Current Program II Students
Class of 2025 | Class of 2026 | Class of 2027
Andrew Sun | Mathematics, Decision Making, and Democracy
Faculty Advisor: Hubert Bray Ph.D.
Class of: 2025
From: San Jose, CA
Abstract:
This program of study investigates the ways in which mathematical methods play a role in decision making, especially as it relates to politics and democracy. It seeks to emphasize the rigor of these models, in particular the assumptions they utilize to solve political decision making problems — where those overlooking assumptions can (whether intentionally or not) cause harm to constituents. The methods overviewed include game theory, social choice theory, optimization, machine learning, with a combination of classes from Mathematics, Computer Science, Political Science, and Statistics and Operations Research (at UNC). In addition, the program of study places supplementary emphasis on the clear limitations of these models, which includes the realization that decision making in politics does not just rely on the truth, but also on . . . politics. Thus, the program of study includes additional coursework in political communications based on the value of democratic discourse, empowering the student to both generate knowledge and communicate it expertly.
Carina Lei | Toward Culturally Competent Care: Holistic Mental Health in Asian/American Diasporic Communities
Faculty Advisor: Cristina Salvador Ph.D.
Class of: 2025
From: Cary, NC
Abstract:
Beyond strictly biomedical models of healing, cognitive health is correlated with a plethora of social, political, and cultural factors; in particular, SDOH and racializations of diasporic communities often change the way mental health issues are experienced and expressed in people of color. The COVID-19 pandemic, specifically, has brought to light the relationship between Asian/American identity and mounting mental health issues, pinpointing with alarming incisiveness the ways in which Western healthcare systems are ill-adapted to care for racialized experiences. It has illuminated the need for culturally competent and racially diverse mental healthcare specialists within these systems and the need for more holistic cognitive health intervention practices. As a student who eventually wants to work as a clinical psychiatrist, I propose the following Program II major to carve out a set of courses that will better prepare me to develop a culturally sensitive and holistic approach to care practices moving forward. These courses are aimed at further dissecting the relationships between cognitive health, holistic care practices, and Asian/American identity via three learning objectives:
- To understand how Asian/American identity politics can affect mental health and healthcare: What is specific about the Asian/American experience that contributes to this ongoing need for culturally competent care?
- To learn more about holistic models of care outside of traditional biomedical tracks: What do the current healthcare education system and prevalent biomedical models of healing not address, and how can we fill in the gaps?
- To engage in service learning while thinking critically about engaging with vulnerable populations, and then learn how to create sustainable, systemic change within the issues outlined above: What does it look like to put these concepts into practice?
Carlos Montes | Cognitive Musicology: Sociocultural Influences on Musical Perception
Faculty Advisor: Tobias Overath, Ph.D.
Class of: 2025
From: McHenry, IL
Abstract:
This proposed curriculum examines the impact of social and cultural factors on the way individuals from various musical cultures and ethnic backgrounds perceive music. The curriculum primarily draws upon the disciplines of neuroscience, music, and cultural anthropology, while also incorporating aspects of linguistics, sociology, psychology, African & African-American studies, and Asian & Middle Eastern studies. While this Program II will provide an overarching education in musicology, the curriculum will specifically focus on how culture and society shape musical perception in the Middle East, Eastern Asia, and North America from a neurological perspective. The senior research project will draw upon aspects of musicology, cognitive perception, and cultural and ethnic comparisons. This Program II aims to answer the larger question: how do one’s cultural and social backgrounds of individuals work to shape how one cognitively and psychologically perceives music from culturally familiar and unfamiliar forms and genres of music?
Kayla Lihardo | Being Moved: Perception of Motion and Emotion in Neuroaesthetics
Faculty Advisor: Mark Olson Ph.D.
