Abstracts
Being a "professor" involves more than being a teacher. Good professors also contribute to the bank of human knowledge and serve our institutions by helping to solve administrative problems. By taking a job at a liberal arts college, however, Westminster faculty members have chosen a professional academic identity in which the most important thing we do is teach undergraduate students. For the last dozen years, I have devoted my scholarly research to finding ways to improve how my colleagues and I teach my discipline of global politics. My identities as a scholar and an administrator are interwoven with my identity as a teacher, and being a scholar of pedagogy brings them all together. Because its goal is student learning, and because each student comes to learning with different experiences, understandings, and intellectual gifts, good teaching is both and an art and a science. This presentation lays out some of what I have learned about how teaching at a liberal arts college can live up to the potential of students.
This talk addresses how the Russo-Ukrainian war has accelerated changes in the politics of the Russian Federation and how these changes, as well as the war itself, have impacted scholarship in the fields of Eurasian studies and international relations. The shift in Russia’s political system away from what scholar’s described as competitive authoritarianism to a more fully authoritarian system, coupled with an increasingly hostile view of Russia in the West, has had significant impact on both the production of scholarship about Russia, and on the presentation of that scholarship to students. Considering these changes, Dr. Aleprete will discuss how his book project, Russian Politics and the Emergence of Eurasia, seeks to provide students with the ability to understand developments in Russian domestic and foreign affairs as extensions of problems which have their origins in the period Soviet collapse and have been exacerbated by endemic weaknesses in both Russia’s domestic institutions and in Russia’s international position. Putin, and Putinism, in this view offered Russians a restorationist project appealing to both elites and the wider population dismayed by the economic, social and political disintegration that accompanied the collapse of the Soviet Union. In this, Russia’s post-Soviet experience shares some parallels to the experiences of other Eurasian states, though Russia also differs from these other states, in the ongoing commitment of its elites to maintain Russia’s status as both a global great power and a regional hegemon.
This presentation will summarize undergraduate research conducted in my laboratory that is focused on antibiotic resistance, and the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in nature. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria occurred soon after the introduction of antibiotics to treat infectious disease. Antibiotic resistance among pathogens is now ubiquitous. The different types of antibiotic resistance mechanisms and the ways that bacteria share genetic information will be briefly presented to illustrate the challenges to studying resistance and overcoming the problem clinically. Student-generated results will be presented to show the widespread distribution of antibiotic resistance in nature, and to highlight the work current students are doing in my lab to identify substances with antibacterial properties.
Economic progress and corresponding human consumption continue to deplete natural resources reserves through the extraction and processing of critical materials and critical minerals. Critical materials/minerals are defined in the United States Code - 30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(2-3) as materials vital to the economic or national security of the U.S., vulnerable to supply chain disruption, and serving an essential function in the manufacture of a product, whose absence would have significant consequences. Removing critical minerals from the earth (mining) also has detrimental effects on the environment and human health. One possible strategy to mitigate the pollution, biodiversity loss, and waste production associated with mining is adopting the principles of a circular economy. A circular economy involves (among other principles) reusing, repairing, and recycling materials and products for as long as possible. The ongoing research in the Smith lab focuses on the novel application of existing and robust chemical processes for recovering critical minerals from industrial waste streams. The majority of our work involves using separation technology to: (1) recover critical minerals from oilfield brine; (2) separate samarium and cobalt from scrap magnets; and (3) extract rare earth elements from carbon byproducts. The process development and preliminary results will be discussed.
This presentation traces the development, implementation, and subsequent real-world adventures of a faculty sabbatical project, addressing some current issues of academic scholarship in general terms, while also providing some discussion of translation studies and practices. The project in question is a translation and anthology of works by Spanish author Antonio Muñoz Molina, which has, over time, adopted multiple formats and venues. The presentation describes the execution of the project (how works were chosen, the act of translation, review work with colleagues and a superstar research assistant, etc.) and also what has occurred in the time since the project was completed (work with the author and potential outlets for publication). To demonstrate each of these areas, several sample texts from the anthology will be presented and discussed.
Women leaders in the male-dominated industry of professional sports must balance many responsibilities on a day-to-day basis and they are often invisible to colleagues. While many, especially men, in the sport industry are unaware, this extra baggage women carry is emotional (Hochschild, 1983) and/or invisible labor (Hamblin et al., 2020). What goes unseen is the intentional effort women expend to mask how they truly feel while working in an organization that does not fully see or respect them. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of women leaders in men's professional sports organizations to better understand their encounters with emotional and invisible labor. The feminist phenomenological analysis of 14 semi-structured interviews uncovered that gendered and unsupportive work cultures, along with sexism and proving oneself are precursors to women shouldering emotional and invisible labor within men's professional sports.
