Student Makes Presentation

Kristin Nelson, a Westminster College senior sociology-criminal justice and English major, presented her capstone research Oct. 27 at a meeting of the Pennsylvania Sociological Society.

"The project, The Decline of Social Connectivity Related to Stress, Depression, Isolation, and Suicide in College Students,' focuses on a social problem that needs much research and possible solutions," Nelson said. "This research will be conducted deductively since I will be testing what other researchers have concluded, and inductively because I anticipate finding theory-building' evidence."

The research is supervised by Dr. Virginia Tomlinson, Westminster associate professor of sociology, and Dr. Kristin Park, Westminster associate professor of sociology, who asked Nelson to make the presentation.

Nelson stated, "The conference was a good experience because I was able to present my research and to see other undergraduate research projects. It was beneficial to be exposed to different presentation methods and styles. I was very impressed with the presentation by Dr. Ross Koppel of the University of Pennsylvania, whose work in medical sociology is inspiring. I am honored to represent Westminster's Sociology Department at the conference."

Nelson, a daughter of Karen Nelson of White Oak, is a graduate of McKeesport Area High School.

Contact Park at (724) 946-7251 or e-mail kpark@westminster.edu for additional information. 

More Stories