Senior Symposium 2026 Schedule
Senior Symposium
The Senior Symposium is a day-long conference that provides the opportunity for HWS Seniors and Masters students to present their intellectual passions to the HWS community. Students present on concurrent interdisciplinary panels that are moderated by HWS faculty.
Schedule
8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Stern 201
Life Experiences (Moderator: Peter Budman, Director of Student Success and Retention)
Davidson, Lauren; Scherfling, Lydia
Family Dynamics and Life Experience
Assistant Professor of Psychological Science Stephanie Anglin
Jones, Nicholas
Who Is Thomas Sowell?
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Cheryl Forbes
Mester, Colin
Emotional Resiliance as a Moderator for ACEs
Professor of Psychological Science Julie Kingery
8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Stern 203
Revolution and Reaction (Moderator: Kendralin Freeman, Associate Professor of Sociology)
Goldman, Elijah
Trump, the Counterrevolutionary Who Started a Revolution
Professor of Politics Jodi Dean
Malcolm, Alain
Economic, Political, and Social Effects of CIA-Orchestrated Regime Changes in Latin America: 1950 - 2014
Professor of Economics Joyce Jacobsen
Muldowney, Cheyenne
Trump and the Question of Conservatism: New Movement or Old Ideas?
Professor of Politics Jodi Dean
Tissaaratchy, Sandeep
Hindutva in Sri Lanka: An Analysis of the Spread of Hindutva Rhetoric Online and Its Influence on Sri Lankan Tamils
Professor of International Relations Vikash Yadav
8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Stern 303
"I" and "We" (Moderator: Beth Belanger, Professor of American Studies)
Daudi, Aden; Garcia-Castrillon, Nicolas and Levine, Haley
Social Anxiety and Sexual Preferences
Assistant Professor of Psychological Science Stephanie Anglin
Dingman, Madelyn
Facets of Mindfulness Predicting Social Functioning across Genders in a Low-Income Population
Professor of Psychological Science Jamie Bodenlos
Pomerantz, Adam
Forced from Home: Diverging Conceptualizations of Internal Displacement
Professor of International Relations Stacey Philbrick Yadav
8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Stern 304
Histories (Moderator: Kristen Welsh, Dean of Global Education)
Chapman, Cori
"Black Then. Black Now.": Challenging the Traditional Conventions of Art Presentation and Curation
Associate Professor of Art and Architecture Angelique Szymanek
Darius, Linnea
Through the Eyes of Lake Trout: Understanding Diet Histories in Seneca Lake Using Stable Isotope Analysis
Associate Professor of Practice, Biology, Susan Cushman
Miller, Heaven
Donald Trump's Rise as a National Conservative
Professor of Politics Jodi Dean
9:40 - 10:40 a.m., Stern 201
Risk Management (Moderator: Amy Green, Associate Dean)
Apple, Ky
An Intervention for Bisexual AFAB Childhood Abuse Survivors for the Prevention of Revictimization
Professor of Psychological Science Julie Kingery
Brunt, Leia
Exploring Victim Advocacy
Professor of Sociology James Sutton
Cooper, Marah
The Rhetoric of Illiberal Conservatism: Comparing Trump and Poland's Right Wing
Professor of Politics Jodi Dean
McCue, Thomas
Fukushima Backlash: European Security and Denuclearization
Professor of International Relations Stacey Philbrick Yadav
9:40 - 10:40 a.m., Stern 203
Artistic Expression (Moderator: Jonathan Forde, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science)
Brady, Ryan
Crush Hour: Writing a Feature Film
Associate Professor of Media and Society Leah Shafer
Hulburt, Erin
The Myth of the Female Artist: Tintoretta
Associate Professor of Art and Architecture Liliana Leopardi
Pilet, Andrew
Small Areas of Order: The Campus through Fiction
Professor of English and Creative Writing Melanie Conroy-Goldman
Scheirer, Madison
Dance Composition As Research: Choreographic Development through Performance and Revision
Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Michelle Ikle
9:40 - 10:40 a.m., Stern 303
Bodies (Moderator: Chris Annear, Associate Professor of Anthropology)
Crane, Olivia; Sicchitano, Bryn; Sullivan, Jacquelyn
Living on a Disabling Campus
Professor of Sociology James Sutton
Darrow, Kyla
Longitudinal Impacts of a Dance-Based Intervention on Childhood Anxiety and Depression
Professor of Psychological Science Julie Kingery
9:40 - 10:40 a.m., Stern 304
(Un)Healthy Systems (Moderator: Katie Flowers, Executive Director of Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning and Centennial Center for Leadership)
Crandall, Katie; Mencia, Manny
Motivational Cynicism and Epistemic Skepticism: Political Identity and Perception of Public Health
Assistant Professor of Psychological Science Stephanie Anglin
Finnerty, Jessica; Madison, Paige
Don’t Trust Your Gut: Your Microbiome and Disease
Professor of Biology Meghan Brown
Kuhn, Lily
Donald Trump: The Billionare Populist
Professor of Politics Jodi Dean
Nelson, James; Searle, Alexis
No Rest for the Dead: Coral Expansion and the Disappearance of Zombie Worms
Professor of Biology Meghan Brown
10:50 - 11:50 a.m., Stern 201
Complex Systems (Moderator: Chris Kerber, Head Coach, Hobart Rowing)
Hong, Randy
Messaging Passing Constraints Shape Mammalian Brain Network Structure
Professor of Psychological Science Daniel Graham
Krueger, Madelyn
Mathematically Modeling Petty Corruption
Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Jonathan Forde
Larkin, Genevieve
Effects of Molecular Crowding on Human Malate Dehydrogenase
Professor of Chemistry Kristin Slade
Roll, Elena
Evaluation of Bilingual Differences in Inhibitory Control and Predictors of Emergent Literacy: A Project Proposal
Professor of Psychological Science Julie Kingery
10:50 - 11:50 a.m., Stern 203
This is America (Moderator: Kelvin Clark, Assistant Dean)
Fasig, Tristan
What Kind of Conservative Is Donald Trump?
