2017 University Honors Capstones
1. SEAN DALLAS FENTON
The Replacement of Network Switches
Director: Mr.Tahir Khan, Information Technology Program, Department
of Science, Technology, and Math
Second Reader: Dr. Raja Kushalnagar, Information Technology Program,
Department of Science, Technology, and Math
When Gallaudet’s Cisco network switches were approaching their end of life, this technician replaced them with over 100 Juniper switches in university buildings.The process involved two phases, configuring Juniper switches through a terminal port and then physically replacing Cisco switches with Juniper switches in the Data Closets.
Post Graduation Plan - Hired:IT Support Specialist at Applied Predictive Technology
2. JESSICA KALES
The Impact of Stereotype Threat on Deaf Individuals
Director: Dr. Deborah Schooler, Department of Psychology
Second Reader: Dr. Raylene Paludneviciene, Department of Psychology
To study stereotype threat, Deaf undergraduate students were randomly placed in a high- or low- threat condition to measure the impact of stereotypes on performance and evaluation of performance. The high-threat group performed significantly worse on GRE questions. Men were significantly more confident about their performance than women.
Post Graduation Plan -Accepted to M.A.program in Mental Health Counseling, Gallaudet University with plans for a doctorate and a professorship
3. JEHANNE C. MCCULLOUGH
Improving Deaf Citizens’ Participation in the U.S. Electoral Process
Director: Dr. Frances Marquez, Department of Government and Public
Affairs
Second Reader: Dr. David Penna, Department of Government and Public
Affairs
Third Reader: Mr. Brendan Stern, Department of Government and Public
Affairs
This community-oriented service project consists of three parts. One, Deaf People for Hillary focused on social media; Deaf representation and accessibility in the Hillary for America’s campaign activities; and voter outreach. Two, an internship with the campaign initiated an ASL voter assistance hotline. Three, a post-election Deaf non-voters survey explored future strategies for increasing Deaf voter turnout.
Graduating in 2018 with plans for law school.
4. B. MUTISYA NZYUKO
Gifts of Character: A Father’s Love Letter from his Hearing and Deaf Childhood
Director: Dr. Tonya Stremlau, Department of English
Second Co-Reader: Dr. Christopher Heuer, Department of English
Second Co-Reader: Dr. Michael M. Ndurumo, Department of Psychology,
University of Nairobi
In this epistolary memoir, the author shares his childhood journey in personal essays to his children, from which they can draw inspiration, find instruction, and map their own destinies with a better understanding of their father’s struggles and victories. A critical introduction discusses the memoir form and creative influences.
Post Graduation Plan – Continue as business owner; plans for doctoral studies in Business and a professorship.
5.KEVIN WERNER PEACOCK
Business Plan: Peacock Financial Advising
Director: Mr. Thomas Baldridge, Department of Business
Second Reader: Mr. Jeffrey Cohen, Department of Business
This business plan presents a service-based business, Peacock Financial Advising, which provides fee-only financial advice. Targeting the deaf and signing community, Peacock Financial Advising will provide investment, budgetary, and tax planning advice to educate and provide tools for clients so that they can build a solid financial foundation.
Post Graduation Plan - Hired: Investment Operations Associate (accounting and financial reporting)at Prudential
6. MORGANE M. J. VINCENT
Female Circumcision: Attitudes, Knowledge and Beliefs Within the Deaf Community
Director: Dr. Caroline M. Kobek Pezzarossi, Department of Psychology
Second Reader: Dr. Deborah Schooler, Department of Psychology
Female Circumcision has risen in the Western World, yet few studies have been held. For this study, 76 deaf or hard of hearing individuals living in the U.S. were recruited. Results showed no significance; however, significance was found in changes from less to more agreement depending on the question.
Post Graduation Plan – Accepted to Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, Gallaudet University
7. TAYLOR WARDLE
Substance Abuse Recovery Through the Eyes of the Therapist
Director:Dr. Caroline M. Kobek Pezzarossi, Department of Psychology
Second Reader: Dr. Deborah Schooler, Department of Psychology
A survey of cultural competency of 29 therapists, 11 specializing in addiction treatment, asked how knowledge of a client’s deafness affected treatment plans. Results showed most referred deaf clients but could not name any programs or specialists. This result highlights the need for cultural and linguistic access training for therapists.
Post Graduation Plan – Accepted to M.S. program in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Virginia Tech
8. JAZZMIN WASHINGTON
Comparative Evaluation of Three Pharmaceutical Medications and White Willow Bark
Director: Dr. Paul Sabila, Chemistry and Physics Program, Department of
Science, Technology, and Math
Second Reader: Dr. Adebowale Ogunjirin, Biology Program, Department
of Science, Technology, and Math
Third Reader: Dr. Daniel Lundberg, Chemistry and Physics Program,
Department of Science, Technology, and Math
Several different chemical instrumentations were used to compare natural white willow bark and synthetic commercial aspirin to validate their similarities. GC-MS and TLC results confirmed a similar chemical composition. FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy analyses confirmed these results but also showed willow bark has a greater alkaloid (active ingredient) concentration than commercial aspirin.
Post Graduation plan: Preparing for application to medical school
9. THYRA WOOD
Deaf Students Navigating the Rhetorical and Grammar Demands of College Essay Writing
Director: Dr. Kathleen M. Wood, Department of English
Second Reader: Dr. Thangi Appanah, Department of Education
Today’s text-rich social media environment and students’ participation in it compels a new study of the grammatical and rhetorical decisions today’s students make when writing. A study of ten first-year Gallaudet students’ essays revealed Deaf students’ challenges with content, conventions, and mechanics, as well as their strengths with purpose and evidence.
Post Graduation Plan - Travel; Graduate School in ESL
10. JACQUELINE WUNDERLICH
The Developmental Progression of Cognitive Abilities in Deaf Children
Director: Dr. Lawrence Pick, Department of Psychology
Second Reader: Dr. Deborah Maxwell-McCaw, Department of Psychology
This pilot study examined the suitability of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF), a language-reduced assessment tool, with the Developmental Scoring System (DSS) to explore nonverbal cognition development in deaf children. Results indicate deaf children follow the same developmental visuospatial/visuoconstructional patterns as hearing children, suggesting the ROCF is an appropriate assessment tool.
Post Graduation Plan: Accepted to M.S. program in School Psychology,
NortheasternUniversity and to Infants, Toddlers and their Families Certificate, Gallaudet University
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