Thesis Symposium

Join us for the Honors Thesis Symposium

For the last year, our Honors College students have been working on their thesis projects. They have been working one-on-one with a faculty mentor in their major department. Come learn about these amazing projects from our students. All presentations will take place over zoom.

Friday, December 5, 2025

Morning Session: Zoom Link

9:00 AM     Bree Berry, Psychology major, Advisor: Molly Benitez, SGRN
"The Power of Lesbian Representation in Television: How it Affects the Well-Being and Identity Formation of LGBTQ+ adults"

9:20 AM   Julia Holloway, Psychology major, Advisor: Keith Kauffman, Psychology
"An Examination of Disparities in ADHD Diagnosis Between Men and Women"

9:40 AM    Chloe Manning-Floch, Social Science major, Advisor: Melissa Thompson, Sociology
"Why Vaping Addiction is Particularly Risky and Harmful to Teens: a Literature Review"

10:00 AM    Asher Schneider, Sociology major, Advisor: Lindsey Wilkinson, Sociology
"Do Viewpoints of Protestant Christians Attending PSU Align with Anti-Transgender Legislation being Proposed in Oregon?"

10:20 AM    Ethan Sarin, Psychology major, Advisor: Shannon Blajeski, Social Work
"Interventions for Online Gambling Addiction with Vulnerable Populations"

10:40 AM Eli Taylor, Biological Anthropology/Anthropology major, Mitch Cruzan, Biology
"A Comparison of Insect Succession Patterns in Crime Scenes and Their Impact on Medicolegal Death Investigation"

Mid-Day Session: Zoom Link

11:40 AM    Lucas Ethridge, English major, Advisor: Alexander Steele, Honors
"Human Evil in the Weird"

12:00 PM    Nick Gatlin, Creative Writing major, Advisor: Joel Bettridge, English
"Notes on a Descent into Isolated Unconsciousness, or: The (Post)-Traumatic Resubstantiation of the Ego"

12:20 PM    Epiphany Jesequel, Creative Writing major, Advisor: Justin Hocking, English
"The King's Wolf"

12:40 PM    Olivia Cowles, English major, Advisor: Kate Comer, English
"Rebranding the Canon: The Resurgence of Classics on BookTok"

1:00 PM    Khelen Walsh, Psychology major, Advisor: Todd Watson, Psychology at Lewis & Clark College
"The Neuroscience of Forgiveness: A Dialogue between Faith and Science"

1:20 PM    Sophia Hevel, Community Health major, Advisor:  Tina Burdsall, Sociology & Honors
"Exploring the Interrelationship Between Model Minority Assumptions and Asian American Birth Outcomes"

Afternoon Session: Zoom Link

2:00 PM    Kyle Klein, Computer Science major, Advisor: Wu-chang Feng, Computer Science
"Security Vulnerabilities and Defense Tactics for Generative AI Application Development"

2:20 PM    Matthew Penner, Computer Science major, Advisor: Wu-chang Feng, Computer Science
"Experience from a Distance: Improving Transparency for the Multnomah Athletic Club"

2:40 PM    Jeremiah Su, Computer Science major, Advisor: Bruce Irvin, Computer Science
"Capstone Reflection: What I've Learned from the Experience"

3:00 PM    Richard Hansen, Economics major, Advisor: Grace Arnold, Economics
"Money at Work: How the Inflation Reduction Act Reshaped the IRS"

3:20 PM    Jenna Sarieddine, Finance major, Advisor: Brenda Glascott, University Honors College
"Finance and Marketing of Business Corporate"

3:40 PM Audrey Nixon, Art Practices major, Advisor: Kat Richards, Art & Design
"Political Zine Project"