2026 Capstone

Adiba Tojimirzaeva

Project Supervisor: Dr. Maria Craig

Type of Presentation: Poster

Project Title: Modulation of Arg-1 Expression and Cell Viability in SIM-A9 Microglia under Varying FBS levels and Amyloid-β Conditions

Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by chronic neuroinflammation and impaired clearance of amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregates (National Institute on Aging, 2023). Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, playing an essential role in Aβ clearance, while also potentially contributing to neuroinflammatory damage when dysregulated (Chen et al., 2017). The novel SIM-A9 microglial cell line provides a suitable in vitro model to investigate microglial responses under controlled conditions.

In this study, SIM-A9 microglial cells were exposed to fibrillar Aβ₁₋₄₂ (5 µM and 10 µM) under different serum concentrations (10%, 5% and 0% FBS) to model nutrient rich and metabolically stressed environments. Cell viability was assessed after 48 hours of exposure using trypan blue exclusion assays, showing a significant, dose-dependent reduction following Aβ exposure (p < 0.05), with up to ~86% decrease under low-serum conditions. Arginase-1 (Arg-1) expression was evaluated using qPCR and was significantly reduced following Aβ treatment, with a fold change of 0.11 ± 0.03 (p < 0.05), corresponding to an approximate 89% decrease in expression. In addition, vehicle controls revealed increased ammonia associated toxicity in reduced serum environments, even in small concentrations, highlighting the importance of serum context when modeling neurodegenerative stress in vitro.

Current findings suggest that Aβ exposure compromises microglial survival and suppresses anti-inflammatory activity. This shift may contribute to sustained neuroinflammation observed in AD pathology. Further studies are needed to evaluate dose-dependent effects on Arg-1 expression across additional treatment conditions as well as to assess expression of other regulatory gene markers to better characterize microglial activation states.

Biography: Adiba Tojimirzaeva is a biochemistry major with minors in mathematics and psychology. She is originally from Uzbekistan and hopes to pursue medical school in the future.

Alex Flanagan

Project Supervisors: Dr. Paul Callo and Jeff Wilson

Type of Presentation: Poster

Project Title: A Serosurvey of Central Virginians for Exposure to Heartland Virus

Abstract: Heartland virus (HRTV) is an emerging phlebovirus transmitted by the lone star tick throughout the eastern and central United States causing flu-like symptoms often requiring hospitalization and in some cases death. Notably, the virus’s range is expanding from the initial cases documented in Missouri with a fatal case reported in Virginia in November of 2021. Current serological testing is limited to plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT) or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing, restricting researchers’ ability to complete epidemiological surveys to determine HRTV’s distribution. The objective of our experiment was to complete an epidemiological screening of Central Virginians using a novel quantitative Phadia ImmunoCap based assay to determine if Central Virginians have been exposed to HRTV and develop convalescent IgG antibodies. Biotin-streptavidin capture methodology was used to secure an E.coli expressed recombinant HRTV nucleocapsid protein to the solid phase of a Thermo Fischer Streptavidin capsule. Convalescent HRTV positive control serum provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was used to validate the human IgG antibody response for the assay. Serum samples from Central Virginians who experience frequent tick bites enrolled in the University of Virginia IRB 17467 observational study were screened for exposure to heartland virus after validation of the functionality of the assay. We are currently in the validation stage of the assay (March 2026) and will be screening the full cohort by the beginning of April.

Biography: Alex Flanagan is a biology major from Chaptico, Maryland. He came to Mary Baldwin to transition from aerospace acquisition into biotechnology. He conducted senior research at the University of Virginia under Dr. Jeffrey Wilson and is pursuing biotechnology opportunities while planning to further his studies at the intersection of business and technology.

Cassidy Newcomb

Project Supervisor: Dr. Maria Craig

Type of Presentation: Poster

Project Title: Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 2 and Large Conductance Potassium Channel Inhibition on MDA-MB-231 Cellular Migration Stimulated by LL-37

Abstract: In the MDA-MB-435 cell line, the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 serves as a signaling molecule to activate Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 2 (TRPV2), followed by potassium efflux through large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BKCa2+), which provides a mechanism to drive cellular migration. Furthermore, LL-37 and TRPV2 have been highly expressed in immunohistochemical staining of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to determine if the MDA-MB-231 cell line follows a similar activation mechanism to drive cellular migration as the MDA-MB-435 cell line, or if the correlation between TRPV2 and LL-37 in immunohistochemical stains is unrelated. MDA-MB-231 cell lines were cultured and used to create scratch assays in 12-well plates. To explore the mechanism of cellular migration, pharmacological inhibitors, Tranilast and Paxilline, were used to inhibit TRPV2 and BKCa2+, respectively. We tested LL-37 alone, LL-37 with Tranilast, LL-37 with Paxilline, and LL-37 with both Tranilast and Paxilline together. From my initial results, BKCa2+ inhibition appeared to be a key component in cellular migration, as inhibition via Paxilline produced the lowest average healing rate (1.23% per hour) and the lowest percent closures over time (0%, 13.7%, 21.3%, and 58.8%). This suggests that BKCa2+ channels are the key players in this migratory mechanism, rather than TRPV2; however, further exploration and repetition are required to strengthen these findings.

Biography: Cassidy Newcomb is a biology major from Mecklenburg County, Virginia. She works as a therapy tech as Augusta Health and plans to apply to Physician Assistant school this application cycle.

Em Yuhasz

Project Supervisor: Kadrin Anderson

Type of Presentation: Poster

Project Title: Effects of a Broken AMF connection on Leaf Endophytes

Abstract: Due to the extreme amount of anthropogenic damage to ecosystems across the globe, scientists have a responsibility to develop restoration projects that are effective, and long lasting. In order to do this, all biological relationships must be fully understood, especially fungal relationships. While there are an increasing number of studies that investigate fungi-plant relationships, there also needs to be multiple investigations of fungi-fungi relationships. This study aims to explore how the disconnection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from the roots of Andropogon gerardii via conical trench cut affects the species richness and abundance of endophytes found within the leaves. Treatment 1 involved multiple conical trench cuts every 2-4 days. Treatment 2 was left undisturbed. PDA plates were inoculated with fungal endophytes from the upper and lower grass leaves, and morphospecies were quantified. AMF will be quantified using the grid-line intersection method. Once all results are collected, I expect that treatment 1 will have significantly less AMF colonization and increased endophytic activity compared to treatment 2.

Biography: Em Yuhasz is an environmental biology major from Abingdon, VA, and they are an abstract artist, Em’s creativity is immensely important to them. In 2024, they were the recipient of the Brenda Bryant Leadership Award and has been both president and treasurer of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance since their freshman year.

Madeline Trace

Project Supervisor: Dr. Anna-Rose Wolff

Type of Presentation: Poster

Project Title: Using the Topology of Graphs to Determine the Effects of Artificial Intelligence in Groups

Abstract: This paper approaches the question of how to study the psychology of groups via mathematical topology. In particular, how the topological properties of graphs give insight into aspects of modern social networks. This paper looks into the topology of four model network situations, a group with a central leader and the leader only communicates, a group with a central leader and everyone can communicate with everyone, two disjointed groups, and two groups that have connections to each other. Using the topology of the graphs, I will explore various group psychological phenomena and connect these phenomena to the underlying mathematical structure of the model.

Biography: Madeline Trace is an applied math major from Bunker Hill, West Virginia. She has been inducted into two honors programs. She plans to enter a Ph.D. program in applied mathematics at the University of Virginia in the upcoming years.

Mya Gaudier

Project Supervisor: Dr. Paul Callo

Type of Presentation: Poster

Project Title: Impact of mercury exposure on avian malaria prevalence in Carolina Wren

Abstract: Mercury Contamination of the South River ecosystem has led to significant bioaccumulation in local wildlife, often resulting in immune suppression. This study examines the impact of mercury on the Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), a non-migratory songbird highly susceptible to dietary biomagnification. Specifically, we examine how mercury induced immunosuppression changes the wren’s ability to fight avian malaria, a disease caused by the protozoan parasites in the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon.

Utilizing 18 blood samples collected from upstream (control) and downstream (impacted) sites in Waynesboro, Virginia, slides were examined to determine infection status, nested PCR was used to determine parasite genus and prevalence. To quantify the stress and immune activation resulting from infection, the heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio within blood smears were measured. This research aims to provide insight into how environmental contaminants increase genetic susceptibility to disease in wild population, highlighting the broader consequences of industrial runoff in avian health.

Biography: Mya Gaudier is a Biology major from Newport News, Virginia. She is on track to commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army National Guard and was accepted as a Youth Conservation Corps Crew leader for the Virginia State Parks starting in the summer of 2026.

Treyvon Taylor

Project Supervisor: Dr. Amy Diduch

Type of Presentation: Poster

Project Title: How NBA Players’ Effort Reflects Their Base Salary

Abstract:  This research investigates whether NBA player effort, quantified by the Player Efficiency Rating (PER), truly justifies their massive base salaries. The study highlights that while efficiency and pay are generally related, the connection is far from a perfect slam dunk due to factors like contract timing and team context. Data from the 2023 season reveals that Point Guards often command the highest median pay, whereas Centers and Shooting Guards represent the most extreme high-salary outliers. Market distortions frequently occur, such as when high-performing rookies are underpaid or when aging stars on legacy contracts remain overpaid relative to their current production. In today’s league, variables like three-point shooting volume and minutes played often dictate financial value more than traditional efficiency alone. Ultimately, the research concludes that NBA compensation is a complex mix of performance, role, and marketability, leading to the recommendation that teams should lean more heavily on advanced efficiency metrics in negotiations to better align value with real on-court effort.

Biography: Treyvon Taylor is an economics major from New Kent, Virginia. Treyvon will join Nolan Transportation Group on June 1 and relocate to Atlanta to begin a career in freight brokerage. He is focused on building industry experience, expanding his network, and growing into a successful entrepreneur.

William Reyes

Project Supervisor: Dr. Amy Diduch

Type of Presentation: Poster

Project Title: Solow Growth Accounting in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract: My research investigates how Total Factor Productivity (TFP) can be accurately measured in Latin American and Caribbean nations using the Solow Growth Model, and examines what certain imitations have prevented sustained long-run economic growth in the region. To make the analysis more manageable, I separated the two regions into three further individual regions, which include South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, and included a minimum of three countries from each region due to the availability of reliable data. By applying the Solow Growth Accounting to selected countries in the region, my project will focus on how capital accumulation, labor force, and technological progress contribute to each region’s economic growth.

Biography: William Reyes is an Economics major from Manassas Park, VA, with a Business minor. He was accepted into the Data Insights and Analytics Master’s program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he will enhance his skills in data analysis and decision-making.

Zoe Kaufman

Project Supervisor: Dr. Chandra Mason

Type of Presentation: Poster

Project Title: Who Supports a Second Chance? Social Dominance Orientation and Attitudes Toward Restorative Justice for Unauthorized Immigrants

Abstract: The United States currently holds more people in immigration detention than any country in the world, at a cost that now exceeds the entire federal prison system’s annual budget, and the vast majority of those detained have no criminal record. Pew Research Center estimates that approximately 14 million unauthorized immigrants were living in the United States as of 2023, a record high representing about 4% of the total population. This population is overwhelmingly nonviolent, deeply embedded in communities and the labor force, and subjected to a removal system that research consistently shows is driven less by public safety than by politics and rhetoric. Despite this, public attitudes toward immigration enforcement have proven stubbornly resistant to factual correction. Studies find that correcting people’s dramatically inflated estimates of immigrant criminality barely moves the needle on policy support. What actually predicts punitive attitudes is psychological: specifically, how much empathy people extend to immigrants and how willing they are to see them as fully human.

This study asks whether individual differences in psychology predict support for a fundamentally different kind of response. Restorative justice is an approach in which, rather than simply punishing someone, the focus shifts to repairing harm through dialogue, accountability, and community involvement. Scholars have proposed adapting this model for unauthorized immigration cases, replacing deportation with a community-based process that holds individuals accountable while offering a pathway toward legal status. Using a survey of undergraduate students, this project addresses a gap in the literature: while research has established that mindfulness increases empathic concern and that empathic concern predicts openness to restorative approaches, no study has directly tested whether mindfulness predicts support for a restorative response to unauthorized immigration specifically.

