Honors Program Class of 2021
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Rachel Adler • • •
Nesconset, New York B.S. in National Security Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Water Diplomacy as a Mechanism for Peace: A Game Theoretic Analysis of the Middle East Plans after graduation After graduation, I will be pursuing an MA in Counterterrorism and Homeland Security at IDC Herzliya in Israel.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Samantha Alaimo • • •
Bethpage, New York B.S. in Marine Biology Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Spatial Distributions and Essential Fish Habitats of Pseudopleuronectes americanus, Paralichthys dentatus, Scophthalmus aquosus, and Hippoglossina oblonga in Defined Seafloor Areas of the Long Island Sound Based on Trawl Surveys Plans after graduation After graduation, I am attending Rutgers University to obtain a Master’s degree in Biological Oceanography. Leadership and Award • President of the Marine Conservation Society • Bartels Marine Programs Scholarship for Shoals Marine Laboratory
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Samantha Annunziata •
Vernon, New Jersey
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B.S. in Forensic Science
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Cum Laude
Thesis Title Structural Dependence of the Thermal Stability of Aminium Salts Plans after graduation I am completing my Master’s degree in Chemistry by Spring 2022 via the dual degree program offered at the University of New Haven. Then I plan to start my career in the forensics or chemical field, specifically interested in doing lab work. Leadership • Vice President of Academic Affairs of the Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority (Spring 2019-Fall 2020)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Maria Bigos • •
Buffalo, New York B.S. in Forensic Science, Minor in Biology
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Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Investigating the Use of SALIgAE® to Identify Expirated Bloodstains on Various Material Plans after graduation I will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics at the University at Buffalo.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Trisha Brady • • •
Milford, Connecticut B.S. in Forensic Science Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Amino Acid Composition Analysis as a Means to Differentiate Hair Samples from Individuals of Similar Demographics and the Effect of Hair Treatments Plans after graduation I will be attending University of Massachusetts Amherst to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Krystina Braid • • •
Sparrowbush, New York B.S. in Marine Biology Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Patterns of Fish Diversity Among Nearshore Habitats of San Salvador, Bahamas Plans after graduation I plan to become a veterinary assistant then begin a veterinary technician program. My goal is to become a licensed veterinary technician and work with marine animals in an aquarium or on a rescue team. Experience • Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2019) Fish Community Structure Following Disturbance on Patch Reefs in San Salvador, Bahamas • Bartels Marine Programs Scholarship at Shoals Marine Laboratory (2018)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Angela Chan •
Jacksonville, Florida
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B.S. in Sport Management
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Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Net Impact of Legalizing Sport Betting Plans after graduation My post-graduation plans involve moving back home to Florida and finding work that will help me gain professional experience as well as build my savings. Once I am stable enough to be on my own, I will be looking to branch out in search of bigger and better opportunities. Leadership and Award • University of New Haven Women’s Volleyball Team Captain (2020-2021) • 2021 Silverman Group Sports Management Award
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Miriam Cohen • •
Ellington, Connecticut B.S. in Psychology
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Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Effect of Cohorts on Undeclared Students’ Sense of Belonging Plans after graduation I will be attending University of Maine to earn my M.Ed. in Student Development in Higher Education. Experience Sexual Assault Crisis Counselor for the Rape Crisis Center of Milford
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Olivia Emerson • • •
Cheshire, Connecticut B.S. in Criminal Justice Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title A Comparison of State Policies on Sexual Assault Kit Submission and Testing Plans after graduation I will be taking a gap year to find a job in the Criminal Justice field and gain more experience before attending graduate school.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Jessica Enos • • •
Greenville, North Carolina B.S. in Forensic Science Cum Laude
Thesis Title An Evaluation of Portable Quadrupole and Portable Ion-Trap Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) for the Detection and Identification of Explosives Plans after graduation I will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Forensic Science at Arcadia University. Award Academic Excellence Award in Physics
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Cameron Filipe • • •
Somerset, Massachusetts B.S. in Forensic Science Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Investigation of Palatal Rugoscopy for Forensic Human Identification Plans after graduation I will be pursuing an Master’s degree in Biomedical Forensic Sciences at the Boston University School of Medicine. Awards ChargerREC Rising Star Award (2018 and 2019)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Gianna Gambale • • •
Long Island, New York B.S. in National Security Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Quantitative Analysis of Global Protests and Terrorism from 1990-2019 Plans after graduation After graduation I hope to receive a final job offer and move to Washington DC. Leadership and Award • Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Vice President of Programming for Delta Phi • Johnson Excellence in Writing Award for the Henry C Lee College (2019)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Camille Garden • •
Atlanta, Georgia B.A. in English
Thesis Title When Attraction Becomes Addiction: A Study in Video Games Plans after graduation Eventually pursue a Masters and Ph.D. in Sociolinguistics and/or pursue creative writing opportunities for both on and off screen.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Samara Green • • •
Bainbridge, New York B.S. in Marine Biology Cum Laude
Thesis Title Biological and Environmental Factors Affecting Cold-Stunning Rates in Sea Turtles (Chelonioidea) Along the Atlantic Coast of the United States Plans after graduation I plan on completing several internships before getting a job at a marine or wildlife rescue.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Allison Hanlon • •
Sharon, Connecticut B.S. in Forensic Science
Thesis Title A Global Analysis of Genetic Genealogy Use and Emergence in Forensic Investigations Plans after graduation I will be publishing my Honors Thesis while working alongside my advisor, Dr. Claire Glynn in the months following graduation. Additionally, I will be looking for a job in Forensic Science, specifically in a lab, on the East Coast. Within 5 years, I would like to return to higher education to obtain my Master’s Degree in a field relating to Forensic Science or Biology. Leadership Theta Omega Chapter President (2019-2020)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Madeline King • • •
Knox, New York B.S. in Forensic Science Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Evaluation of the Effect of the Humic Acid Inhibitor on Forensic Genetic Investigations of Human Skeletal Remains Plans after graduation I will be continuing my education at the University of New Haven in the Cellular and Molecular Biology Master’s program.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Alison Klein • • •
Kingston, New York B.A. in Psychology Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Does the Label of Ethnicity/Race Impact Determinations of Parental Fitness, and therefore Custody Outcomes in Biethnic/racial Custody Disputes? Plans after graduation I will be attending Roger Williams University to complete my M.A. in Forensic and Legal Psychology. I have also been awarded an assistantship at this institution.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Angelika Kyrkos • • •
Norwalk, Connecticut B.S. in Forensic Science Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Comparison of the Value of Deciduous and Permanent Teeth in Unidentified Human Remains (UHR) Casework Plans after graduation Employment in a forensic casework laboratory.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Marissa Lehner • • •
Port Jefferson Station, New York B.S. in National Security Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Evaluating the Effectiveness of the United Nations in Responding to Pandemics Plans after graduation I am attending American University in Washington DC to obtain an MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Leadership • Honors Peer Mentor (2019 – 2021) • Model UN Vice President (2020 – 2021) • Zoom Model UN (ZMUN) Director (2020) • Model UN Head Delegate (2020 –2021)
Awards NMUN Germany Outstanding Delegate (Fall 2019) NMUN DC Outstanding Delegate (Fall 2020) Outstanding Student in National Security (Spring 2021)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Kevin McKenna • •
Kings Park, New York B.S. in Forensic Science
Thesis Title Investigating the Effect of Urea Pretreatment on Bloodstain Detection Plans after graduation I plan to go to graduate school to study Molecular Biology.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Brianna McPhee • • •
Nashua, New Hampshire B.S. in Forensic Science Cum Laude
Thesis Title The Comparison of Passive Drip Blood Stain Patterns Versus Transfer Blood Stain Patterns on Different Substrates Plans after graduation After graduation, I will be attending the University of New Haven to accomplish a Master’s degree of Science in the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Eric Moore • •
Chelmsford, Massachusetts B.S. in Forensic Science
Thesis Title The Evaluation of the Function and Efficacy of the PreCR® Repair Mix Treatment with Y-STR profiles Plans after graduation Enter the workforce job market in the fields of forensic biology, clinical laboratory sciences, or biochemistry. I am looking forward to graduate school in the medium-term future. Leadership and Award • Student government Senator, USGA (2018 – 2020)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Jaelynne Moore • • •
Tyngsborough, Massachusetts B.S. in Marine Biology Cum Laude
Thesis Title Examining Knowledge Gained within Summer Camp Staff: A Case Study of the Seacoast Science Center Summer Camp Staff Training Program in Comparison to Other Marine Education Facilities on the East Coast Plans after graduation Intern at the New England Aquarium in Boston, MA. Leadership and Award • Class of 2021 Vice President • Delta Phi Epsilon Executive Board Member (2019) • Outstanding Chapter Officer (2018-2019)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Arely Joaly Parra López • • • •
Severance, Colorado B.S. in Forensic Science B.S. in Genetics & Biotechnology Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Extraction of Human DNA from Soil in a Simulated Clandestine Grave
Plans after graduation I will be pursuing a M.F.S. in Forensic Molecular Biology at the George Washington University while working as a graduate teaching assistant for the Department of Forensic Science. My studies will prepare me for a career in research and field work as a forensic molecular biologist. I plan on ultimately working with human skeletal remains and other challenging forensic casework from missing persons cases and mass death investigations in the United States or abroad.
Leadership
Awards
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Forensic Science Outstanding Researcher Award (2021)
President 2018-2019, Executive Assistance 2017-2018 • Latin American Student Association (LASA) Vice President (2019), Sergeant-at-Arms (2018)
Phenomenal Woman Award (2019); (2021) Dr. Lourdes Alvarez Intercultural Excellence Award (2018); (2020) John D. Hatfield Scholar (2018); (2020)
• Sergeant-at-Arms - International Students Association (ISA) in 2018-2019
Student Affairs Leadership Award (2020)
• Diversity Peer Educator - Myatt Center for Diversity & Inclusion from 2018-2021
NAACP Executive Member of the Year Award (2018) NAACP General Member of the Year Award (2017)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Starlene Parris • • •
Bronx, New York B.S. in Criminal Justice Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title The Racialization of the Prison Experience Plans after graduation I will be attending the University of New Haven to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Award President’s Public Service Fellowship
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Francesca Pimenta • •
Guilford, Connecticut B.S. in National Security
Thesis Title Combating the Recruitment and Radicalization of Potential Terrorists: A State-Based Methods and Effectiveness Analysis for Application to Counter White Supremacy Terrorism in the USA Plans after graduation Obtain an internship(s) until January 2022 and then attend graduate school in Washington D.C. in pursuit of a Master’s degree in International Affairs. Leadership Vice President of the Eco-Adventure Club (2018-2021)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Gianna Quaglieri • •
Matawan, New Jersey B.A. in Legal Studies
Thesis Title Neuroscience in the Courtroom: Using Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) as a Criminal Defense Plans after graduation I am attending Seton Hall Law School.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Amanda Rickett • • • •
Baltimore, Maryland B.S. in Criminal Justice B.S. in National Security Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Race and Social Class as Factors Associated with Sentence Disparities: A Survey of Potential Jurors Plans after graduation I plan on attending graduate/law school and working in my field after graduation. My end goal is to own my own private investigator company or defense firm for minority and lower income families.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Alexandria Ross • • •
Davenport, New York B.S. in Forensic Science Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) of Manila Envelopes Plans after graduation I will be attending the University at Buffalo to pursue a Master’s Degree in Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Joseph Rubino • • •
Middletown, Connecticut B.S. in Criminal Justice Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Perceptions of Exclusionary Discipline: A Comparative Analysis of Students, Teachers, and School Resource Officers Plans after graduation I plan to pursue a career in law enforcement, with future plans to return to the University of New Haven for graduate school. Award 2021 Henry C. Lee College Research Award
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Erin Satkowski • • •
Oxford, Connecticut B.S. in Criminal Justice Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Policing Reimagined: An Examination of Police Diversity and Training Programs Across the United States Plans after graduation After graduation, I hope to become a Probation Officer in the state of Connecticut.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Elizabeth Sloane • • •
Hamden, Connecticut B.A. in Psychology Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Pathways to Peer Victimization: The Impact of Childhood Adversity on Social Relationships
Plans after graduation My plans after graduating are to apply to the Community Psychology Master’s Program at the University of New Haven.
Leadership and Awards • President of Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society, Beta Lambda Chapter (2020-21) • Award for Excellence in Leadership (2021) • Graduate Student Council President’s Award (2021) • The McGough Award – Outstanding Psychology Undergraduate Student (2021) • The Maria Leonard Senior Book Award (2021)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Shelby Smith • • •
Saugerties, New York B.A. in Psychology Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Who is Most Likely to Stereotype the LGBTQ+ Community? Plans after graduation I am attending graduate school for Psychology at the University of New Haven.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Emily Sommer • • •
Trumbull, Connecticut B.A. in Psychology Cum Laude
Thesis Title Police Brutality and Allegations of Excessive Use of Force: An Analysis of Commitments to Reform Plans after graduation I plan on attending American University in Washington DC and studying Criminology. Afterwards, I plan on potentially entering the FBI or another federal agency to continue my work in the criminal justice system.
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Daniel Stott • • • •
Clinton, Connecticut B.S. in Criminal Justice B.S. in National Security Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Intimate Partner Violence against LGBT College Students: Analysis of Institutional Policies and Programming
Plans after graduation I will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of Maryland at College Park. In early July, I will be starting a year-long graduate assistantship with their Department of Resident Life, where I will be assisting with the recruitment, hiring, and selection process for graduate and Resident Assistant staff members.
Awards • •
Excellence in Diversity Award Lifelong Charger Award
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Bernadette Tiberi • • • •
Haddon Township, New Jersey B.S. in Forensic Science B.S. in Biology Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Assessment of Epithelial Cell (DNA) Transfer to Dog/Cat Hair for Animal Cruelty Investigations Plans after graduation I am attending the University of Connecticut to obtain a Master’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology on the Storrs campus and hopefully one day work in a crime lab with DNA. Leadership and Award • 2020 Delta Phi Epsilon President • Honors Program John D. Hatfield Scholar (2020-21)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Madilyn Augustine •
B.A. in Psychology
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Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Predictors of Recidivism Among a Sample of Justice-Involved Women Participating in Women’s Mentoring Programs
Angela Boland • • •
B.A. in Political Science B.S. in National Security Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Assessing the Efficacy of Crisis Management Initiatives in Conflict Zones
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Madison Boulay • •
B.S. Biology Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Folate Receptor Expression in HPV Negative Cervical Cancer
Chelsea Cassidy • •
B.S. Health Sciences Cum Laude
Thesis Title Effect of Sociodemographic Factors on Use and Attitude of Birth Control Among Undergraduate Students
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Serena Charbonneau • •
B.A. in Psychology Cum Laude
Thesis Title An Analytic Study of Pageants as a Sub-Culture
Robert Choyce • • •
B.S. in National Security B.S. in Criminal Justice Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Post U.S. Afghanistan: An Assessment of How the Withdrawal of U.S. and Coalition Forces from Afghanistan Will Impact the U.S. – Taliban Agreement with Supporting Historical Analysis Comparing the Decade After the Soviet Withdrawal with the Current Conditions in Afghanistan
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Rachel Clavette • •
B.S. in National Security Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title European Union Integration: A Stabilizing Force for Bosnia-Herzegovina?
