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Campus News
| Titan news on and beyond campus
In-person instruction will continue in fall 2021
KATHY BRITTAIN RICHARDSON College President Westminster will resume full inperson instruction for the fall 2021 semester while anticipating a return to a more normal campus experience for students.
President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson announced the plans to continue in-person learning and on-campus residency, citing the College’s strong preparedness plan that enabled students and employees to successfully navigate the COVID-19 pandemic on campus this academic year.
“Through good planning and hard work, we have been able offer our students an in-person, residential educational experience since their return to campus last August. Our students’ and employees’ dedication to mask wearing, physical distancing and handwashing have helped keep our community safe,” said Richardson.
After shifting to online instruction on March 19, 2020, the College reopened for the fall 2020 semester with an adjusted calendar and three different learning formats—face-to-face, hybrid and online. While many colleges across the nation suspended on-campus learning last fall— or had to temporarily switch to all virtual learning—because of COVID outbreaks, Westminster remained in-person all year.
“We feel confident, especially based on the commitment of the campus community this year, that we can safely continue inperson instruction next fall,” she said.
While officials are hopeful for a more normal college setting next year, they remain committed to following state and federal coronavirus protocols. Students and employees are being urged to get vaccinated in preparation for the fall semester.
This fall, orientation for first-year and transfer students will be held from Aug. 27-29. Classes resume for all students on Monday, Aug. 30.
Four new members were elected to the Westminster College Board of Trustees in February.
Anthony Brown ’84, the Rev. Dr. Randall Bush, Leslie Cox Pemberton ’82 and Patrick Sentner ’90 were each elected to serve four-year terms.
Brown is the chief talent officer at Fisher Phillips, one of the largest U.S. law firms representing management in the areas of labor, civil rights, employee benefits and immigration law. Brown previously served as a principal at JAB Resources, chief human resource officer at Thompson Hine LLP, vice president for human recourses at the National Interstate Insurance Company and executive director of human resources at Sara Lee. He is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional.
He has served on several boards in the Cleveland area, including Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, the Commission on Economic Inclusion, and Karamu House, the oldest African-American theater in the United States.
Bush is senior pastor of East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, where he has served since 2006. Before that he was pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Racine, Wis., and earlier served at Lomagundi Presbyterian Church in Zimbabwe.
A graduate of the University of Kansas, Bush earned a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Marquette University.
Brown Bush Pemberton Sentner
Pemberton has been the head of operational excellence at Kennametal since 2020. She retired as vice president of global equality of Sonoco Inc., where she previously had been director of global quality.
Pemberton, who is a past member of the Susquehanna University Board of Trustees, holds an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina.
Sentner, who has more than 25 years of experience in the corporate real estate industry, is executive vice president within the Advisory & Transaction Services division of CBRE, Inc.’s Occupier Services Group. Previously he was a founding principal at Colliers International, Pittsburgh, and NAI Pittsburgh Commercial. He also served as vice president at Oxford Development Co.
He is the global president-elect of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, is a member of the Pastoral Council for the St. Louise DeMarilac Parish and is a board representative for the Pittsburgh YMCA.
Colleges of Distinction, a unique guide for collegebound students, has recognized Westminster for its commitment to providing students with an engaged, experiential education.
Westminster was also listed as a Pennsylvania College of Distinction and was cited for excellence in its business, education and nursing programs.
Colleges of Distinction lists institutions that meet four criteria: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. While other ranking systems rely on metrics like peer reputation, test scores, endowment and alumni salaries, Colleges of Distinction looks for schools that support the entire student experience and provides a place where students can learn, grow and succeed.
Westminster was noted for its first-year program, service learning, alternative spring break , diversity and global learning, collaborative learning, undergraduate research, living-learning communities, capstone projects and internship opportunities.
WHY I GIVE
Brian ’12 & Caitie fleckenstein chinchilla ’13 Psychology/Education
Home:
Avalon, Pennsylvania
Professions:
Brian is a research developer with Psychology Software Tools and Caitie is a third grade teacher at Freedom Elementary School.
Side Story:
Westminster College—or, perhaps Student Affairs’ Gina Vance—brought Caitie and Brian together at RA training in 2011. Brian popped the question to Caitie outside of the cafeteria, the same location where he asked her out for their first date. The rest is history!
Why the Chinchillas Give:
“We give to Westminster because it was our home for four years and still feels that way to this day. We have so many great friends from our time on campus. We wish to provide future generations with cherished memories and the amazing education that we gained.”
Low tuition increase for 2021-2022 year
Westminster College, a nationally recognized “best bang for your buck” school, will again keep cost increases low for the upcoming academic year.
Approved by the Board of Trustees, the College will implement a less than 1.4% increase for tuition and room and board costs—with no increases to student fees—for the 2021-2022 year. The tuition rate of $18,815 per semester marks an increase of only $277.50 per semester, with room and board costs at $5,835 per semester. Activity fees will remain unchanged at $300 per semester.
In the three academic years since 2018, overall costs have increased by 4%, and yet students have benefited from significantly upgraded residence halls and student programming, an expanded science center with new facilities for nursing and chemistry to strengthen STEM education, and new soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball fields that build on Westminster’s winning traditions in athletics.
“As we look ahead to the upcoming academic year, we continue to focus on controlling the costs of attendance, even as we work diligently to expand the deep educational experiences for students,” said President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson. “We take very seriously our mission to prepare our students for lives of accomplishment and service after graduation with the highest quality education possible, while making it as affordable as possible.” Richardson attributed the College’s ability to provide additional financial support through the fundraising campaign Bring Back the Titans, which raised $1.8 million to assist students who faced financial hardship due to the pandemic.
“This year, the College invested more than $27 million of its funds in financial aid, with the average student paying less than half the total cost of tuition, fees and boarding, and we distributed more than $632,000 in additional emergency federal aid last summer,” Richardson said.
Additionally, students are supported through 310 endowed scholarships, including nine new or in progress scholarships that are being endowed by Westminster donors.
Austin selected to lead TRIO program
Erik Austin was recently tapped to lead the College’s new TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program to benefit underrepresented students.
Austin, who worked with the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford’s TRIO SSS program, oversees efforts to provide services and resources to first-generation, income eligible students and students with disabilities.
Of the 2020-2021 enrolled students, 38% identified as low income, 17% were first-generation college students and 7% had a declared disability.
“The impact that a program like TRIO SSS can have on a student is impossible to overstate and I look forward to helping our very first TRIO cohort meet and exceed their goals,” said Austin.
He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford and a master’s from Purdue University.
Supported by the Austin U.S. Department of Education, the program offers eligible students resources that promote retention, good academic standing, completion and placement in graduate schools and/or careers.
Westminster received a $1.3 million grant to support this new program for the next five years, with the possibility of renewal.
WHY I GIVE
leadership dinner
Senior Director of Alumni Engagement Kara Montgomery, left, drops by Ferguson Hall to deliver a meal to senior Yiannoula Katsadas for the annual Leadership Dinner held virtually this year. Successful alumni spoke to campus student leaders about “Finding the Leader in You.” Participating alumni were Chris Carmody ’96, senior vice president, enterprise infrastructure, UPMC, and president of ClinicalConnect Health Information Exchange; Beth Trimble Davis ’99, CEO of the Lewellen Group, and Alexis Shellow ’15, contract specialist for the U.S. Department of Interior. The annual event is sponsored by the Office of Alumni Engagement.
’78 grad talks about entrepreneurial journey
Rick Cesari ’78 was named the Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year at the virtual 2021 Westminster Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) Symposium in March.
Cesari
Cesari, a pioneer in the direct response advertising industry, has used brand response strategies to help build many iconic brands such as The George Foreman Grill, OxiClean and Rug Doctor.
The author of Buy Now: Creative Marketing that Gets Customers to Respond to You and Your Product, Building Billion Dollar Brands and Video Persuasion: Grow Your Brand, Increase Sales and Build Your Business, Cesari has helped take companies like GoPro from a start-up to over a billion dollars in sales in just a few short years.
