Second Annual EXPO Award Recipients Present Stellar Projects

On April 13, 2023, more than 280 students from disciplines across the College of Charleston campus shared their mentored research, scholarship, creative inquiry and community service projects during the College’s EXPO , a celebration of student achievement.

The following students were recognized for their presentations and quality of research conducted during the summer of 2022 or the 2022-23 academic year.

School of Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering

Lili Boss, a meteorology , physics and marine biology triple major, received the Alumni Association Award for Best Poster, the Sigma Xi “Communicating Science” Award and the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Engineering Best Overall Presentation for the project entitled, “Using Liquid Nitrogen Capture Methods to Assess Drop-Size-Distributions Across Multiple Natural Rain Events.”
Faculty Mentor: Michael Larsen, associate professor of physics

Caitlyn Costa, a biology major and Classics minor in the Honors College , received the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Best Overall Presentation for the project entitled, “THC/CBD Vapor Self-administration Impairs Spatial Memory in an Age- and Sex-specific Manner.”
Faculty Mentor: Carmela Reichel, Medical University of South Carolina, College of Pharmacy

Abigail Ryan, a biochemistry and Spanish double major in the Honors College, received the SSME Best of the Best Award and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Best Overall Presentation for the project entitled, “Mitochondrial CYP2E1 and the Ketogenic Diet.”
Faculty Mentor: Jessica Hartman, Medical University of South Carolina, College of Pharmacy

Channing Smith, a computer science major and data science and philosophy double minor in the Honors College, received the Department of Computer Science Best Overall Presentation, for the presentation entitled, “REU: Robust Deep-learning-based Side-Channel Attacks.”
Faculty Mentor: Boyang Wang, University of Cincinnati, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Caroline Goodman, a data science major and mathematics and computer science double minor in the Honors College, received the Department of Mathematics Best Overall Presentation for the project entitled, “Formal Analysis of Data Dependent Models in Phylogeny.”
Faculty Mentor: Kris Ghosh, associate professor of computer science

Rebecca Starkey, a geology major, received the Department of Geology Best Overall Presentation for the project entitled, “A Pteranodontid Wing from the Pierre Shale with Traces of Extensive Invertebrate Scavenging.”
Faculty Mentor: Scott Persons, assistant professor of geology and curator of the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History

Layne Leggett, a marine biology major and environmental and sustainability studies minor in the Honors College, received first place for the Undergraduate Sustainability Award for the project entitled, “Microplastics Act as a Vehicle for Ingestion of Adsorbed Toxins by Aquatic Organisms.”
Faculty Mentor: Robert Podolsky, associate professor of biology and director of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program

Brison Shira, a biochemistry and Classics double major in the Honors College, received first place for the Oral Presentation Alumni Association Award for the project entitled, “Making Sense of Primordial Alphabet Soup.”
Faculty Mentor: Jay Forsythe, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry

Ashley Matunis, a biology major and neuroscience minor in the Honors College, received the Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Research Award for the project entitled, “Optogenetic Priming of Motor Circuits Facilitates Functional Recovery Following Stroke.”
Faculty Mentor: Takashi Sato, Medical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine

Eliza Frankel, an astrophysics and physics double major and mathematics minor in the Honors College, received Honorable Mention from Phi Kappa Phi for the project entitled, “Molecular Inflows and Outflows of Gravitationally Lensed Quasar HS 0810+2554.”
Faculty Mentor: George Chartas, professor of astronomy and physics

School of Business

Emily Cook, an economics major and marketing and political science double minor in the Honors College, received the School of Business Dean’s Choice Alumni Association Award for the project entitled, “”F.O.M.O and Its Relationships with Mindfulness, Social Media Usage, Loss Aversion, Risk Attitudes, and Time Preferences.”
Faculty Mentor: Calvin Blackwell, professor of economics

Isaiah Kahn, a business administration major with a concentration in entrepreneurship in the Honors College, received first place for the School of Business Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “Sentiment Surrounding ChatGPT.”
Faculty Mentor: Lancie Affonso ’96, Honors College faculty fellow, director of the E-LLC and senior instructor in computer science, management and marketing

Rex Bingham, a supply chain management and international business double major and business language in Spanish minor in the Honors College, received second place for the School of Business Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “Communication Technology in the Food Supply Chain.”
Faculty Mentor: Rafael Teixeira, assistant professor of supply chain and operations management

Sebastiano Ronchi, a supply chain management and finance double major received third place for the School of Business Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “The Information Source Terrain: Mapping Relevancy in Supply Chain Media.”
Faculty Mentor: Rafael Teixeira, assistant professor of supply chain and operations management

School of the Arts

Meleana Cabales, a music major and arts management minor in the Honors College, received the School of the Arts Dean’s Choice Alumni Association Award for the project entitled, “Kundiman: The Musical and Socio-Cultural Development of Filipino Art Song.”
Faculty Mentor: Michael O’Brien, chair of the Department of Music

Bristol Barnes, a theatre major and film studies minor, received first place for the School of the Arts Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “Constructing the Professional Theatrical Scene.”
Faculty Mentor: Jonathan Wentz, visiting assistant professor of scenic design

Molly Rumph, a theatre major with a costume design concentration and studio art minor in the Honors College, received second place for the School of the Arts Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “Developing the Costume Design Process: A Christmas Carol.”
Faculty Mentor: Janine McCabe, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance

Ethan Robey, a theatre major with a concentration in scenic design and technology and studio art minor, received third place for the School of the Arts Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “Physical vs. Digital Model Making.”
Faculty Mentor: Janine McCabe, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance

School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs

Regan Honeycutt, a biology and Spanish double major and linguistics minor in the Honors College, received the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs Dean’s Choice Alumni Association Award for the project entitled, “Animal Communication in Linguistics? What animals can teach us about language evolution.”
Faculty Mentor: Ezequiel Durand- López, assistant professor of Hispanic Linguistics

Brynn Korin, a biology major and neuroscience and Jewish studies double minor in the Honors College, received the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs Outstanding Submission Award for the project entitled, “Medical Caregivers as Perpetrators of the Holocaust.”
Faculty Mentor: Chad Gibbs, assistant professor of Jewish studies and director of the Zucker/Goldberg Center for Holocaust Studies

Andrea Kimpson, an international studies with a concentration in Latin America and the Caribbean and economics double major; a political science and Spanish double minor; and Honors College International Scholar, received third place for the Oral Presentation Alumni Association Award for the project entitled, An Evaluation of the Uniform Partition of Heirs’ Property Act.”
Faculty Mentor: Peter Calcagno, professor of economics and director of the Center for Public Choice and Market Process

School of Education

Penelope Fleckman, an exercise science major, received the School of Education Dean’s Choice Alumni Association Award for the project entitled, “Experiential Learning with a Lasting Impact.”
Faculty Mentor: Susan Flynn, senior instructor of teacher education

Ashleigh Werth, who is pursuing an M.Ed. Teaching, Learning, and Advocacy , received first place for the School of Education Best Poster Award and third place for the Graduate School Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “The Redefinition of Nutrition Education.”
Faculty Mentor: Kevin Eakes, assistant dean of Assessment & Professional Practice

Rosemarie Porter, who is pursuing an M.Ed. Teaching, Learning, and Advocacy, received second place for the School of Education Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “ELA Curriculum Audit and Professional Development Proposal.”
Faculty Mentor: Kevin Eakes, assistant dean of Assessment & Professional Practice

Kathleen Rexroad, who is pursuing an M.Ed. Teaching, Learning, and Advocacy, received third place for the School of Education Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “How Could We Have Retained Our Teachers?”
Faculty Mentor: Will McCorkle, assistant professor of educational foundations and social studies education

School of Health Sciences

Lisa Gawes, a public health major, received the School of Health Sciences Dean’s Choice Alumni Association Award for the project entitled, “Health Information Seeking Among African American Adults in the Tri-County Area.”
Faculty Mentor: Sarah Maness, assistant professor of public health

Allison Carter, a pubic health major and religious studies minor in the Honors College, received first place for the School of Health Sciences Best Poster Award and second place for the Undergraduate Sustainability Award for the project entitled, “Urban Park Quality in Lisbon, Portugal.”
Faculty Mentor: Morgan Hughey, assistant professor of health and human performance

Lilliana Taylor, a public health major and music minor in the Honors College, received second place for the School of Health Sciences Best Poster Award and Honorable Mention from Phi Kappa Phi for the project entitled, “Prevalence and Associations of Food Insecurity on a College Campus with a Student-run Food Pantry.”
Faculty Mentor: Kathleen Trejo Tello, assistant professor of public health

Brooke Emery, a public health major and chemistry minor in the Honors College, received third place for the School of Health Sciences Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “Conspicuous Coliforms: Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Two of Charleston’s Most Popular Recreational Waterways.”
Faculty Mentors: Heather Fullerton, assistant professor of biology, and Brian Bossak, associate professor of public health

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Bailey Brewer, a public health major and sociology minor in the Honors College, received the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean’s Choice Alumni Association Award for the project entitled, “Historical Challenges of Abortion Providers in the American South.”
Faculty Mentors: Beth Sundstrom, associate professor of strategic health communication and director of the Women’s Health Research Team, and Cara Delay, professor of history

Catherine Quarles, an English major and studio art and southern studies double minor, received the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Top Humanities Award for the project entitled, “Teaching Queer Southern Literature.”
Faculty Mentors: Julia Eichelberger, professor of English and Marybelle Higgins Howe Professor of Southern Literature

Jessica Andrews, a psychology major with history minor, received the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Top Social Sciences Award for the project entitled, “Our Emotions in Writing.”
Faculty Mentor: Sarah Robertson, associate professor of psychology

Courtney Smith, a communication and political science double major in the Honors College, received second place for the Oral Presentation Alumni Association Award for the project entitled, “Women’s Health & Cross-Generational Communication in the Rural Southeast.”
Faculty Mentor: Cara Delay, professor of history

The Graduate School

Cayden Dunn ’22, who is pursuing an M.S. in data science and analytics , received first place for the Graduate School Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “The Perfect Partnership: The Synergistic Benefits of Large Language Models and Computational Knowledge Engines.”
Faculty Mentor: Navid Hashemi, assistant professor, Graduate Program director M.S. in Data Science and Analytics

Kassidy Lange, who is pursuing an M.S. in marine biology , received second place for the Graduate School Best Poster Award for the project entitled, “Ecophysiological Approach to Assessing Symbiodinium in Mesophotic Octocorals Swiftia Exserta and Muricea Pendula to Support Laboratory-based Propagation.”
Faculty Mentor: Peter Etnoyer, NOAA Deep Coral Ecology Lab

Nicole Killen, who is pursuing a concurrent master of environmental and sustainability studies and public administration , received first place for the Graduate Sustainability Award for the project entitled, “Nudging Toward Sustainable Waste Practices within Athletic Facilities at the College of Charleston.”
Faculty Mentor: Calvin Blackwell, professor of economics

Hannah Quast, who is pursuing a concurrent master of environmental and sustainability studies and public administration, received second place for the Graduate Sustainability Award for the project entitled, “Investigating Potential Consequences of Compound Flooding on Ecosystem Value in Coastal Watersheds.”
Faculty Mentor: Timothy Callahan, professor and chair of the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences