“Honors Passports Initiative: Encouraging Participation”

Christopher Berdnik, Community College of Allegheny County

“Empowering Student Voices: The Impact of Student-Administrator Collaboration on Honors Program Initiatives”

Caitlin Grant, Post University

“Community Engagement High Impact Practices: Exchanging Ideas for Creating Positive Social Change”

Gerardina Martin, West Chester University

“Servant Leadership in Honors: Experiments and Experiences”

Micaela Peterson and Cassandra Siple, Community College of Allegheny County

Academic Panel Presentations

Penn Harris A

The Environment, Housing Infrastructure, and Sports

Moderator: Elizabeth Kravanya, Cleveland State University 

“Dyeing for Change: Exploring the Environmental Impact of Textile Dyes and Sustainable Solutions”

Isaiah Ahmeen, Thomas Jefferson University

“From Local to Global: The Crossroads of Globalization and Sports”

Ivan Breton, Monroe University

“The Impact of Housing Infrastructure on Relief Policy: Evidence from Mobile Homes in Florida (2017-2022)”

Remmy Goyette, Chatham University

“A River at Risk: Saving the Susquehanna”

Grace Shartle, Loyola University Maryland

​

Penn Harris B

Rethinking Educational Frameworks: Global Perspectives, Equity, and Innovation

Moderator: Natalia Peña, Post University 

​

“The International Apple Core: A Deeper Dive in the Educational Perspectives and Practices of the United States of America and Sierra Leone”
Justice Simpson, Stevenson University

​

​“Place and Space-Based Learning: Actualization of Place for the Global Learner”
K.C. Thoman, West Chester University

​

“Achievement Bias in Gifted Education: A Foundation for Disparity”
Jessica Cavalier, Cuyahoga Community College

“Stepping Beyond Borders: Science Education in the Heart of the Amazon”

Grace Fontoura, Fairleigh Dickinson University

​

Harrisburger A

Race, Activism, and Political Leadership

Moderator: Jawad Zaman, St. Joseph's University 

“Invisible Boundaries: Redlining, Racism, and the Spatial Legacy of Segregation”

Trevor Adams, Thomas Jefferson University

“Madame Stephanie St. Clair Demonstrates Activism in Unconventional Ways”

Sarah Brandle, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

“The Echo of Progress: Confronting Gender and Racial Disparities in Employment Law for Black Women”

Gabrielle Williams, Stevenson University

Harrisburger B

LGBTQIA2S+ Community Resilience

Moderator, Ashleigh Fox, Community College of Allegheny County

“Brunches, Bingos, and Beatniks: Drag Performers as Creators of Resistance Since 2009”

Connor Dapp, West Chester University

“Gender in the Roman Empire: Norms, Perceptions, and Exceptionalities of a Binary System”

Lillian Norbeck, Towson University

“Let's Get Physical: How We Can Redefine Queer Sexuality through BDSM”

August Stephens, Point Park University​
 

​

Leland

Use of Technology to Optimize Efficiency in Real-World Applications

Moderator: Yuvaraj Vagula, Cleveland State University 

“Exploring Triaxial Electrospinning as a Sustainable Encapsulation Method for Phase Change Materials”

Gabriella Begley, Rowan University

“Improvement in kNN Algorithm to Decrease False-negatives in Imbalanced Datasets”

Vaishnavi Dixit, Adelphi University

“The Life of Evidence: The Impact of DNA Technologies on Historical Investigations”

Alison M. Edwards, Cedar Crest College

​

Brady

The Crossroads of Communication: Movies, Social Media, and Marketing

Moderator: Matt Baran, SUNY Buffalo State University 

“How Do You Make Long Movies Palatable For A Modern Audience”

Jack Anderson, University of Hartford

“Hedgehogs, Heroes, Hashtags and Harassment:  Blurring Lines Between Producers and Consumers in the Social Media Age”

Chris Morrison, Stevenson University

“Storytelling in Marketing”

Adrienne Brewster, Sacred Heart University

"Mind the Synaptic Gap: Bridging the Divide Between Truth and Misinformation"

Emily Gunnip and Isabella Schaefer, Molloy University

​​

Lochiel

Crossroads I: Identity and Culture

Moderator: Halle Elder, Cleveland State University 

“The Increased Risk of Suicide for Transnational Adoptees: An Intersectional Study of Cultural Identities, Race, and Ethnicity”

