INSPIRE Conference Schedule

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Division of Graduate Studies are proud to present the 2025 INSPIRE Student Research & Engagement Conference!

April 7-8, 2025 // Rod Library

  • Poster Presentations: Learning Commons
  • Oral Presentations: Room 287

Please reach out to our conference co-coordinators Helen Harton and Windee Weiss with any questions.

Monday, April 7
Tuesday, April 8
INSPIRE Conference

Monday, April 7

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

9 - 9:50 a.m.

Moderator: Adam Butler

 ‌

Katie Mortenson

College Student Reflections on Their Aging Selves: A Photovoice Study

  • Majors: Gerontology, Social Work
  • Faculty Advisor: Melinda Heinz
  • Awards: IAF and IRB
     

Sarah Stegge

Family Caregiver Emotions In Dementia Simulation Education

  • Majors: Communication Sciences & Disorders, Gerontology
  • Faculty Advisor: Elaine Eshbaugh
     

Mackenzie Zeien

Crisis Text Line

  • Major: Psychology
  • Faculty Advisor: Carolyn Hildebrandt
     

Danny Trip

Coming Out and Inclusion into Society; based on Queer Individuals

  • Graduate Program: Social Work
  • Faculty Advisor: Sei-Young Lee
     


10 - 10:50 a.m.

Moderator: Courtney Wilson

 ‌

Ian Offner

AI in Academia: Supportive Ally or Cheating Accomplice

  • Graduate Program: Psychology
  • Faculty Advisor: Michael Gasser
     

Faith Nielsen

Trace Evidence vs Memory Evidence: Comparing Evidence Collection Tools

  • Major: Psychology
  • Faculty Advisor: Kimberly MacLin
     

Elle Greiner

School Counseling Experience

  • Major: Psychology
  • Faculty Advisor: Carolyn Hildebrandt 
     

Kalisa Weathersby

Affective Political Polarization Pre-and Post-Election: Attributions about Democrats and Republicans

  • Major: Biology: Biomedical
  • Co-authors: Hallye Wade, Krishna Patel, Lily Stevens
  • Faculty Advisor: Helen Harton
  • Award: IAF


11 - 11:50 a.m.

Moderator: Elizabeth Sutton

 ‌

Sydney Blum

My Internship: UNI Museum

  • Major: Anthropology
  • Faculty Advisor: Erin Pavioni
     

Brock Borchardt

The Moderating Role of Aphantasia in the Link between Emotion Regulation and Relationship Satisfaction

  • Major: Psychology
  • Faculty Advisor: Dilbur Arsiwalla
  • Award: IAF
     

Keevan Jones

The Effects of Short-Term, High-Dosage Creatine Supplementation on Cognitive Measures Following Mental Fatigue in Healthy Young Adults

  • Major: Kinesiology: Exercise Science
  • Co-authors: Lyle Conditt, Amalea Friedle, Olivia Van Meter
  • Faculty Advisor: Terence Moriarty   
  • Award: Fruehling Undergraduate Research Fellowship 
     

Colten Teem

From Classroom to Career: Identifying Occupations Aligned with Psychology Competencies

  • Major: Psychology
  • Co-author: Skylar Shaffer
  • Faculty Advisor: Adam Butler 
     


12 - 12:50 p.m.

Moderator: Jenny Becker

 ‌

Kai Smith

Los Cambios en 622A, 622B, y Capítulo 47 de Iowa: Un Reflejo de la Evolución de los Servicios de Interpretación y Traducción en el Sistema Judicial de Iowa 

(Changes in Iowa's Code Chapters 622A and 622B and Chapter 47 of Court Rules: A Reflection of Evolving Interpreter and Translation Services in the Iowa Judicial System)

  • Majors: Criminology, Psychology
  • Faculty Advisor: Elise DuBord
     

Abby Schellhorn

Death with a Side of Coffee

  • Major: Psychology
  • Faculty Advisor: Melinda Heinz
     

Sydney Blum

Who Owns Their Dead: The Unequal Access To Repatriation in US Law

  • Major: Anthropology
  • Faculty Advisor: Tyler O'Brien
     

Nicholas Huinker

MTBI Literature Review: Devices, Protocol and Nutritional Health

  • Major: Kinesiology
  • Co-author: Sarah Stegge
  • Faculty Advisor: Elaine Eshbaugh
     

Amy Stoermer

Crisis Text Line - An Empathic World Where Nobody Feels Alone

  • Graduate Program: Social Work
  • Advisor: Jenny Becker, LISW
     


1 - 1:50 p.m.

Moderator: Amelia Holden-McMurray

 ‌

 Emma Elsbecker

Relationship Satisfaction as a Mediator Between Attachment and Quality of Life

  • Major: Psychology
  • Faculty Advisor: Dilbur Arsiwalla
  • Award: IAF 
     

Anna Anderson

Las Experiencias en Escolarización de Hablantes de Herencia en Iowa: Sus Propias Palabras

(The Schooling Experiences of Heritage Speakers in Iowa: In Their Own Words)

  • Majors: Social Science Teaching and Spanish Teaching
  • Faculty Advisor: Elise DuBord

Adi Uglum 

My Experience at Cedar Heights Elementary School as an Assistant to the School Counselor

  • Major: Psychology
  • Faculty Advisor: Carolyn Hildebrandt

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

10 - 10:45 a.m.

Moderator: Kyle endres

 ‌

10 a.m.

Ryder Bates

Mystery Cave Underground: Mapping for the Future

  • Major: Digital Media Production
  • Co-author: Easton Steffen
  • Faculty Advisor: Francesca Soans
     

10:15 a.m.

Easton Steffen

Filming in Caves

  • Major: Computer Science & Interactive Digital Studies
  • Co-author: Ryder Bates
  • Faculty Advisor: Francesca Soans 
     

10:30 a.m.

Salimatou Diallo

Magnetotransport Properties of NiFe1+xMn1-xAl Heusler Alloys

  • Majors: Physics, Computer Science, Biochemistry
  • Co-authors: Brandon Schmidt, Jax Wysong, Gavin Baker, Parashu Kharel, Pavel V. Lukashev
  • Faculty Advisor: Paul M. Shand 
     


11 - 11:45 a.m.

Moderator: Johnnie R. Blunt

 ‌

11 a.m.

Luthando Molefe

Community-Based Participatory Research Scholarship as a Curriculum Transformation in Higher Education

  • Graduate Program: Education (Teacher Education and Professional Development)
  • Faculty Advisor: Theophile Muhayimana
     

11:15 a.m.

Luthando Molefe

Navigating through the Unknown Waters of the Teaching Profession in a Rural School: A Beginner Teacher’s Self-Study 

  • Graduate Program: Education (Teacher Education and Professional Development)
  • Faculty Advisor: Theophile Muhayimana
     

11:30 a.m. 

Bushroh O. Animashaun

The Influence of Field Experiences on English Language Teachers' Preparedness: An Analysis of Teacher Education in Nigeria

  • Graduate Program: Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL)
  • Faculty Advisor: Aliza Fones
     


12 - 12:45 p.m. 

Moderator: Juan Carlos Castillo
in spanish

 ‌

12 p.m.

Kathleen Hunter

De QuikTrip a la Panadería: El Paisaje Lingüístico de Capitol East, Des Moines, Iowa

(From QuickTrip to the Panadería: The Linguistic Landscape of Capitol East, Des Moines, Iowa)

  • Majors: TESOL, Spanish
  • Faculty Advisor: Elise DuBord 
     

12:15 p.m.

Neah McGovern

¿Por qué Estudiar Español?: Un Examinación de los Motivaciones de los Estudiantes Universitarios

(Why Study Spanish?: An Examination of the Motivations of University Students)

  • Majors: TESOL, Spanish Teaching
  • Faculty Advisor: Elise DuBord
     

12:30 p.m. 

Bailey Johnson

The Use of Spanish in Political Advertisements

  • Major: Spanish Teaching
  • Faculty Advisor: Elise DuBord
     


1  - 2 p.m. 

Moderator: Emily Machen

 ‌

1 p.m.

Brenda Koumondji

The Role of Socioeconomic Capital on Literacy and Second Language Acquisition: A Cross-National Comparative Study

  • Major: Sociology
  • Faculty Advisor: Ashleigh Kysar-Moon
  • Award: Fruehling Undergraduate Research Fellowship
     

1:15 p.m. 

Lauren Logue

Perceptions of Female Hispanic Accents by Type of Career

  • Majors: Psychology and Spanish
  • Faculty Advisor: Helen Harton
  • Funding: IAF
     

1:30 p.m.

Moussa Barry

Investigating Pronunciation Teaching Practices and Teachers’ Beliefs about Pronunciation in EFL Classrooms in Burkina Faso

  • Graduate Program: TESOL
  • Faculty Advisor: Joshua Gordon 
     

1:45 p.m.

Claire Tow

Second-Language Acquisition of French Nasal Vowels: Phonological and Orthographic Considerations

  • Graduate Program: Speech-Language Pathology
  • Faculty Advisor: Elizabeth Zwanziger, Todd Bohnenkamp

Tuesday, April 8

POSTER PRESENTATIONS


9 - 9:50 a.m.

Moderator: Marybeth Stalp

 ‌

ZaKiyah Timmons-Crear

Bridging Connection & Care: AI-Modified Activities for Residents

  • Majors: Family Services, Gerontology
  • Faculty Advisor: Melinda Heinz     
     

Carly Bendull

A Modern Community Men’s Shed

  • Major: Communication Sciences & Disorders
  • Faculty Advisor: Melinda Heinz    
     

Katie Cullen

Fostering Intergenerational Relationships at Men's Sheds

  • Major: Communication Sciences & Disorders
  • Faculty Advisor: Melinda Heinz
     

Krishna Patel

Affective Political Polarization Pre- and Post-Election: Beliefs about Positive and Negative Behaviors

  • Major: Biochemistry
  • Co-authors: Hallye Wade, Kalisa Weathersby, Lily Stevens
  • Faculty Advisor: Helen Harton
  • Award: IAF
     


10 - 10:50 a.m.

Moderator: Alexa Clements

Lily Stevens

Affective Political Polarization Pre- and Post-Election: Comparisons Two Months into the New Administration

  • Major: Psychology
  • Co-authors: Hallye Wade, Krishna Pate, Kalisa Weathersby
  • Faculty Advisor: Helen Harton
  • Award: IAF
     


11 - 11:50 a.m.

Moderator: Michael Gasser

 ‌

Hayes Breitbach

Prison Environment and Conditions Affect Recidivism Rates — Norway and South Africa

  • Major: Social Work
  • Co-authors: Gus Beirman, Abby Horstmann
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Esther Van Horn

Food Insecurity in the Philippines

  • Major: Social Work
  • Co-authors: Kassidy Lake, Hannah Dennis
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Sam Rohrssen

Access to Special Education Support for Rural Areas

  • Major: Social Work
  • Co-authors: Zayne Smith, Annamarie Mallory
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Rachel Halbach 

An Overview of Domestic Violence in Ireland and the United States

  • Major: Social Work
  • Co-author: Addie Feris
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Kenzie Keenan

Mental Health Care Access in Afghanistan

  • Majors: Social Work and Psychology
  • Co-authors: Adalyn Gauck, Drew Gauley, Hannah Ryan, Shukuru Budederi
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Eboni Patterson

The Impact of Human Trafficking

  • Major: Social Work
  • Co-authors: Gabriella Meza, Jenna Diprima
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Mallory Loerts

Affects and Tragedies of Substance Abuse on Vulnerable Populations in The United States and Russia

  • Major: Psychology
  • Co-authors: Avery Wuollet, Rylyn Murphy, Emyli Sandrock
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Zita Mpinganzima

Women’s Rights Across Borders: Challenges and Progress in Afghanistan, India and the United States

  • Major: Social Work
  • Co-authors: Taylor Romer, Gracie Richter, Sydney Hersom
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Grace Davison

Chad's Climate Crisis

  • Major: Social Work
  • Co-authors: Meara O'Brien,  River Meyer
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Morgan Klein

Intimate Partner Violence

  • Major: Social Work
  • Co-authors: Stephanie Hines Meyers, Jasmyne Sauceda, Ark Van Donslear, Morgan Klein
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Leslie Villagomez

Immigration

  • Major: Social Work
  • Co-authors: Almendra Ramirez
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     

Katie Do

Climate Change: Water Pollution in Chad and the Need for Clean Water Intervention

  • Major: Pre-Sonography
  • Co-authors: Jake Brock, Adriana Almaraz
  • Faculty Advisor: Itunu Ilesanmi
     


12 - 12:50 p.m.

Moderator: Erin Pavioni

 ‌

Brielle Culbertson, Hannah Sampson, Anna Wieser and Kim Zizek

Wellness Center 

(two posters)

  • Major: Interior Design
  • Faculty Advisor: Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi
     

Grace Barkley, Katelyn Konfrst and Amanda Meyer

Wellness Center 

(two posters)

  • Major: Interior Design
  • Faculty Advisor: Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi
     


1 - 1:50 p.m.

Moderator: Aliza Fones

 ‌

Hallye Wade

Affective Political Polarization Pre- vs. Post-Election

  • Major: Psychology
  • Co-authors: Krishna Patel, Kalisa Weathersby, Lily Stevens
  • Faculty Advisor: Helen Harton
  • Award: IAF
     

Molly Miller,  Emma Gullion, Quincy Griffin and Hannah Rasing 

Wellness Center

(two posters)

  • Major: Interior Design
  • Faculty Advisor: Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi

     

Alex Fowler, David Kremer and Maddie White

Wellness Center

(three posters)

  • Major: Interior Design
  • Faculty Advisor: Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi

     


2 - 2:50 p.m.

Moderator: Seth Brown

 ‌

Stephanie Dailey, Faith Hoffman and Waverly Roorda

Wellness Center

(two posters)

  • Major: Interior Design
  • Faculty Advisor: Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi
     

Dreanna Driggers, Carissa Sabers and Reilly Thuemmler

Wellness Center

(two posters)

  • Major: Interior Design
  • Faculty Advisor: Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi
     

Julio Alonso, Jennifer Little and Conner Rittenhouse

Wellness Center

(two posters)

  • Major: Interior Design
  • Faculty Advisor: Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi

ORAL PRESENTATIONS


10 - 11 a.m.

Moderator: Gabriela Olivares

 ‌

10 a.m.

Cassandra Ralston

Friendship with Violence: The Boffer LARPing Community

  • Major: Sociology
  • Faculty Advisor: Marybeth Stalp 
     

10:15 a.m.

Amber Hoodjer

Women's Suffrage in the Cedar Valley, 1860-1920

  • Graduate Program: History
  • Faculty Advisor: Barbara Cutter

     

10:30 a.m. 

Wesley Freiman

Gonna, Kinda, Nothin’, an’ so on: Attributions of Literary Dialect by American Versus British Writers

  • Graduate Program: English
  • Faculty Advisor: Jolene Zigarovich
     

10:45 a.m.

Amber Jones

Following the Line

  • Major: Interactive Digital Studies
  • Faculty Advisor: Francesca Soans 
     


12 - 1 p.m.

Moderator: scott peters

 ‌

12 p.m.

Hallory Domnick

100th Day of School Celebration on Centenarians

  • Major: Family Services
  • Faculty Advisor: Melinda Heinz
  • Award: McElroy Youth Leadership Fund
     

12:15 p.m.

Sarah Stegge

Dementia Friendly Bathroom Design Explored + Checklist

  • Majors: Gerontology, Communication Sciences & Disorders: Pre-Speech Therapy  Contributors: Elsie Aslesen, Denell Henninger, Janice Blevins
  • Faculty Advisor: Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi
  • Awards: Fruehling Undergraduate Research Fellowship
     

12:30 p.m.

Samuel Bast

Investment Casting Burnout Time Identification and Prediction using Machine Learning

  • Graduate Program: Information and Electrical Engineering Technology
  • Faculty Advisor: Jin Zhu 
     

12:45 p.m.

Caden Sadler

Exploring Spin-Gapless Semiconducting Properties of FeVTaAl and FeCrZrAl

  • Major: Physics
  • Co-authors: Samuel Smith, Brandon Schmidt, Parashu Kharel, Paul M. Shand
  • Faculty Advisor: Pavel Lukashev
  • Award: NSF Grant