Contemporary Issues in Undergrad Learning
Fifth Regional Undergraduate Student Research Conference held at Delaware State University
9:50 a.m., April 24, 2015--The fifth Regional Undergraduate Student Research Conference highlighting research by undergraduate students was held Wednesday, April 8, in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center on Delaware State University’s (DSU) main campus in Dover, Delaware, rescheduled from March 6 due to a snow storm.
This year’s theme was, “Confronting Contemporary Issue in Undergraduate Learning," and the conference’s consortium grew to feature presentations by students Arcadia University, as well as the University of Delaware, Delaware State University and The Lincoln University
Research Stories
Chronic wounds
Prof. Heck's legacy
Co-hosting this year's event were DSU’s A. Myrna Nurse, associate professor of English, and Andrew Blake, associate professor of English.
Students presented their research in topics that encompass not only undergraduate learning but societal issues that encroach upon academic learning: marital/non-marital trends among college graduates, sexual misconduct cases in higher education, poverty, dating violence, racial disparities in health care, sex trafficking, black females’ identity in the United States, and the threat of technology’s addictive presence, as well as literary texts that demand global awareness, environmental imperatives, a potential cure for Alzheimer’s, the concept inventory approach to enhance the learning of underprepared pre-engineering students, and the evolution of feminist art.
Keynote advice: Be BOLD
Carol Henderson, vice provost for diversity and professor of English and Black American Studies at the University of Delaware's Newark campus, presented the keynote address titled, “Young, Gifted and BOLD: Being a Change Agent on Campus and in Our Communities.”
Henderson, the lead founding member of the conference, inspired the audience with her story that accentuated her determination not to allow anyone to steal her dream. However, even while she determined to rise above all her disadvantages of being a single mother living off $350 amonth, she said she never imagined that one day she would stand as an example of one who went “from welfare to the White House” and met the first lady Michelle Obama. She also told students that they should be BOLD in their pursuits to be change agents in the world and in their communities.
In being BOLD, Henderson said they should be:
"B -- better than others think you can be; better than you think you can be. Be bold but not brash; humility goes a long way.
"O -- outstanding and open. Mediocrity breeds mediocrity. If you want the best, you must be the best. Also be open to change. Sometimes what you want is not what is best for you. Be willing to adjust.
"L -- Live your life out loud. Don’t talk about it … be about it.
"D -- be dedicated, determined and divine. Life has no guarantees but the ones you make. Our daily walk should demonstrate the characteristics of this determination with dignity and grace."
Henderson’s accomplishments, along with many publications, include being the recipient of several community, professional and research awards, including the University of Delaware's Excellence in Teaching Award (2006, 1996), the Richard ‘Dick’ Wilson Mentoring Award (2002), Commitment to Diversity Award—Residence Student Life (2003) and the AIDS Task Force Dedicated Service Award from Beautiful Gate Outreach Center in Wilmington, Delaware (2006). In 2011, she was recognized as a top 10 finalist in the nation for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars Inspire Integrity Award and awarded the Ford-Turpin Distinguished Achievement Award for her scholarly work from the Department of English and Language Arts at Morgan State University. She was also presented the Chairman’s Outstanding Achievement and Distinguished Service Award in recognition of outstanding achievement as an educator and scholar from the Middle-Atlantic Writers Association (2011).
Henderson closed her address with awards presented to the conference’s co-founders Nurse and Blake, as well as to Emmanuel Babatunde and Robert Millette, in commemoration of the conference’s fifth anniversary.
The conference concluded with the presentation of student awards for the best paper and poster presentations and honorable mentions.
Paper Winners
First Place: Melanie Bourgeault (senior, University of Delaware, majoring in music education and minoring in sexuality and gender studies), paper on “The Significance of Visibility and Resources: An Evaluation of the Perceived LGBTQ Campus Climate at the University of Delaware,” faculty adviser Pascha Bueno-Hansen;
Second Place: Matlaleng Babatunde (senior, Lincoln University, double majoring in political science and women’s studies), paper on “Black Females’ Identity in the United States,” faculty adviser Christina Garvan;
Second Place: Daniel Damiani (senior, University of Delaware, majoring in mathematics education), paper on “An Analysis of Pre-Service Secondary Teachers’ Thinking in Solving Mathematical Modeling Problems,” faculty adviser Jinfa Cai; and
Third Place: Brittnee Marsh (junior, Delaware State University, majoring in health science), paper on “Racial Disparities in Health Care: Where Are We Now?,” faculty adviser Andrew Blake.
Poster Winners
First Place: Rasheid Smith (senior, Lincoln University, double majoring in biochemistry and computer science), poster on “Re-Engineering the Engineering Curriculum for Minorities and Underrepresented Students Success – Concept Inventory Approach,” faculty adviser Monica Gray;
Second Place: Keda Dorisca, (junior, Delaware State University, majoring in political science), poster on “Evolution of Feminist Art,” faculty adviser Hazel Beaumount; and
Third Place: Andrew C. Blake (sophomore, Delaware State University, majoring in biological sciences), poster on “Effects of Changes in Acetylcholine Release on Locomotion States in Central Synapses,” faculty adviser Hakeem Lawal.
