Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Voyager, Stephanie Van Riet, Special Collections, Fleet Library

12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2026

GRAND PURCHASE PRIZE | $500 Entry for the 12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest. Opening reception and award ceremony Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:30pm, Fleet Library, 1st Floor Main Reading Room. Juror: Gabrielle Reed.

“Just Checking”: Racial Profiling And The Criminalization Of Black Students At Post-Secondary Institutions, Yugita Looknauth

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

“Just Checking”: Racial Profiling and the Criminalization of Black Students at Post-Secondary Institutions

This dissertation examined the experiences of Black students who came into contact with campus security at five universities and one college in Ontario, Canada. Critical race theory and methodology, and qualitative research design amplified the voices of 17 participants who shared stories of racial profiling marked by racialization, criminalization, surveillance, and the normalized scrutiny of Black life. These experiences are legitimized by post-secondary institutions that are actively reproducing the very racism they are often celebrated for interrogating by allowing a culture of anti-Black racism to exist with …

The Genetic Role Of Panic Disorder, Rachel Medeiros

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Panic Disorder (PD) affects approximately 5% of the population and was characterized by unexpected/recurring panic attacks yet can vary from patient to patient. While environmental factors are significant, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms play a major role in this percentage. It is vital to focus on the genetic mechanisms underlying PD, while emphasizing mutations in the GABA system and their large impact on the neurological system. The GABARAP gene is located on chromosome 17 and is an essential building block for assembling, transporting, and degrading GABA(A) receptors. The gene helps regulate inhibitory signaling to the brain. Disruption to the assembly of …

Field-Based Device To Test Possible Concussions, Lauren Powers, Samantha Davy, Jianna Truppi

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are injuries to the brain caused by an outside force from car accidents, falls, and strikes to the head. TBI’s make up 30% of injury related deaths in the US. The market for screening TBI’s was deemed profitable, thus research and development (R&D) was done to create a field-based device. This device targets the demographic of patients with less access to important TBI care, like DIII and high school athletes. It also targets the demographic of people injured in motor vehicle accidents. This inexpensive field-based device is designed to tell a first responder or athletic trainer, …

Does Poverty Increase Crime?, John Weeks

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This study examined whether a correlation exists among crime statistics between communities based on median income, funding levels, and number of police officers. The data was collected from research on 12 communities throughout New Jersey, a state with varying average incomes. The communities were chosen at random. Four communities had an average household annual income of more than $100,000. Four other communities had an average household income between $99,999 and the poverty line. The last four had an average household income below the poverty line. Recognizing possible correlations among these variables can lead to efforts identifying appropriate funding levels, better …

The Genetic Role Of Pcsk 1, Lisbeth Aquino

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/Kexin type 1 (PCSK 1) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder associated with severe digestive issues, delayed puberty, and obesity. The cause of this genetic mutation occurs when a person inherits two copies of an autosomal recessive gene. Recessive traits are more common in families who marry close relatives. When the PCSK 1 gene is negatively impacted, it can impair the enzyme function, worsening the disease. As the gene is being mutated, it can create other mutations such as N309K, RCV001374497-rs143209024, and c.1095 + 1G > A. The N309K gene affects the active site of an enzyme that causes …

Bear Claw – An Assistive Grip Device, Brandon Daniels, Nathaniel Neville

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Globally, there are over one million spinal cord injuries (SCI) every year. Out of all trauma patients admitted to US hospitals in that time frame, 3.7% suffer from an SCI with the highest at-risk demographic being males aged 20 to 29. Low-cervical spinal injuries (C5 to C8) make up a large portion of these injuries, which can vastly affect motor control throughout the whole arm in addition to the total functionality of body control below the chest. These patients are wheelchair users and many live with limited control of their arms.

The Bear Claw addresses the daily challenges of gross …

Invent Equine Llc Business Plan Project, Paige Surrell

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project presents the business plan for inVent Equine LLC, an equine services company focused on empowering clients to inVent their own personalized equine experience. The company offers customized training, care, and boarding services, allowing each client to tailor their horse's journey based on individual needs and goals. The plan includes strategic objectives for the first three years, emphasizing a client-centric approach to every aspect of the business.

