Stander Symposium: College of Arts and Sciences

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  Deus Ex Machina: Exploring the Feminist Phenomenology of Body, Motherhood, and Technology

  Aila Carr-Chellman

  Either by nurture or nature, we have a social situation wherein the control and domination over people is necessary for the world to function. The modern man is made instrumental to anything and everything, spurring systematic disconnection and alienation. The physical, psychological, and social alienation of women, in particular, is crucial for understanding the true nature of personhood. What alternative narratives of existence could emerge if the patriarchal structure of our world were dismantled? What would it mean to understand ourselves outside of a system that strips us of our connection to the social and relational world? I seek to contribute to a tradition of corporeal phenomenologists; philosophers that seek a more free version of existence through the lived body. The process of women grappling with the social distinction of Mother creates a unique relational and existential perspective that is important to understanding freedom in life. A technologizing world will continue to make all things, people or otherwise, mere means to an end. The ontological perspective of Women, of a lived corporeal reality, is essential in creating a more free world. My project seeks to draw upon the liberatory thinkers like Merleau-Ponty, Haraway, Heidegger, and De Beauvoir to reconsider our existential situation through the eyes and bodies of women. This project is to understand more deeply how a traditionally masculine project of control and domination perpetuates systemic disconnection, exploitation, and the dismantling of humanness in the most inherent sense.

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  Developmental Variation in Keratodont Counts of American Bullfrog Tadpoles

  Nicholas Canfield, Arianna Olivares

  Tadpole oral morphology plays a crucial role in feeding and development, yet its structural variations across developmental stages remain poorly understood. In particular, keratodonts—keratinized, tooth-like structures—are integral to tadpole feeding but have not been extensively analyzed for their consistency within and between developmental stages. This study examines the relationship between developmental stage and keratodont count in Rana catesbeiana (American bullfrog) tadpoles. Specimens were collected from metroparks in Dayton, Ohio, and assigned a developmental stage using the Gosner staging system. Their mouthparts were photographed under a microscope, and keratodonts were systematically counted. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess patterns of variation within and across stages. Understanding keratodont development may provide insights into the functional morphology of tadpoles and broader ecological and evolutionary implications.

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  Diabetes: Its Impact on the Hispanic Community

  Jemly Perez

  In 2022, Hispanic adults were 60% more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes by a doctor. As the largest minority in the U.S, Hispanics are the most affected by diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes. In the Hispanic community, more than half of Hispanics suffer from type 2 diabetes and other diseases such as kidney disease, some even being hospitalized for treatment of diabetes-related end-stage renal disease. Hispanics face difficult circumstances such as language barriers, limited access to health insurance, high rates of complications such as obesity, and cultural diets that on the surface appear harmless but overuse can have severe consequences. Therefore, this study will explore these factors to develop initiatives and aid in prevention in the Hispanic community.

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  Dietary specialization of two benthic fishes in the Lake Erie Basin: the native Common Logperch and the invasive Round Goby

  Emerson Amy

  The introduction of Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) to the benthic ecosystem in Lake Erie and its surrounding tributaries has already had significant effects on the native fishes in this system. To measure these effects I looked at diet specialization and diet overlap as potential sources of competition between Gobies and native fish. The Common Logperch (Percina caprodes) is a member of the benthic community in Lake Erie and its surrounding tributaries. Its similar size class, feeding morphology, diet, and range makes the Common Logperch a good model for determining the effects of invasive Round Gobies in the Lake Erie Basin. This research aims to identify the contemporary foraging mode of P. caprodes and N. melanostomus, determine if the foraging mode of the Common Logperch has changed since the Round Goby Invasion, and calculate proportional similarity (PS) between modern Logperch and Goby diets as a measure of diet overlap. Fish were caught from seining, or taken from Stone Laboratory’s teaching collection. They were dissected so stomach contents could be identified and benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected to represent the resource base. Chironomids were found to be a preference in both diets in Lake Erie and the Portage River. Hydropsychids were common in both diets in the Portage River, while Common Logperch in this system also selected for multiple families of mayflies. Logperch diet has changed since Gobies arrived as the Small Square-Gilled Mayflies (Caenidae) has left the Portage River resource base and is thus absent from the diet. High diet overlap (PS= 0.81-0.93) was found between both species, but high resource abundance does not indicate competitive exclusion occurring.

