Oral Presentations
This year, graduate and undergraduate students join group discussions in the UC on Wednesday, March 22. On Thursday, March 23, oral presenters from the Doctor of Physical Therapy program will hold a discussion session in the UC Theater. These discussions are moderated by a WCU faculty member and facilitate positive and collaborative conversations amongst peers and faculty.
Wednesday, March 22
Session 1A: English 9:00 am – 11:00 am
~ UC 215 Catamount Room ~
Moderator: Dr. Brian Gastle
Session 2: STEM 9:00 am – 11:00 am
~ UC 232 Multi-purpose Room ~
Moderator: Dr. Robert Youker
Session 3: Social Sciences 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
~ UC 212 Dogwood Room ~
Moderator: Dr. Katy Allen
Schedule for
Oral Presentation
Sessions
Thursday, March 23
Doctor of Physical Therapy 1:30 pm – 4:15 pm
~ UC 315 Theater ~
Moderator: Dr. Tim Eckard
Wednesday, March 22
Session 1B: English 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
~ UC 215 Catamount Room ~
Moderator: Dr. Brian Gastle
Session 4: Humanities 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
~ UC 212 Dogwood Room ~
Moderator: Dr. Ben Steere
Session 5: Applied Health Sciences 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
~ UC 232 Multi-purpose Room ~
Moderator: Dr. Chad Hallyburton
Oral Presentations By College and Degree Program
College of Arts and Sciences
Session 2 Biology – M.S.
A Study of Previously Undescribed Morphological, Cytological, and Molecular Variation in the Eastern North American Flowering Plant, Micranthes virginiensis (Saxifragaceae)
Graduate Student: Tara Hall
Understanding Mechanisms of Song Frequency Shifting in Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) Exposed to Noise
Graduate Student: Karen Inouye
Landscape Ecology on Round Bald, a look at vegetation dynamics following low-intensity ground fire disturbance.
Graduate Student: Ted Hillert
Searching for the White Fringeless Orchid in Western North Carolina
Graduate Student: Mitzi Harding
Patterns of Pair Boldness and Mate Recognition in Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia)
Graduate Student: Nicole Cook
Session 2 Chemistry & Physics – B.A.
Current Determinations of the Biochemical Mechanisms of the Amatoxin α-Amanitin in Destroying Angel Mushrooms
Undergraduate Student: Mage Naef
Session 4 Ceramics – M.F.A.
Pride Pots : A Safe Container for Community Conversations
Graduate Student: Jennefer McCool Orbeck
Session 1A English Studies – M.A and B.A.
Examining Southern Appalachian Feminism in Ron Rash’s Serena
Graduate Student: Johnny Holloway
Recalcitrant Rhetorics: Closed Media Systems in Deliberative Democracy
Graduate Student: Emily Poole
Lady Macbeth: Motherhood, Masculinity, and Marriage
Undergraduate Student: Hannah Vanvlack
Mothers: The Ultimate Determinants of Femininity in Toni Morrison’s Sula
Undergraduate Student: Hailey Morris
Session 1B English Studies – M.A.
Letters from Henry M. Misemer to Martha Misemer, 1864
Graduate Student: Braulio Fonseca
Letters from Levi Morrison Bogart to his sister Martha Jane Misemer, 1863-65
Graduate Student: Hannah McLeod
Editing Civil War Letters: Widow’s Applications for Pension, Martha Misemer, 1865-1867
Graduate Student: Aimee Kling
Session 4 History – M.A.
Broken Promises: The Cherokee Experience During the First Creek War
Graduate Student: James Reinemann
Session 4 School of Art & Design – B.A.
Role of Interior Design within Equitable Community Development
Undergraduate Student: Avery Grice
College of Education and Allied Professions
Session 3 Special Education (Adapted Curriculum) – M.A.ED
Putting the “Individual” Back in the “Individual Education Plan”
Graduate Student: Amber Henry
Session 3 Psychology – B.A.
