Jennie Blaney (junior) presented her Summer Scholars research topic, “Developing a Measure of Climate for Learning: An Ongoing Process Informing Change”, at the RC Family Weekend Showcase of Research & Creativity. Jennie has been involved with research since her freshman year. Jennie is a music major and became interested in research opportunities after taking an INQ class with Dr. Julie Lyon. “Dr. Lyon is really great because she gives great guidance, but also lets me figure things out for myself. She has been a wonderful teacher and mentor and I’m very thankful that I get to work with her.” says Jennie of her experience with Dr. Lyon. Dr. Lyon mentions that “Working with students like Jennie is one of the reasons I came to Roanoke College. I relish the one-on-one working relationships I have with my research assistants. Jennie and I have been working together for three years now, and I feel lucky to have had a chance to work with a student with so much passion for research.”
Jennie’s research was directly focused on the climate for learning right here at Roanoke College where interviews and focus groups (one of which I participated in!) were conducted with various faculty and students. The data from focus groups and interviews were themed and then put into categories. Some of the most common themes were “student-faculty relationships, division among students, teaching to the bottom, and emphasis on social life”. All of the themes fell into one of the following categories: climate for learning within general education, climate for learning within major/department, climate for learning among peers/around campus, or climate for learning from administration.
Since becoming involved with research at RC, Jennie has decided to go on to graduate school to further pursue her research interests. “My research interests have evolved a lot over the past 2 years. Recently, I have been able to really narrow my research interests and align what I want to do with what Dr. Lyon does. After exploring numerous different research projects, I feel pretty confident that I want to continue studying the climate and culture of education institutions throughout my time at Roanoke and into grad school.” explains Jennie.
As for presenting at the Family Weekend Showcase, Jennie states that “I always learn a lot from presenting my research. I am a very detail oriented person, so presenting provides an opportunity for me to take a step back and remind myself of the big picture. Also, I care a lot about the work that I do so it’s nice to share it with people.”
Jennie encourages incoming freshman considering research to “get involved even if they aren’t sure what they want to do. In my case, I thought I was sure of what I wanted to do, but doing research has completely changed my whole perspective. My research has taught me a lot about myself and my interests and I am very thankful for that.”
Dr. Lyon also points out that “Every student should volunteer to work on research with a faculty member at some point in his or her college career—and the earlier the better. If you start now, you will have a really sophisticated set of research experiences by the time you graduate. Research is good whether you plan to work immediately or head on to graduate school.”
Roanoke College invites you to the “Family Weekend Showcase of Research & Creativity”, which takes place on Friday, September 28, 2012. Student Presentations will be held in Fintel Library in the rear of the library’s main floor from 5:45pm-8pm and poster presentations will be held in Smoyer Gallery (Olin Hall) from 6-8pm. Students and faculty from all disciplines will be sharing their research and creative works on a variety of topics. All are welcome. Free to the public.
Some of the poster presentation topics include “Zinc Toxicity in Plants”, “The Relationship between Perceived Fitness Status and Physical Activity Level”, “Developing a Measure of Climate for Learning”, “Brain Activity while viewing Attractive and Unattractive Faces”, “Implementation of a Yeast Expression System”, and some of the oral presentation topics include “The Economic Role of the Mexican Sweatshops”, “Unveiling the Life of a Banker”, “An Analysis of Leonardo and Raphael’s Drawings”, and much more!! Be sure to check back here on the RC Research blog next week for highlights from the showcase.
Roanoke College senior Kayla Klingensmith presented her senior thesis, Immune Response to Acute Bacterial Exposure in the American Lobster, in January in Charleston, SC at the national meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Having the opportunity to present at this national meeting (among 3-4,000 people) was a very prestigious honor as the majority of presenters are graduate students and faculty. Kayla’s project is far enough along and close to publication which is why it was eligible for this meeting. Kayla also presented last month at this year’s RC Research Conference.
Kayla has been doing student research since her freshman year (as well as summer research) but has only had this project (which she inherited from another student) by herself for the past two years. “Normally one student cannot take a project like this to publication. It takes multiple students working on different parts of a bigger question” notes Dr. Darwin Jorgensen, Kayla’s faculty mentor.
When asked about what the student/faculty relationship in research is like Kayla mentioned that she “really enjoyed working one on one with a faculty mentor because you get a hands on experience”. Dr. Jorgensen also mentioned that it is “completely different from the classroom because you are working on a product together, you are actually doing science and you get an intellectual connection that you can’t get in the classroom.”
Kayla’s advice to incoming freshman about research is “don’t be afraid to talk to professors about research, put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to go for it.” Dr. Jorgensen also notes that “it can be an important component of a student’s college experience. It’s time consuming and difficult and students should make sure they do well in the classroom first but at a place like Roanoke it’s more possible and if they can do it, it can be tremendous.”
For more information on The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology you can visit: https://www.sicb.org/
Roanoke College invites you to the “RC Conference on Student Research & Creativity”, which takes place on Friday, March 30, 2012 at the Roanoke College Colket Center. Students from all disciplines will be sharing their research and creative works on a variety of topics. The conference will be from 4pm-7pm. All are welcome. Free to the public.
Some of the topics include the Healthcare Reform, the use of technology and social media, reflections of student researchers, oral presentations on Sri Lanka, the Campaign for Children Poster Walk, and much more!! Be sure to check back here next week for my “blogger highlights” from the conference.
The Virginia Humanities Conference invites proposals for papers and panel sessions that address the theme “Children and Childhood in the Humanities.” (Humanities disciplines include philosophy, religion, art, art history, cultural studies, communication, history, literature, music, and the performing arts.)
Although children have always been an integral part of the humanities, they have often been overlooked in scholarship. Yet it is not hard to find children inhabiting most of the central works—from the Odyssey, the Gospels, the Hindu epics, and the Tao te Ching, to coming-of-age novels and fantasy films.
Our concepts about childhood are central to our understanding of what it means to be human. Philosophers, religious leaders, creative artists—all have constructed arguments about the nature of children and childhood. Children have been regarded as miniature adults, sinful creatures, innocent minds, and creative beings. Childhood is here broadly defined but could include any stage from infancy to second childhood and even the inner child.
We want to encourage interdisciplinary exchange on this topic from a variety of fields. Contributions from the social sciences are welcome if they are focused on aspects of the humanities (e.g., a sociological reading of a novel or work of art).
Please submit a 250-word proposal by email to [email protected] or by mail to Marwood Larson-Harris, Religion Department, Roanoke College, 221 College Lane, Salem, VA 24153. Proposals for panel sessions should identify all participants and include both an overview and a brief abstract of each presentation.
Faculty-directed undergraduate submissions are also welcome.
We hope to see you next Friday, September 30 from 6-7:30 in the Colket Center for the Showcase of Student/Faculty Research & Creativity. Download program
Please feel free to enter and leave any of the presentation rooms in order to catch presentations of interest to you.
Session 1: Oral Presentations
6:00-7:30 | President’s Dining Room (2nd floor of Colket Center)
Presentations in Public Affairs, Sociology, Religion & Philosophy, & English
Session 2: Oral Presentations
6:15-7:30 | Kime (2nd floor of Colket Center)
Presentations in English & Psychology
Session 3: Oral Presentations
6:15-7:30 | Garrett (2nd floor of Colket Center, down the hallway)
Presentations in Biology, Economics, Mathematics, & Chemistry
Session 4: Poster Presentations
6:00-7:30 | Ballroom (2nd floor of Colket Center)
Psychology (1-4), Biology (5-15), Environmental Studies (16-18), Chemistry (19-36),
Computer Science (37), Health & Human Performance (38), Physics (39-41), English (42-43), History (44-45), Fine Arts (46), Sociology (47), Religion & Philosophy (48)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. – Colket Center
Friday, September 30, 2011
Students and faculty from across the college will be showcasing their professional work, such as research projects, books, artwork, etc. Summer Scholars will be showcasing their summer research projects. Presentations will be in multiple formats, including a poster session (come and go as you please) and scheduled oral presentations (15 minutes each—see program for listings). This is your chance to interact with faculty members and to find out how our most outstanding students spend their time outside of the classroom. For more information, please contact Dr. Julie Lyon at 540-375-4939 or [email protected].
To have your research or creative work featured, please submit your proposal by Friday, Sept 16 at https://tiny.cc/ehr4x
Artist: Elizabeth Rothera, Roanoke College student
We hope to see you this Saturday, March 19 in the Colket Center for the RC Conference on Student Research & Creativity. Download Program (pdf)
Keynote Address Women of Walmart: Pay Less. Live Worse.
Hilary J. Gettman, J.D., Ph.D.
1:00-2:15 p.m. Wortmann Ballroom
Dr. Hilary Gettman will explore the causes and consequences of the class action lawsuit against Walmart. Her talk will highlight the research findings on propensity to negotiate, the gender pay gap, sexual harassment, and discrimination.
Dr. Gettman is a graduate of Harvard Law School and received her Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from the University of Maryland. She is an Assistant Professor of Management at Stonehill College and an Executive Fellow at the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Gettman practiced securities law in the private sector for over five years before deciding to change careers and move in the direction of organizational psychology and leadership development. Dr. Gettman has extensive training and both consulting and academic/research experience in managerial/leadership assessment and development, executive coaching, motivation, and behavior change.
Oral Presentations
Session 1 (9:15-10:15) – Kime
9:15 | Nicole I Donohue (Dr. Edward Whitson): Personality, Ink Blots, Hidden Figures, and Health Practices
9:35 | Lizzie M. Proctor (Dr. David Nichols): Synesthesia: A Play on the Senses
9:55 | Hailey Brooke Doss (Professor Elizabeth Heil): Printmaking: A Comparison of Two Worlds
Session 1 (9:15-10:15) – Patterson
9:15 | Jessica E. Pease (Dr. Katherine O’Neill): Microinvertebrate Assessment in Loblolly Pine Plantations Managed for Biofuels
9:35 | Giovanni Forte (Dr. Alice Kassens): The Tiger Woods’ Effect: The Impact of Tiger Woods’ on Golf Participation and Sales
**New time – switched with Nomin B.
9:55 | Nicholas Ryan Wright (Dr. Alice Kassens): Determinants of Renewable Energy
Session 1 (9:15-10:15) – President’s Dining Room
9:15 | Cynthia G. Bryant (Dr. Julie Lyon): Women Leaders in the Roanoke Valley: Challenges and Opportunities
9:35 | Anne M Whitesell (Dr. Heath Brown): Online Mobilization and Maintenance: A Study of Women’s Interest Groups
9:55 | Hayleigh E Phillips (Dr. Tom Carter): Edward R. Murrow: The Importance of Linguistics in Journalism
Session 2 (10:30-11:30) – Kime
10:30 | Brent E. Cox (Dr. Alice Kassens): Single-occupancy patient rooms: Administrator awareness of outcomes of implementation
10:50 | Sara M. Caudle (Dr. Alice Kassens): Are healthier college students the most productive?
11:10 | S. Jane Slusher, Brent Cox, Devan Logwood, Megan Rhodes, & Tiffany Schlotthober : Blue Ridge Urgent Care
Session 2 (10:30-11:30) – Patterson
10:30 | Sarah E. Ahlbrand (Dr. Steven Powers): Conservation genetics of Etheostoma Cinereum (Percidae) with emphasis on a newly rediscovered population in the Elk River, Tennessee
10:50 | Laura E. Kellam, Dr. Alton Dooley, Jr., & Vince Schneider (Dr. DorothyBelle Poli, & Dr. Katherine O’Neill): Nearly Complete Balaenula Skull from the Late Pliocene Bear Bluff Formation of Lake Waccamaw State Park, North Carolina
11:10 | Rachel Naylor (Dr. Chris Lassiter): The effect of 4-hydroxyandrostenedione, an aromatase inhibitor, on heart size in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Session 2 (10:30-11:30) – President’s Dining Room
10:30 | Jenna M Jones (Professor Jeanne Fishwick): Vampires across the Ages: The Analysis of Depiction and Popularity across the Centuries
10:50 | Samantha J. Wittig (Professor Jeanne Fishwick): The Novel Writing Adventure: The Process of Writing a Manuscript
11:10 | Jordan Henderson (Dr. Lisa Warren): Directing: A Challenge
Session 3 (2:30-3:30) – President’s Dining Room (Winners of the Gender & Women’s Studies Paper Contest)
Ceremony: Presentation of the Gender & Women’s Studies Winners
Molly Howser (1st Prize: Long Paper): “What sways the female shopper?” Advertising and the Female Consumer 1955-65 & 1975-85
Ashley Honig (1st Prize: Creative Work ): Series of Untitled Paintings
Lindsey Van Leir (on behalf of FEMMES) (1st Prize: Service Project): Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering, and Science (FEMMES)
Josephine Debrah (Honorable Mentions: Long Paper & Creative Work): Lasting Marks: Examining the Issues and Controversy Behind Female Circumcision & Creative: Esmeralda’s Destiny (Children’s Story)
Jenna Cullins (Honorable Mention: Short Paper): Why Psychological Oppression is the Worst Type of Oppression
Session 3 (2:30-3:30) – Kime
2:30 | Natalie R Horvath (Dr. Adam Childers): Should I Stay or Should I Go: An Optimal Solution to the Ride and Tie Problem
2:50 | Nomin Baasandavaa (Dr. Alice Kassens): The Effect of Air Pollution Exposure on US Health
**New time – switched with Gio Forte
3:10 | Tyler A. Rinko (Dr. Alice Kassens): The European Debt Crisis’ influence on U.S. Real Exchange Rates and Real Interest Rates
Session 4 (3:45-5:05) – Kime
3:45 | Bryan T. Piatkowski & Geoff A. Bader (Dr. DorothyBelle Poli): Examining Polar Auxin Transport Evolution in Bryophyte Gametophytes
4:05 | Stephanie I. Vogel (Dr. DorothyBelle Poli & Dr. Alton Dooley, Jr.): Effects of fire on Lycopodium: A good witch or bad witch?
4:25 | Brandi L. Neifert (Dr. Alton C. Dooley, Jr. & Dr. DorothyBelle Poli): A comparison of tooth breakage rates in Miocene carcharhinid sharks from the Carmel Church Quarry, Caroline County, VA.
Gallery & Poster Presentations
Gallery Session (11:45-12:45) – 1st Floor Atrium
1. Elizabeth M. Rothera (Professor Kate Shortridge): Identity
2. Diane M. Vankevich (Professor Kate Shortridge): March of the Sea
Poster Session (11:45-12:45) – Pickle (1st Floor)
3. INQ 250 Class (Dr. DorothyBelle Poli): Understanding INQ 250: How do living things evolve? through creative processes
4. Matthew J Corbicz (Dr. DorothyBelle Poli): Understanding limestone fines’ water retention: Applications for reclamation
5. William M. Bader (Dr. DorothyBelle Poli): Using Boxley Fines as an Exfoliate in Traditional Botanical Based Soaps
6. Jessica N Branning (Dr. DorothyBelle Poli): Examining polar auxin transport in the moss gametophyte of Dicranium scoparium
7. Sydney M. Webb & Kendra Boyd (Dr. Marilee Ramesh): Characterization of Class II Transposons within Coprinopsis cinerea
8. Kendrick Chittock, Austin Mowles, Keith McHugh, & Garrett Schaperjahn (Dr. Jon Cawley): Biochar-Based Soil Composition for Application in Urban
9. Ivan A. Zuidhoek (Dr. Jon Cawley): The Moorish Garden as a Memetic Permaculture System
10. Tucker S. Prisley (Dr. Jon Cawley): The Book of Days
11. Lyndsey M Jones (Dr. Jon Cawley): RC Electric
12. Alexander Roy & Lea Lupkin (Dr. Jon Cawley): Power Shift
13. Daniel J. Waters, Charles M. Leonard, Eric M. Lefevers, Brett A. Lawrence, Justin T. Morgan, Jessica E. Pease, Wesley C. Sturdivant, & Charles T. Utterback (Dr. Jon Cawley): The Creation of a Research and Teaching Apple Orchard on Elizabeth Campus
14. Daniel J. Waters (Dr. Rachel Collins): Do invasive species facilitate other invasive species?
15. Kathleen C. Ouyang (Dr. Mark Miller): Academic Freedom and the Elson Controversy at Roanoke College
16. Amanda N. Newman (Dr. Denise Adkins): Texting Behaviors in Romantic Relationships
17. Steven L. Huffman, Jared T. Johnson, Sean R. Sottolano, Robyn T. French, & Lauren O. Marszal (Dr. Denise Adkins): Internet Usage
18. Kacy L Dillon & Steven L Huffman (Dr. Denise Adkins): What Predicts Whether College Students Will View Their Professors Positively or Negatively?
19. Alicia L. Clem (Dr. Edward Whitson): Changes in Students’ Perceptions of Creativeness Following a Creative Thinking Skills- Training Course
20. Chava Z. Urecki, Kiel L. VanNess, Brooks K. Hoover, Michael J. Bankert (Dr. Christopher T. Buchholz & Dr. Gordon Marsh): The complexity of melancholy: Music preference and the perception of music.
21. Jennie Blaney (Dr. Julie Lyon): Women Leaders: Flexible Hours or Advancement Opportunities
Poster Session (11:45-12:45) – Garret (2nd Floor)
22. Megan E. Erdmann (Dr. Rachel Collins): Habitat use by black bear and white-tailed deer around Carvins Cove
23. Ariel L. Firebaugh (Dr. Rachel Collins): Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) oviposition preference and performance on an invasive host plant, Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae)
24. Caitlin E. Giles & Kirby E. Davis (Dr. Dar Jorgensen): Lactate excretion during exercise in the lobster, Homarus americanus
25. Jonathan C. Perkins & Peter-Philip M. Booth (Dr. Gary Hollis): Novel, highly-fluorinated derivatives of 1,2,3,4-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)cylcopentadiene
26. Caroline A. Hunter (Dr. Jack Steehler & Dr. Benjamin Huddle): Chemistry and Crime: Laboratory Improvement Assessment
27. Kayla R. Muncy (Dr. Tim Johann): Cloning the Gene Escherichia coli K-12 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase
28. Maura C. Belanger (Dr. Cathy Sarisky): Purine Biosynthesis in Modified E. coli
29. Heather N. Anthony (Dr. Ben Huddle & Dr. Jack Steehler): Guided Inquiry Laboratory Improvement Project: Comparing Two Years of Assessment Data
30. Jeremy A. Johnson (Dr. Vernon Miller): Synthesis of Bisamine Boron Cations
31. Paul L Vines (Dr. Rama Balasubramanian): Synthesis and Characterization of Nanophase Maghemite
32. Nicholas Guendel (Dr. Kelly Anderson & Dr. Matt Fleenor): An Investigation of MgSiO¬3 at High Temperature and Pressure
33. John T Balint (Dr. Rama Balasubramanian): Examining Morphologies in Nanocrystals
34. Anne F. Kyner (Dr. Rama Balasubramanian): Mars-Mossbauer Spectroscopy Analysis
35. Casey R. Wojtera (Dr. Tim Johann): Activity Variation from Codon Mutation at Position 123 in 5,10-Methenyltetrahydrofolate Synthetase.
Students: Submit a short description (abstract) of your research or creative work (art, music, theater) to show/perform on-campus on Sat, March 19. Submit via: tiny.cc/1kim5 before Spring Break (Mar 5)
Roanoke College invites abstracts from RC students for the “RC Conference
on Student Research & Creativity”, which takes place on Saturday,
March 19, 2011 at the Roanoke College Colket Center. Students from all
disciplines are invited to share their research and creative works on any
topic. We strongly encourage submissions from the Fine Arts and Humanities.
Help promote the event by printing and posting these flyers (pdf):
sciencey poster (8.5×11) (11X17)
artsy poster (8.5×11) (11×17)
For more details, contact Dr. Julie Lyon, Director of Student/Faculty Research
I am pleased to announce an opportunity for students to show off their research and creativity on campus this Spring. We’re calling it the “Roanoke College Conference on Student Research & Creativity”, and it will be held in the Colket Center on Saturday, March 19, 2011. Abstract submissions are due by Friday, March 5, though students are strongly encouraged to submit sooner. Online submission form: https://tiny.cc/1kim5
We will accept abstracts from any of the following categories, which follows the NCUR model:
Oral Presentation – 15-minute presentation, 5 minutes for questions
Poster Presentation
Performing Arts (Dance, Music, Drama/Theater) – up to 15 minutes with 5 minutes for questions
We will accept a wide range of projects, from class projects to finished senior theses. We would like the conference to be as inclusive as possible for research, creative work, scholarship, performances, etc. that happen in and out of the classroom. We plan to have a keynote speaker as well as some awards.
This event replaces the student showcase that usually takes place on the Saturday of Alumni weekend. We hope that by moving this event to an earlier weekend that more students will be able to participate.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Please contact Dr. Julie Lyon, Director of Student/Faculty Research if you need additional information about this event.
Jennie Blaney (junior) presented her Summer Scholars research topic, “Developing a Measure of Climate for Learning: An Ongoing Process Informing Change”, at the RC Family Weekend Showcase of Research & Creativity. Jennie has been involved with research since her freshman year. Jennie is a music major and became interested in research opportunities after taking an INQ class with Dr. Julie Lyon. “Dr. Lyon is really great because she gives great guidance, but also lets me figure things out for myself. She has been a wonderful teacher and mentor and I’m very thankful that I get to work with her.” says Jennie of her experience with Dr. Lyon. Dr. Lyon mentions that “Working with students like Jennie is one of the reasons I came to Roanoke College. I relish the one-on-one working relationships I have with my research assistants. Jennie and I have been working together for three years now, and I feel lucky to have had a chance to work with a student with so much passion for research.”
As for presenting at the Family Weekend Showcase, Jennie states that “I always learn a lot from presenting my research. I am a very detail oriented person, so presenting provides an opportunity for me to take a step back and remind myself of the big picture. Also, I care a lot about the work that I do so it’s nice to share it with people.”
