Celebrating excellence in research and inquiry

By Megan Bradshaw on April 19, 2018

A buzz of confident and enthusiastic student, faculty and visitors’ voices filled the Chesapeake Rooms of Towson University’s University Union during TU’s Student Research and Creative Inquiry Forum—the third of 10 Celebration of Excellence events being held this spring. 

The Celebration of Excellence series takes place over the final two months of the academic term and is designed to celebrate the success and outstanding accomplishments of TU faculty, staff and students. 

Among the 140 research and inquiry topics featured in the forum were “Building TU’s ‘Noise Profile’ Using Sound Level Meter Measurements” (Chelsea McFarland and Rachel Lam), “Yoga Moms: Post-Partum Women, Privilege and the Aspirational Class” (Emily Fornatora), “Impulse Responses in TU’s Recital Hall and Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall” (Andie Verbus), “Anthropogenic Global Warming as a Propagator for Anti-Western and Anti-Capitalist Sentiments Among College-Aged Students in the U.S.” (Emily Middleton) and “Competing Powers: Analyzing Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Relationship with the U.S. Supreme Court” (Connor McNairn). 

Senior acting major Molly Cohen talked about her research into the role clothing plays in reacting to sexual assault survivors. Her project, “What Were You Wearing? Weaving a New Narrative,” outlined her research and its connection to a survivor art installation with the same name. 

“Recently there has been a resurgence of attention on rape culture and the desire to take the next steps in helping survivors and preventing future abuse,” Cohen said. “I wanted to focus on the survivor and change the narrative.” 

Second-year master’s student Drew Parton engaged visitors about his research project, “Wrath of the Narcissists: Vulnerable Narcissism predicts greater spiteful punishment of a third-party transgressor.”  

“A lot of my previous research has been in empathy and morality and how that goes wrong. Does that make me a pessimist?” Parton laughed. “But as I dug deeper I realized there was a gap in aggression research that I wanted to explore.”  

Math education major, Honors College student and UTeach participant Rachel Schmitz ’19 dipped her toes into STEAM education for the first time with her research titled, “Students’ Mathematical Modeling of One-Point Perspective Paintings.” 

Inspired by reading a book about the concept of “zero” and what that meant in the fields of mathematics, art and physics, Schmitz devised an activity for high school algebra students requiring them to derive the mathematical equations needed to find the vanishing point in a series of paintings.  

“It was a really helpful experience,” she noted. “Developing the project and research expressed what was helpful in communicating information to students, and it helped me learn how to be a better teacher. 

“I’m not an artist, but I do have an appreciation for art, and I want students to see how math can relate to art,” Schmitz added. 

The Celebration of Excellence kicked off with the ninth annual  Environmental Conference on April 4 at the University Union and the BTU Partnerships Awards, held on April 16 at the South Campus Pavilion.  

Seven additional events will be held over the next month: 

• Senior Colleagues’ Reception | April 26 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Minnegan Room at Johnny Unitas® Stadium | By invitation only 
• Student Affairs Leadership Award Ceremony | May 1 | 6–8 p.m. | West Village Ballrooms | By invitation only 
• Honors Convocation | May 6 | 1 p.m. | Chesapeake Rooms, University Union | By invitation only 
• Golden Paws Athletic Banquet | May 7 | 6–8 p.m. | SECU Arena | By invitation only 
• Service Awards Breakfast and Ceremony | May 9 | 9–11:30 a.m. | SECU Arena | By invitation only
• Foundation Scholars Luncheon | May 11 | noon–2 p.m. | Chesapeake Rooms, University Union | By invitation only 
• Distinguished Alumni and Dean’s Recognition Awards Ceremony | May 24 | 6:30–9 p.m. | Chesapeake Rooms, University Union | Ticketed event