On February 3rd, 2023, as a freight train owned by Norfolk Southern Rail Service drove east toward western Pennsylvania, an overheated bearing on one of its hopper cars failed, causing a derailment in the midst of a small Ohio town. Bearing: Voices of East Palestine is a multimedia documentary book-in-progress exploring East Palestine, OH, and its surroundings in the aftermath of this event. A collage of voices, places, and faces, Bearing combines original documentary poems and photographs to depict the people and places that survive in our uncertain present, here at the intersection of three Appalachian states: West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. What is the state of our public health? our water? What do the people of this tristate intersection face, and what do they have to say about the derailment that brought East Palestine into national attention? Whose stories count, anyway? To answer these questions, Bearing presents the spill zone’s mess by documenting, with scholarly care and fact-checking, voices in counterpoint.
As students learn what research looks like in various disciplines, it is valuable to also learn that research can intersect with travel, meeting others in the field, and come with varying levels of financial support. Particularly for those students who are interested in creative disciplines, it can be eye-opening to learn how many funded opportunities there are for creative research. This presentation will focus on exposing students the various residency and research opportunities that are available to those working in creative fields. I will use a selection of artist residencies I have taken part in to illustrate the different types of residency structures and how each affected the body of work I produced while there. I will also touch on the proposal process, rejection and working collaboratively with other artists.
I will be reading poems from "Empty the River, my latest collection of poems that is forthcoming from Broadstone Press. Through several voices, the collection tells the stories of a fictional city overwhelmed by sickness, both physical and existential.
Nature therapy has gained increasing attention for its potential to enhance psychological well-being and cognitive functioning. This talk will review empirical findings on how exposure to natural environments, structured and unstructured, affects both affective states and cognitive processes. We will explore evidence suggesting that nature therapy can reduce stress, elevate positive mood, and decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additionally, research demonstrates that contact with natural settings supports attention restoration, working memory, and creativity, providing benefits that are especially relevant for students managing academic demands. This presentation will also consider proposed mechanisms and will highlight practical applications of nature therapy in daily life and campus settings. By the end, students will gain an understanding of how integrating time in nature into routines can promote both emotional regulation and cognitive resilience.
Histone mRNA is a unique amongst mRNA molecules in animals due to a highly conserved element known as the 3’ stem-loop. This element replaces the vastly more common poly(A) tail. This unique structure and its binding partner, the Stem-Loop Binding Protein (SLBP), combine to regulate the expression of histone mRNA, a key event for maintaining the proper stability of DNA in cells. Being able to rapidly degrade histone mRNA is an especially key event, as over-expression of the mRNA leads to DNA packaging instability, which has catastrophic events during cell division. Dr. Lackey’s research focuses specifically on this rapid degradation and an enzyme, the 3’histone exonuclease (3’hExo), that helps catalyze this early part of degradation. Dr. Lackey and his students use a combination of biophysical lab techniques and computational simulations to better understand the way that this small modification affects the stability of both the stem-loop and the stem-loop/3’hExo during the degradation of histone mRNA.
The purpose of this presentation is to bring awareness to performance indicators for students who are performing at basic or below basic, specifically on the 7th Grade Math PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment). A study completed in 2024 indicated that only 12.9% of students earned proficient or advanced on the 7th Grade Math PSSA at students enrolled in an online cyber charter school. The research evaluated three school years, not including those years that PSSAs were not taken due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The rationale for the study is that there is a critical need to improve student achievement scores and by understanding probable causes, they can be rectified or supported for student achievement. Three forms of data were collected for this applied research including interviews, a focus group, and document analysis.
The space between stars is not empty. Diffuse gas and dust known as the interstellar medium is spread out throughout our galaxy, where it plays a fundamental role in the lifecycle of stars. However, there remain many unanswered questions on the nature of the interstellar medium. In particular, we know that high-mass stars can ionize large regions of the interstellar medium and create a new gas phase known as the “diffuse ionized gas.” The extent and physical properties of this gas phase are still poorly understood, leaving us without a clear picture of star formation and evolution in our galaxy. This talk will focus on the creation of a new, galaxy-wide model of diffuse ionized gas based on observational data collected with the Green Bank Telescope. The model will allow us to better understand the nature of diffuse ionized gas and its implications for future star formation and evolution. Not unlike early mapping expeditions on Earth, the ionized gas map created by the model will add yet another piece to the cosmic puzzle, deepening our understanding of where we come from and how we fit into this universe.
Have you ever opened a textbook and wondered who actually wrote it? In this talk, Dr. Badowski lifts the veil on the world of academic ghostwriting, where scholars craft content that bears someone else’s name. This session explores the ethical, intellectual, and professional dimensions of ghostwriting for college- and high school-level textbooks. From negotiating voice and style to navigating contracts and credit, Dr. Badowski shares real-world insights into how ghostwriters shape educational materials while remaining unseen. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of authorship, collaboration, and the business of academic publishing. Whether you're a budding writer or simply intrigued by the idea of being a scholarly specter, this talk promises to be both enlightening and entertaining.