Cesari spoke to WEC students about his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting his experiences and achievements.
Cesari said three fundamentals he learned as a football player while at Westminster helped guide him through the years: the importance of having a winning attitude, discipline and the benefit of teamwork.
The symposium also recognized School of Business scholarship recipients and offered opportunities for WEC students to network with more than 50 industry professionals in Zoom breakout rooms.
ALAN HEMPHILL ’64 POLITICAL SCIENCE
Home:
Saxonburg, Pennsylvania
Profession:
Retired service officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
World Traveler Remains Connected to Westminster:
Alan Hemphill has lived in and traveled to dozens of countries across the globe, but Westminster is where Alan got his start. He donates regularly to the Delber McKee Scholarship Fund and the 1964 Intern Scholarship Fund. This year he also made a contribution to the Wellness Center to aid in Westminster’s COVID response.
Why Alan Gives:
Alan believes giving back to his alma mater not only supports the health of the College, but it ensures Westminster’s future of providing a quality education for the next generation of students.
College picks up trio of prestigious CASE awards
Westminster was awarded two prestigious gold awards—one for fundraising, the other for special events—in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II Accolades Awards. The College also earned a silver award in a competitive annual giving category.
In the Fundraising Improvement category, CASE judges said Westminster’s Clash of the Titans 2020 campaign had a “solid strategy and strong performance metrics, and showed evidence of increased support, growth and broad participation from constituents who were not active previously.”
The one-week Clash of the Titans crowdfunding campaign raised $218,147 to benefit Titan athletics and the marching band.
The Clash of the Titans campaign also picked up a silver award in the Annual Giving category and the College was recognized for capitalizing on strong alumni connections to their former teams and coaches.
In the Events on a Shoestring category, judges praised the Professional Networking Symposium—cosponsored by the Professional Development Center and the Office of Alumni Engagement—and its commitment to students and alumni.
Westminster was also named a CASE Platinum Award finalist in the Best Practices in Fundraising category for the Bring Back the Titans campaign. Bring Back the Titans, developed to aid students financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, raised $1.8 million. Other finalists for the award include Swarthmore College, Johns Hopkins University, Syracuse University, Drexel University and New York University. The winner will be announced in June.
CASE is a global association for professionals working in the advancement field—alumni relations, communications, development and marketing. District II is the largest of CASE’s eight districts with more than 700 participating institutions.
to our thank you A special thank you CLASH OF THE TITANS donors who showed up big for our Titan athletics teams during this unconventional competition season. Your support has a significant impact on the success and health of their program and we are grateful for your continued dedication.
Faculty granted promotions, tenure
Faculty promotions and tenure were approved by the Board of Trustees at its February meeting.
Faculty members earning the rank of full professor are Dr. Karen Resendes, biology, and Dr. Pamela Richardson, mathematics. Promoted to associate professor was Dr. Robert Badowski, business, who was—along with Dr. Kristen Amick, biology—granted tenure. Resendes Richardson
Resendes, who joined the Westminster faculty in 2009, earned an undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and her Ph.D. in molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry from Brown University. She performed post-doctoral research at the University of California, San Diego.
Richardson earned her undergraduate in mathematics from Bowling Green State University and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Virginia. Badowski Amick She joined the Westminster faculty in 2006.
Badowski, a member of the Westminster since 2016, earned an undergraduate degree in business education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and his Master of Business Administration and Ph.D. in instructional management and leadership from Robert Morris University.
Amick joined the Westminster faculty in 2018. She received her undergraduate in biology from Penn State Behrend and her Ph.D. in molecular evolution and bioinformatics from George Washington University. e wanted our
Woutstanding Bring Back the Titan donors to know that you are STILL helping current students through the generosity you showed last spring with our online crowdfunding campaign.
Efforts like this make a difference.
12% of our student body has received financial assistance from these gifts and we continue to meet their needs. Thank you for supporting our students during an unprecedented time of need and helping them to complete and continue their educational journey.
Thank you!