The central variable is social dominance orientation (SDO), a measurable psychological tendency to prefer societies organized around group-based hierarchy, in which some groups are seen as rightly dominant over others. People higher in SDO consistently oppose policies that extend recognition or resources to stigmatized outgroups, and prior research suggests they may actively resist the kind of humanizing process that restorative justice requires. The study also tests whether dispositional mindfulness, a stable tendency toward present-focused and nonjudgmental awareness, predicts greater openness to restorative approaches. A central question is whether SDO moderates this relationship such that the positive effects of mindfulness on outgroup attitudes disappear entirely among those who prefer societies organized around group-based hierarchy. Also examined as additional predictors are essentialism, the belief that social categories reflect differences that are fixed, deep-rooted, and biological in nature rather than malleable products of history and circumstance, along with empathic concern and personal distress, which are qualitatively different components of empathy. Because mindfulness is cultivable through training, the findings carry practical implications beyond theory: if mindfulness predicts greater openness to restorative approaches, mindfulness-based interventions may represent a concrete pathway toward building public support for restorative alternatives to deportation – but whether those implications hold may depend entirely on how strongly a person prefers societies organized around group-based hierarchy.

Biography: Zoe Kaufman is a psychology major from Norfolk, Virginia. She has spent the past year working in Dr. Chandra Mason’s psychology research lab. where her passion for psychological research and its real-world impact has only grown. She believes that good research has the power to change how we understand ourselves and each other, and she hopes to spend her career doing exactly that. Zoe plans to pursue a Master’s program in psychological research, with the long-term goal of earning a PhD in Social Psychology.

Azjanea Howard

Project Supervisor: Molly Seremet 

Project Title: Shades of Justice

Abstract: One courtroom. Countless truths. A community on the edge of change. Toni’s the heart: bold, unshaken, tired of playing small. Malik’s the past and present: caught between change and chains. Jay’s stuck in the silence, but the truth’s burning loud. Ms. Evans? She’s been holding the whole block together, even while breaking. Officer Bradley and Judge Wilson? They swear they’re just doing their jobs… but justice doesn’t always wear a badge. Shades of Justice is more than a play; it’s a mirror. A spotlight on the choices we make, the pain we carry, and the power of community

Biography: Azjanea Howard is a social work major and psychology minor. She is from Hampton, Virginia. She is aspiring to work in administration or policy. After graduation, she plans to travel before pursuing her master’s. In 2025, she wrote her first play and directed the stage reading.

Jack Hughes

Project Supervisor: Dr. Calvin Chung

Type of Presentation: HIP

Project Title: SparkStudios: Student-led Innovative Makerspace

Abstract: SparkStudios intends to reinvigorate creativity and innovation at Mary Baldwin University by establishing the first makerspace on campus available to students, faculty, and MBU organizations. This mission surrounds the cultivation of cross disciplinary learning & empowering students to develop innovative solutions to unique problems within their community.

Biography: Jack Hughes is a business major from Virginia Beach, Virginia. He has worked extensively to strengthen the connection between downtown Staunton and the Mary Baldwin community. In the Fall of 2026 he will be beginning flight school with FedEx in Colorado Springs.

Aidan Clemmer

Project Supervisor: Dr. Anna-Rose Wolff

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: Modeling Solute Transport in Chromatography Using Partial Differential Equations

Abstract: Chromatography is a central process used throughout chemical separation and analysis, where solute transport through a packed column is governed by complex interactions between convection, diffusion, and adsorption processes. My work investigates the development of mathematical frameworks for modeling chromatographic transport using partial differential equations (PDEs). Beginning with conservation of mass, classical transport equations are derived to describe solute movement within the mobile phase. The model is then extended to the General Rate Model (GRM), which incorporates additional physical mechanisms such as film mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion within porous stationary-phase particles. These mechanisms allow the GRM to capture non-equilibrium effects and peak broadening observed in real chromatographic systems. For solving, numerical methods are introduced to approximate solutions while maintaining consistency with the underlying conservation laws. This framework provides both a theoretical and computational foundation for simulating chromatographic processes.

Biography: Aidan Clemmer is an applied mathematics major with a minor in chemistry from Roanoke, Virginia. Through his time at Mary Baldwin, he has participated in clubs and student government association, as well as tutoring on campus. Following graduation, Aidan plans to join the work force as a data scientist.

Christopher Hedrick

Project Supervisor: Dr. Katherine Turner

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: The Endless Search for Identity as seen in Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children

Abstract: This paper analyzes Salman Rushdie’s great tragi-comic novel about the re-birth of India, Midnight’s Children (1981), to show how his sophisticated stylistic choices force the reader to grapple with some of the biggest questions of all time: Are we in control of our own destiny? If so, how much? Can a country reclaim its identity or is it forever altered once colonized?

Taking real-life historical events and adding fantastical elements to the story, Rushdie blends realism with surrealism so as to heighten the power of each. The novel encompasses history, myth, religion, politics, war, and the human condition; yet it also draws attention to its own status as fiction. In life, as in story-telling, every detail matters and every action has consequences, whether good or bad, visible or mysterious. Although Rushdie’s novel focuses on Indian history, its message resonates powerfully throughout today’s world.

Biography: Christopher Hedrick is an English major from Waynesboro, Virginia. He has written his thesis under his advisor Dr. Katherine Turner. He plans to travel after his graduation and then look for a career as professional writer.

Daniel Diaczyszyn

Project Supervisor: Dr. Laura Showalter

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: Election Integrity

Abstract: This project goes into extreme depths about the art of election integrity and investigates whether or not 45th and 47th President of The United States actively took part in a misinformation campaign during the 2020 and 2024 presidential in an effort to undermine election integrity in a stable democratic republic. Several comparisons and contrasts are made with Russia and their meddling in the 2016 US presidential election along with other foreign elections.

