Center for Academic Success and Advising, Professor John Score II Learning Commons, and Smith Library Center proudly present this panel as part of the 2025 Research and Creative Works Symposium.

Tuesday, April 15th, 2025. Olin 322, 1:00-2:00 PM

Every capstone project presents its own unique challenges and rewards, and no two journeys are alike. In this session, Southwestern University students will share their personal capstone research experiences. Representing diverse academic disciplines, these students will discuss how they succeeded, the unexpected hurdles they faced, and the valuable lessons they learned along the way. They’ll also reflect on what they wish they had known before beginning their projects and offer advice to those preparing for their own capstones. From effective time management strategies to tips on overcoming research roadblocks, this session aims to provide attendees with a roadmap for navigating their own capstone projects. In addition, the session will include an interactive Q&A portion, allowing future capstone students to ask questions, gain insight, and leave with actionable strategies to help ensure their own success. Whether you’re embarking on a creative, scientific, or interdisciplinary project, this panel will provide the guidance you need to confidently chart your course.

Panelists:

Allie Anderson:

Biology

DEWC Consultant and Spanish Tutor

I’m a biology major with a double minor in Spanish and health studies. I completed my biology capstone in Fall 2024. My capstone studies colon cancer treatments and compared the traditional chemotherapy to the more experimental immunotherapy based method. I compared the treatments in terms of efficacy, patient safety, and overall prognosis. This capstone allowed me to apply biological concepts to a matter that is still a pressing issue today.

Emily Dimiceli:

Sociology and Feminist Studies

Peer Research Consultant

Emily is a sociology and feminist studies double major with a minor in race and ethnicity studies. She will be talking about her experience with the sociology capstone process. Her research analyzed Americans’ perceptions of racism, and she presented her study in December for the campus capstone presentation and at a sociology conference in April. The paper for this study was submitted for two awards, and she received university honors for her work in race and ethnicity studies, in part because of this research.

Adrian Gonzalez:

English and Political Science (Honor’s thesis)

Peer Research Consultant

I’m a senior double majoring in political science and English. I have successfully completed a capstone in English and will defend my honors thesis in political science in mid April. My English capstone project, “The Politics of Nostalgia in Grease and Roma,” focused on how each film used either reflective or restorative nostalgia and the socio-political implications of each. My honors thesis is about the political behavior of campesinos since 2000. I test the effect that trust has on political participation and party identity along with testing the effect that the emergence of a new party has on the relationship between trust and behavior. I’ve also had experience in research outside of capstone and have been able to present those projects at two conferences.

Joshua Marquez:

Psychology

Peer Academic Mentor

I am a psychology major, and I worked with Dr. Crockett on her close relationships research for my capstone. My research question within her lab was how sex affects next-day cortisol and whether that relationship is mediated by closeness in couples. We had significant findings suggesting that sex leads to healthier cortisol slopes on the next day, but this is dependent on closeness to one’s partner.

Marley Sensenderfer

Anthropology and Classics

Learning Commons Greek & Latin Tutor

My name is Marley Sensenderfer, and I am graduating this May with degrees in Anthropology and Classics and a minor in Biology. I’ve completed my capstone in classics, focusing on Roman emperors and perceptions of madness, and I am currently writing my anthropology capstone on gender performance in Dungeons & Dragons. I’m happy to discuss my journeys to formulating both of my capstone projects, as well as the process of completing them and their interdisciplinary connections.

Mara Strohl:

Psychology and Political Science

Peer Academic Mentor

My name is Mara Strohl, and I’m a senior with a double major in psychology and political science. My Psychology capstone was with the Developmental Psychology lab and Dr. Lara. We worked with kids and students to examine how expectations about waiting times can influence how we feel. I was able to present my work at the creative works symposium and the SWPA conference. My Political Science capstone with Dr. Selbin is focused on how government type (democracy vs authoritarian) affects citizen happiness, specifically in Hungary.

This is the 2nd annual Capstone Compass panel. Ceridwen Grady ’24, Art History and Business double major, came up with this beneficial idea which will hopefully continue to guide upcoming capstone students at Southwestern University.