McNair-Ballotti Undergraduate Research Symposium (MBURS)

Welcome to the online home of the McNair-Ballotti Undergraduate Research Symposium (MBURS). The Symposium is designed to showcase the scholarship of Suffolk University undergraduates participating in the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program housed within the Center for First Generation & Educational Equity and recipients of the Geno A. Ballotti Scholarship in the Center for Learning & Academic Success.

This year’s McNair-Ballotti Undergraduate Research Symposium was held April 11, 2025 in the Division of Student Success Programming Space on the 9th floor of 73 Tremont.

Sample Symposium Schedule

Presentation Session 1 10 – 11:15 a.m.
Break & Poster Session 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Presentation Session 2 12 – 1:15 p.m.

Past Symposium Presentations

The 2025 McNair-Ballotti Undergraduate Research Symposium was held Friday April 11, 2025 in the programming space on the ninth floor of 73 Tremont.

Kamilla Alieva
(she/her)		 Ballotti Scholar “Mathematics Anxiety and the Utilization of Academic Support Services”
Research Advisors: Lance Swenson, Psychology Department, Jamie Bondar, Center for Learning & Academic Success, English Department
Mohammed Khodor Firas Al-Tal
(he/him)		 Ballotti Scholar “AI vs. Traditional Tutoring: An Experimental Study on Learning Retention and Problem-Solving in a Controlled Peer-Based Environment”
Research Advisors: Anthony Gentilucci, Math & Computer Science Department, Zaihan Yang, Math & Computer Science Department, Jamie Bondar, Center for Learning & Academic Success, English Department
Lee Bravo
(they/them)		 McNair Scholar “Generational Trauma and Its Effects on Newer Generation Parents”
Research Advisor: Natasha Berger, Psychology Department
Jade Buchanan
(she/her)		 McNair Scholar “Understanding How Sexual Assault Disclosure Reception Effect Survivor’s Mental Health”
Research Advisor: Sukanya Ray, Psychology Department
Ruby Francis
(she/her)		 Ballotti Scholar “Exploring the Dynamic between Passion and Efficacy: How tutor interest relates to positive tutoring outcomes”
Research Advisors: Ari Kaplan, Center for Learning & Academic Success, Jamie Bondar, Center for Learning & Academic Success, English Department
Taylor Herist
(she/her)		 Ballotti Scholar “Enhancing Andragogy Through Application of Psychological and Metacognitive Learning Theories”
Research Advisors: Nichole Vatcher, Psychology Department & Jamie Bondar, Center for Learning & Academic Success, English Department
Shreesha Jamkatel
(she/her) 		McNair Scholar “Spectrum Study & Mental Health Barriers Within the Nepalese Community”
Research Advisor: Sukanya Ray, Psychology Department
Nisa Rivera
(she/her)		 McNair Scholar “The State of Collateral Consequences in Massachusetts”
Research Advisor: Carlos Monteiro, Sociology & Criminal Justice Department
Louisa Jones Siciliano
(she/her)		 Ballotti Scholar “The Intersection of Major and Mentorship: How Academic Background Shapes Writing Tutoring in the Social Sciences”
Research Advisors: Emma Tynan, Political Science & Legal Studies Department, Jamie Bondar, Center for Learning & Academic Success, English Department
Jose Wellington Moraes Souza
(he/him)		 Ballotti Scholar “Beyond Language Barrier: How Different Methodologies Affect the Learning Process of International Students”
Research Advisors: Miguel Rodrigues, Political Science & Legal Studies Department & Jamie Bondar, Center for Learning & Academic Success, English Department

The 2024 McNair-Ballotti Undergraduate Research Symposium was held Friday April 19, 2024 in the programming space on the ninth floor of 73 Tremont.

Cristina Castillo (she/her) McNair Scholar “Implementing an Equitable Business Model Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives”
Research Advisor: Monique Gibbs
Gwyneth Hiller (she/they) Ballotti Scholar “Maximalist Tutoring: The False Dichotomy of Directive and Non-Directive Pedagogy”
Research Advisors: Jamie Bondar and Bryan Trabold
Mingyue Lao (he/him) McNair Scholar “Understanding Generation Z’s Awareness of Social Media’s Privacy Policy”
Research Advisor: Ming Chen
Isabelle Lavalee (she/her) Ballotti Scholar “Peer-Tutor Engagement”
Research Advisors: Jamie Bondar and Keri Iyall-Smith
Luke Stocker (he/him) Ballotti Scholar “Working with Large Language Models: Tips for Students & Tutors”
Research Advisor: Jamie Bondar
Neka Vladimirov (they/them) Ballotti Scholar “Critical Reading in the Tutoring Center: Reading Against the Grain”
Research Advisors: Jamie Bondar and Shoshana Madmoni-Gerber

The 2023 McNair-Ballotti Undergraduate Research Symposium was held Friday April 21, 2023.