Faculty and Student Synergy Concerning Study Strategies
Undergraduate Student: Lindsey Spencer
The Relationship Between Alexithymia and Risk for College Students
Undergraduate Student: Anna Sulzen
Attitudes and Perceptions of College Students who have Siblings with Disabilities
Undergraduate Student: Evelyn Voegeli
Session 4 Philosophy & Religion – B.A.
A Desire for Suffering: Escaping the Good Life Through Camus and Sartre
Undergraduate Student: Jared Ross
College of Engineering and Technology
Session 2 School of Engineering & Technology – B.A.
Small Modular Reactor Based Microgrid Cost Optimization
Undergraduate Students: Brayden Beaver, John Kiger, Andrew Warner, and Juan Carlos Gonzalez Castillo
Session 5 Kimmel School of Construction Management – B.A.
Effects of Climatic Factors on Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement’s Performance
Undergraduate Students: Megan McIntosh
College of Health and Human Sciences
Session 5 Family Nurse Practitioner – D.N.P.
Impact of Mediterreanean Diet on Cardiovascular risk during postmenopause
Graduate Student: Michele Cole
Allergen Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis
Graduate Student: Christy Sparks
Session 5 School of Health Sciences – B.A.
Prescribed Burns as a Significant Contributor of Fine Particulate Matter in Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina
Undergraduate Students: Evan Joseph and Mackenzie Campbell
Session 3 Social Work – M.S.W.
Efficacy of Verbally Administered versus Self-Reporting of PHQ-2 Screening for Depression in a Primary Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Graduate Student: Ren Carmichael
Physical Therapy – D.P.T.
Fostering enhancement of Critical thinking skills in Generation Z for success in DPT education and beyond
Graduate Students: Chase Brokaw, Troy Edwards, Morgan Forbes-Robinson, Miranda McCurdy, and David Norton
Faculty Member: Tammy Simmons
Impacting the Physical Therapy Education Environment through Service Learning & Technology
Graduate Students: Kali Beck, Jacob Culler, Kyle Knop, Rebecca Marziale, Annie Milschewski, and Emilee Speer
The effects of lower limb torsion and strength on squatting
Graduate Students: Chase Boone, Marissa Forbes, Eric Maennle, Maddi Sain, and Caitlin Somarriba
Walk with Ease: A Community Mobility Program
Graduate Students: Bailey Hill, Alyssa Fennell, Hannah Mabry, Tiffany Sewell, Katie Plotz, and Alexa Allen
The Application of Clinical Reasoning Hierarchies in Physical Therapy Practice
Graduate Students: Micaiah Shelton , Joshua Blocker, Ruby Dixon, and Steven Tran
Understanding the background and treatment of the rotational profile of typically developing children with in-toeing
Graduate Students: Anissa Avila, Laura Mikos, Rebecca Chapin, and Olivia Bryant
Relationship Between Obturator Internus and Pelvic Floor Musculature
Graduate Students: Haley Epps, Hayley Mase Andrea Ritchie, and Rin Watson
Faculty Member: Dr.Keskula
Injury Prevention for Rural Youth Athletes in Siguatepeque Honduras, a Study of Learning Satisfaction in Futbol Coaches
Graduate Students: Colin Ramsey and Taylor Thurman
The effect of focus of attention on motor performance and learning during a sit to stand task in individuals post stroke
Graduate Students: Josh Chesnut, Johnathan Joyner, Allison Schimmoller, Taylor Barry, Alex Huntsinger, Chloe Sullivan, Zayd Fattah, and Haley Sherbert
Faculty advisor: Ashley Hyatt
College of Business
Session 3 School of Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Hospitality and Tourism Management – B.A.
The Non- traditional Special Need parent and today’s college demands
Undergraduate Student: Innocentia Dumor
Session 4 School of Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, and Business Law – B.A.
Where are our Hispanic lawyers? How we can respect, recruit, and retain law students of Hispanic descent
Undergraduate Student: Simon Gugerli