Professor of Politics Jodi Dean
Gallagher, Fiona
The Status of Citizenship
Associate Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Benjamin Ristow
Perun, Tulsi
Palestine Is Our Compass: Understanding the United States as Empire and Settler Colony
Professor of American Studies Beth Belanger
10:50 - 11:50 a.m., Stern 303
Policy Making (Moderator: Gabriella D'Angelo, Associate Professor of Art and Architecture)
Brooks, Rachel
Divided Islands, Divided Polities: An Investigation of Environmental Policies across Hispaniola and Borneo
Professor of International Relations Stacey Philbrick Yadav
Deshon, Isabella
Defending Christianity or Defending Virtue? Catholic Responses to Donald Trump
Professor of Politics Jodi Dean
Galvan, Hailey; Utz, Linden
Hobart or William Smith?
Professor of Sociology James Sutton
Tober, Aaron
How Do Longer Recess Periods and Physical Activity Affect 4th and 5th Graders' Academic Performance?
Professor of Psychological Science Julie Kingery
10:50 - 11:50 A.m., Stern 304
Which Attributes? (Moderator: Nick Metz, Professor of Geoscience, Associate Provost)
Citarella, Tait; Lonergan, Bode; May, Holden
Senior HWS Students' Confidence in Their Post-Graduation Plans
Professor of Sociology James Sutton
McCarthy, Jaylynn
Scales of Invasion: Mapping Nile Monitor Spread in Florida
Professor of Environmental Studies Kristen Brubaker
Satheeskumar, William
Gene Editing Mosquitoes: A Mode of Eradication and Management
Professor of Biology Meghan Brown
1:10 - 2:10 p.m., Stern 201
Finding Solutions (Moderator: Mark Gearan, President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges)
Carolan, Owen
From Gene Expression to Reproductive Biology: The Case for D. Melanogaster as a Model Organism for Public Funding
Professor of Biology Kristy Kenyon
Malhotra, Tarang
Experiencing COP30: Climate Negotiations, Equity, and Emerging Energy Solutions
Professor of Business Management and Entrepreneurship Thomas Drennen
McCarthy, Jaylynn
From Pets to Pest: How Lizards Are Adapting to Life in Florida
Professor of Biology Meghan Brown
Trakhachov, Tim
The Chornobyl Project
Associate Professor of Art and Architecture Gabriella D'Angelo
1:10 - 2:10 p.m., Stern 203
Self and Society (Moderator: Audrey Roberson, Associate Professor of Educational Studies)
Abadi, Lilay
Treating Suicide Ideation Early: Prevention Program Implementation
Professor of Psychological Science Julie Kingery
Doufekias Emanuel, Lea
Feminism through Movement: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Generations Following the Greek Diaspora
Professor of American Studies Beth Belanger
Hanuscin, Alyssa; Joy, Maya
Personality Differences in Risk-Taking Behaviors
Assistant Professor of Psychological Science Stephanie Anglin
1:10 - 2:10 p.m., Stern 303
Impacts (Moderator: Shanelle France, Director of Intercultual Programs and Initiatives)
Johnson, Edie
Examining American Studies through Knowledge Production
Professor of American Studies Beth Belanger
McDonough, Laura; Moore, Maxine; Polga, Piper
The Social Production of Belonging: Intersectional Narratives from Students of Color
Professor of Sociology James Sutton
Peeler, Alexander
Radiation and Resilience: Ecological Responses to Radiation Exposure
Professor of Biology Meghan Brown
Teixeira, Julia
The Multifaceted Effects of "ACEs" through the Lens of Poverty, Sexual Orientation, and Gender
Professor of Psychological Science Julie Kingery
1:10 - 2:10 p.m., Stern 304
Potent Power (Moderator: Rob Carson, Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing)
Al Rousan, Wedad
Board Gender Composition and Corporate Performance: Evidence from Key Committees
Professor of Economics Joyce Jacobsen
Holland, Breanna
Back-seat Driving in the Roman Empire
Associate Professor of Greek and Roman Studies James Capreedy
Hong, Randy
sEMG-Based Motor Control of Neural Prosthetics
Associate Professor of Physics Ileana Dumitriu
Howe, Kelly
"Nothing About Us Without Us": Knowledge and Power in Sport Development and Peace
Professor of International Relations Stacey Philbrick Yadav
2:20 - 3:20 p.m., Stern 201
Collective Impact (Moderator: Sarah Kirk, Provost and Dean of Faculty)
Galvan, Hailey
Inspiring Institutional Collective Action: Pathways to Intentional Engagement on College Campuses
Professor of Sociology James Sutton
