biodiversity."

Thomas Edward Marine, Cockeysville, Maryland, graduated, magna cum laude, as a biochemistry major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. Marine worked with faculty advisor Marc Seid, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis project titled "Synthesis of Tetraarylmethanes and Diaryl Ethers."

Dylan P. Matamala, New Rochelle, New York, graduated, cum laude, as a psychology major. Matamala worked with faculty advisor Jason Shrive, J.D., faculty specialist for criminal justice, cybersecurity and sociology, on a thesis project titled "From Amateurism to Professionalism: The Legal Evolution and Future of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in College Athletics."

Kylie K. Matulich, Bellmore, New York, graduated, summa cum laude, as a business administration major. Matulich worked with faculty advisor Rose Sebastianelli, Ph.D., professor of operations and analytics, on a thesis project titled "An Empirical Examination of the Bloomberg Gender Equity Index."

Nathan A. Micknick, Jermyn, graduated, magna cum laude, as a biology major. Micknick worked with faculty advisor Gary Kwiecinski, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis project titled "Androgen and Estrogen Impacts on Bone Development."

Faith E. Montagnino, Morganville, New Jersey, graduated, summa cum laude, as an English major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. Montagnino worked with faculty advisor Billie R. Tadros, Ph.D., associate professor of English and theatre, on a thesis project titled "The Wound as Method: Pain, Language, and Feminist Knowledge in Confessional and Post-Confessional Poetry."

Michael R. Nicotera, Mountain Top, graduated, magna cum laude, as an economics and philosophy double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, the Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program and the Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program. Nicotera worked with faculty advisor Andrew T. LaZella, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, on a thesis project titled "Marx Was a German Philosopher: Misunderstanding and Mischaracteriation of the Labor Theory of Value."

Janvi R. Patel, Scranton, graduated, magna cum laude, as an English major. Patel worked with faculty advisor Robert (Hank) Willenbrink, Ph.D., professor of English and theatre, on a thesis project titled "Autonomy: The Quest."

Kiera K. Ronan, Mamaroneck, New York, graduated as a neuroscience major.

Melissa J. Schweizer, Sparta, New Jersey, graduated, cum laude, as a nursing major.

Therese J. Shimkus, Scranton, graduated, summa cum laude, as a historyand philosophy double major.Shimkus worked with faculty advisor Patrick A. Tully, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Philosophy Department, on a thesis project titled "Natual Law and the Death Penalty."

Samantha R. Sonnie, Philadelphia, graduated, summa cum laude, as a journalism and electronic media major. Sonnie worked with faculty advisor Brian J. Snee, Ph.D., associate professor of communication and media, on a thesis project titled "Conspiracy Theories and The Media: Q'Anon Theory."

John C. Thomas, Danville, graduated, magna cum laude, as a neuroscience and philosophy double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. Thomas worked with faculty advisor Marc Seid, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis project titled "The Effects of CO2 on Memory in Camponotus floridanus."

Ashlyn Urbanski, Pittston, graduated, summa cum laude, as a neuroscience and mathematical sciences double major. Urbanski was the recipient of the University's four-year, full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. Urbanski worked with faculty advisor Joseph J. Klobusicky, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, on a thesis project titled "Two Problems in Computational Geometry."

Jordon B. Wagner, Falls, graduated, magna cum laude, as a biology major. Wagner worked with faculty advisor Marc Seid, Ph.D., professor of biology, on a thesis project titled "Integration of Haltere Feedback with Physical Stimuli in Dipterans."

Jared P. White, Clarks Summit, graduated, summa cum laude, as a political science and philosophy double major. White worked with faculty advisor Joyanna S. Hopper, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, on a thesis project titled "Trust in the Digital Age: Podcasts, Alternative Media, and the Reconfiguration of Institutional legitimacy."