Biography: Daniel Diaczyszyn is a political science major from Fredricksburg, Virginia. He has worked as an assistant to Dr. Showalter and has aspirations to be a commercial airline pilot one day and also explore the possibilities of running for public office.

Deanna Seay

Project Supervisor: Clayton Brooks

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: Losing By Winning: The Role of the 1904 Richmond Streetcar Boycott in Galvanizing Segregation Legislation

Abstract: In 1904, the Virginia General Assembly passed a comprehensive bill aimed at regulating any corporations that served the public. Deeply buried within this bill existed a clause allowing electric streetcar companies the choice to provide segregated seating on their cars. Prior to this moment, black people in Richmond, Virginia had enjoyed a small amount of equality in their ability to travel across the city. Black and white Richmonders bought tickets to ride state-of-the-art electric streetcars without worrying about who was riding the car. When the Virginia Passenger and Power Company opted to segregate its streetcar lines in Richmond, the black community followed the lead of John Mitchell, Jr, who through his newspaper, the Richmond Planet, orchestrated a non-violent protest against the legislation. Thousands of black people joined Mitchell in refusing to ride the Richmond streetcars, displaying a solidarity across the classes previously unseen and disheartening to white people in positions of power. Drawing from John Mitchell Jr.’s newspaper, The Richmond Planet, the white-owned Richmond Times and News Leader, and a wide variety of secondary sources, this paper examines the 1904 Richmond Streetcar boycott by considering the history of discriminatory travel practices in the South and the efforts of black people to resist. Despite division across the classes within the black community, the Richmond Streetcar Boycott of 1904 brought the black elite and lower classes together in an effective demonstration of black power, and this resistance led white people to accelerate stronger legislative approaches for achieving and maintaining supremacy.

Biography: A former professional ballet dancer and current ballet teacher, Deanna Seay is an online history major who lives in Richmond, Virginia. Following her graduation in May, Deanna plans to continue teaching ballet while also furthering her research into Richmond’s racial history.

Eveleen Diep

Project Supervisor: Dr. Anna-Rose Wolff

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: Modeling Lithium-Ion Battery Aging Using Diffusion-Based Models

Abstract: The performance of a battery, like all things in life, degrades over time. This process is due to aging processes that affect ion transport. This project applies Fick’s Laws of Diffusion to model ion diffusion throughout an electrode of a battery and examines how reduced diffusion coefficients affect battery performance. A model was derived from Fick’s 2nd Law to determine analytically what this model may look like. Given different parameters, the model is revised to reflect that change and is modeled through Python, a computer programming language. By comparing healthy and aged diffusion parameters, the model depicts how aging reduces ion transport, leading to a diminished battery life. The results demonstrate how diffusion-based modeling provides insights into the mechanisms underlying battery degradation, which could pave the way for strategic battery optimization techniques.

Biography: Eve Diep is an applied mathematics major with a minor in chemistry. She is from Springfield, VA. In the fall, she will be attending graduate school for electrical engineering with a concentration in robotics.

Hunter Gregory

Project Supervisor: Clayton Brooks

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: Censoring the Narrative: How the Hays Code Shaped the Way America Saw Itself

Abstract: This paper is an exploration into the history of the Motion Picture Production Code of 1930, otherwise known as the Hays Code, and its historical impact on the United States of America. Taking the time to analyze the factors that played into the creation of the code like World War I, the prohibition movement, the rise of conservatism in the United States, and the personal beliefs of the people involved both in the creation and implementation of the Hays Code, it is the goal of this project to examine the nuanced factors that led to both the rise and fall of the Hays office and the code with which the office governed over the motion picture industry from the late 1920s until the mid 1960s. Through examination of instances like the Fatty Arbuckle scandal and Birth of a Nation, this paper explores the American reaction to artistic exploration that deviated beyond the what the code allowed. By looking into and analyzing the actions of the American government, the film industry, and the American people this project intends to dissect one of the most tumultuous times in film industry. Furthermore, this paper endeavors to examine the impact of such works like Our Movie Made Children and the efforts of the Breen office in censoring the artistic expression of minority groups to such a degree that much of removed from major motion pictures and how that led to stereotypes surrounding minority groups that still impact Americans today.

Biography: Hunter Gregory is a history major with a minor in secondary history education from Harrisonburg, Virginia. She hopes to go on to seek out her MA in Information and Library Sciences in the future. She endeavors to help all facilitate a love of history and learning.

Jack Corns

Project Supervisor: Dr. Paige Reed

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: From Service to Sentencing: The Triple Threat Behind Veteran Incarceration

Abstract: This review examines the Triple Threat facing the American veteran population: the intersection of untreated mental health injuries, substance use disorder, and chronic homelessness, all of which can lead to veteran incarceration and recidivism. Drawing on data from multiple sources, the research identifies a failure to recognize service-connected trauma as a primary driver of veteran-involved crime and, subsequently, veteran incarceration. The review also explores current successful interventions. Despite these successes, the research identifies significant gaps in the justice system that leave thousands of “invisible warriors” without specialized support. To combat the Triple Threat, the researcher proposes a multidimensional strategy model that addresses front-end, mid-stream, and back-end issues in a proactive manner.

Biography: John “Jack” Corns is a criminal justice major who is from Augusta County and now lives with his wife in Staunton, VA. He was assisted, advised, and encouraged in his senior project by Dr. Paige Reed. After graduation, Jack intends to work in law enforcement in western or central Virginia.

Kali Plaisance

Project Supervisor: Dr. Clayton Brooks

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: “Save trees, not refugees”: The British Colonialist Roots of Far-Right Environmentalism, Ecology, and Ecofascism

Abstract: This historical analysis examines the pre–Second World War roots of environmental thought and race, with particular attention to the exceptionally influential role of British colonial foundations. It argues that the origins of environmentalism are more deeply entangled with colonial power, racial hierarchy, and systems of scientific classification than is commonly acknowledged. Furthermore, it suggests that these entanglements helped form the ideological groundwork for later manifestations of far-right environmentalism, ecological nationalism, and ecofascism. These influences can be seen in the environmental and racial rhetoric of the Nazi regime, as well as in modern far-right political discourse and, in their most extreme, in the ideology of contemporary mass shooters.