Class of: 2025
From: Irvine, CA
Abstract:
Crossing the realms of neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, and art history, the relatively new discipline of neuroaesthetics seeks to investigate the neural and cognitive bases of aesthetic experience. By bringing together theory and methodology from the sciences and humanities, I aim to investigate the sensory-motor components of the perception of aesthetic works from a philosophical and psychological perspective. This interdisciplinary program will explore the foundations of perception through an integrative methodology of quantitative and qualitative reasoning. The interactions between visual and motor processing systems, as well as the interactions between physiology and phenomenology will support my line of research into the movement properties of aesthetics. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to the cognition of aesthetics will further enable me to investigate the processes underlying the emotional experience of “being moved.”
Miranda Harris | The Medical and Social Experience of Disability
Faculty Advisor: Sarah E. Gaither Ph.D.
Class of: 2025
From: Hillsborough, NC
Abstract:
With Program II, I have developed an interdisciplinary approach to how disability is understood, combining both the social and medical perspectives. I aim to investigate the question: ‘How can combining medical and social perspectives help us better understand the complete experience of disability?’. I investigate and analyze this question through a series of four modules: first, defining disability; second, exploring disability in various social contexts; third, exploring how disabilities are diagnosed and treated within a medical context; and fourth, developing disability research skills which will culminate in a senior capstone project. To achieve this well-rounded perspective I have completed courses from a wide variety of disciplines including Philosophy, Literature, Global Health, Sociology, Statistics, Biology, Psychology, and Neuroscience. In the end, I will have an understanding of how disability is treated both socially and medically and will be able to look at the experience of disability as a whole.
Olivia Ares | Bones, Dirt, and Culture
Faculty Advisor: Steven E. Churchill Ph.D.
Class of: 2025
From: Johnson City, TN
Abstract:
How are archaeology and evolution understood today by the public? I plan to study evolution as a fundamental subject and an application. To apply this knowledge to the zeitgeist and controversy, I plan to study science communication, evolutionary anthropology, and archaeology. I want to begin to establish a bridge between bioarchaeology and the public. In short, I want to study bones, dirt, and culture.
Sofia Chodri | Revolutionizing Women's Healthcare: Disparities, Innovations, and Implementation
Faculty Advisor: Nimmi Ramanujam Ph.D. & Rukmini Balu M.B.A.
Class of: 2025
From: Randleman, NC
Abstract:
Women’s healthcare within the United States ranks among the worst for developed countries, an issue that will not be fixed without informed healthcare innovations in place. The question this program aims to answer is how can informed healthcare innovations be discovered, reimagined, and implemented with the background of all American women in mind? My program has three modules, which are also supplemented with learning objectives: (1.) Stigmatized Healthcare: A View on How Healthcare Differs for Women From Various Backgrounds in the US, (2.) Women’s Healthcare Innovation, (3.) Successful Implementation Methods within the Community. In order to address these modules, I selected various classes in fields of study such as cultural anthropology, education, human rights, science and society, information sciences and studies, innovation and entrepreneurship, psychology, global health, gender studies, ethics, literature, public policy, sociology, and biomedical engineering, political science as well as more hands-on classes such as a BASS connections class.
Will Lieber | Health & Incarceration
Faculty Advisor: Nicole Lewellyn Schramm-Sapyta Ph.D.
Class of: 2025
From: Springfield, IL
Abstract:
Incarceration is an extraordinarily pervasive experience that pierces individuals, families, and communities. The incarcerated and formerly incarcerated as a population are encumbered with incredible health disparity, and reimagining the US carceral state requires an intimate understanding of the social contexts in which justice-contacted populations reside. Health & Incarceration broadly aims to begin the process of understanding how incarceration affects the health of a community and an individual through three modules. First, I will learn of the origin of the US carceral state in classes like Mass Incarceration and Criminal Justice. Second, I will learn of upstream and downstream interventions, or efforts made to remediate the failures of the carceral state in classes like Just Work and Bass Connections- Criminal Justice. Finally, I will construct my own investigation into incarceration and its impact on health through my thesis characterizing the experiences of people with incarcerated loved ones.
