Arts and sciences students honored for research
June 16, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Thirty-nine undergraduate students were honored by Western Michigan University's College of Arts and Sciences for their research.
The students were honored at the college's Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award reception this spring. For the past six years, the awards program has supported undergraduate students' research under the mentorship of faculty in the college. The reception was the culmination of the college's weeklong focus on all areas of academic research conducted by faculty members and graduate and undergraduate students.
"The College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award reception is a great way for WMU students and their faculty members to demonstrate the fruits of their labor in various areas of study," says Dr. Leonard Ginsberg, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "It shows WMU's continuing focus on student research and its dedication to providing a variety of career-enhancing opportunities for undergraduates."
As participants in the program, each student was paired with a faculty mentor who facilitated research on a topic of interest in the student's academic field. Students also received a $500 scholarship to be used for travel expenses, research supplies or as a stipend.
At the same ceremony, fourteen students were honored for receiving a research fellowship supported by the Monroe Brown Foundation for research done in the life sciences. These grants varied in value from $2,000 to $5,000 dollars and were used to study a wide array of topics within the life sciences sphere.
College of Arts and Sciences
Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award recipients
Jonathan P. Allen of South Haven, Mich., a senior majoring in biomedical science, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research titled "Microbial Community Structure in Hydrocarbon Impacted Sediment Associated with Anomalous Geophysical Readings." His faculty mentor is Dr. Silvia Rossbach, WMU associate professor of biological sciences. Allen is the son of Richard J. and Rosalie B. Allen.
Jacob L. Bach of Sand Creek, Mich., a junior majoring in anthropology and comparative religion, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research on Hero-Stones from India. His faculty mentor is Dr. Allen Zagarell, professor of anthropology. Bach is the son of Robert and Susan Bach.
Gloria Benson of Mason, Mich., a sophomore majoring in biology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research developing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Western Michigan University and sharing her data with students at other colleges and universities. Benson worked in a group that also included WMU students Hannah Gryska and Jennifer Mansfield. Benson's faculty mentor is Dr. Harold Glasser, WMU assistant professor of environmental studies.
Jarrod Breeding of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in biomedical sciences, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research titled "The Effects of Heavy Metals Upon the Gene Expression of Pseudomanas Fluorescens Mutant Strains." His faculty mentor is Dr. Sylvia Rossbach, WMU associate professor of biological sciences.
Candace A. Brunger of Grand Ledge, Mich., a senior majoring in broadcast and cable production, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research analyzing cross-sex relationships from MTV's "The Real World" and the film "My Best Friend's Wedding." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Mark Orbe, associate professor of communication. Brunger is the daughter of Darrel Brunger and Marlene Lodholtz.
Beth A. Carroll of Traverse City, Mich. a senior majoring in English, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her project interviewing and profiling several married and engaged couples. Her faculty mentor is William Zinkus, WMU assistant professor of English. Carroll is the daughter of Roy G. and Barbara J. Carroll.
Charles Decker of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in communication, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research titled "Gender Roles: A Semiotic Analysis of Professional Women on Ally McBeal." His faculty mentor is Dr. Mark Orbe, WMU associate professor of communication.
Shanna Devries-Merrill of South Haven, Mich., a sophomore majoring in biology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Using Digital Video to Document Patterns of Primate Locomoter Behavior in Captivity." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Robert Anemone, WMU associate professor of anthropology.
Eric J. Dziuban of Saginaw, Mich., a senior majoring in biomedical science, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research on the correlation between the relative width of the tails of wallabies and the health of those animals. His faculty mentor is Dr. David Karowe, WMU associate professor of biological sciences. Dziuban is the son of Joe A. and Lynette E. Dziuban.
Jessica R. Edel of Gaylord, Mich., a senior majoring in psychology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Effects of Stimulants of Radial Arm Maze Acquisition in Enriched Versus Isolated Reared Rats." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Lisa Baker, WMU associate professor of psychology. Edel is the daughter of Rudi D. and Sandra A. Edel.