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  Differentially Expressed Genes in Multifocal and Multicentric Breast Cancer (MMBC) and Their Role in Breast Cancer Progression: A Multi-Cohort Analysis

  Thanh Chu

  Breast cancer has been considered as the second contributor to cancer-related fatalities among women worldwide. Among different categories of breast tumors, multifocal and multicentric breast cancers (MMBC) tend to be more aggressive than unifocal tumors and are highly associated with lower survival rates, higher recurrence rates, and increased lymph node metastasis. Despite its clinical significance, the underlying mechanisms governing MMBC progression have remained unclear. In this study, we utilized the advances of bioinformatics to discover key differentially expressed gens (DEGs) and associated functional pathways driving MMBC progression. Initially, we accessed and analyzed a published MMBC dataset (GSE79058) from a study of multifocal invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) to discover DEGs clusters based on tumor grades (ILC1 and ILC2), following by enrichment analysis to reveal potentially related functional processes involved in MMBC. A total of 153 DEGs were identified in ILC1 and 265 DEGS in ILC2. Functional pathway analysis revealed several closely related pathways that could be highly impacted by MMBC. Specifically, the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway exhibits differential expression across both grades, manifesting in both up-regulated and down-regulated gene clusters. This suggests a complex interplay of genes associated with this pathway, both upstream and downstream orientation.To further discover key features of MMBC, we examined MMBC-related gene signatures across large datasets including METBRIC and SCAN-B breast cancer cohorts. Clustering analysis revealed a clear distinction between MMBC from non-MMBC cases, with HER2, Luminal A and Luminal B breast cancer subtypes exhibiting significantly higher MMBC-associated scores than normal-like subtypes. In addition, survival analysis demonstrated that MMBC patients experienced significant worse overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), possibly indicating poorer prognosis. These findings shed the light for initial understandings of MMBC characteristics, by identifying and validate novel gene signatures and their functional role in tumor progression. As MMBC continues to be a significant clinical challenge, further research into its molecular drivers will be essential for developing more effective interventions aimed at improving patient outcomes.

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  Diverse bacteria from the skin of Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

  Nicolina Valore

  Amphibians are facing a significant biodiversity crisis. In the last few decades, these animals have been decimated by two fungal pathogens, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). Curiously, the most common amphibian species in the northeastern United States, the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, (Plethodon cinereus), appears to be largely resistant to Bd infections and also does not appear to be greatly affected by Bsal. The factors that contribute to this resistance are not fully understood. In this study, we collected P. cinereus skin swab samples from a total of three locations (Caesars Creek, Hills and Dales, and Taylorsville) surrounding Dayton, Ohio. Suspensions from the swab samples were plated to isolate bacteria. From a total of 27 skin swab samples, we obtained a total of 107 bacterial isolates. Many of the isolates are identified as bacteria commonly found in soil. Interestingly, some isolates are closely related to environmental clones where no cultivation of the organisms has been reported. In a preliminary test, the antimicrobial activity of the bacterial isolates was tested against Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, Salmonella enterica, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Findings from this study will help elucidate the role of skin microbes in the protection against pathogens for P. cinereus and ultimately provide insight into amphibian conservation.

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  Does baiting influence deer estimates within Metroparks?

  Brooke Owens

  Many wildlife studies use bait to attract animals, making it easier to observe, capture, or monitor them for research purposes. However, bait can also alter animal behavior, attract non-target species, create dependency on human-provided food, and increase the risk of spreading diseases, especially among deer populations. This study teamed up with Five Rivers MetroParks to evaluate the influence of using bait to estimate white-tailed deer densities in MetroPark protected areas through the use of bait stations and trail cameras. The experiment was conducted over two four-week periods: one in the summer of 2023 and one in the summer of 2024. During this time, cameras were deployed for two weeks with bait and two weeks without bait at sixteen different sites. The objective was to assess whether bait was necessary to achieve accurate deer counts. Camera trap photos were processed to identify species and record counts, followed by a comprehensive data analysis to compare detection rates and species presence across the two conditions. This study aims to determine if the addition of bait influences deer detection rates, providing insights into the use of baiting as a tool for wildlife monitoring as well as the possibility of stopping bait use due to the potential risks and issues associated with it.

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  Does Exposure to Community Violence as a Juvenile Offender Increase the Risk of Re-offending/Re-arrest?

  Hannah Kepreos

  This project explores the relationship between juvenile offenders and their risk of re-offending due to exposure to community violence. By analyzing the Pathways to Desistance (PTD) dataset, the largest longitudinal study of serious adolescent offenders, the project investigates how different variables contribute to re-offending. Specifically, it examines the effects of exposure to community violence, both as a witness and as a victim, on the frequency of offending. The findings aim to demonstrate that increased exposure to violence correlates with a higher likelihood of re-offending, providing valuable insights into the factors that influence juvenile delinquency and the potential for intervention.

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  Does having a relative who has been or is incarcerated affect the likelihood that a juvenile will be incarcerated?

  Ashley Burger, Abigayle Dix

  Our thesis for our project is to determine if a juvenile has a relative that has been arrested, will this increase the likelihood that the juvenile will also be arrested? For this study the relative must live in the same house as the juvenile. We chose to research this because over the past couple of decades many teenagers have experienced having a parent in prison. This number has grown substantially. Since there has been an increase in incarceration in general and an increase of adolescents with a parent or relative who lives with them, there is a push to figure out preventative strategies to decrease the risk of delinquency and if having a parent or relative incarcerated is the main cause of delinquency. Our study aims to discover if relative incarceration causes the juvenile to be more likely to be incarcerated or if other factors contribute to the juveniles behavior more. If this can be determined, it can lead to better help and support for juvenile's who have a relative incarcerated.

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  Does the existence of multiple color variants aid in predator avoidance for a common frog in southwestern Ohio?

  Adelyn Hughes

  Blanchard’s Cricket Frog, found across the Midwest and Southwestern United States including southwestern Ohio, exhibits a color polymorphism, but reasons for the evolution of these different color patterns remain unclear. In a summer research project at the Berry Summer Thesis Institute Program, I investigated whether varied color patterns aid in camouflage and predator avoidance. Assisted by Dr. Hantak’s lab, I used non-toxic colored clay to create over 600 frog models mimicking Blanchard’s Cricket Frog; half of which were brown with a green stripe, and half being uniformly brown. Placed at Spring Run Conservation Area near Dayton, 414 models were positioned one meter apart along transects near ponds where these frogs reside. After five days, the models were collected and then analyzed for predator marks. Trends in the data indicate that color may play an important role in predation. However, at this time, with a low sample size, we lack sufficient power to form strong conclusions. Additional data will be collected in the fall of 2024 and spring of 2025 to increase support of our findings.

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  Drosophila CRC models to study tumor-promoting signaling interactions

  Venolia Adjei, Sydney Anderson, Brandon Clark, Maria El Biri, Evelyn Krebs, Edmund O'Rourke, Arushi Rai, Olivia Stolly, Kate Weber

  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the US, with an estimated 53,000 deaths in 2024. Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene APC, the proto-oncogene KRAS, and the dual tumor suppressor and proto-oncogene TP53 frequently co-occur in human CRC, underscoring its heterogeneity. The DNA damage repair pathway, mediated by the transcription factor p53, promotes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in response to genotoxic stress. The Ras-MAPK pathway, regulated by the signal transduction protein Ras, triggers cellular proliferation and growth when active. The Wnt pathway, negatively regulated by Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC), likewise promotes cellular proliferation and growth through the activity of the transcription factor beta-catenin. The Hippo pathway and JNK pathway have also been found to crosstalk extensively with these pathways, regulating cellular proliferation, cell cycle progression, growth, and cell death. While the individual contributions of these signaling pathways in CRC have been well-documented, additional research is needed to better understand their interactions during tumorigenesis and tumor development. Thus, this study seeks to establish one-hit, two-hit, and three-hit models of CRC in Drosophila and to characterize them for cell cycle defects and altered cell signaling. To generate tumors, MARCM clones were made using escargot-GAL4 to drive the expression of dominant-negative p53, oncogenic RasG12V, and/or loss-of-function APC specifically in intestinal stem cells in early larvae and adult flies. Subsequent phenotypes and gene expression patterns were then assessed via dissection and immunohistochemistry. Here, we present preliminary data from these experiments and our progress in developing preclinical models of CRC in Drosophila.

