2023 Student Presenters

Anike Abegunde

Lab Coat to Chef’s Apron: Exploring Chemistry in Food Research & Development

Anike, an ACS chemistry major from Slough, United Kingdom, joined the Food Pathway to take an interdisciplinary look at topics like food insecurity, the cultural importance of food, and food system sustainability.

As a sophomore, Anike won a Summer Science Research Institute grant to work with Associate Professor of Chemistry Tanya Schneider studying the organic synthesis of alpha-helix mimetic inhibitors. Last summer, Anike interned at North Carolina State University Center for Marine Sciences and Technology in Professor Alexander Chouljenko’s seafood science laboratory.

“My interest in my animating question, ‘What are some of the roles chemistry plays in food research and development?’ is the result of a combination of my academic background in chemistry, inspiration from professors in the field from North Carolina State University and my own curiosity about ever-changing food trends,” Anike said.

She added that she hopes the Symposium audience learns “Food without chemistry is like a meal without seasoning—bland and missing something.”

After graduation, Anike, who is also president of Conn’s Christian Fellowship, plans to pursue a master’s degree and Ph.D. in food science.

Trevor Vigeant

Preventive Care: Accessibility, Cost, and Media Myths

Trevor, a biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology and neuroscience double major from Worcester, Massachusetts, joined the Public Health Pathway to integrate his studies in biology, chemistry, sociology, psychology and statistics and address modern public health issues.

Trevor gained an interest in healthcare accessibility and preventative care during his “Sociology of Health” course, in which he wrote a paper proposing an intersectional approach to public health in rural communities in Georgia in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

This past summer, Trevor interned at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, where he collaborated with healthcare professionals to lead a breakthrough project based on Dr. Peter Attia’s book “Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity,” which culminated in a presentation on the finances of preventative care recommendations. Additionally, he had the opportunity to hear Dr. Luke O’Neill speak about the importance of spreading credible information during the COVID pandemic.

“At the Symposium, I will be speaking about the pros and cons of preventative care and sharing the cost-analysis of preventative care project I did this summer. I hope the audience walks away with new insight into the outstanding cost of preventative care and an understanding of the need to be more critical of healthcare trends and overarching statements,” he said.

On campus, Trevor is a presidential scholar, a student adviser, co-chair of the Chemistry Department Student Advisory Board, a member of the Pre-Health Club, a varsity weight room monitor, a member of the Club Golf team, and a former member of the varsity track and field team. He is also a volunteer at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London and a mental health crisis line counselor.

An aspiring pediatric neurosurgeon, Trevor plans to spend a year after graduation conducting research in a clinical setting before pursuing medical school.

Sophie George

The Nature of Healing: How to Heal through Art

An art and education double major from Richmond, Virginia, Sophie joined the Creativity Pathway to connect her classwork and experiences around a common theme.

“I have always considered myself a creative person, and I wanted to learn more about how I can use that skill to motivate me and deepen my learning across all of my courses, planned internships and projects,” she said.

Over her four years, Sophie has completed four internships with artists in Asheville, North Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia, including a printmaking artist who owned her own small business, a ceramist and ceramics teacher at the Visual Arts Center in Richmond, a metal work and found object sculptor and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a sculptor and jewelry designer who was working on a recycled material sculpture installation.

“Through these experiences, I observed artists working in the world and saw what motivated them to continue to create in an environment where making money with your art is near impossible,” she said. “I saw in different ways in each of these experiences how making art is a need for some people. I observed how the act of creating was healing—healing to the environment, healing to yourself, and healing to the community around you.

“I realized that this is what animates me most in my own art-making,” she continued. “Making this connection has greatly influenced my senior art thesis, which centers around healing.”

Sophie, who works primarily in sculpture, including glasswork, woodwork, ceramics, and found objects, is working to create visual representations and abstract art centering around the journey of healing.

“I am drawing allusions to the way nature heals itself and centering the healing of the Earth as an undercurrent in my art through reusing materials and drawing on natural imagery,” she said. “I hope my Symposium audience gains a new appreciation for enjoying art and art making, and I hope they can see how healing and growth can happen through creativity.”

