University Writing & Research Conference Program Fall 2025

University Writing & Research Conference
Thursday, October 16th &
Friday, October 17th
Online via Zoom, In-Person in Ames Hall

Fall 2025 Conference Schedule

The conference comprises nine panels, with one session per time band. All panel sessions are ~50-60 minutes in length. Please arrive on time and plan to stay for the entire session, including the Q&A, which is an important component of the panel discussion.

Three (3) Sessions will be conducted via Zoom.

Thursday, October 16th:

• 6:00pm
• 7:15pm
• 8:30pm

All other sessions held in-person in Ames B101, Mount Vernon Campus.

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University Writing and Research Conference Sessions:

Session 1, Hosted by the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service (Thursday, Oct 16th, 6pm)

Virtual Session, join via Zoom

Moderator: TBD

TBD
TBD
Professor: TBD

TBD

Session 2, Visible Hands: Visible Hands: Unexpected Results of Economic Intervention (Thursday, Oct 16th, 7:15pm)

Virtual Session, join via Zoom

Moderator: TBD

How Does the Density of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) by Province/Region/ Highly Urbanized City (HUC) Population in the Philippines Affect Family Household Income?
Robert Ballsrud
Professor: Janzen

I did a statistical analysis using Pearson’s R to determine if there is any correlation between the density of SEZs relative to population and household income in the Philippines. Used data provided by agencies in the Philippines government to look and see if there is a correlation not only in terms of average income, but also income at all 10 income deciles. This was done to see if any correlation found was present among all income groups (low/high income earners). The analysis found that in ALL income deciles there was a positive moderate correlation between the density of SEZs relative to population and the household income of people living in said geographical unit (Province/Region/Highly Urbanized City).

Risk Communication within the Dollar Store Invasion
Parker Seely
Professor: Sauer

My project explores the lack of communication within the public about the consequences that dollar stores have on communities. The rapid expansion of dollar stores increases crime, hurts local economies, and contributes to food insecurity. Throughout my project, I provide evidence to my claims and argue that regulations should be placed on dollar stores to protect the communities that their presence affects. I am not advocating for a ban on these stores but rather restrictions. 

The Hidden Cost: The Effect of Fast Fashion
Priscila Leon
Professor: Abbas

Fast fashion is sold virtually everywhere, yet its production is concentrated in specific regions, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Large corporations choose to manufacture their products in these countries due to weak labor and environmental regulations. Fast fashion significantly impacts both workers and the environment in these nations. Workers are often required to endure 12-hour shifts while earning extremely low wages—sometimes just a few cents. Additionally, millions of pounds of discarded clothing contribute to overflowing landfills. Economically, fast fashion perpetuates poverty in countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, as workers earn wages that are often insufficient for a decent standard of living, keeping them below poverty thresholds despite their long working hours. Overall, this paper aims to expose the harsh realities of fast fashion, its effects on these countries, and propose potential solutions to mitigate its negative impacts.

Session 3, Visual Politics: Cartoons, Deepfakes, and the Artist’s Wife (Thursday, Oct 16th, 8:30pm)

Virtual Session, join via Zoom

Moderator: TBD

Braving the (Political) Storm: A Study of Political Cartoons about Hurricanes Helene and Milton During the 2024 Election
Isabelle Cummings
Professor: Svoboda

Political discourse and media are shaped by party polarization, causing major events to become politicalized. This research analyzes sixty-four political cartoons created by left- and right-leaning cartoonists regarding Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which made landfall in September and October 2024. This study uses social semiotics and Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) to examine the cartoons. MFT is a series of psychological foundations used to understand how media is framed for audiences. MFT finds that liberals follow care/harm, fairness/cheating, and liberty/oppression moral foundations, while conservatives follow authority/subversion, loyalty/betrayal, and sanctity/degradation. Studies on social semiotics find that cartoons after a disaster follow a cycle regarding the content produced by artists. This study hypothesizes that cartoons created by liberal and conservative artists will follow care/harm foundations when informing about the disaster and mourning those affected before shifting blame at an external source, using different moral foundations to produce their argument. The cartoons failed to follow a cycle but did differ from the expected MFT, shedding light on the effects of framing and polarization on media.