Katy Freeman of Battle Creek, Mich., a junior majoring in social psychology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Analyzing Small Group Dynamics and Academic Performance." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Susan Caulfield, WMU professor of sociology.
Amber L. Furtick of Grand Blanc, Mich., a senior majoring in psychology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research studying the timeliness of servers in a restaurant setting. Her faculty mentor is Dr. John Austin, WMU associate professor of psychology. Amber is the daughter of Larry B. and Deni L. Furtick.
Teresa Gaw of Battle Creek, Mich., a junior majoring in mathematics education, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Detour Distance in Graphs." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Gary Chartrand, WMU professor of mathematics.
Laura Geist of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in sociology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Analyzing Teaching Techniques and Student-based Learning in Sociology Statistics Courses." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Susan Caulfield, WMU professor of sociology.
Andrew Goodman of Paw Paw, Mich., a senior majoring in biochemistry, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research titled "Facilitating Organic Chemistry Education With Interdisciplinary Thinking @ Making the Right Connections." His faculty mentor is Dr. Elke Schoffers, WMU assistant professor of chemistry.
Kirstin B. Grieser of Benton Harbor, Mich., a senior majoring in public relations, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research on the role of apologia, dissociation and intercultural communication in the case of the U.S.S Greeneville. Her mentor is Dr. Keith Hearit, WMU associate professor of communication. Grieser is the daughter of Jerrold B. and Debra A. Grieser.
Christopher Groscurth of Clarkston, Mich., a senior majoring in organizational communication and English with a practical writing emphasis, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research titled "The Ideological Values of 'Making Whoopie': A Semiotic Analysis of the restrictive Coding and Commodification of Femininity and Masculinity of the Newlywed Game." His faculty mentor is Dr. Mark Orbe, WMU associate professor of communication.
Hannah J. Gryska of Grand Rapids, Mich., a sophomore majoring in political science and environmental studies, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research developing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Western Michigan University and sharing her data with students at other colleges and universities. Gryska worked in a group that also included WMU students Gloria Benson and Jennifer Mansfield. Gryska's faculty mentor is Dr. Harold Glasser, WMU assistant professor of environmental studies. She is the daughter of James A. and Kathryn A. Gryska.
Michael Hammons of Centreville, Mich., a senior majoring in criminal justice and sociology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research titled "Perceptions and Misconception of Retail Fraud." His faculty mentor is Dr. Paul Wienir, WMU associate professor of psychology.
David P. Hoogerheide of Kalamazoo, a junior majoring in physics and chemistry, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research on electrical conductivity and phase behavior of Lithium-Ammonia systems. His faculty mentor is Clement Burns, WMU associate professor of physics. Hoogerheide is the son of John G. and Jane E. Hoogerheide
Zachary Jaime of Parchment, Mich., a sophomore majoring in anthropology and history, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research titled "Vertebrate Paleontology and Biostratigraphy of the Lightning Park Locality: Early Eocene, Great Divide Basin, Wyoming." His faculty mentor is Dr. Robert Anemone, WMU associate professor of anthropology.
Scott S. Kern of Palatine, Ill., a senior majoring in history, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research creating a comparative social history of the Mudejars (Muslims living under Christian rule) in 14th Century Spain. His faculty mentor is Dr. Larry Simon, WMU associate professor of history. Kern is the son of Jeffrey G. and Anita S. Kern.
Hui Lin Lee of Jaya Selangor, Petaling, Malaysia, a sophomore majoring in biomedical sciences, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Human Breast Cancer Specific Tanapox Virus Mutants." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Karim Essani, WMU professor of biological sciences
Catherine M. Lenaway of Washington, Mich., a sophomore majoring in business and statistics, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research on the correlation between perceived personality and ascribed zodiac sign in a survey sample. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Magdalena Niewiadomska-Bugaj, WMU associate professor of statistics. Lenaway is the daughter of Jon C. and Joann M. Lenaway.
Jennifer L. Mansfield of Vermontville, Mich., a sophomore majoring in biological sciences and environmental studies, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research developing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Western Michigan University and sharing her data with students at other colleges and universities. Mansfield worked in a group that also included WMU students Gloria Benson and Hannah Gryska. Mansfield's faculty mentor is Dr. Harold Glasser, WMU assistant professor of environmental studies. She is the daughter of Robert C. and Vicki M. Mansfield.
Michelle Messenger of Kalamazoo, a junior majoring sociology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Assessing Higher-Order Thinking Skills." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Susan Caulfield, WMU professor of sociology.
Kendra Minor of Muskegon, Mich., a senior majoring in psychology and marketing, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "The Effects of Prompting and Feedback to Decrease the Spread of Germs." Her faculty mentor is John Austin, WMU associate professor of psychology.
Molly Noonan of Canton, Mich., a senior majoring in public relations and journalism, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Developing a Comprehensive Public Relations Plan." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Steven Rhodes, WMU professor of communication.
Michael J. Postma of Coopersville, Mich., a senior majoring in organizational communication, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research developing a "work at home" program for a mystery shopping company. His faculty mentor is Dr. Mark Orbe, WMU associate professor of communication. Postma is the son of Timothy and Marijane Postma.
Jameson Quaine of Dearborn, Mich., senior majoring in anthropology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research titled "Vertebrate Paleontology and Biostratigraphy of the Lightning Park Locality: Early Eocene, Great Divide Basin, Wyoming." His faculty mentor is Dr. Robert Anemone, WMU associate professor of anthropology.
Boone Shear of Oshtemo, Mich., a senior majoring in anthropology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research titled "The Global and the Local in Kalamazoo." His faculty mentor is Vincent Lyon-Callo, WMU assistant professor of anthropology.
Brittany L. Sheets of Traverse City, Mich., a junior majoring in psychology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research on effective skills in teaching children with autism. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Richard W. Malott, WMU professor of psychology. Sheets is the daughter of David E. and Pattie A. Sheets
Marco D. Tomasi of Stevensville, Mich., a senior majoring in psychology, received College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research designed to study sales-related behaviors of employees at movie theater concession stands. Her faculty mentor is Dr. John Austin, WMU associate professor of psychology. Tomasi is the son of Donald M. and Virginia L. Tomasi.
Olivier Urayeneza of Gobles, Mich., a senior majoring in biomedical science, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research titled "Structural and Biochemical Studies of CCH, a Copper Chaperone in Arabidopsis Thaliana." His faculty mentor is Dr. David Huffman, WMU assistant professor of chemistry. Urayenza is the son of Gerard and Justine Urayeneza.
Jamie Wacyk of Grand Ledge, Mich., a senior majoring in mathematics, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Detour Distance in Graphs." Her faculty mentor is Dr. Gary Chartrand, WMU professor of mathematics.
Steve Walker of Allegan, Mich., a junior majoring in chemistry, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for his research on the photochemistry of specific aerosol emission sources. His faculty mentor is Dr. John Miller, WMU associate professor of chemistry. Walker is the son of James R. Walker and Kay E. Doolittle.
Sun Wallace of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in biochemistry, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Synthesis of 1,10-Phenanthroline Ligands for Asymmetric Catalysis." Her faculty mentor is Elke Schoffers, WMU assistant professor of chemistry.
Yukiko Washio of Kalamazoo, a graduate student in the psychology department's behavior analysis program, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research titled "Does Responding Analogous to the Conjunction Error Emerge Following Match-to-Sample Training?" Her faculty mentor is Dr. Magdalena Niewiadomska-Bugaj, WMU associate professor of statistics.
Elizabeth M. Weiss-DeBoer of Lawton, Mich., a senior majoring in psychology, used a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award for her research on the correlation between perceived personality and ascribed zodiac sign in a survey sample. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Magdalena Niewiadomska-Bugaj, WMU associate professor of statistics. Weiss-DeBoer is the daughter of Richard W. and Linda R. DeBoer.
Media contact: Matt Gerard, 269 387-8400, matthew.gerard@wmich.edu