After graduation, Sophie hopes to work as a studio assistant for an established artist while continuing to work on her own art.

Valentina Baehrle

How Can the Russian Internal Struggle Between Authoritarianism and Resistance Be Understood Musically?

An international relations major and Slavic studies and music double minor, Valentina joined the Peace and Conflict Pathway to hone in on the aspects of international relations she found most compelling: mediation, peace-building and conflict resolution.

“My interest in my Symposium topic—music’s ability to be an outlet of resistance throughout various time periods in modern Russia—technically dates back to my freshman year when I learned about Shostakovich’s wartime symphonies in a music history class,” she said.

Learning about the dynamics of nationalism and ethnic conflict in Europe, especially within the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, helped her further synthesize academic interests.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay area of California, Valentina studied abroad at the Freie Universität Berlin, where she took intensive German language lessons and studied international relations and economics. She then interned at Berlin’s Hertie School Centre for International Security, where she published security briefs and helped write literature reviews and research papers on nuclear weapons and security. On campus, Valentina is a member of the varsity volleyball team and a pianist and violinist in the Music Department. She has also worked as a Chinese language tutor and a music theory tutor, served as a member of the Music Student Advisory Board, and is co-chair of the Government and International Relations Student Advisory Board.

After graduation, Valentina plans to work for a Washington, D.C.-based NGO focused on peace building or foreign policy and relations before pursuing a master’s degree in either peace studies or international studies at a German university.

At the Symposium, she is looking forward to sharing her findings with the campus community.

“My hope is the audience learns that resistance has a long and vibrant history in Russia, that fine arts are integral to Russian identity, and that it is possible to reignite this resistance in the country again,” she said. “Most importantly, I want the audience to leave the Symposium feeling that the West should not give up on the Russian people. In authoritarian countries, it is always incredibly imperative to invest in its citizens.”

Shawnia Yon

It’s More Than A Dance Studio

Shawnia, a dance and economics double major from Queens, New York, was first introduced to the concept of entrepreneurship at the age of 9.

“My father would have me read Enterprise Magazine for my fourth-grade reading logs,” Shawnia remembers. “I always knew entrepreneurship was something I wanted to study and pursue in the future.”

Shawnia also grew up dancing, and she’s been training in the art of dance for more than a decade. Joining the Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation, Value and Change Pathway gave her the opportunity to combine her passions and explore her animating question: How do dancers utilize entrepreneurship to navigate their careers?

This past summer, the senior was accepted into two dance programs at a world-renowned dance center in New York City.

“I trained for 10 hours a day in multiple dance styles and networked with prominent people within the dance industry, including dancers and choreographers who have done tours with Beyonce and P Diddy, are currently on Broadway, have danced on film and television, and have performed at concerts,” she said. “I also worked with my mentors who work with celebrities for professional dance-related jobs and have talked to them about the industry and how to navigate it as a professional dancer.”

On campus, Shawnia is a big sib in the Genesis Program, has performed in the Dance Department Faculty Show, and is a member of the Dance Club, the Black Student Union, and the Women of Color Collective. At the Symposium, she’ll present a poster and a short video.

“I wanted to present a project that will invite people into the world of dance so they can learn and grow, and even debunk stereotypes along the way,” she said.

After graduation, Shawnia plans to continue dancing. “My goal is to have a prosperous dance career. I also want to start my own business and give back to my communities.”

Bazeed Shahzad

don’t lose your head over it

Joining the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology felt like a natural fit for Bazeed, a studio art and computer science double major from Lahore, Pakistan.

“The Ammerman Center has been a realm of exploration for me, filled with myriad opportunities to engage with like-minded individuals passionate about the confluence of arts and technology,” Bazeed said. “Each course I took and every project I embarked upon deepened my understanding and amplified the importance of integrating both disciplines in today’s digital age.”

For two summers, Bazeed worked with Computer Science Professor James Lee on virtual reality and game research projects. In 2022, he worked at Christie’s in New York City as a corporate and digital marketing intern investigating front-end digital client journey and design feedback.