Deepfakes
Grace Eagleton
Professor: Richter

The aim of this project is to highlight the urgent need for greater public understanding of the risks associated with deepfakes while also exploring ways they can be regulated and used ethically. Deepfakes can be described as images, videos, or audio created using artificial intelligence to stimulate real or non-existent people. These highly convincing digital creations have become widespread across many social media platforms. It is typically used maliciously to spread false information or play pranks on digital media consumers. As a result, many people struggle to distinguish between authentic content and AI-generated media. This leaves society with the challenge of determining effective strategies to counteract those who use this technology in a harmful way. Addressing this issue involves educating the public, promoting appropriate regulation, and encouraging the development of positive applications for deepfake technology. Because deepfakes cannot simply be erased with a click of a button, it is crucial to develop solutions that reshape how we manage the technology, rather than attempting to ban it entirely. 

Bella Chagall and the Legacy of Invisible Wives
Arvin Sarsazi 
Professor: Pollack

In the history of modern art, the names of male painters endure while the women beside them often vanish, remembered only as wives, models, or silent muses. This research explores the rare exception that is Bella Chagall, who had a symbolic and deeply emotional presence in Marc Chagall’s art, while also having a voice of her own, through writing and memory, entirely independent of her famed husband. Through an examination of Bella’s own literature in Burning Lights, and her recurring portrayal as a bride, angel, and guiding spirit in Marc’s most dreamlike paintings, this paper argues that Bella transcended the passive role many artists’ wives were constrained into. In contrast, the paper examines the lives of Hortense Fiquet and Amélie Matisse, wives of Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse respectively, whose portrayals lack intimacy and whose identities were defined by their husbands' careers. Through visual analysis of Portrait of Madame Cézanne in a Red Armchair and Portrait of Madame Matisse (The Green Line), the paper highlights how these women were portrayed with emotional detachment and lack of warmth.

Session 4, Media Representation Amid Precarity (Friday, Oct 17th, 10am)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: TBD

TikTok’s Refugee: Onijah Robinson and Media Representation
Jaycob Maldonado
Professor: Hijazi

Western mainstream media outlets have consistently used stereotypical representations to depict refugees as inferior. The process of dehumanizing refugees creates visible effects that affect both official policies and social opinions about refugees. The main focus of my research examines how media coverage affects public understanding of refugees while analyzing the resulting impact on their personal lives and experiences. The media boosted Onijah Robinson into TikTok virality through her strategy of exaggerating her refugee-like situation for financial gain. The TikTok fame of Onijah Robinson demonstrates how attention-grabbing content can push aside the actual challenges that real refugees encounter. The current conservative shift in American society requires analysis of refugee law, which I elaborate on through my discussion with Victoria Ramassini, who practices as an immigration and refugee lawyer. The media functions as a primary force that determines public opinions about refugees through stereotypical portrayals that create actual social problems. The case of Onijah Robinson demonstrates how different media representation creates two separate realities between refugees and the public. Overall, I affirm that a media environment that values marginalized voices will create a fairer representation of refugee experiences, which leads to better social support for these communities.

Neither Greek Nor Foreigner: Double-Exclusion and the Afro-Greek Struggle for Recognition
Kostas Chatziantoniou
Professor: Kristensen

In connection to my UW course, "Africa and the African Diaspora", my project explores the experiences of Africans and Afro-Greeks in contemporary Greece, focusing on how systemic racism, restrictive citizenship laws, and cultural stereotypes create what scholars describe as “double-exclusion.” Afro-Greeks are often seen as neither fully Greek nor fully African, leaving them marginalized socially and legally. My paper highlights three main themes: (1) the intersection of gender, race, and identity, showing how Afro-Greek women face compounded stereotypes and pressures; (2) the legal and institutional barriers, including restrictive citizenship policies that leave many stateless or excluded from professional opportunities; and (3) the ways Africans in Greece resist marginalization through activism, community organizing, and cultural expression. Organizations like the United African Women’s Organization and initiatives such as Generation 2.0 illustrate how grassroots activism and youth-driven cultural movements challenge exclusion and affirm hybrid Afro-Greek identities. Drawing from examples in media, music, fashion, and digital platforms, my paper shows how Afro-Greeks are reshaping the meaning of belonging in Greek society, moving beyond assimilation toward cultural preservation and self-definition. Ultimately, it argues that Afro-Greek struggles reflect broader issues of migration, identity, and citizenship in Europe, while also demonstrating resilience and creativity in the face of systemic exclusion.

Challenging fossil fuel corporate campaigns: Examining greenwashing ads through a visual, moral, and genre lens
Stella Maximuk
Professor: Svoboda

Discussion of global warming and the detrimental role of the fossil fuel industry began in the 1950s. In the 1980s, fossil fuel corporations began misleading advertisement campaigns to preserve the industry. Since then, advertisements have successfully persuaded many viewers to adopt pro-fossil fuel views. While existing research has explored the effectiveness of these advertisements, little research has explored how they are effective. This article examined four video advertisements across four periods ranging from the 1980s to 2020 to determine the persuasive methods used by corporations over time. By analyzing advertisements using semiotic analysis, Moral Foundation Theory content analysis, and popular cultural genre analysis, this article provides insight into how corporations seek to be perceived, which morals are targeted, and the emotional responses provoked by genre. As climate change becomes more pressing and lawsuits against fossil fuel corporations have increased, it is imperative to understand how corporations have swayed viewer perceptions.

Session 5, Protest, Power, and Politics in the U.S. (Friday, Oct 17th, 11:30am)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: TBD

AIDS in DC: LGBTQ Representation in the Media
Sophie Loiacano
Professor: Troutman

LGBTQ+ rights activism is one of the few counter cultures of the late 20th century alive today. Unfortunately, this is because of continuous persecution and discriminatory legislation, yet the LGBTQ+ community continues to engage in activism like no other. The LGBTQ+ Liberation Movement began in the 1980s, following the Stonewall Uprising, but really took off during the outbreak of the HIV (human immunodeficiency syndrome), and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) epidemic. But how much do we really know about all of the activism during this time? How far did their message reach? Initially interested in the use of symbolism within posters and banners, I realized there was a distinct difference in what I could gather from big news sources, versus independent photography. Throughout my research, I explored the various methods of protest during the AIDS epidemic. I analysed the differences between how activism surrounding the epidemic was displayed for the public and what was kept in private archives, in order to uncover the nuance of the movement and what the LGBTQ+ community itself wanted to share.

Power, Personality, and the Erosion of Democracy:  Examining Trump’s Path Toward Autocracy Through Comparative Analysis
Ella Stricklen
Professor: Wolfe

I seek to assess the second Trump Administration’s shift toward autocracy and its subsequent implications for long-standing democratic precedents. The impetus for this assessment emerged following Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign and beginning days in office, when his ideologies and actions pointed toward an imminent constitutional crisis. My research revolved around a three-step framework attempting to predict the rise of autocracy as a rejection of democratic norms. The three steps follow as such: the first takes the form of a crisis narrative upon which a leader builds their path toward power, for they present an approach specifically reliant upon their character or beneficial to their agenda; second, in the vein of resolving that crisis, a leader will take drastic, unconventional measures to consolidate power and limit the institutional checks interrupting their ability to achieve their agenda; third, having strayed from a system of checks and balances necessary for democracy, a leader commands party-wide loyalty to their agenda and allows for the onset of an autocratic regime. Ultimately, using El Salvador under Nayib Bukele as a case study analyzed alongside Trump’s second term demonstrates the danger of a personalist presidency and the necessity of upholding the rule of law as an enduring democratic principle.   

Session 6, Racial Invisibility and the Limits of Public Discourse (Friday, Oct 17th, 1pm)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: TBD

Shadows of Angkar in America: Lessons and Aspirations from Cambodian Resettlement
Tyler Insun Yoon
Professor: Hijazi

Cambodian America is seldom talked about in the public discourse. Yet, a complicated history of trauma and resettlement has led to statistically disproportionate rates of mental health issues as the community attempts to address its demons, the legacy of one of the 20th century's most brutal genocides. Traditionally, Asian Americans - often reduced to those from China, Japan, and South Korea - are viewed as a "model minority" in the United States; wealthy, well educated, and stable. However, this reductionist and racist label, coined within the context of America's historical white supremacist hierarchy, fails to account for the manifold backgrounds from which the diverse tapestry of Asian America is in fact woven. Lessons from the triumphs and tribulations of the Cambodian-American resettlement may play a key role in both determining how to handle the future settlement of refugee populations in the United States and how to support current ones. Furthermore, the most important takeaways from this project may be what can be done in the public sphere and American society to remedy and prepare young Cambodian-Americans for future success in an environment that has historically rendered their struggles invisible. Social justice demands that their story be hidden no longer.

Neighborhood to Racially Profiled Pipeline: How security-based social media intersects with racial discrimination in everyday neighborhoods
Jennah Tohamy
Professor: Richter

My project focuses on the nuanced topic of security-based applications like Nextdoor, and their intersection with racial profiling and discrimination. It delves into the hypocrisy behind such platforms that promise security and safety to their users but facilitate the opposite for many. After giving a bit of background and context, I analyze three broad yet adverse effects of security-based platforms: Constructing Whiteness, Racial Profiling, and One-sided security. Using real life interactions that have occurred on Nextdoor, I thoroughly analyze the harmful consequences of these flaws. The analysis emphasizes the need for a call to action to address the racist interactions that occur on these applications. I then outline two potential solutions to approach the issue including Language Flagging Software and an Oversight Committee. Although these solutions are not flawless, they are a way for Nextdoor to become more proactive in their attempt to create a more welcoming and safe environment.

Lost in the Rain: The Rhetorical Invisibility of Orleans Parish Prisoners during Hurricane Katrina
Maddy Roberts
Professor: Sauer

On August 28 2005, New Orleans was put under a mandatory evacuation order prior to the landfall of Hurricane Katrina. Exempted from the order was the local jail, Orleans Parish Prison (OPP). Prisoners remained in cells as Katrina moved across the southern United States and the Mississippi river breached the New Orleans levee system, causing the city, including OPP, to flood. Prisoners were subjected to inhumane and dangerous conditions for 2-3 days before being evacuated. The decision not to preemptively evacuate OPP was partially due to the failure of communication from government officials to acknowledge the risk Katrina posed to OPP prisoners. In particular, the National Weather Service, the New Orleans Mayor’s Office, and the Orleans Parish Sheriff all failed to include risk to prisoners in their public communication. In this paper, I examine the specific rhetorical failings of communication pertaining to OPP during Hurricane Katrina and offer recommendations for improved communication.

Session 7, Constructed Vision: Media, Art, and the Mechanics of Influence (Friday, Oct 17th, 2:30pm)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: TBD

Organism or Host: Grotesque Realism and Parasitic Capitalism in Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite
Somya Sharma 
Professor: Tomlinson

Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite critiques capitalism by subverting the traditional parasite-host dynamic and revealing a cycle of mutual dependence between the wealthy Park family and the impoverished Kim family. As the Kims cunningly infiltrate the Parks’ household in their desperate bid for economic survival, the Parks remain unaware of their inherent reliance on the labor of the lower class, which sustains their privileged existence. The film steers clear of a simplistic oppressor-victim binary; instead, Parasite exposes capitalism itself as the ultimate parasitic force. Through dark humor, spatial symbolism, and power reversals, Bong illustrates how economic disparity cultivates the physical and psychological marginalization of the lower classes. The utter contrast between these lifestyles emphasizes the hidden yet pervasive structures of inequality that keep the lower class largely invisible, only acknowledging their presence when they disrupt the facade of the upper echelons of society. Bong’s genre-bending approach heightens the unpredictability of class struggle and makes the film’s critique of socioeconomic disparities feel visceral and unsettling. By situating Parasite within broader global discussions on labor and social mobility, the film compels viewers to reassess the dynamics of exploitation. It questions who truly manipulates whom and whether any genuine escape from systemic oppression is possible.

Musical Manipulation: How Social Media has Shaped Attitudes Towards Emerging Musical Artists and Insights from Fan Feedback
Alexis Cai
Professor: Richter

Social media has sterilized music. Record labels have shifted focus to short term virality over long term artist growth - a move that has led to formulaic songs populating the algorithm and the destruction of the artist-fan relationship. Musical Manipulation examines the decline of the behemoth music industry as manifested in the rise of “industry plant” accusations, and what artists can learn from fan backlash against inauthenticity in music.

Born Dead: Marc Chagall and the Eight Dimensions of Health
Andrew Williams
Professor: Pollack

Marc Chagall holds the status of a brilliant multicultural artist born in the small town of Vitebsk, Russia in 1887. He travelled all across the globe, capturing in the moment and leaving behind in legacy an intense use of color and vibrant, dreamlike imagery that display a wide range of human emotion, the world around him, and his place in it. However, what is often overlooked in the life of Marc Chagall is how long it lasted. Living to the age of 97, Chagall far surpassed the average lifespan of any country he resided in at any given point in his life. The NIH and several medical journals define eight dimensions of health that are widely recognized for contributing to a long, healthy life: physical, psychological, social, environmental, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, and financial health. Chagall’s works have no shortage of references to these dimensions and help shed light on what factors contributed to his long life. Most notable among these are food–both the health behind Chagall’s diet and the role of food in his life and art, a deep love with his wife, Bella, his sense of identity, and an immense appreciation and understanding of nature and his environment.

Session 8, Borders of Belonging: Global Capitalism and Exclusion (Friday, Oct 17th, 4pm)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: TBD

Trapped in Limbo: How Lebanon’s Economic Decline Entrenches the Marginalization of Palestinian Refugees
Clara Barsoum
Professor: Hijazi

Lebanon’s economic collapse has magnified the long-standing marginalization of Palestinian refugees, exposing the intersection of legal exclusion, political scapegoating, and humanitarian neglect. Since 1948, Lebanon’s “non-integration policy” has denied Palestinians access to citizenship, property rights, and most professional fields, enforcing a system of institutionalized statelessness. Refugee camps remain excluded from state infrastructure and urban planning, reinforcing their invisibility. Lebanon’s economic decline, ranked among the most severe collapses globally, has acted as a force multiplier, pushing Palestinian families deeper into poverty as food prices soar, electricity fails, and UNRWA services face unprecedented cuts. While officials frame refugees as an economic burden, such scapegoating obscures the true causes of Lebanon’s collapse: corruption, elite capture, and political paralysis. It is undeniable that Palestinian refugees contribute to the economy through informal labor and small businesses, despite being denied labor protections and social mobility. This paper argues that Palestinian exclusion is not a byproduct of crisis but a deliberate political strategy to preserve sectarian balance and defer accountability. By analyzing Lebanon’s legal framework, economic deterioration, and political narratives, the paper demonstrates how Palestinian refugees are deliberately kept in limbo, and how their marginalization reveals the fragility of a state that sustains itself through exclusion.

The Tourism Growth Trap: Erosion of a Human Right Under Capitalism
Mia Quezada
Professor: Wolfe

My paper explored how tourism has shifted from a way to connect with cultures and nature, into a profit-driven industry controlled by corporations and aided by government deregulation. What was once a shared human right is now an entrance for a new business industry, shaped by overtourism, gentrification, labor exploitation, and tax loopholes. This study shows how these forces erode cultural authenticity, displace communities, and damage the environment, all in the name of economic growth. Ultimately, it calls for bold reforms—closing loopholes, protecting workers, and promoting regenerative tourism that benefits local people and ecosystems. At its core, the paper argues that tourism should return to its roots: a global good built on access, authenticity, and respect, rather than corporate profit.