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JOURNEY Washington
Student leads march, encourages dialogue
Journey Washington wasn’t sure how many people would The peaceful march—fueled by the countless stories of turn out. She would have been satisfied with just a few, the killings of people of color like George Floyd, Tamir Rice, but was hoping that a number closer to 50 would join her Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and more—weaved through in the Black Lives Matter march she had been planning since Westminster’s campus and the streets of New Wilmington the fall semester. and concluded with a solemn candlelight vigil. “Based on the amount of support I got from my friends, “When I look around, I see myself and my friends in the peers and some faculty and staff members, I knew I would features of those killed as a result of racism. But sitting around have enough and just watching only meant that I, too, was a part of the people to problem. I needed to take action and be part of the change,” be able to she said. “Having this march meant that I was given a chance try to share to be heard, that I could speak for those living and dead who knowledge will not or cannot speak for themselves.” with While Washington felt the support that day and viewed them,” said it as an important first step toward education, hope and sophomore impactful change, she understands that no place—even Washington. Westminster—is immune to racism or implicit bias. In “My motto order to combat that, it begins with establishing a dialogue, during the identifying advocates and creating a unified voice. entire planning Washington said she hopes the march will help spark process was conversations and reflection about racism and racial justice ‘if only one and encourage others on campus to speak up and stand up for Journey Washington, left, leads the Black Lives person showed what they believe is right. Matter peaceful march through Westminster’s up, that’s one “Most importantly, if people want to be an ally—a true ally, campus in March. more person not just a social media ally—people can show minorities that who is trying to they stand with us with their words and their actions." S learn and fight for change.’” But people did show up. Nearly 150 students, faculty, staff and community members gathered at the Anderson Amphitheater on a warm and sunny March day to help Washington spark an honest conversation about systemic racism and finding unity. Journey is a rising junior from Beaver Falls, Pa., majoring in business administration. A graduate of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Journey competes in women's volleyball and is a long- and triple-jumper in track and field. She has been elected vice president of the Black Student Union for the 2021-2022 academic year.
MUSIC TO OUR EARS Counterclockwise from top, Dr. R. Tad Greig conducts the Wind Ensemble’s performance of “Today is the Gift” at the their spring concert. // The Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Andrew Withington, livestreams their April concert
One thing that’s been in short supply during the from Wallace Memorial Chapel. // First-year student Hunter pandemic? Live music. But while COVID may have Hoag prepares to perform with the Wind Ensemble. // The wiped out in-person concerts for more than a year, Westminster’s School of Music vocal and instrumental Men’s Chorus also sings in the chapel to record their concert “Travelling Around,” also directed by Withington. ensembles have been livestreaming performances, sharing their art and giving us that cultural fix many of us have craved. You can watch some of the School of Music’s archived Although virtual performances can’t replace the exhilaration of performances, recitals and videos on YouTube. Simply live concerts, the alternative has been a welcome one—and we’re go to www.youtube.com and search for “Westminster happy knowing our student musicians are getting a chance to College School of Music.” make music.
Webster, Rennie announce retirements
Two retiring faculty members were granted emeritus status by Westminster’s Board of Trustees this spring.
Dr. Sandra K. Webster was named professor of psychology emerita at the February board meeting, while Dr. Bryan S. Rennie was named professor of religion and philosophy emeritus at the board’s May meeting. Webster, a member of Westminster’s faculty since 1983, has specialized in research design and statistics and Webster Rennie conducted studies in the areas of emotion, technology and metacognition. During her tenure at Westminster, her work has been supported by two Fulbright Scholar awards, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State—the first in 1989 to research and lecture at the University of Jos in Nigeria, the second in 2000, when she spent a year conducting research and teaching at Korea University and Sungshin Women’s University in South Korea.
Webster earned the Westminster College Distinguished Faculty Award in 2012. She earned her undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
Rennie, who also earned this year’s Distinguished Faculty Award (see sidebar), joined the Westminster faculty in 1992. He offered courses on the history and philosophy of religions, method and theory in religious studies and the study of religion and art. For 15 years through his tenure as the Vira I. Heinz Chair of Religion—an endowed chair funded by the Heinz Foundation— Rennie brought leading scholars, literary figures, musicians and Buddhist monks to Westminster’s campus. He also chaired the organizing committee of Westminster’s Bridges to Israel Conference in 2011.
