The Pioneer Center for Student Excellence has announced the 2024-2025 Experiential Student Scholars.
The Experiential Student Scholar Program allows students to engage in learning through the dynamic process of research where students can develop knowledge, skills, and values from direct experiences outside of a traditional academic setting. If approved, students will receive a $1000 stipend to conduct their research and have the opportunity to work with a TWU faculty or staff mentor of their choice.
2024-2025 Experiential Student Scholars
Undergraduate Scholars
Jessie Brauer
Does Religiosity Correlate with Self-Deception, Impression Management, and Gullibility?
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christian Hart, School of Social Work, Psychology & Philosophy - Psychology
Madison Donahoe
Nursing Home Staff’s Perspectives on Residents’ Oral Histories on Person-Centered Care
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Wilson, College of Nursing
Rory Etienne
Sexual Orientation & Metabolic Syndrome (SOMS) Study - A Quantitative Survey Analysis
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Renee Buster, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology - Public Health
Shasmeen Haque
Motion Detection Using Carbon Nanotubes
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Beatty, School of Sciences - Chemistry
Mackenzie Heisser
How Does Gender Bias in Education Evolve Over Time?
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Adam Jones, School of Human Sciences - Marriage & Family Therapy
Anjola Ifagbayi-Adeniran
Antiproliferative Activities of Euphorbia dentata (Euphorbiaceae) Extracts in T47D, MDA MB 231 and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Camelia Maier, School of Sciences - Biology
Simone Lang
Investigating the Interactions of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) with Low-Dimensional Materials for Space Suit Applications
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shiru Lin, School of Sciences - Chemistry
Liz Lemmon
Bridging Cultural Gaps: Nursing Students Confidence in Treating Patients with Cultural and Language Barriers
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gabrielle Smith, School of Social Work, Psychology & Philosophy - Psychology
Erin Loffler
Discovering Disparities in Treatment to Prepare and Support Mental Health Practitioners in Treating Pedophilia
Faculty Mentor: Professor Otter Day, School of Social Work, Psychology & Philosophy - Psychology
Dezeray Love
Find Relief: A Deep Dive into Chronic Pain Herbal Remedies and Pharmaceutical Treatment for Effective Chronic Pain Management
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sandra Tyson, College of Business - Health Care Administration
Debra Matthews
Post-Exercise Fatigue Across Menstrual Phases
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dan Newmire, School of Sciences - Biology
Emily Palacios
Identifying and Characterizing Inner Ear Hair Cells in Otic Organoids Using SHH
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zane Lybrand, School of Sciences - Biology
Mabelita Parada
Antiprolific of Euphorbia E.maculata in MCF 7 cancer cell lines and MDA-MB 231 cell lines
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Camelia Maier, School of Sciences - Biology
Cara Pool
Using CHAT GPT AI to produce Lesson Plans for teaching the volleyball skill of setting to intermediate level 13 year old girls volleyball players.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mark Mann, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology - Kinesiology
Maria Zuniga
Testing to Optimize Conditions of Aqueous Plant Extracts
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura Hanson, School of Sciences - Biology
Graduate Scholars
Kanchan Budhathoki
Investigating the role of Liat1 in ribosome biogenesis and cellular growth using an inducible CRISPR/Cas9 system
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Brower, School of Sciences - Biology
Kelsi Hildreth Wilson
Pediatric Patients Living in an Adult World: A Small-Scale Scoping Review
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Azucena Verdin, School of Human Sciences - Human Development & Family Studies
Taylor Hilley-Carroll
My Black Joy is Black Activism: Black Creations and Happiness as a Medium of Activism Exhibition
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sara Ishii-Bear, School of Arts & Design - Visual Arts
Bitali Islam
Sex Differences in the Expression of P2rx3 in a Rat Model of Stress-Exacerbated Inflammatory Orofacial Pain
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dayna Loyd Averitt, School of Sciences - Biology
Changyan Jin
The Dynamic Palmitoylation in Hepatocellular carcinoma
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zhipeng (Toby) Tao, Nutrition & Food Sciences - Nutrition Science
Kelsi Lambright
The Impact of Menstrual Cycle Phases on IGF-1 and Myostatin Levels Following High-Intensity Exercise in Eumenorrheic Women
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Newmire, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology - Kinesiology
Amanda Messer
The un-silencing of children: A study examining school climate and stress in elementary school children
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lin Moore, School of Education - Early Childhood Education
Kayla Northrip
Occupational Therapy Practitioner’s Guide to Working with Individuals with Substance-Use Disorders & Addiction
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Martin, School of Occupational Therapy
Tahmina Parveen
Impact of fermentation on physiochemical properties of plant-based proteins and flours
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Danhui Wang, Nutrition & Food Sciences - Food Science & Flavor Chemistry
Sarah Rainey
Dawn and the Sea: A Visual Autobiographical Allegory For the Gallery and For the Reader
Faculty Mentor: Professor Michele Petersen, School of Arts & Design - Studio Art
Breana Robertson
Investigation of Narrative in Dance Through Abstraction of Narrative Components
Faculty Mentor: Professor Jordan Fuchs, School of Arts & Design - Dance
Hannah Walker
Advocates for the Youth of Today: Classes for parents
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nerissa Gillum, School of Human Sciences - Human Development & Family Studies
Shamethia Webb
Sweet Feet Socks: Behavior Modification Using Octavia Butler’s Concept of “Positive Obsession”
Faculty Mentor: Dr. AnaLouise Keating, Language, Cultural, & Gender Studies - Multicultural Women & Gender Studies
Carrie Wright-Davis
FLAME in the Face of SB17: Upholding Community Cultural Wealth in Higher Education
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aimee Myers, School of Education - Educational Leadership
Qiaoling Yuan
Exploring the Role of Estrogen in Uveal Melanoma: A Pathway to Personalized Treatment for Women
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zhipeng (Toby) Tao, Nutrition & Food Sciences - Nutrition Science