The study draws on a wide range of primary sources spanning literature, legal policy, and scientific writing. Literary works such as Beowulf and the poetry of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge are examined for their portrayals of nature and cultural attitudes toward the landscape. Legal frameworks, including the forest policies of William the Conqueror and the emergence of eugenic legislation in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, are analyzed alongside influential scientific texts such as Carl Linnaeus’s A General System of Nature. These sources are considered in relation to their intellectual legacy in the racial and eugenic theories advanced by Madison Grant and Houston Stewart Chamberlain.

Taken together, these sources suggest that the colonial foundations of modern science and Western conceptions of nature played a significant role in shaping ideological currents that later contributed to ecofascist thought. The study argues that the impulse to classify, control, and hierarchically order the natural world, including human populations, was central to both the imperial conception of nature and the development of eugenic theory. Recognizing this legacy does not invalidate environmentalism as a whole. Rather, understanding these historical entanglements is necessary for critically reassessing and reconstructing environmental thought. Such awareness can support the development of a more equitable, inclusive, and interconnected environmentalism and politics that fosters a more cooperative and sustainable relationship between human societies and the natural world they inhabit.

Biography: Kali Plaisance is a history major from Marrero, Louisiana, who currently resides in Richmond, Virginia. After graduating from MBU, Kali will be transferring to ODU to complete their MLIS.

Kwame Opoku

Project Supervisor: Dr. Laura Showalter

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: The Latino Vote for Donald Trump: A Significant Increase between the 2020 – 2024 Presidential Elections

Abstract: The research’s objective was to discern the most influential factors which contributed to the shift in the Latino vote for the Republican candidate Donald Trump from the 2020 – 2024 presidential elections. In the 2020 presidential election, the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, received 36% of the Latino vote. In the 2024 presidential election, the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, received 48% of the Latino vote. This represents a significant increase of twelve percentage points. The research attempted to discover the degree of influence factors impacted Latino voter choice. Additionally, research aimed to suggest potential implications of the shifting voting behavior. The research utilized ANES(American National Election Studies) crosstabs data to analyze patterns within the Latino demographic. Additionally, the research compared the data with the White demographic group to search for significant differences between the attitudes of these demographic groups. The analysis incorporated the demographic group with the highest voter turnout for comparison(Whites) with the demographic group with the lowest voter turnout(Latinos). The research concentrated on salient economic factors to determine the extent of its salience to Latinos. The economic factors include personal finance, job approval, and the economy. These factors were the dependent variables and were responding to the independent variable, “race”. Additionally, the research was controlled by two-person presidential vote for the Democratic and Republican candidates in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections. The research found that the economy is a highly salient issue for Latino voters. The observed voting patterns suggest that economic considerations may outweigh partisanship for a notable segment of the Latino population. This observation warrants further investigation into the dynamics of party identification and issue salience within this population. It highlights their potential influence as swing voters.

Biography: Kwame Opoku is a political science major from the Bronx, New York. Kwame aspires to become a lawyer and will continue his pursuit of advancement following graduation.

Lauren Lasher

Project Supervisor: Dr. Calvin Chung

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: Sustainability Evaluation: Nuclear Energy Implementation Plan for Dominion Energy

Abstract: This thesis evaluates Dominion Energy’s evolving nuclear strategy within Virginia’s clean‑energy transition, focusing on the sustainability aspects of implementing advanced nuclear technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Adding on to Dominion’s Integrated Resource Plan, state policy requirements, and national nuclear performance data, the analysis goes into the company’s current nuclear assets, its long‑term decarbonization goals, and the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges that create an obstacle for nuclear expansion. This paper highlights nuclear energy’s role as a reliable, carbon‑free baseload resource while also addressing specific uncertainties in waste management, regulatory complexity, public acceptance, and the financial risks associated with emerging reactor technologies. This research also looks into the technological advancements that position SMRs as a potential foundation to future clean‑energy systems. This thesis outlines strategic pathways for Dominion Energy to responsibly implement SMRs into Virginia’s energy landscape by assessing permitting needs, siting considerations, and community‑level impacts. The study argues that successful nuclear expansion will depend on transparent governance, regulatory modernization, and proactive engagement with environmental and social concerns as Virginia moves toward its 2045 carbon‑free electricity mandate.

Biography: Lauren Lasher is a business major with her concentrations in management and accounting. Her hometown is Warrenton, Virginia. She played for the Mary Baldwin Women’s Soccer team and is the head ambassador for Mary Baldwin Morgan’s Message. In the fall, she plans on attending graduate school at Virginia Tech for Agriculture and Life Sciences in Agricultural Business.

Lee Iraheta

Project Supervisor: Dr. Katherine Turner

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: The Instability of Masculinity and a Case for Pluralism: An Ecofeminist Reading of “Moby Dick”

Abstract: Despite the lack of gender diversity within the novel, Herman Melville’s epic nineteenth-century novel Moby Dick (1851) still grapples with gender dynamics through the gendering of objects and concepts. Taking an ecofeminist approach, this paper explores how the novel employs gendered language and allusions to articulate a pluralist perspective on both environmentalism and the gender power-balance. I argue that, while the novel appears to lean toward a pro-patriarchal and capitalistic perspective in its phallic sexual imagery and its characters’ exploitative attitude toward the oceanic environment, the ultimate triumph of nature over man in the novel’s end suggests an opposing perspective. While the world of Moby Dick seems to present gender essentialist ideas of masculinity as superior, the novel ultimately posits that no entity should be held as superior or inferior, but rather that all should be held in community.

Biography: Lee Iraheta is a English major from Springfield, Virginia. After graduation, they plan to move to Texas and continue their English education at the graduate level.

