Conducive Classrooms, Numerical Representation, Lignin Degration are Topics of McNair Fellow Presentations

Eleven Wesleyan seniors will speak on their undergraduate research projects during the Spring 2012 McNair Fellow Presentation Series March 29 through April 26. The presentations describe the research that students conducted with Wesleyan faculty mentors.

Many of the projects also are the subject of student theses or final papers presented for the Wesleyan B.A. requirements.

The Wesleyan University Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement McNair Program was established in 2007. It assists students from underrepresented groups with preparing for, entering, and progressing successfully through postgraduate education. They are often first generation college students from low-income families, OR African-American, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, or Native American.

The program provides guidance, research opportunities, and academic and financial support to students planning to pursue Ph.Ds. Junior and Senior Fellows do research with faculty mentors and participate in program activities with the McNair cohort. More than 59 students have participated in the program, 40 of whom were first generation college attendees.

The program provides guidance, research opportunities, and academic and financial support to students planning to pursue Ph.Ds.

“We’re very proud of our graduating fellows,” says Santos Cayetano, administrative director of the McNair Program. “Many of our fellows go on to graduate school and post baccalaureate programs. We welcome the entire Wesleyan community to come hear about their research.”

All talks are at noon in Exley Science Center 109. The schedule is as follows:

March 29
Julia Marroquin-Ceron ’12 will present “Spanish legal translation and interpretation: Wesleyan students and involvement in the greater Middletown community.” Her advisor is Octavio Flores-Cuadra, adjunct professor of romance languages and literatures.

Albert Maldonado ’12 will present “Facilitating a conducive classroom environment.” His advisor is Robert Steele, professor of psychology.

April 5

AhDream Smith ’12 will present “Representations of the Black female: a minority of one (a self-reflection).” Her advisor is Robert Steele.

Alejandra Olvera ’12 will speak on “Investigation of lignin degradation pathway amidohydrolase enzymes.” Olvera’s advisor is Erika Taylor, assistant professor of chemistry, assistant professor of environmental studies.

April 12
Melanie Brady ’12 will present on “Embryonic development of Coloboma and neurological phenomena experienced in the visually-deficient world.” Her advisor is James Donady, professor of biology.

Nicole Long ’12 will speak on “Representations of crimes and criminals in children’s television.” Her advisor is Sarah Carney, visiting assistant professor of psychology.

April 19

Shipra Kanjlia ’12 will present “Cognitive development of numerical representation: the role of corrective feedback.” Her advisor is Hilary Barth, assistant professor of psychology, assistant professor of neuroscience and behavior.

Matthew Figueroa ’12 will speak on “The emotional effects of self-image threats.” His advisor is Patricia Rodriguez-Mosquera, assistant professor of psychology.

April 26

Naadu Bentsi-Enchill ’12 will present “Parameters of interpretation in dance.” Her advisor is Susan Lourie, adjunct professor of dance. Stephanie Aracena ’12 will present “Do Bacillus species specialize by elevation and soil region?” Her advisor is Fred Cohan, professor of biology, professor of environmental studies.

Tasmiha Khan ’12 will speak on “Responses to devaluation among American Muslims.” Her advisor is Patricia Rodriguez-Mosquera.

For more information contact Patrice Barrett at 860-685-3013 or pbarrett01@wesleyan.edu.