Hark, Abby
Play by Design: From Copenhagen back to Geneva
Associate Professor of Art and Architecture Gabriella D'Angelo
Proctor, Brielle
Screen Time Effects and a Parent-Led Reduction Intervention in Neurotypical and Neurodivergent Children
Professor of Psychological Science Julie Kingery
2:20 - 3:20 p.m., Stern 303
Skill(s) Pathways (Moderator: Chrissy Jacobs, Associate Director of Disability Services, Center for Teaching and Learning)
Cole, Abigail
Curious Minds: Reclaiming Science in Elementary Education
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Diana Baker
Girolamo, Isabelle
Anxiety and Motivation in the Foreign Language Classroom
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Diana Baker
Snook, Grace
Let's Talk Politics: Facilitating Political Discussion in the Secondary English Classroom
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Diana Baker
Weppler, Lauren
Clicking in or Checking out? Technology and Engagement in Elementary Special Education
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Diana Baker
2:20 - 3:20 p.m., Stern 304
Configurations (Moderator: Joyce Jacobsen, Professor of Economics)
Abnoos, Derrick; Lutz, Niko
Navigating Nightlife: Understanding POC and LGBTQ Students' Experiences at HWS
Professor of Sociology James Sutton
Chace, Eliza
Island Life: Kodiak Brown Bear Evolution
Professor of Biology Meghan Brown
McCabe, Riley
Writing a New Reality
Associate Director of Faculty Enrichment, Center for Teaching and Learning, Susan Hess
Victor, Juliana
The Biopolitical Technology of Sex: Reimagining Desire in Dystopian Literature
Associate Director of Faculty Enrichment, Center for Teaching and Learning, Susan Hess
3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Stern 201
Outspread (Moderator: Chuck Vesei, Library Director and Librian of the Colleges)
Amado, Cam
All Roads Lead
Associate Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Benjamin Ristow
Morrell, Lily
Green Crabs Are Spreading across the American Coast. Are They Unwelcomed Guests or the Key to Coastal Conservation?
Professor of Biology Meghan Brown
Selover, Ian
Swine Country: Potential Spread of Feral Hogs to the Northern United States
Professor of Biology Meghan Brown
3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Stern 203
Images (Moderator: Whitney, Mauer, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies)
Brunner, Elinor
Hyperreal Love: Performing and Denying Queerness in the Thai Television Industry
Visiting Assistant Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectional Justice Joshua Bastian Cole-Kurz
Peters, Talya
(De)Constructing Absence: Photography and the Myth of the "Vanishing Indian"
Clarence A. Davis '48 Visual Arts Curator Meghan Jordan
von Krusenstiern, Magnus
Media Framing of Waste: A Qualitative Content Analysis on Media Portrayals of Finger Lakes Landfills
Associate Professor of Practice, Biology, Susan Cushman
Wilson, Paige
Name, Image, and Likeness in the D3 Atmosphere
Associate Professor of Media and Society Becky Burditt
3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Stern 303
Student-Centered (Moderator: Andie Huskie, Director of Teacher Education Program and Secondary Education)
Barr, Rebecca
Think, Connect, Grow: The "Real World" in Fifth Grade
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Diana Baker
He, Sabrina
I Knew It! Culturally Relevant Literacy and Critical Thinking
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Diana Baker
Pero, Ryan
Rethinking the Math Classroom: A Student-Centered Inquiry Approach to Secondary Mathematics
Associate Professor of Educational Studies Diana Baker
3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Stern 304
Division and Disruption (Moderator: Sarah Whitten, Assistant Professor of History)
Brunt, Leia; Mandyck, McKenzie; Urban, Seneca
What Unites Us and Divides Us: Compulsory Experiences at HWS
Professor of Sociology James Sutton
Finnerty, Jessica
From "The Pill" to the Pond: The Ecological Impacts of the Endocrine Disruptor 17a-Ethnynlestradiol on Aquatic Animals
Associate Professor of Practice, Biology, Susan Cushman
Kutchukian, Bradley
Two Cypruses, One Island: Navigating the Multi-dimensional Realities of External Forces on Shared Land
Professor of International Relations Stacey Philbrick Yadav