Creating Inclusive Outdoor Spaces

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

My poster outlines the work I have put in, as an Environmental Studies capstone student, to create an educational outdoor program that is more inclusive for the Latinx community through the Wildlands Conservancy. I decided to work on this project because as a Mexicana I have struggled with being in enviromental spaces and feeling like I don't belong there. Although this program will be implemented on the local level it will still help to mitigate the problem that is a predominantly white Environmentalist Movement. If through this I am able to empower at least one Latinx student to feel like they belong in the Environmental Movement, then I will consider it a success.

Creating Methodology for Classroom Materials using Correlations between Childhood and Adulthood Literacy

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Kindergarten reading habits are expected to persist into adulthood; however, for many adults in Washtenaw County this is not the case. This population will rise as half of their children will become illiterate themselves. Survey responses of 76 teachers regarding selection of reading materials based on grammar, syntax, and reading topics were collected in the fall of 2018. Teachers commonly selected pre-leveled reading materials regarding grammar with minor focus on topical matter. These materials did not correlate with topical-matter focused adult reading materials. This study suggests renovation of adult reading materials to help combat the ongoing cycle of illiteracy in Washtenaw County.

Creativity and Mood in Cannabis Using College Students

College of Professional Studies

This study examines the relationship between cannabis use (infrequent, moderate, and heavy use) and one’s mood (neutral, positive, and negative) on creativity, which is scored by the Alternative Use Task (AUT) and the Creative Achievement Questionnaire (CAQ).

Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Helpful or Harmful?

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPC) are nonprofit organizations whose purpose is to provide free resources to pregnant women. Currently, there is much controversy over CPCs and their legitimacy as a nonprofit resource for women. To ascertain the prevailing perceptions of CPCs, a literature review was conducted. Materials were analyzed and synthesized to produce a comprehensive view of current feelings about CPCs. Trends reveal a negative characterization of CPCs as dishonest. Several articles call for new legislation that would either restrict or compel speech for CPCs. This study examines the conflict between reproductive rights and free speech laws and how it emerged.

CRISPR-Induced Overexpression of Huntingtin as a Cellular Model of Huntington's Disease

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Huntington’s disease (HD) is associated with CAG trinucleotide repeats in the HTT gene, which encodes the huntingtin protein. Our central hypothesis is that overexpression of normal huntingtin, with the eventual inhibition of cells’ autophagy pathway or other route of clearance, will lead to a disease-like state. In order to address this hypothesis, we are developing a novel human cell model that will allow us to assess how excess huntingtin is managed and/or cleared by cells, and precisely how cell death occurs upon buildup of huntingtin protein. Using this model as a starting point, it is possible to study the response of human cells to huntingtin overexpression.

Critical Education and the Future Educator

College of Professional Studies

Taking a deeper look at teacher preparation programs (including our own) and finding the amount of exposure teacher candidates are given in regards to multicultural education, culturally sustaining pedagogies, and critical frameworks, and finding better ways to serve the youth in our K-12 schools. By checking our own biases, and exploring deeper into the world of education, including its racists and heteronormative structures, we take a closer look, and find some solutions to better support the community, and most importantly, the whole child.

Critical Multicultural Literacy for Social Justice

College of Professional Studies

This case study took place in a diverse school setting. We implemented critical multicultural literature to 3rd and 4th graders. Our question is: How do students respond to critical multicultural pedagogy and literature? We used dialogue journals, literature circles, critical dialogue, and art to build community and raise consciousness. We found that the single story approach is prevalent in schools and that multiple stories have fostered an understanding and empathy towards the diversity of struggles people face in this world. In conclusion, critical multicultural literature helps build community and empower students to be able to make changes in their community.

Critical Service Learning and Social Change

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

The major problems we face today are socially constructed and institutionally perpetuated. With the right approach Service Learning can play a critical role in affecting social change. Critical Service Learning informed by the Environmental Humanities offers a dynamic and interdisciplinary model for problem solving, and an effective mode of intervention. These ideas are explored using my Service Learning placement at Northcoast Environmental Center and my experience with the Humboldt State Environmental Studies curriculum.

CSF1R Inhibition Restores Cognition Following Immunotherapy

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Patients that undergo CAR T-cell therapy often experience significant side effects, including cognitive decline. We have found that CAR T-cell therapy increases microglial activation and disrupts the myelin sheath that is necessary for saltatory conduction. We seek to understand the long term neurological effects of CAR T-cell therapy and ways to restore cognition in patients undergoing immunotherapy.

Cultivating Environmental Education Through School Gardens

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

In a moment when there is a need to increase social knowledge and skills for addressing environmental issues, gardens are an important resource. Garden programs address multiple learning styles, help physical development and provide opportunities for interdisciplinary lessons for children. Within these programs, kids practice locomotor skills, patience, and responsibility. In this study, we looked at accessibility to gardens within elementary schools in Arcata & McKinleyville. In addition to observing accessibility, we looked at the limiting factors for schools that do not have access to gardens and see if there are correlations to social implications such as class and wealth.