Key components of the plan include a management structure, detailed service offerings, and a rate sheet designed to provide flexibility. The marketing plan focuses on building strong, lasting relationships with clients through …

Feeding The Incarcerated, Morgan Hoopes, Anyka Recio, Natalie Quinilla

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The project is a basic outline of how the mental health of prisoners and the nutritional value of prison food is impacted by budget constraints. Nutritional value and quality of the food provided to incarcerated individuals impacts them physically and mentally. Research shows that budget constraints impact the quality and nutritional value of the food. This project focused on necessary improvements to the food quality while keeping the budget low and cost-effective. The outcome of this project is to make a difference with the nutrition and budget of the food being supplied for incarcerated individuals.

Veritas Brand Guidelines Book, Matteo Lopergolo

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project followed the development of a comprehensive visual identity standard for the fictitious brand, Veritas International Airlines. The project demonstrated the designer’s thorough understanding of visual identity systems and the application of design principles to create a cohesive and effective brand representation. The designer transformed a basic logo into a fully realized visual identity system, culminating in the creation of a brand standards guide booklet which effectively communicated the brand's identity. A brand standards book ensures consistent use of a brand’s visual and messaging elements, detailing guidelines for logos, colors, typography, and tone. The designer elevated and refined the …

Arduino Based Game Console With Built In Screen, Mekhi Edwards

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

As video games today become more sophisticated, the technological demand they place on gaming consoles increases. Portable consoles like Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance are a thing of the past due to the increase in base requirements needed to run games properly. The Arduino Based Game Console with Built in Screen brings back a retro vibe while running a modern processor that can handle the strain of sophisticated games. The Arduino Based Game Console with Built in Screen has two joysticks, a 7 by 5 inch housing and a display of 4 by 3 inches. The console currently includes one game …

The Bear Paw Wide-Grip, Nathan Couture, Vincent Lin, Manuel Urena, Brandon Daniels

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) affect millions worldwide every year. Injuries in the low cervical region (C5-C8), significantly limit hand function, grip strength, and range of motion. The Bear Paw addresses these impairments by developing a variable assistive grip device with a personalized fit for those with low cervical SCI. This work adopts a unique approach centered around functionality and autonomy with minimal hand movement requirements.

The Bear Paw includes a Wide-Grip prototype that supports users in performing activities of everyday life, such as dressing, shopping, and preparing food. This device is designed with an extra finger on the lateral side, …

Echo-Location Helmet, Nathan Couture, Manuel Urena, Fernando Ibanez Marcos, Donny Mcinnis, Harrison Ullucci, Mekhi Edwards

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Vision loss affects approximately 50 million Americans annually, ranging from partial impairment to complete blindness. The Echo-Location Helmet is designed to assist individuals with visual impairments by providing real-time spatial awareness. The helmet delivers sufficient information to enable users to navigate unfamiliar environments with greater confidence.

The Echo-Location Helmet was constructed using ultrasonic sensors, visual processing, and speech output, integrated through development software and artificial intelligence (AI). The system employs hardware components such as an Arduino microcontroller, a serial camera, ultrasonic sensors, and an MP3 player to detect and alert the user. This provides users with an easy way to …

A Path To Wellness & Connection For Adolescents, Shauna Bienvenue

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Adolescents face unique emotional and social challenges that increase their susceptibility to social anxiety. Traditional talk therapy often fails to engage them, highlighting the need for alternative approaches suited to their developmental stage. Creative expression—through drawing, painting, and digital art—provide a safe, nonverbal outlet for self-exploration, allowing adolescents to externalize fears and self-conscious thoughts. This process promotes emotional regulation, enhanced coping skills, boosted self-confidence, and reduces social anxiety symptoms.

This presentation summarized research on the effectiveness of creative expression in adolescent mental health counseling. It highlighted how expressive arts enhanced self-expression, reduced anxiety, and strengthened interpersonal connections, demonstrating their value …

Harlem Baking Co., Carm Reed, Julia Tyras, Matteo Lopergolo

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Harlem Baking Co. (HBC) is a business located in New York City that handmakes "Little Jars of Happiness." Their desserts come in a variety of flavors (from New York cheesecake to chocolate lava cake) and are baked inside reusable Jars. The team was tasked with redesigning their logo and packaging in partnership with Dr. Jeff Binczyk's marketing class, and designed a website, fridge wrap, and AD campaign. HBC was also kind enough to send samples of their desserts for a photoshoot, which resulted in some amazing photos that are currently on display in their current ads.

Project Curl Brand Identity & Website Design, Mallary Robert, Danitza Ramos-Perez

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project was completed in collaboration with a JWU student from the entrepreneurship program as part of the Design Team I class. The objective was to develop a brand identity and fully designed website prototype for ProjectCurl, a startup focused on providing affordable and unique hair care solutions for college students with curly hair using a personalized hair quiz to recommend products.

The project covered the full branding process, including logo development, wireframing, and the creation of a comprehensive website prototype. Throughout both the branding and website process, there was consistent feedback and rounds of revisions, which allowed the design …

Neighborhood Safety In Childhood And Anxiety In Adulthood, Ava Rose Esposito, Jenna Mcneil, Chris Botolino, Jonah Phang

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Childhood brain development can be disturbed by traumatic events. A crucial factor in one’s childhood is their surroundings, which includes the neighborhood in which they grew up. The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a correlation between feeling safe in neighborhoods as a child and adulthood anxiety. The Rhode Island Young Adult Survey, a digital cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted in 2022 and used to evaluate the behavior and mental health of 18–25-year-olds that have lived in RI for at least part of the year. The sample size of this survey is 1,022 participants. The hypothesis …

The Lasting Impact Of Childhood Violence And Bullying, Dory Stefanowicz, Zoë Hall, Grace Stringer

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Bullying in childhood and intimate partner violence (IPV) in adulthood are ongoing issues that individuals are facing every day. This study aimed to understand the relationship between these experiences in order to better examine the emotional trauma and target therapies to support those who have been impacted. The research explored the hypothesis that experiencing bullying or violent behaviors in childhood lead to being more susceptible to IPV in adulthood. Understanding the emotional impact in childhood that was endured can help therapists mitigate the effect that it would have on adult relationships. The study was conducted bi-annually between the years 2020 …

The Genetic Role Of Necrotizing Fasciitis, Aleece La Mountain

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project investigated the possible role of the GAS6 gene (chromosome 13, long arm cytogenetic band 4) regarding increased susceptibility to necrotizing fasciitis, a dangerous soft tissue infection. GAS6 encodes a ligand for TAM receptors known as Mer, Axl, and Tyro3. These regulate the immune system in matters such as inflammatory and immune responses. Issues with immune activation caused by dysfunction of TAM signaling could be a potential cause of tissue damage in necrotizing fasciitis. Overall, the study analyzed the possible genetic predisposition individuals may possess that would make them more vulnerable to acquiring necrotizing fasciitis in particularly sterile environments. …

Vaping And Anxiety In Young Adults, Kylie Coleman, Fran Ligorria, Julia Ulcena, Luisa Mazo

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The purpose of this study was to observe and examine the association between vaping and anxiety in young adults living in Rhode Island. With an increase in vaping prevalence in young adults, as well as anxiety rates on the rise, it is worthwhile to study this potential correlation and examine its psychological and physiological impacts. To investigate this relationship, researchers analyzed the results of a digital, cross-sectional, quantitative survey on the behavioral and mental health of 1,022 young adults, ages 18 to 25, which was conducted in 2022. Findings indicate that initially, there was a significant relationship between vaping and …

Queer In & Out Of Montana: Oral Histories Of The Lgbtq+ Exodus From Montana, Erin T. Heaton

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This project will summarize findings from six oral histories of LGBTQ+ people who lived in Montana, but have left or are leaving in the near future. This project will explore the questions: Why are queer and transgender people leaving Montana? What are common experiences for LGBTQ+ people living in Montana? The answer to these questions will be derived from the stories of the Narrators who provided their oral histories. The questions utilized in the oral histories covered topics of identity, “coming out,” living history, cultural observations, community experiences and perceptions, well-being, healthcare, laws, and reasons for leaving. Thematic Analysis was …

