Projects and Research

This portfolio highlights selected academic, research, and service-learning projects completed throughout my undergraduate studies. These projects reflect my interests in leadership, diversity, communication, research, and community engagement while demonstrating skills in critical analysis, project coordination, interviewing, presentation development, and interdisciplinary problem-solving.

Family Culture & Implicit Bias:

An Interdisciplinary Research Project

Course: Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone

This capstone research project examined how family culture influences the development of implicit racial bias. Drawing from psychology, sociology, education, as well as women's and gender studies, the project explored how communication patterns, social environments, and family values shape attitudes toward race across generations.

Research Methods

Literature review of interdisciplinary scholarly sources
Stakeholder interviews
Qualitative analysis
Comparative synthesis of research findings

Key Findings

Children develop racial associations early in life.
Family communication patterns significantly influence attitudes toward race.
Silence about race can unintentionally reinforce societal messages.
Diverse exposure, intentional dialogue, and reflective tools can help reduce bias transmission across generations.

Skills Demonstrated

Research & Information Analysis
Stakeholder Interviewing
Written Communication
Presentation Development
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving
Project Management

Deliverables

📄 13-Page Research Report - View Report (PDF)

🎥 Narrated Slideshow Presentation - View Presentation (Canva)

Project Implicit Service Learning Experience

Course: IDS Capstone (IDS 4934)

As part of my IDS Capstone service-learning requirement, I served as a formal research participant with Project Implicit, an online research initiative founded by social psychologists at Harvard University. Over the course of the semester, I completed more than 15 hours of participation in behavioral and social science research examining topics such as implicit bias, social attitudes, perception, mental health, and human behavior.

My participation included Implicit Association Tests (IATs), surveys, and evaluative priming studies that explored how unconscious attitudes and stereotypes influence behavior. Throughout the experience, I maintained detailed documentation of study topics, participation times, results, and personal reflections, allowing me to critically examine patterns in both the research and my own responses.

This experience directly informed my Capstone research project, Family Culture & Implicit Racial Bias. By participating in the same types of research methods discussed throughout my coursework, I gained a deeper understanding of how implicit attitudes develop, how they can be measured, and how self-reflection can contribute to greater awareness and learning.

Personal Insight

"One of the most memorable findings from my participation was discovering an automatic positive association with familiar middle-class American cultural cues despite consciously viewing myself as neutral, highlighting how deeply environmental influences can shape unconscious attitudes."

Skills Demonstrated

Research Participation
Critical Reflection
Social Science Literacy
Documentation & Record Keeping
Data Interpretation
Interdisciplinary Thinking
Self-Directed Learning

Deliverables

📄 Service Learning Verification & Final Report - View Report (PDF)

Tracing the Roots of Equity: A Historical Analysis of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Teaching Profession

Course: Issues in Diversity (IDS Leadership & Diversity Track)

This research project explored how historical policies, cultural attitudes, and systemic barriers have shaped diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the teaching profession. Drawing from educational history, sociology, and diversity studies, I examined how segregation, discriminatory hiring practices, and gender-based barriers affected educators from underrepresented groups.

The project also explored the impact of teacher diversity on student outcomes and analyzed contemporary challenges related to recruitment, retention, and equitable representation in education. Through interdisciplinary research, I connected historical patterns to present-day discussions surrounding educational equity and workforce diversity.

Skills Demonstrated

Historical Research
Literature Review
DEI Analysis
Written Communication
Educational Policy Analysis
Interdisciplinary Thinking

Deliverables

📄 Research Paper - View Paper (PDF)

🎥 Narrated Research Presentation - View Presentation (Google Drive)

Orientalism in the Media

Course: Social Power & Inequality (SYO 3530)

This research paper examined how contemporary media representations can reinforce stereotypes about non-Western cultures and religions. Using Edward Said's theory of Orientalism as a framework, I analyzed a CNN interview featuring author and scholar Reza Aslan to explore how media discourse can shape public perceptions of Islam and Muslim communities.

Drawing from sociology, media studies, and cultural analysis, the project examined how generalized narratives and assumptions contribute to Islamophobia and reinforce "us versus them" thinking. Through interdisciplinary analysis of scholarly sources, media content, and social theory, I explored how news coverage can influence public understanding of global cultures and social issues.

Skills Demonstrated

Media Analysis
Critical Thinking
Research & Literature Review
Written Communication
Cultural Analysis
Interdisciplinary Thinking

Deliverables

📄 Analysis Paper - View Paper (PDF)

Days for Girls Service Learning Project

Course: Introduction to Women's Studies

As part of a service-learning project, I supported Days for Girls, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to improving menstrual health, education, and dignity for girls and women worldwide. Inspired by my late grandmother's commitment to community service and women's advocacy, I coordinated the collection and donation of menstrual hygiene supplies and fabric materials used to create reusable menstrual products.

The project involved researching menstrual hygiene challenges faced by girls in underserved communities, reviewing organizational donation requirements, coordinating contributions from family members, purchasing supplies, and arranging shipment to a Days for Girls resource center. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the connections between health, education, gender equity, and community support.

This project reinforced the importance of grassroots activism and demonstrated how individual and community efforts can contribute to larger global initiatives focused on expanding access to education, health resources, and opportunity.

Skills Demonstrated

Community Engagement
Project Planning
Resource Coordination
Research
Collaboration
Problem Solving

Deliverables

📄 Service Learning Report - View Report (PDF)

One of the fabric donations collected and shipped as part of my Days for Girls service-learning project.

An Interdisciplinary Perspective on the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Course: Interdisciplinary Studies Cornerstone

This infographic project examined Berlin's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe through the lenses of history, architecture, and psychology. By analyzing the memorial's historical significance, physical design, and emotional impact on visitors, I explored how public spaces can communicate meaning and preserve collective memory.

The project focused on architect Peter Eisenman's design, including the memorial's 2,711 concrete stelae and maze-like layout. Research demonstrated how the structure's varying heights and disorienting pathways encourage reflection, creating an emotional experience that helps visitors engage with the historical realities of the Holocaust.

This project demonstrated how an interdisciplinary approach can provide a deeper understanding of how physical environments influence human perception, memory, and meaning-making.

Skills Demonstrated

Research
Visual Communication
Information Synthesis
Interdisciplinary Analysis
Presentation Design
Written Communication

Deliverables

📄 Infographic - View Infographic (PDF)