Elisabeth Small, Monroe Community College

“History, Origin, and Traditions of the Knanaya Jacobites”

Annu Shajimon, University of Saint Joseph

“Mediating Mestizo Definitions Through Indigenous Folk Music”

Amira Merino, Mercer County Community College

​
 

William Penn

Advances in Experimental Psychology

Moderator: Jennifer Willford, Slippery Rock University 

“Earth and Ice: Testing the Calming Capacity of Earthing After an Acute Stressor”

Jamie Czikowsky, Westfield State University

​

“Kick Social Media Out, Bring Sudoku In: Take Back Control Over Your Attention”

Mauricio Rodriguez, Jeanette Altarriba, and Dailyn Clark, SUNY Albany

“Bilingual Speakers at the Crossroads”

Mgim Gousse, Adelphi University

​

​

United States

Education: Challenges and Trends​

Moderator: Gwen Kay, SUNY Oswego 

​

“The Teaching of Government & Nonprofit Accounting at Higher Education Institutions in the Northeastern United States and Its Impact on the Profession”
Daniel Currier, Westfield State University

​

“Meeting the Needs of Diverse Students Through Equity: A Comprehensive Inquiry”
Ian Beck, Camden County College

“Diversity in Discovery: Inclusion of Women in Science Classrooms”

Grace Romanowski, Fairleigh Dickinson University 

Roundtable Presentations

***All roundtable presentations are in the Pennsylvania Ballroom***

Moderator: Sean Oros, Thiel College

​

​

Discussions About Performing Arts and Film

“Telling The Horrific Story Of Sibling Sexual Abuse Through Performing Arts”

Michelle Trieu, Westfield State University

“Transcending Stages: The Evolution of Les Misérables from Stage to Screen”

Ethan Young, Fairleigh Dickinson University

​

Talking About Best Practices in Honors Education

“Engaging Through Action: Student Perspectives on Community Matters”

Jeff Strickland, Sara Flores, Islei Amparo, Lily Kearney, and Simone White, Montclair State University

“Promoting Civic Engagement”

David Valica, Crystal A. Genthe, and Ryan Villegas,  New Jersey City University

“Beyond Borders: The Transformative Power of Studying Abroad”

Alexis Brown, Thiel College

“Elizabethtown College’s Quasquicentennial (1899-2024), Place as Text, and an ArcGIS Story Map Civically Engaging a College at the Crossroads”

Ava Barton and Shawn R. Gipe, Elizabethtown College

“Engaging in Scholarship: Thiel College's Undergraduate Research Journal”

Makenna Oswalt and Kaitynn Wolffe, Thiel College

“An Honors Crossroads Conversation: To Engage or not to Engage?”

Margaret Patterson, Salisbury University

Academic Panel Presentations

​

Penn Harris A
Creative Representations in Literature, Cinema, and The Arts

Moderator: Cloe Loosz, Point Park University 

​

“Women In Horror: Exploring How Femininity is Portrayed in the Horror Genre”
Marianna Mancuso, Northampton Community College

​

“Berakin: A Light Novel and Its Creation”
Kahlisha Martin, Kutztown University

​​

“Censorship in Cinema: How the Codes Were Built and Broken”
Ryan Mitchell, Fairleigh Dickinson University

​

“Behind the Curtain: The Dance of Theatre and Censorship”
 Luke Hampshire, Jameson White, Katharine Yeargin, Angelo Domingo, Ruri Kodama, Emma McGinn, Molloy University

​

​

Penn Harris B
Economics, Insurance, and Aviation

Niall Hegarty, St. John's University 

​

“Measuring the Cost of Economic Privacy”

John Gaynor, St. John's University

“Cyber Insurance Pricing Dynamics: Economic Modeling Post High-Profile Attacks”
Samit Alam, St. John's University

“Challenges the Commercial Airlines are Facing Today”
Yin Lok Ng, Southern New Hampshire University​

​

Harrisburger A
The Power of Progress: Nanotechnology, AI, and Bridging the Digital Divide

Moderator: Lorraine Affigne, SUNY Albany 

​

“The Current and Future State of Nanotechnology: The Huge Impact of Making Things Small”
AJ Rondinelli, Community College of Allegheny County

“At the Crossroads of Innovation: Bridging the Digital Divide for a Connected Future”
Caileigh Grimberg, Loyola University Maryland

“Benchmarking Neural Machine Translation Using Open-Source Transformer Models and a Comparative Study with a Focus on Medical and Legal Domains”
Jawad Zaman, St. Joseph's University 

Harrisburger B
Local Histories

Nancy Raftery, Camden County College

​

“The Scourge of Small Town Fascism”
Dyland Bariexca, Fairleigh Dickinson University

“‘We’ve Come to Stay:’ The Historic Preservation Movement and the Struggle for Place in New England”
Carlos Cueva Caro, Salem State University

​

“Pennsylvania Historic District Act of 1961: Civic Engagement at the Crossroads: Honors Theses About Civically Engaged Scholarship and City as Text™ in the National Historic District of Marietta, PA”
Hudson Peck and Jordyn E. Dutko, Elizabethtown College

​

Leland

The Interdisciplinarity of Politics: Social Media, Politics, and Culture

Moderator: Chris Brittain, Ocean County College 

​

​“The Crossroads Between Social Media and Civic Engagement—Benefits and Consequences”
Felicity Stuart, Monroe University

​​

“Keeping History Transparent: Lessons from Truth Commissions in Brazil and Nicaragua”

Leo Bignault, Westchester University

“Innovating South-Centric Cooperation: The Role of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa New Development Bank in Institutionalizing Sustainable Development”

Egbe Etta-Ashu, New Jersey City University

“Crimes of the American Empire on the Island and People of Puerto Rico”

Xzavier Pacheco, Northampton Community College

Brady

Equitable Language: Translations, Representations, and Education

Moderator: Patrick Fazioli, Mercy University ​​

“Jane Austen Abroad: From Regency England to the World”
Cynthia Honeycutt, Thiel College

“The Importance of Accurate Representation of Queer Experiences in Film and Media”
Tracy Gladding, Gallaudet University

​

“His Name is Sam Nordquist: The Mortifying Language of Naming, Condemning, and Remaining in 'We the Mulvaneys?' and the United States, 2025”
Dirk Wynn, Chatham University

Lochiel

Smarter Healthcare Through AI

Susan Dinan, Adelphi University 

​

“Machine Learning-Enhanced Estimation of Proton Stopping Power in Dual-Energy Computed Tomography for Pediatric Cancer Therapy”
Roya W. Parsa, Adelphi University

“Augmented Reality-Assisted Surgery: Medical Integration and Impact”
Carmine Picone, Northampton Community College

“Implications of a Medical Smart Home on Promoting Independence and Improving Care Management for an Older Adult with an Above-the-Knee Amputation and Brittle Diabetes”
Dalia Savy, Adelphi University

“Ketogenic Motor Rehabilitation of TBI Patients”
Hayden W. Tucker, Thiel College

William Penn

Health Care Equity and Access

Moderator: Ian Beck, Camden County College

“Healthcare at a Crossroads: Breaking Down Communication Barriers for Equity”
Andrew Crawford, Gallaudet University

“The Crossroads of Maternal and Infant Health: Examining Policy Gaps in the United States Healthcare”
Meral Demiroska, University of Saint Joseph

“Assessing the Correlation Between Spatial Access to Primary Care Physicians and Health Outcomes Using the 3SFCA Method: A Maryland Case Study”
Nathaniel D. Heaton, Frederick Community College

“Biases in the United States Healthcare System and How They Contribute to Increased Rates of Infant and Maternal Mortality”
Rachel L. O'Day, Khushi Saini, and Alexa A. Celso, Molloy University

United States

Advances in Mental Health

Edward Howell, Rowan University 

“Can Dogs Help Students Relieve Stress?”
Jeff Palma, Sacred Heart University

​​

“The Crossroads of a Man: How Hegemonic Masculinity Presents a Violent and Prevalent Message in America’s School Age Boys”
Jacob Griffin, Salisbury University

​

“The Crossroads Between Mental Health and Gender in Millennials and Gen Z”
Brianna Ramos, Monroe University