Cassandra Bertsch Ballotti Scholar “Breaking Down a Scientific Paper.”
Research Mentor: Jamie Bondar
Johensky Etienne Celestin McNair Scholar “Understanding the Perception of Mental Health Within the Haitian Community”
Research Mentor: Jessica LoPresti
Lindsay S. Dieudonne McNair Scholar “Food for Thought: Assessing Accessibility: Using WIC and SNAP Enrollment Data and Accessibility Measures For Program Recommendations”
Research Mentor: Jarvis Chen
Angela El-Jazzar McNair Scholar “Administrative Impact on the U.S. Refugee System: A study on the 21st century need for restructure”
Research Mentor: Katherine Horn
Chaimaa Mansour Hossaini Ballotti Scholar “Assessment of ADHD Accommodations in Schools and How We Can Improve Them”
Research Mentors: Jamie Bondar & Andrew Cioffi
Nicole Kingdon McNair Scholar “Low-Income Caregivers with Young Children Experience Risk and Resilience Through Pandemic-Related Stressors”
Research Mentors: RoseMarie DiBiase and Molly DuBuc
Sarah Anne Lawton McNair Scholar “An Examination into Critical Race Theory in K-12 History Curriculum”
Research Mentor: Jarvis Chen
Marcela Melendez Escobar McNair Scholar “The Cellular Localization of a Bacterial Protein Required for Symbiosis”
Research Mentor: Vincent J Starai (Microbiology Department, University of Georgia in Athens)
Andrea Muszka McNair Scholar “Psychedelics and Psychotherapy as Vehicle for Altered States of Consciousness and Metacognition in Treating Treatment-Resistant Psychiatric Disorders”
Research Mentor: David Gansler
Mari Ortega Ballotti Scholar “Design-Centered Learning”
Research Mentor: Jamie Bondar
Monica Prudencio McNair Scholar “Racial Mental Health Disparities in the U.S.”
Research Mentor: Sukanya Ray
Naylene Rivera McNair Scholar “The Effects of Emotions and Dreams: A Sleep Study of Primed Emotions and Dream Response Using Content Analysis and Participant Surveys”
Research Mentor: Jarvis Chen
Olivia Sears Ballotti Scholar “Enhancing Student Learning and Application of R Programming Language for Biology and Environmental Science Through the Creation of a Reference Guide”
Research Mentor: Jamie Bondar & Eric Dewar
Abigail Verfuerth Ballotti Scholar “Tutoring as A Tool for Marginalized Student Degree Persistence”
Research Mentor: Jamie Bondar
Lella Woolery McNair Scholar “Understanding Juvenile Offenders Issues of Behavior-A Multidisciplinary Perspective”
Research Mentor: Sukanya Ray

The 2022 McNair-Ballotti Undergraduate Research Symposium was held Friday April 8, 2022.

Jennifer Alvarez-Mendoza McNair Scholar "Is there a Loophole to The Cycle of Recidivism?"
Jocelyn De Paz McNair Scholar "The Influence of Riboflavin-Producing Bacteria on Women's Health"
Lindsay S. Dieudonne McNair Scholar "Health Care in the American Carceral System: A Graded Report on Health Care Policies"
Hannah Graves McNair Scholar "Dismantling the Barriers Within Psychotherapy: What Is the Uniting Feature(s) of the White Working Class Identity?"
Nina Insixiengmay Ballotti Scholar "First Year Students & Formal Lab Report Writing"
Nicole Kingdon McNair Scholar "Pandemic-Related Hardships and Psychological Well-Being: Covid-19's Impact on Low-Income Children and Families"
Alexandra Leeming Ballotti Scholar "Improving Student Attitudes and Problem-Solving Skills in Physics"
Julia Claire Lockart Ballotti Scholar "An Analysis of Study Methods in Relation to Humanities and STEM Majors"
Marcela Melendez Escobar McNair Scholar "The Antibiotic Mitomycin C Induces Mating of Bacillus subtilis"
Thomas Nguyen McNair Scholar "Why Do Youth Programs Fail?"
Diana Pena McNair Scholar "Adverse Childhood Experiences in the Lives of Pregnant and Mothering Women Who Use Drugs"
Naylene Rivera McNair Scholar "The Effects of Emotions and Dreams: A Sleep Study of Primed Emotions and Dream Response Using Content Analysis and Participant Survey"
Carine Santos, McNair Scholar "Body Image and Mental Health Stigma in Brazilian Women/ Women of Brazilian Descent"
Breno Silva McNair Scholar "Understanding the Photochemistry of Ni(II)-Based Cross-Coupling Catalysts"
Daniela Solis McNair Scholar "Exploring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatments for Youth of Marginalized Communities"
Arbisa Trebicka Ballotti Scholar "Cultivating Creative Thinkers by Embracing Failure"
Tatiana Vasquez McNair Scholar "Analysis of Deep Gray Matter Neural Atrophy in Multiple Sclerosis Patients"

Under normal circumstances, the symposium takes place in person on Suffolk University's Boston campus; however, due to the continued stay-at-home advisory in place in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, we held our symposium remotely and asynchronously in 2021. The video presentations represent the culmination of many months of work on the part of the participants and their faculty advisors, so we encourage you to interact with the presenters in the comment space for each video.

Caroline Almonte McNair Scholar Empowering to Give Back: An Analysis of the Potential Economic Contributions of Career Development and Life Skills Training Programs for Inmates in the State of Massachusetts
Samantha Berlus McNair Scholar "The Impact of Social Media Influencers on the Black Lives Matter Movement"
Leticia Adao Gomes Ballotti Scholar “Virtual 3D Models in Chemistry Instruction”
Juan Miguel Gutierrez McNair Scholar “Cultural Wealth and Hiring Practices: An Analysis of Recruitment Methods of Teacher Hiring Pipeline Programs in Boston”
Charlie Guthrie & Thien Nguyen Ballotti Scholar “Improving the Online Learning Environment Through Music”
Samantha Leigh Imber Ballotti Scholar “COVID-19 Impacts on Peer Tutoring: How to Support Students Through a Pandemic”
Gurpal Kaur McNair Scholar “Cultural Differences Pertaining to Sustainability”
Matthew Kutrolli Ballotti Scholar “Queering the Online Writing Center: How Writing Centers Can Support LGBTQ+ Students Through Virtual Learning.”
Olivia Paige Lapolla McNair Scholar “Liberté, Égalité, Maternité: Framing Motherhood in the Era of the French Revolution”
Mariella McEachern McNair Scholar “Assessment of the Effects of Cranberry Agriculture to Stream Health in the Buzzard Bay Watershed”
Dieynaba Awa Ndiaye Ballotti Scholar “Universal Design for Learning: Tutoring Techniques that can Help Students with Disabilities”
Despina Muratoglu McNair Scholar “Going Online: How the Utilization of Social Media and Other Online Platforms Assists Small Businesses During a Worldwide Pandemic”
Thomas P. Nguyen McNair Scholar “Does Peer Mentoring Improve Agricultural Attitudes of St. Lucian Youth?”
Natalie Robertson McNair Scholar “in silico Assessment of Antimicrobial Resistance in Consumer Probiotics”
Breno Silva McNair Scholar “Determining Kinetic Parameters of the SfnG-Catalyzed Conversion of Dimethylsulfone Into Methanesulfinate”
Mardochée Sylvestre McNair Scholar “A Comparison Study of Massachusetts School Boards: What Makes an Effective School Board”

Under normal circumstances, the symposium takes place in person on Suffolk University's Boston campus; however, due to the stay-at-home advisory in place in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, we held our symposium remotely and asynchronously in 2020. The video presentations represent the culmination of many months of work on the part of the participants and their faculty advisors, so we encourage you to interact with the presenters in the comment space for each video.

Emily Dichele Ballotti Scholar “Assistive Technology in Writing Tutoring”
Lismar D. García McNair Scholar “The Impact of Parks and Playgrounds”
Leticia Adao Gomes Ballotti Scholar “Element AR: Augmented Reality App for Chemistry Education”
María Cecilia Gómez McNair Scholar “A KAP Study on STIs and Early Fertility Among Adolescents in Kenya”
Mariama Kamara McNair Scholar “Race, Body Shaming, and the Pursuit of the Ideal in the Fashion Industry”
Olivia Paige Lapolla McNair Scholar “A Study on the Discourse Surrounding Sexual Harassment in the Workplace as Exhibited in Prominent American Media Sources and Societal Conversation Relevant to the #MeToo Cultural Movement”
Ngoc Luu Ballotti Scholar “Improve Retention in STEM Fields through Cooperative Learning”
Esteban Marte McNair Scholar “Regulation of RpoS through RbsD”
Danilo Martínez McNair Scholar “Social Media Marketing: What Can Make or Break Your Small Business”
Dieynaba Awa Ndiaye Ballotti Scholar “Big Data Technology in Education: Enhancement of Learning Experience with Students and Faculty”
Natalie Robertson McNair Scholar “Rate of Escape of Group A Streptococcus from Within Host Cells"
Mary G. Siriboe McNair Scholar “Dimethylsilanediol Production from Volatile Methylsiloxanes and Hydroxyl Radicals in the ISS Atmosphere: A Computational Investigation”
Sai Akshaya Vivekanandan Ballotti Scholar “Tutor Mentality: The Psychological Skills Required by Peer Tutors and the Effects of Tutoring on Their Mental Health”