2025-2026 Experiential Student Scholars

Christopher Bacidore

• Major: Biology
• Classification: Junior
• Project Title: HANDI: Human Advancement through Next-Gen Design and Innovation
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Gardner, School of Sciences - Division of Computer Science

Cadence Banks

• Major: Dance
• Classification: Senior
• Project Title: Embodying Community: A Reflection on the Value of African Diasporic Dance Forms
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robin Conrad, School of Arts & Design - Division of Dance

Sara Castillo

• Major: Biology Pre-Med
• Classification: Sophomore
• Project Title: Platinum-Decorated Carbon Nitride as a Mott-Schottky Photocatalyst for Efficient COX-free Hydrogen Production from Methanol
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shiru Lin, School of Sciences - Division of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Siekleng Chhuon

• Major: Computer Science
• Classification: Senior
• Project Title: Longitudinal Analysis of TWU/AFA CyberCamp Impact: A Decade of STEM Education Outcomes
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Gratch, School of Sciences - Division of Computer Science

Blake Cook

• Major: Nursing
• Classification: Senior
• Project Title: Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia and Cardiovascular Events in Non-Diabetic Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using the eICU Database
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jincy Immanuel, College of Nursing

Alexia Del Vecchio

• Major: Political Science, Legal Studies
• Classification: Junior
• Project Title: Cognitive Biases in Jury Decision making and implications for Legal practice
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Wouter van Erve, Department of Social Sciences & Historical Studies - Political Science

Rocio Diaz

• Major: Math, Engineering Track
• Classification: Junior
• Project Title: Applying the Theory of Groebner Basis to Recreational Games
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alexis Hardesty, School of Sciences - Mathematics

Emma Fernandez

• Major: Liberal Arts Music - Piano
• Classification: Senior
• Project Title: Nurturing Creative Musicianship: Improvisation Resources for the Piano Studio
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Fanarelia Guerrero-Lopez, School of Arts & Design - Division of Music

Precious Olayinka

• Major: Social Work
• Classification: Senior
• Project Title: The Intersection of Immigration Policy and K–12 Education: A Review of the Literature
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ratonia Runnels, School of Social Work, Psychology & Philosophy - Social Work

Habon Osman

• Major: Nursing
• Classification: Junior
• Project Title: Caregiver and Rehabilitation Nurse Evaluation of Stroke Preparedness
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Wilson, College of Nursing

Sean Nathan Pham

• Major: Psychology
• Classification: Junior
• Project Title: Effects of Early Life Enrichment on Stress, Behavior, and Plasticity in MECP2 x CamKIICre Mice
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elisa Na, School of Social Work, Psychology & Philosophy - Psychology

Randa Philipo

• Major: Social Work
• Classification: Senior
• Project Title: Examining How Race and Diversity Affect Hospice Care
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brandi Felderhoff, School of Social Work, Psychology & Philosophy - Social Work

Sofia Salazar

• Major: Nutritional Science
• Classification: Senior
• Project Title: Examining the Effect of Various Roasting Specifications on the Reduction of Tree Nut Allergenicity
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shanil Juma, Department of Nutrition & Food Science

Aida Sam

• Major: Nutrition, emphasis in Dietetics 
• Classification: Senior
• Project Title: Bible Cooking Classes
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Angela Griffin, Department of Nutrition & Food Science

Sophia Santhosh

• Major: Nursing
• Classification: Junior
• Project Title: Code Blue Documentation Education using Virtual Reality
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Wilson, College of Nursing

Stacy Bergman

• Major: Ph.D. in Family Studies
• Project Title: The Fatherhood Support Network: A father-led co-designed program for fathers experiencing homelessness
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nerissa LeBlanc Gillum, School of Human Sciences - Human Development & Family Studies

Cayla Clark

• Major: Ph.D. in Kinesiology
• Project Title: Effects of passive heating and aerobic exercise on protein and symptom expression in Parkinson's disease
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rhett Rigby, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology - Kinesiology

Lauren Denton

• Major: Ph.D. in Health Studies
• Project Title: Exploring Digital Health Interventions for Female Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review to Inform Rural Survivorship Care
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marilyn Massey-Stokes, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology - Kinesiology

Felix Ferris

• Major: Ph.D. in Rhetoric
• Project Title: From Manuscript to Microphone: Adapting Sir Gawain & The Green Knight
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Busl, Language, Cultural, & Gender Studies - English

Mikéla Griffin

• Major: Doctor of Physical Therapy
• Project Title: ACSM Exercise is Medicine On Campus Program to TWU Houston: Implementation and Assessment
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rupal Patel, School of Physical Therapy

Aniah Harris

• Major: M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Project Title: Words of Growth: Language as a Window Into Therapist Mental Model Development During Deliberate Practice
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Adam Jones, School of Human Sciences - Marriage & Family Therapy

Tahree Ladell

• Major: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology
• Project Title: Analyzing a UV-activated calcium-dependent pathway that causes chromatin compaction and DNA protection in human melanocytes
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Bergel, School of Sciences - Biology

Arty Leos Martinez

• Major: M.Ed. in Teaching, Leadership, & Collaboration
• Project Title: Beyond the Label: Cultivating Belonging and Success for At-Risk Student Populations
• Staff Mentor: Wylijanna Cole, University Academic Advising

Jessica Marchant

• Major: Doctor of Occupational Therapy
• Project Title: Neuroplasticity in Occupational Therapy: A Scoping Review of OT-Delivered Interventions That Drive Brain Reorganization and Functional Recovery
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diana Adams Elrod, School of Sciences - Environmental Science & Biology

Kanji Mori

• Major: Ph.D. in Biomechanics & Motor Behavior
• Project Title: Mapping Sensory Weighting in Bimanual Coordination: The Role of Movement Frequency
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shaochen “Shawn” Huang, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology - Kinesiology

Angeles Munoz

• Major: Ph.D. in Literacy, Language, & Culture
• Project Title: Beyond the Test: Reimagining Holistic Biliteracy Assessments for Emergent Bilingual Students
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mary Amanda Stewart, School of Education - Literacy & Learning

Jaya Rijal

• Major: Ph.D. in Nursing Science
• Project Title: Learning Hermeneutic Phenomenology for Advancing Dissertation Research
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Wyona Freysteinson, College of Nursing

Rebecca Shyu

• Major: M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Project Title: IRL (In Real Life): A Reddit Analysis of Asian American Parent-Child Communication
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Hou I (Esther) Lau, School of Human Sciences - Marriage & Family Therapy

Brandi Stein

• Major: Ph.D. in Health Studies
• Project Title: Analyzing Nutritional Content of Diets Presented in #WhatIEatInADay Videos on TikTok: An Exploratory Pilot Study
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marilyn Massey-Stokes, School of Health Promotions & Kinesiology - Health Studies

Mengdi Wang

• Major: Ph.D. in Physical Therapy
• Project Title: Enhanced Gait Variability Index for Fall Risk in Neurological and Aging Populations: A Scoping Review
• Faculty Mentor: Dr. Priya Karakkattil, School of Physical Therapy