Leslie Galiano

Project Supervisor: Dr. Paige Reed and Dr. Brenci Patino

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: Framing Borders: Media Narratives of Immigration Enforcement & Victimization

Abstract: Immigration enforcement, particularly the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officers, is presently one of the most politically polarized issues in the United States. News media plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of important topics such as immigration, crime, and victimization, yet research indicates that media coverage often reflects the ideological orientation of the outlet presenting the information. This study examines how victimizations connected to the immigration enforcement-related activities of ICE Officers are framed across U.S. media sources with differing ideological orientations. Using qualitative content analysis, this study compares the news stories that were first published about four recent victims, Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Marimar Martinez, and Silviero Gonzalez, across a range of media outlets identified using the AllSides Media Bias Chart. This analysis explores how the actions of ICE Officers and the victims are portrayed, how particular victims are centered in media narratives, and how these incidents are framed differently across news outlets.

Biography: Leslie Galiano is a criminal justice major with minors in leadership studies and Spanish. Her hometown is Miami, Florida, but she currently resides in Waynesboro, Virginia. After graduation she intends to pursue law school with the goal of becoming a prosecutor.

Mirah Rose

Project Supervisor: Dr. Maria Craig

Type of Presentation: Paper

Project Title: The Role of LL-37 in Prostate Cancer Cell Migration via the CCL2–NF-κB Cell Signaling Pathway

Abstract: This project explores why interactions between immune cells and cancer cells matters, focusing on how both the cellular environment and the models used to study it can influence what we think we know about cancer biology. Specifically, this work investigates how the signaling molecule LL-37 may alter communication between monocytes and prostate cancer cells through the CCL2/NF-κB pathway, while also considering how representative these cell models truly are of diverse patient populations. To examine this, prostate cancer cells (PC-3) and THP-1 monocytes were grown alone, together, and in conditioned media systems, and their movement was tracked using wound scratch assays across different LL-37 concentrations. However, what began as a relatively straightforward comparison quickly revealed more complexity. PC-3 cells grown alone showed steady and predictable migration, but when placed in co-culture with monocytes, their movement became slower and less consistent, suggesting that immune cells actively influence tumor behavior. At the same time, THP-1 cells showed a clear, concentration-dependent decline in cell density, following an exponential decay pattern as LL-37 levels increased. Moreover, lower concentrations (2.2 µM) appeared to support growth and migration, while higher concentrations (22 µM) led to cell death and halted movement altogether, pointing to a shift from supportive to cytotoxic effects depending on dose. Nonetheless, together, these findings suggest that tumor behavior is not fixed, but instead shaped by both its cellular environment and external signaling factors like LL-37. More importantly, they highlight a broader issue: if the models used to study cancer are not fully representative, then neither are the conclusions drawn from them. In that sense, this work not only begins to map how immune–cancer interactions influence migration, but also raises important questions about how confidently these findings can be applied across diverse patient populations.

Biography: Mirah Rose is a biochemistry major from Charlottesville, Virginia. After graduation, Mirah plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in high-risk obstetrics and gynecology, focusing on serving mothers and supporting women through complex and high-risk pregnancies.

Justyn Mills

Project Supervisor: Dr. Lise Keiter and Jessica Long 

Project Title: Is it Love?: An Analysis of Lyrics

Abstract: Throughout media, the word “love” is used to describe a strong emotional attachment between two or more parties. Love can be characterized by many different factors such as intensity of the affection, devotion, passion, empathy, and commitment. There can also be a fine line between love and obsession. In music, lyrics are used to tell a story, and quite often a love story. However, sometimes a song might include the phrase “I Love You,” even if the emotion felt isn’t actually love. On the other hand, some songs never say the words directly, but it’s apparent that what is being felt is love. This capstone presentation includes three selections from my Senior Recital that show contrasting examples of love. All I Ask by Adele Adkins and Bruno Mars shows genuine love and care for someone, even in a fleeting moment. In contrast, Lonely, which I co-wrote with my classmate Tucker Crossley, portrays love as being something closer to blind devotion, dependence, and commitment out of fear. Finally, I Put a Spell On You, by Jay Hawkins, can show love in different ways, depending on the interpretation. For example, some artists perform the song as a love song, others choose to perform it as a song of obsession, while still others present it as something in between.

Biography: Justyn Mills, born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is a Senior Music Major at Mary Baldwin University. Justyn facilitates his love of creating music by writing in his free time. Justyn has a strong commitment to his craft and aims to become a Recording Artist and tour the world.

Maya Britton

Project Supervisor: Martha Saunders

Project Title: Persecuted, Erased, Suppressed

Abstract: In this senior project, I examine the ongoing political and legal barriers, during the current administration, that restrict access to voting in the United States, focusing on how race, gender, immigration status, and gender identity intersect to shape disenfranchisement. Rather than presenting voting rights as a completed milestone for minorities, I highlight how access to political participation continues to be limited through legislation, identification requirements, and citizenship policies that disproportionately affect marginalized groups, including immigrants and transgender individuals by intentional design.
Through a series of three large-scale portraits, a self-portrait, an immigrant subject, and an anonymous gender fluid figure, I respond to these political realities by exploring how identity documentation and visibility impacts the access to fundamental rights. Each figure confronts the viewer, emphasizing the tension between personal identity and the rigid systems that determine legitimacy and belonging.

Ultimately, this series argues that voter suppression and identity-based discrimination remain active issues, demonstrating that the right to vote in the United States is still unequal and deeply shaped by political power structures.

Biography: Maya Britton-Indigo is a studio art major and an education minor from Annapolis, Maryland. She is currently a student teacher looking to earn her elementary school art teaching license. She graduated from the South Carolina Governors School for the Arts and Humanities and has been invested in her art education ever since. Maya’s goal is to inspire her students to invigorate their creative spirits and drive them to keep art alive in upcoming generations.

Tucker Crossley

Project Supervisor: Dr. Lise Keiter

Project Title: From Ages to Stages: An Analysis of Progression in Music Education

Abstract: My Senior Project draws from my experiences in the classroom and the concert hall to demonstrate what I view as the most profound aspect of music: education. Within education, my greatest interest lies in the timeline of musical progression. Every year students remain in music challenges them to learn and reinforce musical skills and concepts from the first day to the last.
General concepts come first in the Primary years, and further personal developments are mirrored by more particular, refined skills being fostered in the late Primary and Secondary Grades. This can be seen everywhere from the gradual emergence of bass voice types around late Primary school and the introduction of instruments going into the Secondary years to the expansion of range, rhythmic complexity, texture and part independence, and harmonic complexity across Secondary school.

