Senior Honors Thesis Day
Iona College Honors Program
February 16, 2012
Dr. James Stillwaggon, Ph.D, ICHP Director

Dr. Joseph E. Nyre, President of Iona College

Panel A: The Psychology of the Personal
Romita Auditorium
Moderator: Dr. Colleen Jacobson, Assistant Professor of Psychology

Rachel V. Fraioli: "An Examination of Attachment Styles, Self-Esteem and Romantic Relationships in College Students"
Cara George: "Applying Attribution Theory to Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Survey of College Students"
Maria E. Massa: "Attitudes Toward Romantic Relationships within the Framework of Arnett's Theory of Emerging Adulthood: A Survey of College Students"
Christopher N. Nardi: "Creating and Testing an Original Survey That Predicts Psychosocial and Cognitive Mediators of Physical Health"

Panel B:Advances in the STEM Fields
Ryan Library Room 201
Moderators: Dr. Margaret Smith, Associate Professor of Education
Dr. Joseph Stabile, Professor of Biology

Daniel J. Arndt: "Misconceptions of the Equal Sign among Middle School Students"
Gina T. Engley: "Comparing and Ordering Fractions in the Lower Grade Levels"
Caitlin McGregor: "Engaging in 21st Century Literacies"
Matthew S. Joslyn: "Observance of the Bioaccumulation of Mercury in Phragmites australis in Marine Environments on the Long Island Sound and Hudson River"

Panel C:Legal Theory, Past and Present
Ryan Library Room 202
Moderators: Dr. Alexander R. Eodice, Professor of Philosophy
Dr. Robert Lacey, Assistant Professor of Political Science

Kerryann Rodriguez: "A Historical Analysis of the Evolution of the Incarceration of Pregnant Offenders"
Annmarie Stepancic: "The Death Penalty: Just Deserts or Just Plain Wrong?"
James P. Hurley: "From Injustice to Toleration: Legal Philosophy, Litigation, and Gay Rights"
Heather Nannery: "Establishment of Religion in the United States: James Madison's Lasting Legacy"

Panel D:Honors Goes to War
Ryan Library Room 308
Moderator: Dr. Brian Nickerson, Professor of Political Science, Interim Provost

Charlotte Ball: "Conflict Resolution in the Bosnian Civil War"
Michael J. Petre: "The UNEP's Evolving Role: The Environment and Conflict"
Lauren M. Urban: "From Watchdogs to Lapdogs: How and Why American Media Rolled Over for Bush before and during the Iraq War"
Anthony Berni: "Is the United States Adequately Prepared to Confront the Challenges of Cyber Warfare?"

Panel A: Historical Perspectives
Romita Auditorium
Moderator: Dr. Catherine Stratton, Professor of History

Catherine McIlvaine: "Byzantine Iconoclasm: The Roots of the First Iconoclastic Period, 726-787"
Zachary Martin: "The Military Liability of St. Petersburg (1703-1725)"
Clara Steinhagen: "Puritan Captivity Narratives, White Indians, and the Conflict of Response to the Cultural 'Other'

Panel B: Iona College Cultural History
Ryan Library Room 201
Moderator: Dr. Tresmaine Grimes, Associate Professor of Psychology, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs

Fiona Gray: "The History of the Bagpipes and their Influence at Iona College"
Matthew J. Cavataro: "The Iona College Rugby Football Club: A History"

Panel C: Undying Themes in Popular Texts
Ryan Library Room 202
Moderators: Dr. Amy Stackhouse, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Scott Cleary, Associate Professor of English

Maureen E. McNulty: "Blood, Sex & Taboo: The Evolution of the Vampire in 20th & 21st Century American Popular Culture In Print & On Screen"
Ryan Oldendorf: "The Collaborative Hero:Tolkien's Modern Adaptation of the Classical Concept"

Panel A:The Social Construction of Difference in Youth
Romita Auditorium
Moderator: Dr. Gravity Goldberg, Assistant Professor of Education

Michelle K. Mueller:  "Social Reproduction As A Result of High Stakes Testing"
Grace Romanelli: "Deaf Education: Learning from the Past as we Move Toward the Future"
Cara Hynes: "Benefits of Cochlear Implant Socialization of Children and Families with Peer Groups"

 

Panel B: The New Economy
Ryan Library Room 201
Moderator: Eric Moscato, Clinical Lecturer of Finance, Business Economics and Legal Studies

Kyle O. Keelan: "High-Frequency Traders and the "Flash Crash" of May 6, 2010"
Angela R. Valvano: "The Concept of Too Big to Fail and its Ramifications on Financial Institutions"
Robert Hines: "The Entrepreneurial Basics: An Entertainment Company's Business Plan"

 

Panel C: The Creation of Popular Culture
Ryan Library Room 202
Moderator: Laura Esposito, Adjunct Professor of Mass Communications

Diana Chisis: "Cult Brands: What Are They And Are They Forever?"
Lauren A. Cirkot: "Social Media and The Music Industry"

Conor R. McWain: "Social Media: A Revolution in Communication"

 

Panel D:Reflections on the Religious
Ryan Library Room 308
Moderator: Dr. Regina Plunkett-Dowling, Director of Mission Integration

Robert M. Bucci, Jr.: "Revitalizing the Sacred:  The Hermeneutic of Continuity According to the Thought of Joseph Ratzinger and the Renewal of the Roman Liturgy"
William M. May: "A Study of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and His Contributions to Both Calculus and Theodicy with an Application to a Modern-Day, Contemporary Theodicy"
Robert L. Droel: "Changing Models, Changing Church: A Study of Vatican II's Vision for the Laity"