Bazeed is now collaborating with fellow Ammerman scholar Giorgi Chikvaidze ’24 on “don’t lose your head over it,” a 3D animated short film about dealing with personal trauma through the lens of Pakistani and Georgian folklore symbolism.

“My fascination with my Symposium topic sprouted from the deep-rooted stories of my homeland that have always resonated with me,” Bazeed said. “I’ve channeled this connection into a 3D animated short film that weaves together the enchanting folktales of Punjab, Pakistan. Over time, these tales have played pivotal roles in echoing societal concerns, capturing collective aspirations and reflecting the contrasting facets of our culture. Through my immersion in Punjab’s tapestry of folk narratives, my objective is to highlight the significance of these tales in shaping societal perceptions and to deepen the understanding of our shared cultural treasures.”

He continued, “Through my Symposium presentation, I aspire to impart to the audience the transformative power of storytelling. I hope they come to recognize the potential of cultural narratives in bridging gaps, celebrating diversity, and reinforcing shared human experiences across geographical boundaries.”

After graduation, Bazeed, who serves as an art and computer science tutor and an independent living coordinator on campus, hopes to work in the video game industry or broader entertainment sector as a concept artist or animator.

“I truly believe that blending traditional arts with modern technology can offer fresh perspectives, and I am committed to furthering this integration in my future endeavors,” he said. “I’m grateful for the support and experiences Connecticut College and the Ammerman Center have provided me, and I’m excited to share my journey at the Symposium.”

Michael McCullom

Addressing Mental Health Issues that Impact AYA Cancer Patients and Survivors

Michael, a psychology and American studies double major from West Orange, New Jersey, joined the Public Health Pathway to study the psychological aspects of cancer care and learn more about methods to support adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients both in and out of treatment.

For Michael, the interest is personal. “I suffered from mental illness because of trauma from my experience with having cancer during my senior year of high school. After having problems even after I completed my cancer treatments, I realized there is a lot of work that needs to be done in this field, and I want to give back to this community I am part of,” he said.

While at Conn, Michael attended Cancercon in Atlanta, Georgia, where he learned more about the unique daily life experiences of adolescent and young adult cancer patients and survivors.

“Cancer patients face a multitude of problems that are not just physical, even after they are done with cancer treatment. There is a misconception that after people are in remission, they are completely healthy, and that has been proven to be untrue. Oftentimes, the experience of having cancer can leave lasting trauma, especially on adolescents and young adults who feel like they are still at the beginning of their lives,” he said.

At the Symposium, Michael, who serves as an Academic Resource Center receptionist, Admission fellow, and Honor Council representative on campus, will present a PowerPoint on addressing the mental health issues impacting AYA cancer patients and survivors.

“I hope the audience will walk away having a lot more knowledge about the work being done to help cancer patients and survivors from a psycho-social lens, the disparities that occur in cancer care regarding mental health, and the issues that still need to be addressed,” he said.

After graduation, Michael plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work and work in research. “I eventually want to earn a Ph.D. in psychology specializing in health psychology. I want to work with AYA cancer patients as a clinical psychologist and conduct psycho-oncology research, perhaps as a university professor,” he said.

Kendall Foley

Examining Agent-Centered Deontological Approaches to Data Science

Kendall, a philosophy major and data science and statistics minor from Sammamish, Washington, joined the Data, Information and Society Pathway after taking a “Psychological Statistics” course at Conn.

“I was intrigued by how this branch of data analysis attempted to capture different aspects of human experience, as well as the philosophical questions and concerns that came with this practice,” Kendall said.

The experience has allowed her to explore data science from a variety of perspectives. For example, while studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh, Kendall took a “Theology in the Age of Technology” course, exploring approaches to data science and AI within Christianity.

“Gaining an understanding of how identity can shape approaches to data science led me to my Symposium topic,” she said.

As a sophomore, Kendall was awarded a Funded Sophomore Research Program grant to conduct research at the Yang-Tan Institute of Cornell University Industrial and Labor Relations School. This past summer, she interned at BlackRock as a summer analyst with the analytics, insights and research team.

On campus, Kendall is co-captain of the women’s water polo team, chair of the Philosophy Student Advisory Board, a team representative for One Love, and a lead fellow for the Office of Student Accessibility Services.