Aidan Klein | Character Studies: Personality, Storytelling, and Embodiment
Faculty Advisor: Jeff M. Storer M.F.A
Class of: 2026
From: Mercer Island, WA
Abstract:
Imagine a heavy rock wedged at the bottom of a stream while pebbles dart past, carried by a swift current. A nice image perhaps, maybe even photo-worthy. Now imagine this: a rock finds itself trapped in a crevice, a prisoner of its own proportions. Its brethren swim past, venturing to new horizons, as if the rock never existed. Why do we now feel sorry for the rock? What changed?
Characters are the primary channels through which we connect emotionally to stories. They are figments of our imagination, yet we breathe life into them and feel empathy toward them as if they were part of our physical reality. We mourn their loss at the end of a good series, connect over shared interests in certain characters, learn from them, and identify with them. As creators, we pour the essence of the human condition into the characters we create--our experiences, beliefs, values, shortcomings, and philosophies. This course of study seeks to understand the workings of characters--what is personality at its core? How do we convey it through textual, visual, and social cues? What makes characters compelling, to the point that we can strongly empathize with them? I hope to answer these questions by studying personality through a cognitive and social lens as well as using visual, literary, and performing arts to explore character construction across a variety of media. By looking at characters holistically as a combination of psychological manifestation, storytelling device, and artistic self-reflection, I hope to better understand the characters that permeate our collective imaginations, imbue characters in my own work with personality, and by doing so, reflect upon my own personality, affectations, and humanity.
In the context of this course of study, I define “character” to mean life as it exists in the imagination, that is to say, any conception of consciousness that can be attributed to psychology, behavior, experience, appearance, or idiolect. “All filter the world through the mind, through concepts, through the senses, through language” (Nelson Goodman, “The Way the World Is”), so the way we perceive consciousness is through a mental distillation, a caricature of identity. This is the essence of character, and encompasses not only fictional characters, but also the mind’s interpretation and reduction of religious and historical figures, other people, and the self. These constructs form collections of individual traits comprising identity and values, which can be expressed through artistic media, and which reflect our subjective human experience. This definition therefore incorporates and builds upon traditional artistic, psychological, and philosophical definitions of character.
Aisha Mane | The Biochemical and Social Dimensions of Health in the Black Diaspora
Faculty Advisor: Charmaine DM Royal Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Maple Grove, MN
Abstract:
Titled “The Biochemical and Social Dimensions of Health in the Black Diaspora,” this course of study seeks to (1) Comprehend the different sociopolitical systems that negatively affect patient health outcomes in Black communities. (2) Critically examine how structural, social, and biological factors interlock and create the health disparities that disproportionately affect Black individuals. And most eminently, (3) What are the factors and systems that allowed us to get to the point where the medical system has failed so many Black Individuals? This curriculum consists of 17 courses- 15 core courses and 2 independent studies- that are divided into 3 modules: ‘Policy, Health and Power,’ ‘Social Upstream Factors,’ and ‘Biochemical Factors and Health Outcomes’. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the questions, this course of study draws from many departments including Biological Sciences, African and African American Studies, Global Health, Chemistry, Cultural Anthropology, Psychology, Physical Education, Gender, sexuality, and Feminist studies, and Health Policy.
Aissatou (Ice-uh-too) Diallo | The Intersections of Performing Arts and Science: Incorporating Biological and Psychological Perspectives
Faculty Advisor: Mark Olson Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: New Haven, CT
Abstract:
Inspired by conflicting interests in the performing art and biomedical sciences, this program of study aims to explore how performance and the fields of anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and psychology can be used in tandem to support and advance each other. There will be an interdisciplinary approach to examining the intersections, with courses pulled from cultural anthropology, theater studies, dance, neuroscience, psychology, music, and visual & media studies. Through previous participation in a few of these courses, some emerging intersections have included using the performing arts to promote social interactions and improve higher cognitive functions, using the performing arts to innovate scientific and medical practices such as dance therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease, and several scientific fields being integrated into performances; redefining the parameters of performance art. I hope to continue to discover different ways these two contrasting fields are continuing to incorporate one another and what advancements could be made in the future. This program of study will culminate in a final experiment that analyzes underlying neurological and physiological patterns while experiencing a performance and a performance piece inspired by concepts learned through courses that examine real-world applications of performing arts and science being used together.