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  Echoes of the Arena: The Lasting Impact of Ancient Stadiums on Today’s Sports Culture

  Oliver Thimling

  This paper examines the evolution of stadiums and spectator sports, focusing on the influence of ancient arenas on the design and culture of modern sports venues. Beginning with the grand structures of ancient civilizations, such as the Roman Colosseum and Greek amphitheaters, the study explores how these early stadiums were designed to host large audiences for competitive and often theatrical events. These ancient venues not only served as architectural marvels but were also central to the social and cultural fabric of their societies. The paper then traces the transformation of these ancient designs into modern stadiums, analyzing how architectural advancements, technology, and the commercialization of sport have shaped the spectator experience today. The research draws on a variety of sources, including scholarly books, journal articles, and firsthand accounts gathered from virtual tours of both ancient and contemporary stadiums. By comparing ancient and contemporary sports venues, this study highlights the ways in which the fundamental purpose of stadiums is to entertain, unite, and inspire. It has remained consistent, even as the nature of sports and global fandoms has evolved. Through this historical lens, the paper offers insights into the lasting legacy of ancient sports venues and their continuing influence on modern entertainment and stadium design.

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  Effects of propionate on Listeria monocytogenes fitness and pathogenesis in cold temperatures

  Jadyn Nirschl

  Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne bacterium that has been repeatedly shown to have the ability to grow and survive under cold conditions, potentially increasing the risk of food contamination. To prevent food spoilage during cold storage, antimicrobial agents, such as propionate, are frequently added to inhibit microbial growth. As a result, L. monocytogenes could be exposed to propionate at refrigeration temperatures. However, how propionate affects L. monocytogenes fitness under cold conditions and subsequent infection is not currently known. In this study, we investigated the effects of cold propionate exposure on L. monocytogenes susceptibility to nisin (a common food additive) and lysozyme (a host degradative enzyme) as well as pathogenesis through listeriolysin O production and intracellular infections in RAW264.7 macrophages. In general, optical density of L. monocytogenes cultures did not decrease over a 7-day period incubation in the cold. However, the presence of propionate (25 mM) resulted in a significant decrease in OD after 7 days in the cold. Moreover, cold exposure altered L. monocytogenes cell morphology and increased susceptibility to nisin without changing susceptibility to lysozyme. While the presence of propionate did not affect LLO production during cold storage, cold pretreatment significantly increased bacterial entry into the macrophages. In summary, both cold temperature and propionate seem to influence L. monocytogenes fitness and pathogenesis to varying degrees, highlighting the need to better understand synergistic activities between cold temperatures and food additives. Additional work is needed to further elucidate mechanisms underlying the observed responses and provides recommendations for food safety.

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  Efficient Light-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Production from a Cationic Mitochondrial-Targeting BODIPY Dye.

  Cynthia Bukirwa

  Efficient Light-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Production from a Cationic Mitochondrial-Targeting BODIPY Dye. Cynthia Bukirwa (Undergraduate student), Dr. Shawn Swavey (Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Dayton)BODIPY dyes have demonstrated their effectiveness as photosensitizers due to their diverse reactivity and high selectivity. These dyes are highly versatile and can be modified to absorb light across the visible and infrared spectrum. This study introduces a red light-activated BODIPY dye capable of subcellular localization within the mitochondria, yielding high quantum yields of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The potential of this dye to serve as a photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent highlights its promise as an organelle-targeted phototherapeutic. The synthetic route for this dye, along with its characterization and evaluation through 1H NMR, electronic absorption spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy, is detailed. The dye's ability to generate singlet oxygen and superoxide radicals, as well as its capacity to photo-nick plasmid DNA, will also be addressed. Integrating this organelle-targeted strategy into cancer treatment therapies could help mitigate drug resistance and reduce the recurrence of tumor cells.

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  Electropolymerization on ITO-Coated Glass Slides of a Series of π-Extended BODIPY Dyes with Redox-Active Meso-Substituents

  Alexa Wright

  A series of meso-carbazole and meso-pyrene boron dipyrromethene(BDP) dyes have been synthesized using a two-step method. This simplified synthetic method did not require catalysts or oxidizing agents. Solution spectroscopic and electrochemical studies indicate that the HOMO and LUMO energies are dependent on the extent of π-conjugation associated with the pyrroles. Solution electrochemistry of the dyes in chloroform reveal film formation onto glassy carbon electrodes. Electrolysis of chloroform solutions of the dyes using indium tin oxide (ITO) glass slides as the working electrode show, using UV/vis spectroscopy, the formation of films. For two of the dyes, the BODIPY structure stays in tact upon electrolysis, exhibiting sharp absorption peaks on the ITO slides similar to that observed for the same dyes in solution.

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  El estigma de la salud mental en la comunidad hispana/latina en EE.UU/The Stigma of Mental Health in the Hispanic/Latinx Community in the U.S

  Annabelle Karch, Ana Martinez Muller

  Mental health remains a complex and often overlooked issue within the Hispanic/Latinx community in the U.S., shaped by a combination of deeply rooted cultural perspectives, socioeconomic realities, and structural barriers. Traditional beliefs and religious influences continue to define attitudes toward mental well-being, sometimes discouraging open discussions or professional intervention. At the same time, disparities in healthcare access, language barriers, and financial constraints further complicate the path to adequate support. This presentation delves into the multifaceted nature of these challenges, examining how they shape individual and collective experiences. By exploring the broader implications of untreated mental health conditions and highlighting initiatives to increase awareness and accessibility, we seek to contribute to a deeper understanding of the issue. Through a careful analysis of research in both English and Spanish, it will shed light on the evolving discourse around mental health in this community and the ongoing efforts to foster more inclusive care.

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  Enhancement of biofilm in Listeria monocytogenes by benzalkonium chloride depends on the amount of the inoculum

  Sydney Herzog, Kelly McNamara

  Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen that is typically isolated in food environments. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a common cleaner that is used in both medical and food-processing environments. How BAC impacts Listeria monocytogenes biofilm formation is not entirely known. Previous data from our lab has shown that concentrations of BAC higher than 0.1% enhances biofilm formation of Listeria monocytogenes. We hypothesized that bacterial lysing is the main reason for this enhancement. To test our hypothesis, we used different starting concentrations of Listeria monocytogenes culture and expected that higher bacteria inoculum would result in higher biofilm formation. Using a standard microplate biofilm assay and crystal violet staining, we showed a concentration-dependent formation of biofilm where higher amounts of Listeria monocytogenes led to higher biofilm formation, regardless if BAC was added. The BAC enhancement of biofilm formation was reduced with less L. monocytogenes inoculum. These results suggest that the bacterial abundance is a highly relevant factor in the effects of BAC on bacterial biofilm formation.

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  Estimating Disease Transmissions with Assortative Mixing by Vaccination Status

  Jacob Biesecker-Mast

  Many mathematical models of infectious disease assume the population is well-mixed, meaning every pair of individuals is equally likely to contact each other, potentially spreading the disease. In reality, populations are rarely well-mixed, and an important way in which they are not is assortative mixing, that is, when pairs of individuals who are similar are more likely to contact one another than pairs of individuals who are different. Failing to account for assortative mixing by vaccine status leads to biased estimates of important quantities that characterize disease transmission, including reproduction numbers. We expand on this by developing a model that can overcome this bias using a framework called dynamic survival analysis that studies the epidemic using techniques from survival analysis. Additionally, our model circumvents gaps in the information required. For example, our model works when test times, rather than infection times, are known.

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  Ethical & Effective Federal Artificial Intelligence Policy

  Liam Row

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is going to be the defining invention of our time. As some put it, it will be humankinds' last invention since everything from thereon will be created by it. Moreover, it will possess capabilities that far surpass any known technology and will have a similar technological impact to that of the internet. The rise of the internet and, subsequently, social media is viewed as one of the greatest technological changes and impacts of the world today, changing every aspect of our modern lives for both better and worse. However, when political thinkers retroactively examine the policies around both the internet and social media, it is clear that some of the necessary policies to protect people never came to fruition and it is now too late to effectively regulate most aspects of either. This is the same logic that many worry will be true when it comes to artificial intelligence, but with one key difference: AI has the potential of significantly greater and more catastrophic harms. In other words, to avoid these future harms and ensure that the policy opportunity window is not missed as was the case with the internet and social media, an effective policy must be adequately researched and developed. Furthermore, the policy must be created with all possible considerations and full evaluation of the potential benefits and downsides. Thus, this project will aim to identify the potential harms, and benefits, of AI in the future as well as how they may be impacted by prospective policies. The end goal of this project is to create and justify an effective artificial intelligence policy that protects against the potential downsides and promotes the benefits such technology can provide, minimizing harms and maximizing advantages.

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  Euler's Number : A closer look at an approximation of e using Leonard Euler's Theory of Continued Fractions

  Libby Kreikemeier

  Leonard Euler created a Theory of Continued Fractions for approximating any number in the set of Real numbers. With the use of the division algorithm we are able to simplify a fraction into a set of convergents further allowing us to approximate the fraction into a decimal. This theory can be applied to many numbers of different forms like 3, 235/19, and pi. Euler’s number, e, is approximately equivalent to 2.718, and is used as a constant in many areas of mathematics and science. It is most commonly used in exponential growth and decay, compound interest, and differential equations. With these many applications, it is important to have a general understanding of what this constant is despite its irrationality and non-terminating decimal points. Because e is an irrational real number, the Theory of Continued Fractions can be applied, allowing us to easily approximate e.