At the Symposium, Kendall will present a poster. “I hope my audience will further question the purported objective nature of quantitative analysis and reflect on the role that identity may play as it relates to feelings of duty and responsibility within day-to-day life,” she said.

After graduation, Kendall will return to BlackRock as a full-time analyst. “In my career, I hope to continue to explore the intersection of technology and ethics, particularly as it relates to research within the field of future of work,” she said.

Meredith Harper

It’s Time to BeReal: The Cost of a Curated Feed

A human development and English double major, Meredith joined the Media, Rhetoric and Communications Pathway to sharpen her writing and communications skills and learn more about the influence of media.

Originally from Austin, Texas, Meredith was studying abroad in Italy last spring while the country was in the midst of privacy debates concerning TikTok and ChatGPT regulations.

“After observing Italy’s take on the topic, I was interested in comparing and contrasting the U.S. regulations on privacy and how this affects people on an individual level,” she said.

“I believe the stories we tell are the stories that define us. They will extend past us, and contribute to the ones before us. To share a narrative is to learn deeply about people. But what happens when these narratives get convoluted by public influence and misinformation? What’s the cost of having the media curate your life for you? While we love the benefit of the pop-up ads on our Instagram immediately following a conversation that briefly mentioned that Starbucks latte, is convenience worth the cost of our privacy? What is the limit of this curation, and what power do I have as the consumer? How can I control my life and narrative with Big Brother watching?”

The winner of the Pozen Prize for Excellence in Journalism, Meredith completed a research and administrative internship at the Center of Resiliency at Dell Children’s Hospital. On campus, she is a barista at Coffee Grounds, a member of and social chair for Women’s Club Soccer, a senior Admissions fellow, and a writing Tutor for the Roth Writing Center.

At the Symposium, Meredith will present a PowerPoint presentation about how public influence molds and shapes private narratives. After graduation, she plans to move to Spain to teach English at an Elementary school before pursuing a graduate degree in public health.

Teagan O’Hara

“Capitalocene’s” Impact on Water Accessibility

Teagan, a gender, sexuality and intersectionality major and environmental science minor from Woodstock, Connecticut, joined the Global Capitalism Pathway to explore how capitalism exacerbates environmental racism.

“Throughout my time at Conn, I’ve taken amazing classes, including ‘Intro to American Studies’ with Professor Michelle Neely, ‘Settler Colonialisms’ with Professor Kris Klein Hernandez, ‘Poverty and Inequality in the U.S.’ with Professor Taylor Desloge, and many GSIS courses with Professor Karen Hanna. These courses have provided me with writing, research and critical analysis skills and introduced me to case studies of grassroots organizations—often spearheaded by BIPOC women who emphasize community, survival, and revolutionary acts—that point out how water and other resources have been disproportionately distributed,” Teagan said.

“This inspired me to research how systems of oppression have turned a natural resource—water, which is supposed to be a right—into a privilege.”

Teagan spent a semester abroad at the University of Galway, Ireland studying the intersections of water rights and colonization in Irish history. She also attended a summer program with Planet Forward at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where she was part of a cohort that learned how to use multimedia to communicate stories and environmental issues in more accessible ways.

“I’ve learned about the historical background of capitalism and colonialism and how intersecting identities are affected in varying ways under oppressive systems. I’ve also learned throughout my four years at Conn and through grassroots organizing that environmental issues are not separate from human rights,” she said.

At the Symposium, Teagan will present a poster detailing several case studies which explore her animating question: How does one’s positionality within the colonial present and the neo-capitalist society affect their access to clean water?

On campus, Teagan is on the Women’s Tennis Team, an Admission ambassador and tour guide, and a member of One Love and The Hidden Opponent. After graduation, she hopes to work for grassroots organizations and pursue a master’s degree in gender studies, international relations or environmental policy.

Ben Rothstein

The Role of the Rokukoyou in Constructing and Obliterating Japanese Local Identities

Ben, an East Asian studies major from Medfield, Massachusetts, joined the Toor Cummings Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts (CISLA) to give him the opportunity to conduct research that bridges boundaries between disciplines and incorporates intercultural knowledge.

