On April 7, 2022, more than 230 students from disciplines across the College of Charleston campus shared their mentored research, scholarship, creative inquiry and community service projects during the inaugural EXPO, the College’s most comprehensive celebration of student achievement.
The following students were recognized for their presentations and quality of research conducted during the summer of 2021 or the 2021-22 academic year.
School of Sciences and Mathematics
Fabio Najjar, a biochemistry major, received the School of Sciences and Mathematics Best of the Best Award and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Best Overall Presentation for his project entitled, “Magnetic Particles for the Removal of Surface Water Contaminants.”
Faculty Mentor: Katherine Mullaugh, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry
Dana Mae Salvador, a chemistry and biochemistry double major, received Best Poster by a Phi Kappa Phi Member for her project entitled, “Investigation of Homologous Metallo-beta-lactamase Proteins with Bioinformatics Tools.”
Faculty Mentors: Jennifer L. Fox, associate professor of chemistry, and Marcello Forconi, associate professor of chemistry
Zach Smith
Zach Smith, a physics and astrophysics double major, received an Alumni Association Best Poster Award, the Sigma Xi Communicating Science Award and the Department of Physics and Astronomy Best Overall Presentation for his project entitled, “General Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations of Ultra-Luminous X-Ray Objects.”
Faculty Mentor: Chris Fragile, professor of astrophysics
Patrick Sydow, a biology major, received the Department of Biology Best Overall Presentation, for his presentation entitled, “Auxin and Root System Variation in Arabidopsis thaliana: from Seedling to Reproductive Maturity.”
Faculty Mentor: Courtney Murren, professor of biology
James Grooms, a data science major, and Will Myrick, a mathematics major, received the Department of Computer Science Best Overall Presentation for their project entitled, “Drowsy Driving Detection using a Convolutional Neural Network.”
Faculty Mentor: Navid Hashemi, assistant professor of computer science
Karissa Venezia, a geology and history double major, received the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences Best Overall Presentation for her project entitled, “Predicted Ground Motions From Magnitude 7 & 7.3 Summerville, South Carolina Earthquakes and Building Damage in Charleston During the August 31, 1886 Earthquake”
Additional Author: Chris Cramer from the Center for Earthquake Research and Information, University of Memphis
Faculty Mentor: Steven Jaumé , associate professor of geology
Lane Ellisor, a mathematics major, received the Department of Mathematics Best Overall Presentation for his project entitled, “The Effects of Damping on Rogue Wave Formation and Permanent Downshifting.”
Faculty Mentor: Annalisa Calini, professor of mathematics
Anna Heuisler
Anna Heuisler, an Honors College economics major minoring in marketing, received an Alumni Association Best Poster Award and the School of Business Best Poster Award for her project entitled, “Health-Related Repercussions of the U.S. Free Trade Agreement.”
Faculty Mentors: Jessica Madariaga, associate professor of economics, and Beatriz Maldonado, associate professor of economics
Laura Díaz Coronado, a music performance and computer science double major, received the SOTA EXPO Award for her project entitled, “Joaquín Orellana: Music Decolonizer.”
Faculty Mentor: Michael O’Brien, chair of the Department of Music
Savannah Fatigante, a theatre major with a concentration in costume design, won an Alumni Association Best Poster Award for her project entitled, “Reconstructing History: Delft 17th Century Masterpieces for Fashion.”
Faculty Mentor: Janine McCabe, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance and artistic director of CofC Stages
Gabby Rowsam, an historic preservation and community planning and art history double major, received second place for Best 3-minute Presentation for her project entitled, “Demolished Structures on the Main Block of the College of Charleston Campus.”
Faculty Mentor: Grant Gilmore, associate professor and Addlestone Chair in Historic Preservation
School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs
Sara Solan, an Honors College international studies major; Jack Watson, an Honors College international studies and French & Francophone studies double major with a minor in economics; and Kate Schmiege, an Honors College international business and Spanish double major, received the Alumni Association Best Poster Award for their project entitled, “Community Response of Refugees in Charleston.”
Faculty Mentor: Lancie Affonso ’96, Honors College faculty fellow, director of the Honors College E-LLC and senior instructor in computer science, management and marketing
Peyton Baxley, an Honors College international studies and English double major, received the Outstanding Submission Award for her project entitled, “Environmental Racism and Health Disparities.”
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Cavalli, Honors College faculty fellow and associate director of student engagement
Antonia Lombardi, a Classics, archaeology and anthropology triple major, received the Outstanding Submission Award for her project entitled, “The Annihilation of Carthage: Panarchy, Regime Shifts, and the Pervasive Romanist Perspective in Carthaginian Archeology.”