“Alternative Methods for Treating Major Depression Disorder”
Max Fitch, Salem State University

​

Roundtable Presentations

***All roundtable presentations are in the Pennsylvania Ballroom***

​

Moderator: AnnMarie DelliPizzi, Dominican University New York

Law Enforcement Conversations

​

“Reforming the Blue”
Jensi Javier Cabrera, Fairleigh Dickinson University    

​

“Policing The Mind: Mental Health Intervention Through Law Enforcement”
Mekhi Bowen, Westfield State University    

​​

​

Crossroads Between Literature and Technology 

​

“More Than a Story: Analyzing the Moral Imagination in Timeless Children’s Literature and Creating an Original Children’s Story”
Ava Kavulla, Thiel College    

​

“The Human Touch: Examining the Human Ability to Differentiate Between Human-Generated Poetry and Artificial-Intelligence-Generated Poetry”
Hannah Stoughton, Thiel College

​​

​

Discussions Surrounding Significant Social Issues 

​

“Building Bridges: Habitat for Humanity's Impact on Civic Engagement”
Megan Lombardt, Post University    

​

“Change In Homelessness”
Jalanii Newman, Fairleigh Dickinson University    

​

“A Public Health Perspective on Domestic Violence: Strengthening Communities through Civic Engagement”
Tammy West, Monroe University​
 

Please join us for a sit-down luncheon to celebrate this year's conference and the students and faculty who contributed to its success.

(1) “CRISPR/Cas9 Knockout of TirB: Discovering New Pathways in Innate Immune Signaling”

Theresa Abalum, Towson University

​

(2) “The Importance of ASL Literature and Literature Translations for Equity in Literacy”

Kailee Bates, Gallaudet University

​

(3) "Mustard Green Growth Yield in Relation to Sulfur and Acidity"

Anjani Sharma Bhaskar Sharma and Sophia Fonseca, Bergen Community College
 

(4) “Cultivating Community Leaders: Practical Strategies for Student Engagement in the Writing Classroom”

Courtney Bridges, West Chester University

(5) 5"Immunotherapies in Cancer: Revolutionizing and Advancing Cancer Immunotherapies at the Crossroads”

Elizabeth Buppert, Salisbury University

​

(6) "Strengthening Stress Coping Skills: Outcomes of an Honors College Wellness Retreat"

Alexandra Caldwell, Slippery Rock University

(7) “A Crossroads of Healthcare: United Kingdom Physician Associates”

Braedon Campbell, Commonwealth University - Lock Haven

​

​​(8) “Do Low HDI States Foster Environments Conducive to Radicalization?”

Leah Collidge, Towson University

​

(9) “At the Crossroads of Care and Change: Navigating the Lasting Impact of Chemotherapy on Motor Function in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Survivors”

Adrianna Denio, Russell Sage College

(10) “Unveiling Lingering Inequity: Addressing Healthcare Disparities Within U.S. Indigenous Communities”

Lily Dufresne, Westfield State University

(11) “Creating Community Through Murals”

Emily Eisenhard, Northampton Community College

(12) “Development of a Scale Measuring Trust Among Teammates in Competitive Situations”

Friedrich Feldrappe, University of Saint Joseph 

(13) “Assessing Awareness Regarding Mental Health Resources Among College Students in Hartford and West Hartford, CT”

Liangie Garcia, University of Saint Joseph

​

(14) "Comparison of Agricultural Systems within Community Gardens"

Derek Gonzalez, Hanieh Kachooee, and Hosna Kachooee, Bergen Community College
 

(15) “Burnout among Clinical Pharmacists: The Crossroads of Work Culture and Personal Health”

Sloane Gould, Salisbury University

​

(16) “Cloning, Overexpression, and Functional Analysis of a Karenia brevis Caspase 3-like Gene in E. coli using an Alternate Start Codon”

Antonio Guarino, William Paterson University

​

(17) “Ship ANCHORED: A Case Study on Teaching with Augmented Communication Devices”

Casey Harper, Shippensburg University

(18) “Disordered Eating and Intentional Insulin Restriction Among Individuals with Type 1 diabetes: Examining Diabetes Distress, Weight Esteem, and Perception of BMI as Health as Risk Factors”

Jayden Hartlaub and Erin Hill, West Chester University

​

(19) “Higher Education’s Paywall: The Impact of Privatized Academic Resources on Students”

Alexis Hayes, Community College of Allegheny County

(20) “Health Inequity and Mental Trauma Among Palestinians: Addressing Disparities Amid Conflict”

Duaa Imran, Mercy University

(21) “Medicated or Affiliated: How Does Cannabis Affect College Students?”

Laniya Jones, Community College of Allegheny County

(22) “Health and Healing at the Crossroads: Building Stronger Communities through Civic Engagement”

Chashman Khan, Mercy University

(23) “The Road to Medicine: Peer Mentorship at West Chester University”

Allison Koehle, West Chester University

​

(24) “Kicking with Probability: Using Match Data to Analyze Shooting Probability from Pass Sequences Among Team Tactical Formations in Men’s Professional Soccer”

Aaron Kolaric, Shippensburg University

(25) “Will it Cleave? How Lipopolysaccharide Structures Affect Complement Activation and Contribute to Sepsis Deaths”

Rachel Kramer, Towson University

(26) “Understanding Dreams Through the Convergence of Psychological Theories”

Carina LaRocca, Fairleigh Dickinson University

​

(27) “International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Assessments of Photosynthetic Sacoglossan Sea Slug Species”

Allison Lentz, Kutztown University

(28) “Cut & Paste: Subversive Collage of the 20th Century”

Amber Lyons, Westfield State University

​

(29) “Implementing A2L Refrigerants: The Newest Crossroad of the HVAC Industry”

Owen Mathieu, Westfield State University

(30) “Bounded Suboptimal Beam Search”

Paige McAfee, Devin Thomas, and Wheeler Ruml, University of New Hampshire

(31) “Detecting AI-Generated Content in Student Work: Preserving Academic Integrity in the Age of Generative AI”

Lindsey McGovern, Salem State University

(32) “Is Love Addiction Associated with Personality Disorders and Trauma?”

Aani Mehta, Adelphi University

(33) “Investigating Potential Transcriptional Regulators of Cilia Assembly and Function in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii”

Morelia Morel Diaz and Melanie Zimmermann, Salem State University

(34) “Rural Radicalism: The Role of the Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus in the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights”

Bryanna Nase, Millersville University

(35) “An Analytical Study of the Challenges Faced by Underprivileged Communities in New Jersey: Insights from Online Content”

Tina Nosrati, Ramapo College of New Jersey

​

(36) "3-D Printed Open-Sourced Anthropomorphic Robotic Arm"

Alejandro Olarte, Bergen Community College

​

(37) “Predicting Air Quality and Public Health Impacts: A Machine Learning Approach to Understanding Pollution and Meteorological Factors in New Jersey”

Paula Perez Portero, Bloomfield College of Montclair State University

(38) “Hands Across the Community: Participatory Budgeting”

Sarai Plaza, Mercy University

(39) “Connecting Beyond Borders: Strengthening Global Partnerships and Cultural Exchange”

Karen Pujols, Thomas Jefferson University

​

(40) “Can I Step Over It? The Role of Eye Height in Predicting Stepping Ability”

Numa Quraishi, Ramapo College of New Jersey

​

(41) "DT-10: The 10 Meter Drop Tower"

Jordan Rodriguez, Bergen Community College
 

(42) “Casinos of Indigenous Tribes and Their History”

Sophia Rebenciuc, Westfield State University

(43) “Insurance Coverage: The Impact on Life Saving Care”

Hillary Sackett-Taylor and Autumn R. Frailey, Westfield State University

(44) “Data Literacy in Generation Z: Understanding of Data Privacy and Security Based on Access to Technology”

Murana Sheriff, Monroe University

(45) “Crossroads for Native American Nations' Sovereignty”

Lia Steskla, Westfield State University

(46) “A Case Study of a Student-Tutor Pair’s Metacognitive Regulation in General Chemistry for a Tutoring Program Designed for Neurodivergent Students”

Derek Stuart, Thomas Jefferson University

(47) “Missing Children and Unsolved Cases: The Crossroads of Despair and Hope”

Abigail Tiburcio, Westfield State University

​

(48) “A Childhood Virus Implicates Autoimmune Disease – The Influence of Epstein-Barr Virus on the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis: A Literature Review “

Cookie Wahba, Ramapo College of New Jersey

​

(49) “The Culture of Mental Health on College Campuses: The Impact of Technology on Student Wellness”

Shuwanna Williams, Monroe University

(50) “Investigating Potential Transcriptional Regulators of Cilia function in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii”

Melanie Zimmermann, Salem State University

​

(86) “Low-Intensity Fires Impacting Soil Bacterial Population Diversity”

Wallace Tonks, Russell Sage College

Academic Panel Presentations

​​​​​Penn Harris A

Money Matters: Diverse Perspectives on Wealth and Financial Policy

Moderator: Tracey Freiberg, St. John's University 

​

“The Case for Common Cents”

Alexandra Cicala, St. John's University

“Discussing the Merits of the United States Returning to the Gold Standard”

Jack Ippolito, St. John's University

“Equally Accounted: Civic Engagement Through Inclusive Financial Empowerment”

Kylar Maldonado, University of Hartford

​

"BDCs vs Decentralized Currencies: Implications for 21st Century Financial Challenges"

Andrew Sobhy, Cleveland State University

​​

​

Penn Harris B

Political Discourse on Human Rights

Lamyaa Hassib, Hudson Valley Community College 

“Constitutionality of Preventive Detention”

Khyarah Manice, University of Hartford

“The Silent Genocide: Making a Change for the Uyghur People”

Elizabeth Kim, Fairleigh Dickinson University

“Civic Development in Global Deaf Communities”

Julia Bronneberg, Gallaudet University

Harrisburger A

Humanity, Nature, Technology, and Sustainability at the Crossroads

Moderator: Zachary Aidala, Bloomfield College of Montclair State University

​

“Perspectives of Power and Privilege in Rebecca Harding Davis' ‘Life in the Iron MIlls’”

Charlie Dorlon, Chatham University

“The Specter of our Humanity in John Hollander's ‘Swan and Shadow’”

Raewyn Kraybill, Chatham University

“The John Henry Story: An American Portrait of the Working Class”

Vince Smykal, Point Park University

​

“At a Crossroad: Ecological Sustainability on Frederick Community College’s Campus”

Calvin Mandes, Frederick Community College

Harrisburger B

Mechanistic Approaches to Addressing Biomedical and Ecological Problems

Moderator: Rivka Glaser, Stevenson University 

​

“IBC Challenges Conventional Wisdom Employing Passive Metastasis”

Chimnecherem C. Obiadazie and Manpreet Sikka, Rowan University

“The NLRP3 Enigma: Deciphering the Molecular Mechanisms of Systemic Inflammation”

Diya Telwala, Adelphi University

“Understanding the Impact of 3D Printing on the Growth of Biofilms on Additively

Manufactured 316L SS”

Ashley M. Igbokwe, New Jersey City University and Gary Halada, Stony Brook University

​

“Microfibers: From the Loom to a Looming Threat to Estuarine Health, the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea Virginica, and Public Health”

Tyler Mendela, University of Hartford

​​

​

Leland

Civic Engagement and Advocacy on the College Campus

Moderator: Andrew Martino, Salisbury University 

​

“Navigating the Crossroads: Trauma Informed Practices for Community College Transition”

David Homans, Frederick Community College

“Strengthening Civic Participation and Support for International Students at Farmingdale State College”

Aika Suizu, Farmingdale State College

“Breaking Barriers: How Conversations Amongst College Students Challenge Power Structures and Advance Abortion Access”

Isabella White, Chatham University

“The Adjustment of International Students in Rural US Colleges”

Simi Kishore, Hartwick College

​

Brady

Looking Toward the Future of Antimicrobial Therapy

Moderator: K. Joy Karnas, Cedar Crest College

“OmpA Promoter Drives RFP Expression at Different Levels Dependent on Temperature in EcN and K12 E. coli”

Alisya Kaur and Alex MacDonald, Mercer County Community College

“Enhancing Gene Expression to Optimize the Efficacy of Escherichia Coli for Probiotic Applications”

Mirian M. Lopez, Mercer County Community College

“Novel Antibiotics: Impact and Discovery”

Abby N. Work, Westfield State University

​

Lochiel

Crossroads II: Criminal Justice and Civic Engagement

Moderator: George Branch-Trevathan, Thiel College 

​

“Exploring Civic Engagement: The Impact of Criminal History, Optimism, and Financial Challenges”

Brooke Griffith, Thiel College

“The Criminal Justice System and Neurodiverse Youth: Addressing Gaps and Envisioning Reform”

Anne Marceus, Monroe University

“The Decline in Support for the Death Penalty: Why Is It Occuring, and How Do Young Adults Affect Capital Punishment’s Future?”