Ben became interested in Japanese art and art history research after taking Professor Di Luo’s “Japanese Art and Architecture” course. That interest led him to pursue an internship as a studio assistant at Tanbungama, a family-owned traditional ceramics studio in Tamba-Sasayama, Japan, where he helped create, fire, glaze, clean, and sell pottery.

“I learned a lot not only about Tamba-yaki ceramics themselves, but also about how central those ceramics are to the town’s economy and identity, and I decided I wanted to explore that further,” he said.

At the Symposium, Ben will present a PowerPoint presentation on how traditional ceramics have contributed to identity construction in modern Japan, and display some of his own Tamba-yaki pieces.

“I hope the audience learns about how intertwined art and politics have been throughout Japanese history and about how complicated identity is,” Ben said.

On campus, Ben is a member of CC Hillel and CQ2 and serves as a Walter Commons Fellow, a Japanese language tutor, secretary of the East Asian Studies Student Advisory Board, and a representative on the Honor Council. After graduation, he plans to teach English in Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme.

Serena Prince

Power in Grassroots Education Reform: Examining Modern Initiatives and Black Resistance Tradition

Serena, a government and Africana studies double major and Posse scholar from the Bronx, New York, says she joined the Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy because she was excited by the program’s focus on the power of communities and its emphasis on critical critiques of policies that reinforce inequality.

“Through the Holleran Center, I have explored what a career in public service looks like and the many branching paths that are open to me,” Serena said. “I have been fortunate enough to lead the Genesis Mentoring Program, intern at the New London Homeless Hospitality Center, and volunteer with various organizations globally and locally. I have been able to secure grant funding, conduct lesson planning, teach, mentor, and even research the impact of residential inequity on youth homelessness in New London.”

Serena says she took an eye-opening course, “Black Freedom Struggle,” with Professor Taylor Desloge, in which she learned about and studied centuries of Black resistance and freedom efforts in America and began to consider her own place in the broader struggle. In the spring of 2023, she was a Teach For America Remote Ignite Fellow, which gave her the opportunity to design and implement tailored lesson plans focused on reading and foundational literacy skills for a diverse group of third graders with various learning challenges. Over the summer, she interned with the Sasamani Foundation in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, where she worked to empower young girls and impoverished students in the coastal region through mentoring and in-class educational support.

Those experiences led her to hone in on her animating question: How can we reimagine education through the lens of Black political Resistance?

“My Symposium topic, which focuses on the intersections of race, class, and education, derives from my own life experiences and my majors in African studies and government. The Holleran Center, ultimately, gave me an opportunity to tie all my interests together into a Senior Integrative Project/Independent Study where I am observing the racial oppression of Black people in the form of segregation and how this has impacted the socioeconomic and educational outcomes of Black Americans. I am also able to focus on the grassroots and political initiatives Black Americans employed to resist the mix of racism and classism as frameworks for how we can now reimagine what progressive education reform can look like today,” she said. “I hope that the audience leaves truly moved by the remarkable Black organizing in the face of racism and classism as well as inspired to continue the fight for equitable and progressive change.”

In September, Serena had the opportunity to present an early version of her project at “Black Resistance,” the 108th annual conference of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in Jacksonville, Florida.

“I received so much helpful feedback that has helped me to continue constructing my project,” she said. “It was also truly soul-stirring to be part of Black resistance in Florida with a conference that I am currently studying as a marker of powerful Black organizing in education.”

After graduation, Serena, who serves on campus as a Connections student ambassador, Student Government Association chair of academic affairs, a Race and Ethnicity Programs fellow, and a Holleran Center fellow, plans to pursue a Ph.D. to continue studying African American history and Black studies.

Maddie Gassin

Repeat Photography to Document the Effects of Climate Change on Icelandic Glaciers

Maddie became fascinated with Arctic landscapes—and glaciers, in particular—after watching the 2013 film, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” as a child. She knew she wanted to study and photograph glaciers, and joining Conn’s Environmental Studies Program and renowned Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment seemed like the perfect way to explore those interests, she says.