Honorable Mentions
Jameis Freeland (senior, Arcadia University, majoring in English), paper on “Wrapped in Misunderstanding: A Closer Look at Clare Kendry in Nella Larsen’s Passing; faculty adviser Kalenda Eaton; and
Amber Jones (junior, Delaware State University, majoring in psychology), paper on “Should We Live Together First?: An Analysis of Marriage Trends and Attitudes among African American College Students,” faculty adviser Darla Scott.
All winners received monetary awards, and certificates of achievement were given to all conference presenters in attendance.
This year’s conference was generously sponsored by the University of Delaware’s Department of Black American Studies, and the monetary awards were provided by DSU’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Faculty members from all attending institutions served as moderators, judges, and attendees. They include A. Myrna Nurse, Andrew Blake, Victor Gomia and Jesse Zuba, all of Delaware State; Robert Millette and Emmanuel Babatunde of Lincoln; W. Maloba of University of Delaware; and Kalenda Eaton of Arcadia University. Regina Sims of the University of Delaware was instrumental in serving as liaison with UD’s students.
Conference history
The Regional Undergraduate Student Research Conference (USRC) was originally conceptualized in 2010 by Carol Henderson and realized in 2011 in collaboration with A. Myrna Nurse and Andrew Blake. Its consortium was supported by UD's Department of Black American Studies under the leadership of Henderson, then chair of the department, and Nurse and Blake of DSU’s Department of English and Foreign Languages.
The first USRC in 2011 was held at UD’s Arsht Hall, Wilmington, Delaware, with the theme, “Black Identity in the Age of Obama.” It attracted a fledgling number of eight student-participants from UD and DSU, whose impressive research brought topics such as “‘Brenda’s Got a Baby’: Single Motherhood in the Streets” (Brooklynn K. Hitchens, UD) and “The Road to Success: How the Contributions of Frederick Douglass and Nelson Mandela Paved the Way to Success for Blacks” (Sonya Inderbitzin, DSU).
In 2012, due to its impressive numerical swell to almost 40 student-participants, it expanded to a two-day symposium held at DSU’s Dover campus. The Lincoln University (TLU) joined the consortium, and Emmanuel Babatunde was instrumental in bringing TLU students. Its theme was, “Social, Technological and Scientific Advancements of the 21st Century.” Impressive topics included “Attitude of Young Black Males to Breastfeeding” (Brian Brown, TLU) and “The Effect of Paternal Parenting Stress on Child Cognitive Development at 24 Months of Age” (Kimele Gray, DSU).
The third conference in 2013 returned to UD and was held at Arsht Hall in Wilmington, with the theme, “Empowering Undergraduate Research: Producing Student Leaders in the Arts, Sciences, New Technologies and Popular Culture.” Student-presenters discussed issues and raised poignant questions on topics such as “Age Discrimination in the Workplace of the United States” (Philip D. Tomsic, TLU), “The School-to-Prison Pipeline” (Ashlee Johnson, UD), and “Historical and Religious Oppression of Women in Islamic Countries” (Shandell Thomas-Baisden, DSU). Its 30-plus participants included students from The New School, New York and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
The fourth conference in 2014 was held on TLU’s picturesque campus in Lincoln, Pennsylvania. Emmanuel Babatunde (professor and chair of the Department Sociology and Criminal Justice) and Robert Millette (professor of sociology and ambassador-at-large) co-chaired the event. Its theme, “Vantage Point: Where the Disciplines Meet,” attracted almost 40 students from across the disciplines engaged in impressive undergraduate research. Outstanding topics were “Victims of ‘Honor’ Tradition” (Arpita Mandal, UD), “The Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method for Electromagnetic Problems” (Heaven Thomas, DSU), “The Continental Differentiation Theory” (James Church, UD), and “Extracellular Dnase- and Protease-Producing Bacteria on Delaware Catfish” (Michael Hickey, DSU).
The 2015 fifth conference was held on DSU’s main campus in Dover, Delaware. Nurse and Blake co-hosted the event that had 30 students registered from UD, DSU, TLU and Arcadia University. Its theme was “Confronting Contemporary Issues in Undergraduate Learning.” Outstanding topics were “The Significance of Visibility and Resources: An Evaluation of the Perceived LGBTQ Campus Climate at the University of Delaware” (Melanie Bourgeault, UD) and “Re-Engineering the Engineering Curriculum for Minorities and Underrepresented Students Success – Concept Inventory Approach” (Rasheid Smith, The Lincoln University).
The sixth Regional Undergraduate Student Research Conference will be held at UD in 2016.
Article by Myrna Nurse