Alveena Nadeem | Decolonizing the Digital World: Global-Equality Driven Computer Science
Faculty Advisor: Pardis Emami Naeini Ph.D. & Anna Storti Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Islamabad, Pakistan & Dyersburg, TN
Abstract:
Technology is often deemed integral to solving global socioeconomic issues, like access to healthcare, transportation, and education. However, the technological ecosystem, which includes not just digital products but technological education, development, power, policymaking, and financial gain—is inaccessible to communities across the globe. Multinational technological corporations like Microsoft, Intel, Amazon, and Meta dominate the global digital ecosystem, conducting targeted surveillance, exploiting data, and outsourcing labor from the marginalized communities technology could empower. These companies suppress marginalized communities’ efforts in building their independent technological systems. This form of digital domination (named “digital colonialism”) echoes the labor exploitation, exercised extraterritorial governance, perpetuated dependency, and strategic underdevelopment of colonialism. In turn, diverse communities are using the digital world as a space for collective action, knowledge preservation and sharing, self-advocacy, and political and economic independence. I seek to explore these complicated socioeconomic relationships within the technological ecosystem.
Angela Sapu (Sap-poo) | Global Children's Health: Disparities in the US and Africa
Faculty Advisor: Sheryl Broverman Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Charlotte, NC
Abstract:
This individualized program of study explores and compares global health challenges by analyzing the disparities within and between the United States and Africa in children’s health. This goal is driven by the overarching questions “What inequities exist in children’s environments that cause them to have worse health outcomes? Why do these inequities continue to exist and how can they be addressed?” It is important to consider that the goal is not to compare health in African countries at a lower standard to the US but to examine the flaws and achievements being made in both geographical regions and notice where they overlap. The framework of this course of study is divided into four parts: Foundational Knowledge of Health in the US and Africa; Child Development; the Exploration of Social Determinants of Health; and Developing Research Skills. Each category aforementioned informs the other, which is why an interdisciplinary approach in departments such as Public Policy, Psychology, and Global Health is important to address this topic. Through this program not only will I gain a greater insight into the health challenges for children between and within the US and Africa, but I will also learn the critical issues for promoting change for the next generation.
Courtney Yribarren | Sustainable Human Development
Faculty Advisor: Kathryn Whetten Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Fresno, CA
Abstract:
For multifaceted global problems, multifaceted solutions are needed. This Program II will focus on facilitators and obstacles to institutional, environmental, and human sustainability. All three areas are interconnected, and an intervention in one area that neglects the others is lacking. I will take a solutions-based approach to the established field of development studies, centering practice and using theory and methodology as a foundation.
Dhruv Rungta | Economics, Ecology, and Sustainable Development
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Shaw
Class of: 2026
From: Edison, NJ
Abstract:
Protecting our planet's ecosystems is not just an environmental concern but a
critical foundation for our economy, culture, and well-being; alarmingly, the
past half-century has witnessed a dramatic loss in global ecosystems, marked
by a devastating 68% decline in wildlife populations. This self-designed
program titled Economics, Ecology and Sustainable Development aims to
address this by exploring the science behind ecosystems, the economics of
how we can use them sustainably and the best ways to work with
communities to protect them. This program draws interdisciplinary
coursework from many departments, including Economics, Marine Science,
Biology, Human Rights and Public Policy and places significant emphasis on
service-learning, community involvement, and hands-on environmental
fieldwork. The goal is to provide the intellectual toolkit needed to work on
solutions that recalibrate our relationship with the planet.
Katelyn Cai | Social and Public Trust in the Digital Age
Faculty Advisor: Phil Napoli Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Scottsdale, AZ
Abstract:
This Program II will explore the formation and subsequent breakdown of trust between individuals and their surrounding communities, institutions, and sources of information. Three fundamental questions are at the crux of this course of study: why do these breakdowns occur in some contexts, but not others? What are the consequences of a lack of social or public trust? And, how can trust be rebuilt? This program will apply a quantitative, social-scientific lens to the modern day, paying particular attention to the ways that unprecedented technological advancement has regressed information systems and social cohesion.
Lauren Khine| Economics and Asian American Community Health
Faculty Advisor: Kate Bundorf Ph.D., M.B.A. & Grace Kim Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: New York, NY
Abstract:
This proposed program of study intends to explore how the histories of Asian economies,
cultures, and immigration to the U.S. influence Asian/American interactions with healthcare systems and treatments in America. Comprised of three modules––(1) Research Methods & Economic Tools, (2) Cultural Integration, and (3) Health Systems––this Program II utilizes economic and global health metrics to explore Asian/American history and culture, population health, and the barriers immigrant communities face when seeking care. Through courses spanning health policy, religion, area studies, and economics taught at Duke and University College London, I intend to comprehensively learn how best to implement culturally competent healthcare practices. The emerging prevalence of healthcare disparities in the U.S. is contextualized by race dynamics, especially within the diaspora of immigrant ethnic groups aggregated deceivingly into one term: Asian American.
Max Bonnstetter| Sports Business and Journalistic Storytelling
Faculty Advisor: Orin Starn Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Palo Alto, CA
Abstract:
Sports has become a global multibillion-dollar business, among the biggest on the planet. My Program II overarching theoretical question is: How can journalistic storytelling help us understand the world of sports? I will explore this question by examining significant changes in the sports business, such as the role of agents and contracts, through major trends such as Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), sports betting, athletes becoming lifestyle brands, and pay equality in women’s sports. I will look at the impact of these changes on athletes, coaches, and business leaders participating in professional and college athletics. My course of study will take an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating insights from various fields in three modules with specific learning objectives:
1) Analyzing the Business of Sports: How do I best study this massive and rapidly evolving industry ranging from finance to fan engagement?
2) Culture and Identity in Sports: How do these factors affect the world of sports and those involved?
3) Documenting the Sports Experience: How does content development and its distribution shape our collective perception of the sports landscape?
I will delve into these topics and answer critical questions by taking courses from multiple departments, including Documentary Studies, Public Policy, Cultural Anthropology, Religion, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Nicole Dave| The Attention Economy
Faculty Advisor: Aaron Dinin Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Miami, FL
Abstract:
This program of study aims to explore and analyze the costs and benefits of the attention economy in the digital environment. In this age of information abundance value comes in the form of attention generating events. The content creator economy has developed as a result of new technologies and their growing presence in our everyday lives. Through adaptation and use of new tools, impact driven influencers have changed the way people connect and discourse happens. I seek to explore this new aesthetic digital space and its economic, ethical, and psychological effects on society. By studying the consumption of content through technical, theoretical, and research courses I will learn how audiences are being shaped and manipulated by the digital creative environment that surrounds them and how creators shape that space.
Olivia Schramkowski| Battleground for the Beloved Community: Culture, Grassroots, and Politics in the American South
Faculty Advisor: John Aldrich Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Atlanta, GA
Abstract:
In recent years, the South has become an experiment for how America can begin to reckon with its two identities of being a country built upon white supremacy and one that seeks to give equal opportunity to all of its citizens. This program seeks to study how the past, present, and future of culture, community organizing, and politics in the American South can lead to a more progressive and equitable policymaking system. The program’s central question is what is the foundation for politics in the South, and how can that foundation be used to create a better South? I address this question in three learning modules with associated learning objectives (1) Culture: How do racial tensions, Christianity, and gender play a role in Southern culture and politics? (2) Grassroots: Why are communities important in politics and how can we tell their stories? (3) Politics: How do polarization and inequality contribute to an inefficient and unequal political system? To answer these questions I will take classes in a variety of disciplines including political science, religious studies, documentary studies, history, public policy, African American studies, and gender and feminist studies.