An environmental studies major and philosophy minor, Maddie grew up splitting most of her childhood between Texas and France before her family moved recently to Amherst, New Hampshire. As a sophomore at Conn, Maddie worked on an independent research project with Professor Jane Dawson in which she studied the rise and development of the South Korean environmental movement and traveled to South Korea to conduct interviews.

For the past two summers, she has worked as a temporary field technician studying the effects of melting permafrost in Alaska with the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), a National Science Foundation-funded project also sponsored by the Battelle Memorial Institute.

“I not only gained excellent experience in Arctic fieldwork, but also in Arctic safety,” Maddie said.

The senior, who will graduate in December, is now working on an honors thesis that explores the effects of climate change on Icelandic glaciers using repeat photography. The project includes an in-depth literature review as well as an analysis of historical and repeated photographs of glaciers in Iceland, including photos taken by Maddie’s thesis adviser, Professor Doug Thompson in 2013 and photos taken by Maddie in 2023.

“I believe that using photography as a tool to communicate the effects of climate change on glaciers opens up the conversation surrounding climate change to non-scientists and encourages them to think more philosophically about our planet and the ethics of the effects of our behavior,” Maddie said.

On campus, Maddie is co-captain of the Dance Team and a member of the Dance Club, the Connecticut College Singers, the Disability Affinity Club, and MOBROC (Musicians Organized for Band Rights on Campus).

After graduation, Maddie plans to return to Alaska to continue working with NEON before applying to graduate school.

John Garvey

Tech Solutions for Inclusive Learning

John, an economics major and finance minor from Hamden, Connecticut, joined the Entrepreneurship Pathway to learn more about how he might implement augmented reality technology to improve inclusive learning.

“My brother struggles with learning disabilities and seeing the difficulties he faced, especially when COVID-19 restrictions disrupted in-person learning, inspired me to research ways that technology could help students like him,” John said. “The Entrepreneurship Pathway provided the perfect opportunity to take my passion for using technology to drive positive change and turn it into a scalable solution that can improve learning outcomes for underserved students.”

A former varsity hockey player, John worked as a private equity analyst intern with a small private equity firm specializing in technology solutions. On campus, he is the leader of the finance interview cohort, and an accounting tutor and financial markets and institutions tutor.

At the Symposium, Garvey will present a poster highlighting market research on the growth of augmented reality in the education sector and demonstrating the viability of implementing the technology to transform learning.

“I hope the audience leaves with an understanding of AR’s benefits for underserved students, as well as an appreciation of how cross-disciplinary interests and passions can inspire innovative solutions to real-world problems. Most importantly, I want to convey that technology, when thoughtfully applied, harbors immense power to profoundly and positively impact lives,” he said.

After graduation, John is moving to Chicago, where he has accepted a position as an investment banking analyst at Brown Gibbons Lang & Company, a middle-market investment bank primarily focused on mergers and acquisitions.

Miranda Dowie

To Educate and Entertain: Targeting Audiences for Exhibitions and Events

Conn’s Museum Studies certificate program was a big draw for Miranda, an art and art history double major from Windham, New Hampshire.

“It’s one of the reasons I applied to Conn. I knew I wanted to work in a museum one day and I knew the program would be more interdisciplinary than a museum studies major or minor,” she said.

Miranda became interested in her Symposium topic after working at two very different art organizations, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum adjacent to campus and Hygienic Art in downtown New London.

“I was intrigued by the different audiences they cater to,” she said. “I learned a lot about the different functions of museums and galleries in terms of events and arts education. Their roles are similar—to expose the community to the arts—however, they focus on very different communities and age ranges.”

On campus, Miranda has worked as a student advancement officer and senior class gift officer in the Office of Advancement, and as a gallery attended in Conn’s Cummings Arts Galleries. After graduation, she plans to work in a museum or gallery before pursuing graduate school.

“I hope to use my experience with experience with advancement to begin fundraising for organizations that I believe in,” she said. “I want to gain more life experience before going to grad school to either continue my art history degree or pursue a museum studies or library sciences degree to center my academic focus on museums.”

All-College Symposium Student Presenters

Meet some of the 2023 Symposium presenters: