Belmont Abbey College

The Catholic College of the South

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Undergraduate Research Conference

Author: Dr. Erin Jensen

Congrats to the 55 students that participated in the 2nd Annual Undergraduate Research Conference! 

Students from almost all majors presented on their topics. From English to Political Philosophy to Biology to Sports Management to Economics to Computer Science to Education to Business and most of the other majors as well. Student demographics included freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.  

This event is scheduled to be held every year on Founder’s Day. We encourage everyone to participate next April.

Presenter Research Topic
Christopher Ahern Individual Difference in Responses to Racist Humor
Megan Baker The Benefits of Peer Tutors and Students
Eunjae Benson The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children with Autism
Sarah Blankenship Raising Teachers’ Salaries
Hailey Boda On Higher Dimensions
Paige D’Agostin The Influence of Age and Political Ideology on the Justifiability of the Death Penalty
Christopher Duarte Promoting Equity in Compensation Across all Collegiate Sports
William Duffy Concealed Carry and Economic Success
Renzo Fassioli The Effect of Crime Victimhood and Attendance of Religious Services on American’s Views of the Justifiability of the Death Penalty
Jada Foster Football Team Proposal
Ruby Foster Football Team Proposal
John (Patrick) Gallagher The Advantages of Philosophy and Liberal Arts in Business
Isabela Gallardo Human Impact on Marine Life
Michelle Guppy The Type of Colorectal Screening Effect on Death Rate per State
Robert Hill Russian Military Logistical Shortcomings and Failure to Modernize
Tucker Hoeniges Higher Education: Counting the Costs, Maximizing the Benefits
Sarah Holley The Role of Phonological and Visual Processing Deficiencies in Developmental Dyslexia
Trevor Humphries The Power of a Search: Staying Safe on World Wide Web
Mariah Jones Child Maltreatment and Adult Criminality
Amanda Johnson The Role of Attachment in Treating Partner-Violent Men
Adonis Johnson Edge Coloring Disjoint Edges on Geometric Complete Graphs
Kendra Kerr Belmont Abbey New Parking Ideas
Anthony Klein ‘The Prodigal Son: The Sequel; An Exploration of the Devious Townsfolk in “My Kinsman, Major Molineux”
Jackson Korta Concussion Prevention
Peyton Lilley Belmont Abbey Football Team Proposal
Seve Leoni The Impact of Positive Coaching
Rorisang Lesenyego Computers are an Important Part of the Society
Anna Li Mental Health Treatment in Correctional Institutions
Youthan Love With an Increase in Age, and Perceptions of Corruption in the Country, Does it Tend to Cause People to Favor Private Ownership Over Government Ownership of Businesses
Marissa Rose Maldonado Riding the Edge of Cinematic Forecasting
Filumena Martin Sleep Patterns in Children
Maura Martin How Does Education Affect Women’s Odds of Being Married and Having Children?
Patrick Martin The Geometry of the Attractors of a Family of Iterated Function Systems
Jamie Nunez Invertebrate Diversity on the Belmont Abbey
Rachel Price The Negative Impact of Traumatic Brain Injuries on Cognition and Implications for Quality of Life
Michael Shelton Simplexity of the n-cube
Gregory Pakaluk How Income and Religiosity Affect the Number of Children Parents Choose to Have
Timothy Shar Convex ‘Fair’ Partitions of Convex Polygons
Timothy Sica How Does Religion and Religiosity effect Political Ideology on a left-right scale
Caroline Stein Edgar Allan Poe & Shakespearean Gothic
James Steele Belmont Abbey Parking Lot Problems
Madison Teachman Prevention of Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma
Danashia Tucker The Benefits of Peer Tutors and Students
Lex Van den Bergh Small Business
Shiyonna Wallace Invertebrate Diversity on the Belmont Abbey Campus
Jonas Walton Desire or Talent? How Genetics Shape the Physical Abilities of Professional Cyclists
Gary Williams Are Electric Cars Beneficial for the Environment?
Will Wolfe Food Options in Café
Robin Wiley Internship Experience at Shutterfly, INC
David Wilson Digestive in-vitro Amylase Activity Assay
Aslan Alp Wondergem Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury and its Effects on Male Athletes

This article was originally posted in the Spring of 2023, Issue 3 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

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Dr. Mark Hanssen

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Will Wolfe

“I once lived in and managed a castle as a conference and event center just outside of Vienna, Austria. It was at those conferences that I took began to take an interest in economics.”

Dr. Mark Hanssen, a professor of economics, has dedicated the early parts of his career to bridging the gap between Western economic ideas and post-communist countries. Through his efforts, he has brought Western experts in economics to train these countries in the principles of market-based economies.

Hanssen’s own journey in economics began in Spain, where he spent three years earning his Ph.D. in economics from Universidad de Navarra at the Pamplona campus, an expert in the field. Fluent in Spanish, he went on to work at the non-profit organization Codespa, which focuses on international agriculture development. Hansson spent four years with the organization, working to improve the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities in developing countries.

His efforts have been felt across Eastern Europe and other post-communist countries, where he has helped shape policies and economic development strategies. Hansson’s work has helped to create opportunities for economic growth and prosperity in these countries.

Now teaching at Belmont Abbey College, Dr. Hanssen has decided to focus more on academia and less on travel. He is known for his unique teaching style that depends on his coffee level. Many students have attested to his fantastic teaching abilities.

Overall, Hanssen’s dedication to bridging the gap between East and West in the field of economics has had a significant impact. His unique teaching style and expertise have helped to shape the economic futures of many countries, making him an invaluable asset to the academic community, and Belmont Abbey is lucky to have him as their newest economic professor.

This article was originally posted in the Spring of 2023, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

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Meet Dr. Judith McDonald!

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Laura Gonzalez 

The Elementary Education professors are some of the coolest teachers I have ever had the opportunity to learn from. One professor I want to share is Dr. Judith McDonald. Dr. McDonald teaches lots of education classes, but the best one was the Science Methods of Teaching. She is more than a hard-working professor at the Abbey. She has spent lots of time in schools helping with their science programs to this day, traveling, and helping write 3 chapters of a book. Dr. McDonald is always willing to help students out with achieving their goals, but have you ever heard of one that is helping the Kingdom of Sudira Rabum understand a new standard and implementing interactive science for students grades Kindergarten through 12th.

Becoming a teacher was something she realized was her dream job.  Teaching science is what stood out to her since she was so young. According to Dr. McDonald, she was at girl scout camp when she realized her strong passion for science. In the summer of 6th grade, when the astronauts landed on the moon, she was demanding everyone to watch the moon landing. She cut out all the pictures from Washington news and still has them to this day. Watching the moon landing was an incredible experience that helped her fall in love with science.

Dr. McDonald has been working here at the Abbey for 15 years and is currently in her 16th year. She has taught a “lifetime” of all grade levels, including graduate school. Dr. McDonald has spent another “lifetime” of learning and is continually still learning to this day. Outside of the college classroom, Dr. McDonald works with schools around the Charlotte area. At one school, she is helping the school build a garden. She helps host STEAM nights where some of the education methods students help teach another school an educational project. Dr. McDonald has created so many opportunities for her students to adventure out and have experiences with their teaching careers. Something that gives her motivation to stay involved in school is when she sees her education students cross the line from student to teacher.

Outside of being a great professor, she loves to be outdoors, hiking, enjoying nature, gardening, and traveling. She has to Switzer, France, Iceland, Hawaii, Costa Rice, and Panama. Dr. McDonald loves to travel and discover new science within all the adventures. In Iceland, she saw volcanos, swam, and touch the Europe plates. She saw northern lights and glaciers. In Hawaii, she saw an active volcano in Kailua and observatories. Hiked the Grand Canyon to see rock formations. Went to Costa Rica to see the biodiversity. Gone to Panama for volcanoes and the canal. Snorkeled the Caribbean and watch coral bleach. One of her favorite things is to observe clouds everywhere she goes.

This article was originally posted in the Spring of 2023, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

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Succeeding in Class: Dr. Ian Crowe

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Patrick Gallagher

If you have taken a class with the much-liked Professor Ian Crowe, you know by now not to have a hood on your head in that class. The well-known professor has been teaching for 41 years and has been a professor at the Abbey for the last several years. He not only has experience being a high school and college professor, but he has also taught in a different country, which gives him an interesting perspective on how the classroom works. 

When asked about the most important things for students to be doing in class, Dr. Crowe had a surprising response. Most of the students at Belmont Abbey would think that a professor might say to do all the reading beforehand, take lots of notes, and maybe be on time every time. However, Dr. Crowe says out of all of these, the most important thing is merely to “look attentive” in class. 

Yes, my fellow students, it’s that easy. Simply look attentive in class, and you can have happier professors and better grades. 

Dr. Crowe says that if you look attentive, you will probably have a notebook on the desk in front of you, even if you don’t plan on taking any notes. But if you do have a notebook in front of you, you are more likely to pay attention and write something interesting down, and instead of the entire class being background noise, you may find that you have an interest in whatever subject you may be in. Even if this is not the case, simply looking attentive can lead to a better overall grade and a better understanding of what you are studying. So, have your ears uncovered, your notebook on the desk, and when your eyes are up, your grades probably will be too.

This article was originally posted in the Spring of 2023, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

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Stimulating The Mind

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Noah Butcher

Elizabeth Bookwalter is my professor for PC 201 Introduction to Psychology. She is a new professor at the college as this is her second semester teaching here.

She is a very kind and great professor. She teaches a lot of interesting things like the sleep disorders and lobes of the brain.

Dr. Bookwalter has many interesting things about her. She can wiggle her ears, she and her husband have seven brothers, she is left-handed, and she can spin a basketball on her finger. She quotes, “I love being a life-long learner.”

So overall, Elizabeth Bookwalter is a great professor that is always happy to be here and has a good time teaching. I hope everyone takes a class from Professor Bookwalter.

This article was originally posted in the Spring of 2023, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

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