Rennie is recognized as one of the world’s foremost interpreters of 20th century Romanian philosopher Mircea Eliade, who helped establish the comparative study of religion. His scholarly research on Eliade led to authoring many articles and four books. Rennie’s latest book, An Ethology of Religion and Art: Belief as Behavior, was published in 2020.
Rennie earned his undergraduate degree, master’s and doctorate from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
BRYAN RENNIE
Professor of Religion & Philosophy
“Irresistible passion, intellectual hospitality, restless mind. These traits provide the contours of a consummate professor, an accomplished scholar, and a tireless friend and colleague.” These are words used by Westminster’s Dean of the College Dr. Jamie McMinn to describe the 2021 Distinguished Faculty Award recipient, Dr. Bryan Rennie. His sentiments are echoed and repeated throughout a series of nomination letters in support of Rennie: Challenging and compassionate teacher. Passionate world-class scholar. Inspirational and generous colleague.
Each letter from a former student maps a similar path, one guided and encouraged by Rennie. Many of his pupils recall their experiences with Rennie as enlightening and transformative.
“His teachings would prove to be an eye-opening and exciting growth period for me.”
“Dr. Rennie did not just teach me how to think about religious studies, but how to think about thinking itself.”
“His classes and the many conversations I had with him over my four years continually pushed my curiosity and helped to shape the person I am today.”
Within his circle of colleagues, he is recognized for his devotion to his students, his interdisciplinary and intellectual rigor and for championing the role of religious studies in the liberal arts.
His intellectual breadth is prevalent in his research and writings of Mircea Eliade, 20th century Romanian philosopher and about whom Rennie is internationally regarded as a leading authority.
“Bryan is without doubt the leading and most highly respected advocate for Eliade’s approach to the study of religion in the Anglophone world.”
His restless and creative mind goes beyond Eliade, however. His most recent research interests lie in the study of the relationship between religion and art. As one colleague stated, he is a “true scholar-teacher whose research fuels his teaching and whose teaching informs his research.”
Rennie retired from teaching at the close of the 2020-2021 academic year, but his passion and quest for knowledge will undoubtedly continue—as will his masterful ability to inspire and instill intellectual curiosity.
Giving Tuesday participation goal surpassed
$136,541 440 DONORS | 16 DAYS | 31 STATES Alumni and friends of responded to the nationwide Giving Tuesday challenge this winter by generously donating to the College and surpassing last year’s successful campaign. In a two-week challenge ending on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, donors were offered six different student-impact projects or funds to support through the crowdfunding platform GiveCampus. By the end of Giving Tuesday, a total of 440 individuals—alumni, parents, students, employees and friends—had Other funding options included the Internship Fund, the Student Emergency Fund, the Student Food Pantry Fund, the Hoyt Science Lab Equipment Fund and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programming Fund. Of the 440 donors, 86% were alumni. The GiveCampus platform allowed alumni to cheer on their alma mater by offering challenges and matches for classmates and other donors. Top alumni classes represented, based on participation, included the come together to support Westminster, Class of 2017 in first place, the Class of 2012 in second place and surpassing the 370-donor goal, and the Class of 1973 in third place. raising $136,541, an increase of more than $76,000 from 2019’s campaign. “We are so thankful for the generosity of those who contributed to our Giving Tuesday campaign,” said Kara Montgomery, senior Participation goals were exceeded for director of alumni engagement. “These gifts have a direct impact each of the six projects, with the majority on our students and help Westminster thrive. The fact that they of donors contributing to the unrestricted Wherever Needed were made during such a challenging time, globally, is even more Most Fund, which can help anywhere, including the Westminster encouraging and speaks to the dedication of our alumni and Scholarship Fund. friends.”
Biology professor tapped to pen piece on DEI in education
Dr. Diana Ortiz, associate professor of biology, has been selected as one of the first contributors to a National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported blog that explores ways educators can create systemic change that advances diversity.
