Brandan Still is currently completing his second semester at University College Cork, Republic of Ireland, as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar. He is surveying business ethics in Ireland for a comparative analysis with a population drawn from the U.S. Still's research is in conjunction with his LU faculty mentor Dr. Lynn Godkin and an ethicist from the College of Business at the University of Wyoming.
DATES OF RESEARCH: Ongoing
FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Lynn Godkin
NAME: Divya Verma
CLASSIFICATION: Junior (McNair Scholar, Honors Program, international student)
HOMETOWN: Orange (native of Brazil)
MAJOR/MINOR: Economics major; Anthropology minor
RESEARCH TOPIC: Economic and cultural change in two towns of northeastern Brazil pursuant to opening of a major heritage park.
SYNOPSIS OF RESEARCH:
Divya Verma spent most of the summer of 2004 conducting field research in two towns near the Serra da Capivara National Park in the state of Piaui, Brazil. Her study focused on describing the cultural changes caused by the creation of this Park and also by the interactions of local people with the scholars and tourists who come to the area. She focused especially on changes that have occurred in the local economy, infrastructure and education, and in the way locals view themselves and the world around them.
DATES OF RESEARCH: Summer 2004
PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS:
Several McNair conferences; Great Plains Honors Council Meeting in Lawrence, Kan., 2005; National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Lexington, Va., 2005.
RECOGNITION RECEIVED:
Accepted for participation in an ethnographic field school in Ecuador for summer 2005.
FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Donna Birdwell
NAME: Naomi De Leon
CLASSIFICATION: Senior
HOMETOWN: Texas City
MAJOR/MINOR: Psychology
RESEARCH TOPIC: Relationship satisfaction, intimate, and marital relationships
SYNOPSIS OF RESEARCH:
Relationship satisfaction, intimate relationships, and sexual behavior are all important components that contribute to an individual's attitude toward marriage, and attitude toward divorce. This study examined the effects of gender, sexual experience, and family of origin on relationship satisfaction and sexual attitudes.
DATES OF RESEARCH: March - October 2004
PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS:
McNair Scholars Journal, McNair Research Symposium, Nov. 12, 2004; Lamar University 2nd Annual Psychological Conference, Nov. 19, 2004; McNair Research Conference, University of North Texas, Feb. 18-20, 2005; Southwestern Psychological Conference, Memphis, Tenn., March 23-26, 2005; Lamar University Research Organization Conference, April 22, 2005