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  Evaluating AI Vision in Extreme Weather

  Vatsa Patel, Le Ba Thinh Tran

  The performance of object detection models in adverse weather conditions remains a critical challenge for intelligent transportation systems. Since advancements in autonomous driving rely heavily on extensive datasets, which help autonomous driving systems be reliable in complex driving environments, this study provides a comprehensive dataset under diverse weather scenarios like rain, fog, nighttime, or sun flares and systematically evaluates the robustness of state-of-the-art deep learning-based object detection frameworks. Our Adverse Driving Conditions Dataset (ADCD) features eight single-weather effects and four challenging mixed-weather effects, with a curated collection of 50,000 traffic images for each weather effect. State-of-the-art object detection models are evaluated using standard metrics, including precision, recall, and IoU. Our findings reveal significant performance degradation under adverse conditions compared to clear weather, highlighting common issues such as misclassification and false positives. For example, scenarios like fog combined with rain cause frequent detection failures, highlighting the limitations of current algorithms. Through comprehensive performance analysis, we provide critical insights into model vulnerabilities and propose directions for developing weather-resilient object detection systems. This work contributes to advancing robust computer vision technologies for safer and more reliable transportation in unpredictable real-world environments.

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  Evolution of a difficult protein: Assessing the ability of human B3 to replace fly B2 tubulin

  Tionne Dawkins

  Proteins that are evolving constantly. In the course of changing they must find a way to maintain their essential functions. One way to avoid this problem is to not change, some proteins can go unchanged for millions of years. An example of this is the Drosophila sperm-generating proteinB2-tubulin, this protein has not evolved in 60 million years. We aim to understand why B2tubulin continues to remain conserved by testing if B2-tubulin function can be replaced by a different tubulin. To answer this question, we are performing genetic crosses to generate a fly expressing human B3-tubulin in place of B2-tubulin. We will examine spermatogenesis by dissecting testes and assessing whether the sperm development was normal. Our study will provide insights on the constraints of the tubulin protein evolution and how it functions within Drosophila.

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  Examining Gender and Race/Ethnicity Differences in Self-Esteem: A Birth Cohort Analysis Spanning 46 years

  Ella Donnelly

  Self-esteem has been increasing generationally among the general population. This study will determine if one’s race and gender influence their self-reported self-esteem. Self-esteem is the degree to which one’s perceived self-concept is positive. Over 120,000 participants were collected as a convenience sample from the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future Study. Participants completed a survey that included measures from the Rosenberg Self-Esteem questionnaire. Responses were collected from over two million 12th graders from 1975 through 2023. They completed this survey in a classroom setting. Data will be analyzed using an analysis of variance statistical testing by R statistical programming language. If necessary, follow-up tests will be conducted using TukeyHSD testing. It is important to understand the factors that may influence self-esteem generationally so that psychologists, educators, and health care professionals can alter their practices for each gender and race.

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  Examining House Bill 172 and Its Implications of Mental Health Care in Ohio: An Advocacy Day Follow Up

  Lindsey Beattie, Ella Donnelly, Julia Fabian, Courtney Thompson

  In this project prepared for SWK 310, we share our reflections and insights gained from our experience participating in the Social Work Advocacy Day in Columbus, Ohio in March 2025. During our trip we attended advocacy training and planning sessions and met with state legislators and/or their staff. This presentation details our experiences at Advocacy Day, outlines an area of advocacy, and describes how we advocated for change through the lens of the Social Work framework.

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  Examining the Causal Impact of Prayer on Self-Control and Generosity

  Angel Rivera-Martinez

  Prayer is a behavior that is characteristic of most religions and spiritualities and a practice important to many people. Although many studies have looked at a wide variety of the possible outcomes and impacts of prayer on behavior and well-being, this research hopes to study the practice of prayer and its outcomes in a more theological lens. In the Bible, the Fruit of the Spirit outlines expected characteristics of a person or community living in accordance with the Holy Spirit. The two aspects of the Fruit that will be studied as variables within this experiment are self-control and generosity. The goal of the experiment is to establish some sort of causal relationship between the practice of prayer and the variables of self-control and generosity, and the research involved will hopefully provide deeper insight into the relationships between psychology and theology.