Detty December and the Divide: Diasporan Dreams vs Ghanaian Realities
Nana Yaa Boakyewaa Siriboe
Professor: Kristensen

My project, Detty December and the Divide: Diasporan Dreams vs. Ghanaian Realities, explores the rise of Ghana’s “Detty December” as both a cultural homecoming and an economic phenomenon. Beginning with the 2019 Year of Return campaign, December in Ghana has transformed into a month-long celebration that attracts thousands of diasporans seeking joy, connection, and identity. While the season offers African Americans and other members of the diaspora a sense of belonging and pride, it also generates tensions around accessibility, commodification, and inequality for local Ghanaians.

Session 9, Public health, Consumption, and Systemic Design (Friday, Oct 17th, 5:10pm)

B101, Ames Hall

Moderator: TBD

Reproductive Health and Economic Growth in Low-Income Countries: The Benefits of Investing in Women
Sandros Melakeberhan
Professor: Janzen

This paper examines the economic benefits of investing in women's reproductive healthcare in low-income countries. While healthcare is usually seen as a social responsibility, evidence suggests it is also a powerful driver of economic development. Using data from UNICEF, the United Nations Population Division, and the World Bank from 2020-2023, this study analyzes key indicators such as antenatal care, adolescent fertility, contraceptive use, female labor force participation, and GDP growth to explore the relationship between reproductive health access and economic performance. The results show that increases in antenatal care and contraceptive access are linked to lower adolescent fertility rates and higher female labor force participation. These trends demonstrate that when women have better access to reproductive healthcare, they are more likely to stay in the workforce, which benefits the economy. While GDP growth fluctuated, overall trends point to a connection between women's health and economic progress. The findings indicate that investment in reproductive healthcare should be understood not only as a public health priority but also an economic strategy for sustaining long-term development. 

A Dietary Dilemma: College Students Struggle to Balance Nutrition and Lifestyle
Juliano Jordan
Professor: Smith

This project explores the intersection of college student lifestyles and food insecurity, using the viral TikTok series Fridge Files as a case study to highlight broader systemic issues. While the series entertains by showcasing the contents of students’ refrigerators, it inadvertently reveals the financial strain, time constraints, and social pressures that shape unhealthy diets on college campuses. At George Washington University, like many institutions, students struggle to balance nutrition with affordability, often forced to rely on cheap, processed foods rather than healthier alternatives. This dilemma is not rooted in individual choice but in systemic barriers, rising tuition, limited campus food options, and the high cost of living, that leave students malnourished and academically disadvantaged. Although initiatives such as food pantries (The Store) and partnerships with nonprofits like Swipe Out Hunger provide meaningful support, these efforts remain insufficient without broader institutional reforms. By reframing food insecurity as a public health and equity issue rather than a private struggle, this project calls for universities to expand access to affordable, nutritious food and foster awareness around healthy eating. Ultimately, ensuring food security is essential not only for student well-being but also for their academic and long-term success.

Experiential Eating: A Case Study of Commune Design’s Nashville-Based Restaurant 888
Eli Sheahen
Professor: Smith

This project explores the evolution and exemplar of experiential dining through a case study of 888, a Japanese kissa-inspired sushi restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, designed by Commune Design. Initially drawing a thematic contrast with the nostalgic theatrics of dining experiences like the Rainforest Cafe, the paper positions 888 as a sophisticated reinterpretation of the theme restaurant genre. Through interviews with Commune’s lead designers and research into multi-sensory dining theory, Japanese jazz culture, and post-pandemic hospitality trends, the study reveals how 888 integrates architecture, sound, and culinary artistry to create a holistic dining experience. By analyzing 888 through a five-part experiential framework—Attractant, Transition Space, Ornamentation, Environmental Ambiance, and Sensory Stimulants—the paper argues that 888 exemplifies a new frontier in restaurant design, where atmosphere and storytelling are as integral as the food itself.