To illustrate these developments in a musical manner, I have written a two-movement original musical composition that indicates, by its form and direct contents, the abilities and techniques expected of students across grade levels.
To accompany this composition, I have written a paper to compile, analyze, and
synthesize the modern state of research across music standards, composers, pedagogues, and other professional resources. Adding my own insights to their work, I have sought out a consistent model through which teachers can identify appropriate yet challenging music across grade levels, to help students best develop as musicians. Across this discussion, references to the composition will be used to relate the discussion of characteristic development to the central underlying question of what appropriate music truly looks and sounds like.

Biography: Tucker Crossley is a music major from Woodbridge and Manassas, Virginia. His musical experiences range from singing and playing the violin in and out of MBU, composing, and arranging. He is set to complete Mary Baldwin’s Teacher Education Program and will be entering an MEd program through MBU.

Adam Gold & Damon Duarte

Project Supervisor: Jerrol Wallace, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN

Graduate Capstone Project: Empowering Tomorrow’s Anesthesia Leaders

Abstract: This study was conducted to raise awareness of shortages of anesthesia providers across the country. Research suggests that many rural counties lack anesthesia providers, making it difficult for patients to access the care they need. Therefore, the task of finding additional anesthesia providers to fill care gaps continues to burden healthcare experts. Medical doctor anesthesiologists (MDAs) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) can be trained to provide care; however, it may be more efficient to train more CRNAs than MDAs. Additional problems arise from a lack of awareness of the CRNA profession. The purpose of this study was to use a short educational video about the CRNA profession to educate local nursing students about the profession, with the hope of increasing awareness of the profession and, ultimately, recruiting more individuals to join it. The database used to find relevant research was Google Scholar, and the focus was on CRNAs providing safe, equal, cost-effective care compared to MDAs, and on how raising awareness of the profession attracts more people to the profession. The target population for this study was nursing students at James Madison University pursuing their nursing degrees through traditional and non-traditional pathways. An educational video about the CRNA profession was sent to nursing students via email, along with a pre- and post-survey. The pre- and post-surveys were conducted to assess students’ understanding of the CRNA profession before and after watching the video, and to determine whether they would consider pursuing this career path in the future. The results showed that the baseline understanding of the CRNA profession before watching the video was very limited, and only a few expressed interest in pursuing it as a career. After the video, understanding of the profession increased, and more participants had an interest in pursuing it as a career. Although only 14 of 502 students participated in the study, the results showed that educating participants about the CRNA profession increased their interest in the profession, strengthened their desire to take the next steps in this career path, and clarified the profession. This study underscores the importance of raising awareness of the CRNA profession among healthcare professionals and of addressing the broader issue of anesthesia provider shortages.

Biographies: Adam Gold is a Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate in the Nurse Anesthesia program from McLean, Virginia. In the fall, he will be working as a nurse anesthetist in Northern Virginia.

Damon Duarte is a Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate in the Nurse Anesthesia program from San Diego, California. In the fall, he will be working as a nurse anesthetist in Fresno, California.

Elle Lewis-Eme

Project Supervisor: Dr. Susan Anderson

Graduate Capstone Project: Your Body Is a Temple: Architectural Representations of Women in The Duchess of Malfi and The Faerie Queene

Abstract: Scholars almost reflexively connect allusions to ecclesiastical architectural in early modern literature to the dissolution of the monasteries, but often fail to recognize the metaphorical connection to women’s (chaste) bodies. A close reading of Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene and John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi reveals the proclivity of Protestant authors to position their female characters as oppositional to the cold, unproductive monuments associated with monastic life. Through a primarily literary and historical lens, “Your Body Is a Temple” argues that architectural representations of women are so prevalent in early modern literature because women’s bodies—through marriage and motherhood—replace the monasteries in terms of religious and social importance. Elucidating the nuanced connections between women and ecclesiastical architecture reframes how scholars look at the Protestant marriage, and is essential in understanding the role of the female body in a post-Reformation England.

Biography: Elle Lewis-Eme is a Shakespeare and performance graduate student from Livermore, CA. For the past two years, she has worked as a research assistant for Dr. Peter Kirwan on his Arden edition of The Winter’s Tale. In the fall, Elle will be entering a Ph.D. program in English at the University of Notre Dame.

Hannah Boyce

Project Supervisor: Pari Paluszak 

Graduate Capstone Project: Shaping Teacher Beliefs and Practices Through Professional Development: Lessons for Virginia from Other States’ Science of Reading Implementations

Abstract: Policy reform alone does not improve literacy outcomes; teachers require sustained, meaningful support to implement effective reading instruction and shift their instructional beliefs and practices. Guided by Guskey’s (2002) Model of Teacher Change, this literature review examines how states support educators in implementing Science of Reading–based reforms, with particular emphasis on professional learning models. By synthesizing research on literacy best practices with state policies and initiatives, the review highlights strategies that help bridge the gap between teachers’ beliefs and mandated classroom practices. These findings are then applied to the Virginia Literacy Act to identify strengths and potential gaps in the Commonwealth’s current approach, followed by actionable recommendations to strengthen the translation of research into practice, and ultimately improve student literacy outcomes in Virginia.

Biography: Hannah Boyce is a graduate student from Orange County, Virginia, and an elementary Reading Specialist with 15 years of teaching experience. She helps children build strong literacy skills and a lifelong love of reading and is a passionate advocate for diverse and twice-exceptional learners.

Hannah Duffy

Project Supervisor: Dr. Kelly Elmore

Graduate Capstone Project: The Role of the Nurse Anesthetist in Interprofessional Education: A Pilot Study of an SRNA-Led Advanced Airway Training Program

Abstract: Interprofessional education (IE) is essential for improving patient safety and outcomes in the healthcare setting. Limited research exists regarding how leading interprofessional initiatives influences the pedagogical development and self-efficacy of nurse anesthetists. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to design and implement an advanced airway lecture and simulation-based training session for student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNA) and physician associate (PA) students. In this design, the SRNAs served as the educators of the PA students. Guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Evaluation Framework, a 90-minute lecture and four-hour stimulation experience was delivered at a graduate health sciences university. The participants included five SRNAs and 40 PA students. Post-intervention attitudes were measured using the modified Brief Attitudes Survey for Interprofessional Collaborative Learning (BASIC-L), with all participants completing their assigned interventions, and 92.5% of PA students and 100% of SRNAs completing the survey. Eighty percent of SRNAs selected “Strongly Agree” across items related to communication, interprofessional role development, and instructional confidence. Among PA students, 81% – 92% selected “Strongly Agree” on items addressing the benefit of interprofessional collaboration and education. These findings demonstrate that structured, simulation-based, collaborative IPE is impactful. Integrating SRNA-led interprofessional airway training into graduate curricula may strengthen the pedagogical self-efficacy and enhance collaborative readiness for advanced airway management across healthcare disciplines.

Biography: Hannah Duffy is a Doctor of Nursing Practice student studying nurse anesthesia from Charlotte, North Carolina. This fall, Hannah will move to Wilmington, North Carolina, where she has accepted her first position as a certified registered nurse anesthetist and looks forward to beginning her career in anesthesia practice.

Myra Williamson and
Na’Quesheaun Edgeston

Project Supervisor: Jennifer McPherson, DNP, CRNA, CHSE

Graduate Capstone Project: Implementing a Reflective Practice Model to Support Mental Health Parity: A Quantitative Study Among DNP Faculty and Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Abstract: Resident registered nurse anesthetists (RRNAs) experience anxiety, stress, and mental health challenges, yet gaps remain in faculty and clinical preceptor preparedness to identify and guide students toward resources. This project evaluated an educational resource intervention for students, faculty, and clinical preceptors using the Plan-Do-Study framework. Participants completed a twenty-six-item Likert-scale pre-assessment survey (N=46), reviewed an educational resource tool, and completed a post survey (N=13). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 30 with independent sample t-tests and effect size calculations (Cohen’s d). Significant improvements were identified in awareness of mental health stressors (p<.001), recognition of behavioral decline (p<.001), familiarity with referral procedures (p<.001), resource navigation (p<.001), and perceived barriers, including stigma and workload constraints (≤.003). Effect sizes were moderate to large (Cohen’s d frequently ≥0.80). Post intervention responses demonstrated high agreement (84.6%-100% rating 4-5), with behavioral and cultural domains demonstrating less change. Findings suggest mental health education improves faculty and clinician preparedness and resource navigation. Sustainable implementation may require reinforcement and cultural change initiatives to strengthen mental health support systems within nurse anesthesia programs.

Biographies: Myra Williamson is a senior nurse anesthesia resident at Mary Baldwin University, where she has completed rigorous didactic coursework alongside intense clinical training at VCU Health. Originally from central Texas, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing while serving in the United States Air Force.
A proud Air Force veteran, Myra brings discipline, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose to her work in anesthesia. Her advanced training has prepared her to deliver safe and high-quality anesthesia care across a variety of clinical settings.
Upon graduating in the fall, Myra will return to active duty in the United States Air Force, where she will provide independent anesthesia care to both military personnel and the surrounding community as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Her career reflects a steadfast dedication to service, leadership, and compassionate patient care.

Na’Quesheaun Edgeston is a highly motivated and accomplished Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetist. She is currently completing her senior year of doctoral training. Na’Quesheaun is enthusiastic and eager to transition into professional practice. As a native of Midlothian, Virginia, she plans to stay in the area after graduation. She looks forward to starting her career and contributing to her community’s health and well-being.

Nick Trusty

Project Supervisor: Dr. Matt Davies

Graduate Capstone Project: Theatre for No One: An Examination of Performing Alone

Abstract: It has long been believed that plays are nothing without their audiences. Scholars and practitioners alike agree that audiences are necessary for theatre to be qualified as such. But despite the hearty discourse regarding the role of audiences and their methods of interacting with performers, there has been little to no consideration of the value of theatre without an audience—or even if such a thing is theatre in the first place. Using Ilka Voermann’s Art For No One: 1933–1945 as a theoretical basis, this thesis explores the historical, philosophical, and performative viewpoints of theatre for no one, while documenting one person’s experience performing in the middle of the woods (utilizing Kolb’s learning cycle over three performances) as an exploration of this model. Through this combination of critical and creative research, this thesis advocates for an application of Art For No One to theatre, and presents practical evidence that theatre without an audience is indeed theatre and deeply valuable.

Oluwapelumi Solomon

Project Supervisor: Dr. Shelia Talbott

Graduate Capstone Project: Bilateral TAP Blocks for Post-Cesarean Pain An Educational Intervention for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

Abstract: Mothers who undergo cesarean sections still experience inadequate postoperative pain management. Poor maternal pain control after surgery is associated with lower maternal satisfaction, longer recovery times, and increased opiate use. This quality improvement project evaluated how a short educational session influenced Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists’ (CRNAs) knowledge and confidence when using bilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks for post-cesarean pain relief. Evidence-based practice supports bilateral TAP blocks as an effective way to reduce opioid use; however, their use remains inconsistent due to a lack of provider education and confidence. A 30-minute in-person training was given to CRNAs, and 25 participants completed a 10-item survey measuring their TAP block knowledge and confidence before and after the session. Post-education results showed gains in both areas, with knowledge scores rising by 12% and confidence scores by 21%. The overall score improved by 19.6% following the intervention. The analysis from this project indicates that a brief educational session can effectively enhance CRNAs’ preparedness to incorporate TAP blocks into multimodal pain management after cesarean delivery. Incorporating structured TAP block education into routine professional development can enhance postoperative pain control, decrease opioid dependence, and promote safer, evidence-based obstetric anesthesia practices.

Biography: Oluwapelumi Kudin is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student with over five years of nursing experience serving diverse patient populations. She has a strong passion for maternal health, which inspired her DNP project focused on improving postoperative pain management for cesarean section patients through the use of Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) blocks. Oluwapelumi worked on this project under the mentorship of Dr. Talbott. She will graduate with her DNP in Spring 2026 and plans to begin Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification in Summer 2026.