The blog “Disruptor”—an initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (AAAS-IUSE) Program—was launched in January 2021 and will feature monthly posts on the theme of “leveraging this moment of disruption to empower evidence-based systemic change.”
Ortiz—a member of Westminster’s Equity and Justice Strategic Group and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Faculty Working Group— will introduce readers to strategies used in her epidemiology course that incorporate DEI-related topics and explain how they have impacted her students.
“As a biology and public health educator, writing this blog presents a great opportunity to highlight how we can develop strategies that integrate issues of diversity, equity and inclusion into our courses. In my experience, incorporating these topics into my courses has provided students with wider perspectives which, in some cases, have impacted their future career paths in meaningful ways,” said Ortiz.
Ortiz’ post will appear in fall 2021. Ortiz, a member of the faculty since 2014, earned an undergraduate degree from the Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico, a master’s from Jackson State University and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina.
Dr. Diana Ortiz at work in her lab.
senior sail-off
Graduating students were invited to a casual outdoor gathering at the home of President Richardson on May 6—a final farewell and warm send-off into the alumni family. At the event, students shared their post-graduation plans and staff members from the Office of Alumni Engagement and the Professional Development Center explained the resources available to them after graduation. Nyna Hess ‘21, representing the Class Giving Committee, presented Dr. Richardson with a board of donors from this spring’s Campus that Built Me campaign, an fundraising effort that called on students and alumni to donate to a program of their choice in honor of a faculty or staff member who helped build them during their time at Westminster.
Influence-based ranking says Westminster among the best
Westminster is one of the best schools in Pennsylvania, according to an innovative new ranking that gauges the College’s influence and its overall academic quality and value.
Westminster is ranked seventh among the top 25 institutions by AcademicInfluence.com, which uses a trademarked “concentrated influence” metric to evaluate colleges and universities as an indicator of academic excellence.
Westminster ranked number four in “Pennsylvania’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges of 2021” list. Additionally, Westminster also received high marks in the “Best Private Colleges” (number 6) and “Best Small Colleges” (number four) categories for Keystone State schools.
“The strength of our academic programs and faculty and the success of our alumni demonstrate the value of the deeply experiential and collaborative education Westminster provides,” said President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson.
Using the concentrated influence method, AcademicInfluence.com takes the combined influence score of a college’s top academic influencers such as faculty and alumni and divides it by the school’s total number of undergraduates.
One good deed deserves another.
Because of the worldwide pandemic and related restrictions, your donations are needed more than ever this year. With charitable donations to Westminster College, your generosity will be rewarded— in the form of a tax deduction. This year, Americans who donate to a charity will receive a charitable tax deduction whether they itemize or take the standard deduction.
For the 2021 tax year, people who take the standard deduction can deduct up to $300 of cash donations to charity. If you’re married and filing a joint return, you can deduct a total of $600 on your 2021 tax return.
For individuals who itemize their deductions and have the resources and desire to contribute to charitable organizations they support, an individual may deduct any qualified cash contribution so long as the contribution does not exceed 100% of the individual’s adjusted gross income.
For more information, please consult your tax adviser.
Honors students defend research
Pictured top from left, Morgan Shine, Elaina Chapnell, Brandon Williams; middle from left, Timothy Hering, Kailey Costabile, Jessica Booher; bottom from left, Lexi Koslosky, Emily Cornman, Nyna Hess. (Not pictured are Hannah Hunter, Jessica Nelson and Julia Strobel)
Even for the best of students, an invitation to the All-College Honors Program isn’t something to be considered lightly. The interdisciplinary course load is rigorous and challenging, yet students find the immersive experience intellectually rewarding and great preparation for life beyond Westminster.
This spring, senior honors scholars publicly defended their capstone research projects—a program requirement and a culmination of two years of high-level academic exploration.
“While every student at Westminster experiences capstone, students in the AllCollege Honors Program begin working on their capstone research early in the junior year, developing and proposing a project to their honors board of three faculty,” said All-College Honors Program Director Dr. Kristianne Kalata.