Trevor Dykas • •
B.S. in National Security Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Testing the Relationship Between Levels of Sharia Law and Rates of Terrorism
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Ezgi Erken • •
B.S. in Criminal Justice Cum Laude
Thesis Title Staff Balance of Care and Control in Transitional Housing
Ryan Faustini • •
B.S. in Forensic Science Cum Laude
Thesis Title The Application of Nanoparticle Enhanced Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy to Forensic Analysis of Gunshot Residue
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Douglas Gordon • •
B.A. in International Development and Diplomacy Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title The Effect of Source Cues and Equivalency Framing on the Public's Willingness to take the COVID-19 Vaccine
Olivia Gould • •
B.S. in National Security Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Information Operation Campaign Proposal to Manage the Venezuelan Crisis
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Angelique Hodge •
B.A. in Psychology
Thesis Title Restorative Justice for Teen Dating Violence: A Needs Assessment
Christine Holl • •
B.A. in Psychology Cum Laude
Thesis Title The Generational Effect of Mass Shootings on Student Mentality
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Kerri Kingsley • •
B.A. in Psychology Cum Laude
Thesis Title The Effect of Closeness on Belief of Innocence
Michael Lanzaro •
B.A. in Psychology
Thesis Title Out of Mind: Undergraduate Predictors of Anxiety Symptoms
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Sarah Luppino • •
B.S. in Criminal Justice Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Public Opinion on the Insanity Plea and How Education Could Change It
Lily Manzo • •
B.S. in Forensic Science Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title The Potential for Identification and/or Exclusion of an Individual by the Human Microbiome
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Emily Morgese •
B.S. in Biology
Thesis Title Characterization and Comparison of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Associated with the Rhizosphere of Spartina alterniflora at the Pleasant Point Salt Marsh
Allison Morrissey • •
B.S. in Forensic Science Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Differential Decomposition of Burnt and Unburnt Remains Submerged in Water
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Elizabeth Marie O'Neill • •
B.S. in Forensic Science Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Cervical Cancer Exosomal microRNA and Effects on Fibroblast Activation
Patrick O'Neill • •
B.A. in Psychology Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Mental Health and Substance Use Issues in the Family: Associations with College Performance and Stress
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Micaela Eileen O'Shea • •
B.A. in International Affairs and Political Science Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title How Policy Framing Affects Support for the Paris Climate Agreement
Amanda Pappas • •
B.S. in Criminal Justice Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title No One is Above the Law: Public Perception of Prosecutorial Misconduct’s Influence on Wrongful Convictions Award Honors Program John D. Hatfield Scholar (2020-21)
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Justine Rivera • •
B.S. in Marine Biology Summa Cum Laude
Thesis Title Presence of Labyrinthula sp., the Causative Agent of Seagrass Wasting Disease, on San Salvador Island, the Bahamas
Janine Smalling •
B.S. in Forensic Science
Thesis Title Evaluation of DNA from Blood and Saliva Overtime
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Selena Maria Soto • •
B.A. in Psychology Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title The Realities of Human Trafficking in the United States
Jillian Rose Staiti • •
B.S. in Genetics and Biotechnology Cum Laude
Thesis Title EGFR Receptor Activity in HPV Negative Cervical Cancer Cells
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Elizabeth Stellakis • •
B.S. in Forensic Science Cum Laude
Thesis Title An Investigation of the Differentiation of Biological Sex of Donors Based on Raman Spectroscopy of Blood Deposits
Braeden Sullivan • •
B.S. in Marine Biology Cum Laude
Thesis Title The Effect of pH on the Ability of Coccolithophore E. huxleyi to Calcify
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Michaela Sullivan • •
B.S. in Forensic Science Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Assessing the Potential Evidentiary Value of Terrestrial Microplastic Analysis for the Purposes of Forensic Investigation
Meghan Terni • •
B.S. in Forensic Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title Detection of miR-205 in Saliva Under Extreme Environmental Conditions
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Anna Tran • •
B.S. in Forensic Science Cum Laude
Thesis Title Differentiation of Diatoms Present in Pool Filters Compared to Local Pond and River Water to Determine Potential Diagnosis of Drowning
Katrina Vickery • • •
B.S. in Marine Biology B.S. in Environmental Science Magna Cum Laude
Thesis Title An Evaluation of the Perceptions of Environmental Educators Towards Online Education and the Effectiveness of Various Online Teaching Formats
Honors Program - Class of 2021 Rivka Weinman •
B.A. in English
Thesis Title Seeing the Poetry: An Analysis of the Poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths
Allison Yu • •
B.S. in Forensic Science Cum Laude
Thesis Title Analyzing the Effects of Lyme Disease Causing Bacteria, B. burgdorferi Infection on Cancer Associated Gene Expression in Neuroblastoma Cells