Ashland University Students and Faculty Attend Symposium at Ohio Statehouse

Nine Ashland University students presented their research at the First Annual Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Undergraduate Research Symposium held in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium on Feb. 16.

This event exposed state legislators to the research opportunities that students have at private colleges and universities throughout the state of Ohio. Ashland University was one of 25 independent institutions represented at the Symposium.

Students presenting included Leah Allen, advised by Dr. Jacqueline Wilkins from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, who presented “Collegiate Athletes’ Perceptions of Parental Involvement and Sport Success”; Amy Drossman, advised by Dr. Mason Posner from the Department of Biology/Toxicology, who presented “Comparison of Bony Fish αA-crystallins Identifies Amino Acid Substitutions That Affect Chaperone-like Activity and Thermal Stability”; Daphne Guinn, advised by Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer from the Department of Chemistry, Geology and Physics, who presented “Cadmium Contamination of Consumer Products: An Emerging Threat to Children’s Health”; Zachary Il’Giovine, advised by Dr. Douglas Dawson from the Department of Biology/Toxicology, who presented “Combined Effects of Direct-acting Michael Acceptor Combinations Vary Depending on Reactivity Rates and Time-dependent Toxicity of the Agents”; Abbey Latham, advised by Dr. Cindy Moseman from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, who presented “Attachment Theory’s Influence of Electronic Communication between College Students and Their Parents”; Bruce Mason, advised by Dr. Randall Gearhart from the Department of Sport Sciences, who presented “Muscle Fiber Recruitment in Young, Recreationally Trained Women Using a Vibration Platform”; Megan Polak, advised by Dr. Oscar McKnight, Director of Counseling Services, and Dr. Ronald Paugh from the Department of Marketing/Hospitality/Supply Chain Management, who presented “Strategic Marketing for Economic Development”; and Nicole Tiberi and Stephanie Gordon, advised by Dr. Brent Mattingly from the Department of Psychology, who presented “The Association of Attachment with Romantic Relationship Satisfaction.” Out of the more than 100 research posters presented, six were selected by area STEM high school students as being of particular interest. Two of those six honored posters were from Ashland students - Daphne Guinn (Chemistry) and Zachary Il'Giovine (Toxicology). Guinn and Il’Giovine will also present their research prior to the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges meeting on April 6.

Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.