Savanna Ware| Social Media Studies: Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Self-Perception and Social Relationships
Faculty Advisor: Aaron Dinin Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Melbourne Beach, FL
Abstract:
My carefully curated program aims to critically examine how social media influences individuals' self-image and interpersonal connections. This interdisciplinary program combines theoretical frameworks from psychology, sociology, and media studies to explore how social media shapes self-perception, body image, and identity formation. Through my Program Ⅱ investigation, I will better understand the complex interactions between social media use and mental well-being. Ultimately, I aspire to foster a nuanced understanding of the digital age’s effects on personal and social development, preparing myself to navigate and contribute thoughtfully to the evolving media landscape.
Selom Bediako| Health Disparities in the Black Diaspora and Community Models of Care
Faculty Advisor: Jocelyn Olcott Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Knoxville, TN
Abstract:
This proposed course of study investigates the social determinants of health that lead to poorer outcomes for Black individuals across the diaspora. Through my selected courses, I will study the different elements that underpin biopower/ biopolitics as theorized by Michel Foucault- the state's management of the population through the subjugation of bodies under capitalism and control over the factors that enable longevity of life (reproduction, birth and morality, health and sanitation, etc). I seek to apply these concepts to systemic racism in the United States and neocolonialism/globalization in Africa to understand the ways Black people across the diaspora are denied access to life. I will then juxtapose this understanding with an analysis of care work as an undervalued form of labor globally and a radical act of community as a potential solution to state-manufactured health disparities; care work refers to the paid and unpaid labor individuals take on to support another person’s needs usually in relation to age, illness, and disability (ex: healthcare, childcare, elder care, housework, etc) This study spans the disciplines of African and African American Studies; cultural anthropology; international comparative studies; sociology; global health; biology; history; literature; and gender, sexuality, and feminist studies.
Shelby Carter | Anthrozoology of Companion Animals: A Comparative Analysis of Both Ends of the Leash
Faculty Advisor: Brian Hare Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Atlanta, GA
Abstract:
The program is an in-depth exploration of the science and history behind the human-companion animal bond. The program explores the cognitive, behavioral, and evolutionary dimensions of humans and our companion animal counterparts that encourage cross-species companionship. The program also includes a detailed investigation into the human-nonhuman animal division through an exploration of linguistic anthropology and human exceptionalism. Integrating knowledge from biology, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and evolutionary anthropology, this program provides a comprehensive understanding of the shared evolutionary history shaping human-companion-animal interactions. The academic instruction provided in the program’s course list will complement and inform independent research focusing on human-companion-animal communication and cognitive symbiosis in three species: dogs, cats, and horses.
Sonali Patel | Global Women's Health and Media Narratives
Faculty Advisor: Sheryl Broverman Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Farmington, CT
Abstract:
This Program II aims to analyze the realms of women's healthcare, visual storytelling, and ethical decision-making in representation, particularly concerning transformative interventions at the individual, community, and global levels. It plans to study the question: How can visual storytelling and media representations be used to communicate and address global women’s healthcare challenges? “Communication” in this Program II is defined as being able to translate and amplify the experiences of those affected by women’s healthcare challenges into compelling visual narratives to inform both the medical community at large and the global general public. By integrating perspectives of global health and visual studies as it relates to women’s health, I will study women’s healthcare problems and define “health” on an individual, community, and global level, leveraging visual media as a dynamic platform for amplifying these narratives. The exploration will extend to the intricate dynamics between society and health, both at the individual and community levels, shedding light on the factors influencing the comprehension of disparities in women’s healthcare. Emphasizing a research-centric method, this program of study seeks to take a scientific approach. The anticipated outcome of this Program II is an understanding and implementation of the most ethical and effective visual communication strategies, specifically tailored to communicate topics related to women’s healthcare challenges.