Each scholar conducts research under the mentorship of three faculty members—two experts in the major field of study and one faculty member from another department. Once a project has been approved, students work closely with their lead honors board adviser to conduct innovative, rigorous hands-on research.
During the final semester of study, each student submits a final thesis to the honors board and holds a public defense—which includes a presentation followed by a questionand-answer session with faculty and attendees— of their honors research.
“Participating in an honors capstone project was extremely beneficial because it gave me the ability to investigate my project on a much deeper level than I would have otherwise,” said Elaina Chapnell, a senior mathematics major. “I was able to explore different directions my project could have taken and ultimately decide on something I am passionate about while still having time to fully explore the topic.”
This year’s senior honors scholars span eight academic departments across six schools of study. In many cases, Kalata said, these scholars’ research questions developed from major coursework and were expanded to achieve breadth, depth and interdisciplinarity. In other cases, students used honors research as an opportunity to explore ideas and topics not available to them in existing classes.
“Honors research has challenged me in ways that I never expected and I truly believe that this process, and the honors program, has prepared me for the academic rigor of a graduate education,” said Kaley Costabile, a business administration major who will pursue a master’s in student affairs in higher education. S
To learn more about Westminster’s All-College Honors Program, please visit www.westminster.edu/honors.
ALL-COLLEGE HONORS SCHOLARS & PROJECTS
• Jessica Booher, mathematics. “Recommender Systems in Python.” Lead adviser: Dr. Natacha Fontes-Merz, mathematics. • Elaina Chapnell, mathematics. “Using Machine Learning to Identify Diabetic Retinopathy.” Lead adviser: Dr. Natacha FontesMerz, mathematics.
• Emily Cornman, biology and sociology. “Evaluating Wine to Water Ceramic Silver-Impregnated Pot and Candle Filters as a Sustainable Solution for the Global Water Crisis” (biology) and “The Unique Experiences of the Sandwich Generation” (sociology). Lead advisers: Dr. Joseph Balczon, biology, and Dr. Jamie Chapman, sociology. • Kailey Costabile, business administration. “Developing a Strategic Planning Model for Faculty/Staff Mental Health Awareness Training at Westminster College.” Lead adviser: Dr. Robert Badowski, business administration.
• Timothy Hering, English and music. “Jammin’ with Langston Hughes: A Symphony of Truth in Black America.” Lead adviser: Dr. Deborah Mitchell, English. • Nyna Hess, English. “Miracle Writers: Evolution, Influence, and Purpose of Magical Realism.” Lead adviser: Dr. Trisha Cowen, English. • Hannah Hunter, biochemistry. “Purification of Alpha-Synuclein for Membrane Binding Studies.” Lead adviser: Dr. Jessica Sarver, chemistry. • Lexi Koslosky, biochemistry. “Combining Slippery Liquid Infused Porous Surfaces and Quorum Sensing Inhibition to Reduce Biofilm Formation of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.” Lead adviser: Dr. Erin Wilson, chemistry. • Jessica Nelson, physics and mathematics. “Exploring Track Trigger Parameters for Exotic and Long Lived Particle Searches” (physics) and “Modeling Uncontrolled and Controlled Covid-19 Spread Using Graph Theory” (mathematics). Lead adviser for both: Dr. Natacha Fontes-Merz, mathematics.
• Morgan Shine, biochemistry. “Uridylation of the Histone mRNA Stem-Loop and Dephosphorylation of the Stem-Loop Binding Protein Maintain the Cytoplasmic Histone mRNA-Protein Complex.” Lead adviser: Dr. Patrick Lackey, chemistry. • Julia Strobel, molecular biology. “PCID2 Regulates Nuclear Export of BARD1 mRNA.” Lead adviser: Dr. Karen Resendes, biology. • Brandon Williams, biochemistry. “Distinguishing Different Conformations of Membrane-Bound Alpha-Synuclein through Computational and Biochemical Methods.” Lead adviser: Dr. Jessica Sarver, chemistry.