Record Scratch: The Podcast, Kate Widmer

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

“Record Scratch: The Podcast” is an attempt to gather some of the history of Missoula’s alternative music scene from the 1990s until now, to contribute to documentation of Montana’s art scenes as well as to summarize and finalize my two and a half years of doing music reporting in Missoula. For the podcast, I interviewed four people who are active in Missoula’s music scene. Our discussions range from their youth through to the present day, giving several perspectives on Missoula’s changing music culture, as well as what it means to be a punk in Montana. My guiding reason for this …

Caring For Public Art On Campus: A Case Study In Archives, Conservation And Curation For Public Art At The City University Of New York At York College In South Jamaica, Queens (2025 Cuny Research In The Classroom Grant Project), Emily Verla Bovino

Open Educational Resources

The City University of New York (CUNY) hosts public art at many of its colleges. The practice of funding public art through the CUNY Construction Fund and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) began after a 1966 New York State Law created a financing and construction partnership between the two entities.

As these collections of museum-quality contemporary art on CUNY campuses age and increase in value, how can care and conservation be ensured? Conceived in response to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data on the projected 11% growth of employment for archivists, curators, museum technicians, …

Between The Lines, Sarah Laura Nesti Willard

CoHSS Faculty Work

No abstract provided.

Barbie Vlogger As Teen Influencer For Little Girls, Brilynn A. Janckila

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Mattel’s YouTube Barbie Vlogs series (2015-2022) targets 6–11-year-old girls with short narratives and prosocial messages addressing their prevalent interests and everyday experiences. While the vlog is clearly an attempt by Mattel to appeal to a market sector that includes both little girls and their Millennial parents, this analysis examines Barbie Vlogger as a social media influencer in order to explore how little girls learn to become older girls through the performance of teenage girlhood as enacted in the Barbie Vlogs. What is Barbie doing in the vlogs to show little girls who a teen girl is and what she …

The Animated Frontier: Fluctuations Of Power Across Time And Space In Flows Of U.S. And Japanese Animated Media, Kendall Belopavlovich

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This project critiques the historical and contemporary relationships between the U.S., Japan, and marginalized groups through the lens of animation. The U.S. and Japan share a complex history, from the opening of Japan during the Edo period to events like Pearl Harbor and the atomic bombings, which shaped their present-day alliance. Furthermore, the U.S. and Japan are the central nodes in flows of animation, where both nation states have dominated the global market at various points in animation’s history. Today, Japan's soft power in media is significant, and the flow of power between these nations has influenced media forms and …

Image: Mary Statue, Garrett S. "Faustino" Miller Oblsb

Obsculta

No abstract provided.

From Cappadocia To Baden: The Development Of The Theology Of Relation From The Cappadocian Fathers To The 20th Century Systematicians, Tristan Stuart

Obsculta

This piece discusses the continuity in theology from Athanasius to the Cappadocian Fathers and from the Cappadocian Fathers to modern Systematicians. Firstly, it testifies that neo-Nicene theology was in line with the theology of the Nicenes. Secondly it testifies to a continuity in the foundational memes of neo-Nicene theology through the centuries all the way to 20th century Systematicians.

Walk In The Woods (2023) By Nikki Grimes, Maughn Rollins Gregory

Picture Books

An unnamed Black boy walks in the woods near his home a week after his father’s funeral. Because the boy knows how to be mindful in nature—to move slowly, step carefully, and pay close attention—he becomes more connected to the woods and the creatures in it. Rediscovering is his father’s legacy of ecstatic, aesthetic reverence for nature begins to assuage the boy's anger-tinged grief.

Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints (1999) By Millicent E. Selsam, Maughn Rollins Gregory

Picture Books

Coming up with the most reasonable explanation of the available clues is something we all do on a daily basis. This book describes animal tracks as clues from which children can make inferences about what kind of animal left them and what they were doing when they did.