Jacqueline Sophia Irion | Creative Communication for Environmental Protection
Faculty Advisor: Justin Wright Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Chattanooga, TN
Abstract:
This program aims to address the importance of instilling a connection to the natural world and the imperative to protect it in others. I seek to have the tools and prior knowledge to approach any ecosystem and its environmental issues with a comprehensive understanding of different human relationships to it, and creatively communicate the need to protect it. Through my coursework I explore different modes of creative communication: documentary, audiovisual, and writing, and different approaches to environmental protection: economic, communal, historical, and scientific.
Sophia Roud | Applied Science and Health Communications
Faculty Advisor: Peter Ubel M.D. & Scott A. Huettel Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: South Florida
Abstract:
This program aims to explore the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms that influence people's perceptions and behaviors toward health information from multiple evidence-based scientific perspectives. It also examines the psychological mechanisms that impact the spread of health information, including misinformation, among individuals and groups. Additionally, the program will assess whether effective health communication strategies and evidence-based interventions can improve health outcomes. To successfully achieve these goals, this program requires a strong technical understanding of medical applications that have been targeted by medical misinformation, such as immunology, pharmaceuticals, and palliative care. I hope that through studying this field of inquiry, I can understand how to help improve the effectiveness of current medical technology by developing interventions that facilitate quality health communication.
Annabel Jiayin Tang | Storytelling as Resilience: Healing Cultural and Diasporic Trauma through Narrative
Faculty Advisor: Calvin Cheung-Miaw Ph.D.
Class of: 2027
From: Richmond, VA
Abstract:
My program seeks to study how narrative and storytelling can be pathways for healing cultural and historical traumas—specifically in refugee, migrant, and diasporic communities—through alternative conceptualizations of truth-telling. The coursework and methodology of this program draw on the cultural legacies of writers and storytellers—those “published” and those not—who have intertwined fiction with reality to more deeply understand untellable traumas, as well as on the research of trauma psychologists who have recognized the necessity of narrative, oral testimony, and storytelling for diasporic communities in their processes of generational healing and historical reconciliation. I ask how narrative can reimagine what a confrontation with the past looks like for diasporic communities, and how that reimagination can be a pathway for healing trauma that is unspeakable and irreconcilable with chronology. I aim to answer these questions through four primary learning modules: 1) Creating and Telling Story, 2) Trauma Psychology and Neurobiology, 3) Cultural and Ethnic Studies, and 4) Narrative Healing in Practice. These modules, together, encompass a holistic attempt to understand diasporic trauma through several different forms: the telling of it through fiction, the physiological structures involved in its damage and recovery, the historical and political structures that enable its perpetuation, and the lived practice of its healing potential.
Daliya Rizvi | Immuno-Oncology and Ethics
Faculty Advisor: Sheryl Broverman Ph.D.
Class of: 2026
From: Vienna, VA
Abstract:
It’s no secret that cancer is one of the world’s top killers. Currently, an average of over 600,000 Americans die as a result of some form of cancer each year. Over time, both in the US and globally, this number will continue to rise. For many people, the thought of cancer treatment is almost as frightening as the thought of developing cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have a variety of detrimental effects on the human body, causing fatigue, weakened immunity, an increased risk of heart, lung, and kidney disease, and more. Thus, immunotherapy presents itself as a promising alternative because of its targeted nature and its harnessing of the body’s natural defense mechanisms to kill cancer cells. However, immunotherapy’s effectiveness can vary, and it comes with a variety of social, ethical, and scientific factors that must be considered in detail before it can become as widely applicable as more traditional cancer treatments. In my Program II major, I aim to explore the sociocultural, ethical, and scientific factors surrounding immunotherapy to gain a better understanding of its applications in the global healthcare system and to identify unmet needs in immunotherapy research and development.