Jacob Walsh, Thiel College

​​

Roundtable Presentations

***All roundtable presentations are in the Pennsylvania Ballroom***

​

Moderator: Caitlin Grant, Post University 

​Interdisciplinarity in Business and Economics

​

“A Crossroads for Climate Change: Is the Doughnut Model the Solution for the Future”

Fiorella Merriman-Mendez, Fairleigh Dickinson University

“Leveraging Personal Finance Principles for Entrepreneurial Success”

Xavier Rubelmann, Post University

“Earn While You Learn: Building the Future of Teaching”

Ryan Caley and Izabella Tavarez , New Jersey City University

​​

​

Conversations About Self Discovery and Identity

​

“From Grief to Acceptance: Disabled Young Adults & the Transformation of Self”

Marshall Anderson, Community College of Allegheny County

“Family Structure's Influence on Perspectives of Future Relationships”

Ashley Pearson, Monroe University

“The Overlap of Clinical Symptoms in Children and Adolescents with Co-Occurring Gender Dysphoria and Autism Spectrum Disorder”

Aaron Smart, Westfield State University

“The Effect of Parental Behaviors on Emerging Adults”

Carolena Vicale, Adelphi University

​​​

​

Exchanges on Civic Engagement, Political Discourse, and Solving Social Issues

​

“The Politics of Historic Preservation in Lancaster County: The Crossroads of Experiential Learning, Discursive Teaching, Recursive Writing, and Producing Scholarship Contributing to Civic Engagement”

Ava Barton, David Bray, Jordyn Dutko, Natalie M. Frohnhoefer, Shawn Gipe and Hudson Peck, Elizabethtown College

“How Civil Protests Influence Freedom of Speech”

Ellie Mafera, Post University

“Civic Engagement at the Crossroads: Exploring Communication Strategies in Conflict Resolution”

Kelvin Mizhquiri Aucay, Post University

​

“Youth for the Leaders of Today, Not Tomorrow: A Youth-Driven Advocacy Approach to Substance Abuse”

Rithika Padyala, Thomas Jefferson University

Academic Panel Presentations

Penn Harris A

Health, Hunger, and Education: Addressing Social and Historical Disparities

Moderator: Sarah Roe, Southern Connecticut State University 

“Bridging the Gap: How Civic Engagement Drives Health Equity and Reduces Health Disparities”

Ashley Beltran and Bianca De la Cruz, Mercy University

“The Hunger Crisis in America: Ways We Can Improve It For Others”

Emily Carlson, University of New Hampshire

“Navigating the Crossroads: Mitigating the Impact of Socioeconomic Status on College Retention and Graduation”

Noor Hussain, Cedar Crest College

“Inherited Lessons: The Colonial Footprint in Education”

Ayla Corcoran, Westfield State University 

​
​

Penn Harris B

Women in History and Culture

Moderator: Tanya Radford, Dominican University New York 

“Mary Todd Lincoln—A Life and Legacy”

Olivia Collumb, Northampton Community College

“Demonization of Divination: Tarot in Culture vs Media”

Finch Kluegel, Fairleigh Dickinson University

“At the Crossroads: The Importance of Women in Sports Through Sports Illustrated Covers”

Maya Agosti, SUNY Oswego

 

Harrisburger A

Civil Disobedience and Literary Activism

Moderator: Jessica McCort, Point Part University 

​

“'Such a Kernel Within Myself: Audre Lorde as Foundational Text to Understand the Erotic Woman in Literature'”

AJ de la Cruz, Point Park University

“Civil Disobedience in the Classroom: The Literary Effect of Thoreau”

Layla King, West Chester University

“Within the Woman Writer: Discussing Dialogism, Adrienne Rich, and the Debate of Deconstructionist Prose”

Cloe Loosz, Point Park University

“At the Crossroads of Tradition and Transformation: Examining Gender Ideals from Frankenstein and Jane Eyre in Contemporary Culture”

Charlotte Hosek, Point Park University

​
 

Harrisburger B

Improving Human Performance, Well-Being, and Development

Moderator: Sheila Gross, Thiel College 

​​

“Physiological Responses to Bouts of Rowing at Various Intensities in Resistance Trained Males”

William H. Downey, University of Hartford

​

“The Ball is in Your CORT:  The Impacts of Canine Assisted Therapy on Salivary Cortisol Levels of High School Students”

Christiana Rose Kohlroser and Madison DeRubis, Sacred Heart University

“Injury Rates Among Collegiate Dancers: Developing an Optimistic Approach for Treatment and Prevention”

Maegen S. Steiner, Point Park University

“Beyond the Screen: Exploring the Neurodevelopmental Consequences of Digital Technology on Adolescents”

Olivia Suter, Sacred Heart University

​

Leland

Crossroads III: Identity, Ethics, and Activism

Moderator: Jeff Strickland, Montclair State University 

“Selective Self-Autonomy: The Weaponization of Bioethics Against the Black Body”

Isabella Westervelt, William Paterson University

“The Protection of Local Migrant Rights and Well-Being: Comparing Successes, Challenges, and Recommendations from Baltimore and Philadelphia’s Government and Nonprofit Sectors”

Nikki Golemboski, Towson University

“Exploring LGBTQ+ Rights: The Crossroads Between Legislation and Culture”

Gabriela Troya, Monroe University

“The Rise of Youth Climate Activism and Its Global Impact: Civic Engagement at a Crossroads in Action”

Wiffac Foy and Leshly Lopez Mendez, Monroe University

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Brady

Contemporary Issues in Healthcare

Moderator: Kate Kagan, Russell Sage College 

“Supporting Gender Diversity: A Resource for Emerging Mental Health Professionals”

Harley Halsey, Frederick Community College

“Guatemala's Healthcare System at a Crossroads”

Isabella Centeno, Frederick Community College

“The Crossroads Between Patient Care and Caregiver Needs: How Society is Dealing with Alzheimer's Disease”

Laura Blanco, Cedar Crest College

“Long Covid and Disability Justice”

Rhheaa Mehta, University of Pittsburgh

Roundtable Presentations

***All roundtable presentations are in the Pennsylvania Ballroom***

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Moderator: Srujana Kanjula, Community College of Allegheny County

Conversations at the Crossroads of Medicine and Health 

“Emergency Medicine at the Crossroads over the Past Century”

Madison Conti, Fairleigh Dickinson University

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“Civic Engagement in Medical Ethics: Patient Autonomy and Informed Consent”

Genesis Estrella, Mercy University

“Insurance: The Impact of Life Saving Care”

Autumn Frailey, Westfield State University

“The Crossroads on Medicine where Doctors and Patients Converge”

Matthew Makaus, Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus

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“Dilemmas: How a Person's Psyche Affects Critical Decision-Making”

Sawyer Zimmer, West Chester University

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Dialogues About Immigration and Globalization

“From Borders to Barriers: Immigration at a Turning Point”

Anastasia Dedgjonaj, Post University

“Civic Engagement in Relation to Underrepresented Communities Such as Immigrants and People of Color Affected by Gentrification”

Sachi Patel, Thomas Jefferson University

“Routes and Roots: Preserving Cultural Identity and Navigating Belonging in a Growing Urban Environment”

Shivani Shah, Thomas Jefferson University

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The Crossroads of Technology and Pop Culture

“Phone Usage - The Hidden Addiction”

Alisha Polynice, Mercy University

“Taylor Swift: A Civic Engagement Mastermind”

Lindsay Rellin, Community College of Allegheny County

Get ready for a magical night at the Secret Garden Gala! Dress to impress in formal wear and dance the night away with a live DJ, snap Insta-worthy pics at the photobooth, and enjoy delicious bite-sized hors d’oeuvres. It’s the perfect chance to celebrate, socialize, and make unforgettable memories at this exclusive honors conference event. Don’t miss out on the fun and the chance to win best dressed at the award ceremony on Sunday!