Mathematicians are trained to communicate their research to other mathematicians with a fairly unique set of rules. When writing an article, the author’s job is to provide rigorous, concise proofs, usually intended for other experts in the field. However, writing an undergraduate textbook in mathematics requires a different set of skills, and even the most talented mathematicians need a little help. In this talk, we will discuss my scholarly work as an Associate Editor for the Mathematical Association of America’s undergraduate textbook series: how I got the job, the editing process, and my future involvement.
The Westminster Bee Company is a student-run enterprise with the mission to provide sustainable, natural, and local honey and bee products from Westminster College's Apiary. The venture and customer purchases support students, a hands-on education, and the environment. Through BA/ENV 270 Environmental Entrepreneurship, students are provided unique experiential learning opportunities that help them develop transferrable skills while forwarding the mission of the WBC. In this presentation, students from all majors can learn how to get involved with the WBC, collaborating with their peers in the development of new products, business plans, marketing strategies, and events, all while cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset.
We are constantly surrounded by visual design, from logos on your clothes to the signs that you drive by each element is crafted with the goal of capturing our attention. The role of a graphic designer goes beyond making things “look good,” it is a strategic process rooted in research, communication, and problem-solving. This talk explores how researchdriven design supports small businesses by translating their goals into compelling visual messages. From branding and packaging to marketing materials and signage, graphic designers help shape how businesses are perceived and experienced. Small businesses, in particular, offer unique opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and impact at a local level. This presentation shares practical research methods used in the design process and highlights real-world examples of client collaborations. Through case studies and reflections, learn how one graphic designer applies research to create thoughtful, effective designs that not only stand out—but also support community-based businesses in meaningful ways.
There is no denying that Taylor Swift has been at the center of an international pop culture movement over the last several years. Up until recently (surpassed by Coldplay in January 25’), her Eras Tour (March 2023 to December 2024) was ranked “the most wellattended concert tour”, including 149 shows, with over 10 million people in attendance. Her current social media following of over 500 million eclipses many modern American artists and is illustrative of her cult following. The cultural tsunami associated with the Taylor Swift fandom is a perfect place to look to investigate the theoretical intricacies of how people experience social identities associated with fandoms. This study utilized Q Methodology (i.e. the scientific study of subjectivity) to explore the ‘Swiftie’ social identity. In total, Q-sorts were collected from 41 participants, ranging in age from 14 years old to 64. The researchers used PQMethod software to analyze 30 sorts done by self-identified ‘Swifties’, as well as those participants who indicated a strong adoration for Swift. The findings of this study suggest that there are four prominent personas among the Swift fans: narrative sense-makers, litmus test feminists, reflected appraisal ‘Swifties’, and individualistic fans. This research contributes to the bodies of literature that explore the relationship between individual identities and social environments.
The purpose of this study is to examine early understandings of the Obama legacy among presidential scholars. From the vast commentary on Obama and his legacy, we abstracted hundreds of statements and then sampled 40 of these representing various aspects of the Obama presidency.This 40 item Q sample and detailed instructions were sent to 150 presidential scholars who were asked to render their opinion on the Obama Legacy by ranking the 40 items. Responses were received from 26 academics and the analysis produced four competing narratives on the Obama legacy.
Before social media, before texting apps, before email, before the invention of the computer, and even before the invention of gummed envelopes, if you wanted to send a message or letter to someone, you did it by using a technique which we now call Letterlocking. Letterlocking is “the ingenious process of securing a letter, using a combination of folds, tucks, slits, or adhesives such as sealing wax, so that it becomes its own envelope.” Through studying these locked and unlocked letters from the past, much can be learned not only about different time periods in history but also the circumstances of the senders (and even the recipients) of the letters and their particular situations depending on the types of substrates and material used and the amount of security embedded into the locking technique. We have gained knowledge of what communication was like before modern technology. This has given us enlightening information about notable figures in history, such as Jane Austen, Mary Queen of Scots, John Donne, and many more. Letterlocking is a new field of study marked by the publication of Lettlocking: The Hidden History of the Letter by Jana Dambrogio and Daniel Starza Smith with the Unlocking History Research Group.
In May 1775, some 250 years ago, several North American colonies had just begun fighting a war for independence against King George and the British Empire. Many of the most popular retellings of this war center on events that took place along the Atlantic Coast but the area we now know as Western Pennsylvania was at the center of many rebel leaders’ plans for an independent nation. Understanding the upper Ohio River Valley in the late 1700s is the keystone to understanding the whole arc of the then geographic past, present and future of the United States. The Revolutionary War was fundamentally a war fought over land and the Ohio River was an important waterborne transportation link to the new nation’s success. By placing Western PA at the center of the story, we gain new insight into the American Revolution.