Faculty Mentor: James Newhard, professor of Classics
Emilia Olson, an Honors College international studies and public health double major, received first place for Best 3-minute Presentation for her project entitled, “Cultivating Health: Examining the Past, Present, and Future of Herbal Remedies in a Pluralistic Society.”
Faculty Mentor: Blake Scott, assistant professor of international studies
School of Education, Health, and Human Performance
Amani Dunston, an exercise science major, received the Poster Semi-finalist Award for her project entitled, “The Role of Short Duration Intermittent Fasting on Health Indices in Young Adult Females.”
Faculty Mentor: John Sieverdes, assistant professor of health and human performance
Natalie Reider, a public health major, received the Poster Semi-finalist Award for her project entitled, “The Road Map to Young Physical Fitness: An Analysis of Spatial Patterns & Built Environments.”
Faculty Mentor: Morgan Hughey, assistant professor of health and human performance
Shi’yauni Stevens, an exercise science major, received the Poster Semi-finalist Award for her project entitled, “United States University Wellness Program Components by Accreditation Agency.”
Faculty Mentor: John Sieverdes, assistant professor of health and human performance
Jenny Sella, an Honors College exercise science major, received the EHHP (Education, Health, and Human Performance) Poster Award for her project entitled, “It’s Electric! Measuring Energy Expenditure Differences between Bicycles and Electric-assist Bicycles.”
Faculty Mentor: Morgan Hughey, assistant professor of health and human performance
Mary Lightsey, an Honors College public health major, received an Alumni Association Poster Award and Poster Semi-finalist Award for her project entitled, “Associations Between Mental Health and COVID-19 Experiences During Lockdown.”
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Hart, associate professor of health and human performance
Patricia Peña, a public health major, received the Long Oral (10 minute) Presentation Award and Best 10-Minute Talk for her project entitled, “The Implications of Public Health in War and Conflict: Literature Review and Case Study.”
Faculty Mentors: Mulugeta Gebregziabher, Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Public Health Sciences, and Christy Kollath-Cattano, associate professor of public health
Jillian Gray, an Honors College public health major, received the Short Oral (3 minute) Presentation Award for her project entitled, “A Journey Map of a Patient’s Experience Through Radiation and Chemotherapy Treatments, with a Focus on Head and Neck Cancers.”
Faculty Mentor: Paul Gangarosa, health and human performance adjunct faculty
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Jayson Gulick, a sociology major, received an EXPO 2022 Outstanding Poster in Social Sciences Award for his project entitled, “Loss, Big, and Small: College Students’ Grief During COVID-19.”
Faculty Mentor: George Dickinson, professor of sociology and anthropology
Cameron Robins with Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Gibbs Knotts
Cameron Robins, an Honors College psychology major, received an EXPO 2022 Outstanding Poster in Social Sciences Award for his project entitled, “Optimizing Transdiagnostic Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation to Enhance Learning.”
Additional Authors: Christopher T. Sege, Ph.D., and Lisa M. McTeague, Ph.D., Medical University of South Carolina
Faculty Mentors: Jennifer Wilhelm, associate professor of psychology, and Danielle Taylor, Medical University of S.C./Veterans Administration Medical Center
Allen Duggar, an Honors College religious studies and English double major with a minor in music, received an EXPO 2022 Outstanding Poster in Humanities Award for his project entitled, “Let Ev’ry Land their Tongues Employ: Ritual Democracy among Shape Note Singers.”
Faculty Mentor: Lenny Lowe, assistant professor of religious studies
Darby Watford, an Honors College psychology and German double major with a minor in neuroscience, received an EXPO 2022 Outstanding Poster in Humanities Award for her project entitled, “Analysis of Social Engagement Platforms of HIV Clinics in Charleston, S.C.”
Faculty Mentor: Brooke Permenter, Honors College faculty fellow and director of student engagement
Miyah Jackson, a political science major, received an EXPO 2022 Outstanding Poster in Humanities Award for her project entitled, “The Change in the Black Experience: College of Charleston Then and Now.”
Faculty Mentor: Susan Farrell, professor of English
Paige Meyers
Paige Meyers, an Honors College psychology and biology double major with a minor in medical humanities, and Rachel Kaup, a psychology major with a minor in international studies, received an Outstanding Poster in Social Sciences Award for their project entitled, “Leveling the Playing Field: Can We Improve Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Autism.” In addition, their poster was the overall winner in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Alumni Association Award.
Faculty Mentor: Cindi May, professor of psychology
Zach Kronsberg, an Honors College political science major, received Best Poster by a Phi Kappa Phi Member for his project entitled, “Independent Redistricting Commissions and the Future of Congressional Redistricting.”
Faculty Mentor: Gibbs Knotts, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences
