The 2026 University of New Mexico McNair Scholars Research Conference

This opening session will prepare everyone for the full day of oral presentations. We have 135 oral presentations scheduled in 11 different rooms on the top floor of the SUB. So don't be late to this session so you can be sure to be prepared as a presenter or an audience member.

Conference shuttle buses are available to bring conference attendees from the official conference hotels to campus for registration. For detailed shuttle or campus parking information please click on the "campus transportation" tab in this app.
*Conference hotels are the Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, and SpringHill Suites all located on Central Ave.

Coffee, assorted teas, & water will be available in the Cherry and Silver room for your enjoyment.
Attention: Refreshments are limited to registered conference attendees only.

Session #1, 9:45 to 10:05 a.m. SUB Top Floor - Various Rooms. 
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Barrey, Aubrie - Major: Psychology , University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #1, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Does Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Environmentlist Identity Better Explain Climate Anxiety?

Carey, Joseph - Major: History, University of Cincinnati
Oral Presentation Session #1, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Rival Kings: The Interpretive Styles of Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras

Hernandez, Renae - Major: Environmental Studies, University of Colorado Boulder
Oral Presentation Session #1, Room: Lobo B
Title:  Honoring the Coyote: Studying Human and Coyote Connections

King, Raven - Major: Nursing, West Texas A&M University
Oral Presentation Session #1, Room: Acoma B
Title: Foster Care Youth Transitioning into Adulthood and Higher Education 

Le, Amanda - Major: 1. Medicine 2. Public and Applied Humanities, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #1, Room: Isleta
Title: Hispanic Health and Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis of the Longitudinal Literature

Lopez, Elena  - Major: Speech & Hearing Sciences, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #1, Room: Luminaria
Title: Vocabulary Growth of Preschoolers Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Mackay, Senai - Major: Psychology, Washington State University
Oral Presentation Session #1, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: The Relationship Between Cluster C Personality Disorders and the Relational Self-Schema

Sigona, Jonathan - Major: Mathematics, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #1, Room: Acoma A
Title: FiberWalk: A Probabilistic Model of Plant Root Architecture

Slayton, Savannah - Major: Political Science, The University of Oklahoma
Oral Presentation Session #1, Room: Fiesta B
Title: "Exploring the Legacy of Colonialism on Oklahoma Education: Using Historical Foundations of Education in Oklahoma to Understand Contemporary Education in Oklahoma and Its Impacts on Native Youth.”

Zurschmiede , Zachary  - Major: Social Science, Michigan Technological University
Oral Presentation Session #1, Room: Lobo A
Title: Artistic and Emotive Policy Intersections in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Session #2, 10:10 to 10:30 a.m. SUB Top Floor - Various Rooms. 
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Alva, Diana - Major: Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Isleta
Title: Unnatural Death: Microbial Succession on Bones Exposed to Corrosive Chemicals 

Anaya, Kane - Major: Biology, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Lobo A
Title: Genetic structure and intraspecific variation of Five-Toed
Jerboas in sympatric populations
 
Bridgewater IV, Walter - Major: Screenwriting, Loyola Marymount University
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Greenlight to Cancellations: The Evolution of TV & Black Media

Costello, Katherine - Major: Planetary Geosciences and Math, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Acoma A
Title: Advancing the Search for Life

Giokas, Emilia - Major: Advertising, Idaho State University
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: How the cookie crumbles: An examination of food related marketing, social media, and humor.

Lapahie, Krystal  - Major: Psychology , University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Prodromal symptoms of psychosis and their effects on learning and exploration in clinical high risk adolescents 

Pierre-Louis, Ethan - Major: Electrical Engineering , Ethan Pierre-Louis
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Lobo B
Title: Security and Low Income Communities

Silva, Lizett - Major: Spanish, West Texas A&M University
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Fiesta B
Title: Academic Challenges of First Gen: A Comprehensive Study

Torres, Joanna - Major: Sociology, Latina/o/x and Latin American Studies, Northeastern Illinois University
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Acoma B
Title: Under Surveillance: How School Surveillance Measures Shape Students’ Perceptions of Themselves and Each Other 

Wynn, Gianna - Major: Psychological Science, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Luminaria
Title: Evaluating Self-Report and Direct Assessment of Cognitive-Linguistic Abilities Among Female FMR1 Premutation Carriers

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Session #3, 10:35 to 10:55 a.m. SUB Top Floor Various Rooms
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Carrillo, Darianna - Major: Psychology , Our Lady of the Lake University
Oral Presentation Session #3, Room: Fiesta B
Title: Balancing Dreams: The Struggles of Latina University Students. 
 
Espitia, Nancy - Major: Psychology, California State University of Monterey Bay
Oral Presentation Session #3, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Differences in Facial Prominence of Women and Men on the Covers of Popular Mexican Magazines

Griffus, Trinity - Major: Biology, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #3, Room: Acoma A
Title: Enhancing Sunflower Growth in Extraterrestrial Regolith through the use of Mycorrhizae Fungi and Supplemental Nutrients

Lademo, Ireti - Major: Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati
Oral Presentation Session #3, Room: Acoma B
Title: Helping Children with Loss - Instrument 

Noriega, Dorian - Major: Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #3, Room: Isleta
Title: Evaluating Non-Invasive Methods to Control a Robotic Arm for High-Level Tetraplegics

Ortiz-Rodriguez , Rocio  - Major: Animal Science , Washington State University
Oral Presentation Session #3, Room: Lobo A
Title: Genetic Influences on Canine Feeding Behavior: Investigating Variations in ASIP and MC4R Genes

Salazar Contreras, Alicia - Major: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #3, Room: Luminaria
Title: “Sopa de Pescado”: Spanish Language Passage Development for the
Differential Diagnosis of Motor Speech Disorders 

Sanders, Emily - Major: Psychology, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #3, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Intersecting Identities: How Ethnic Identity, Discrimination, and BMI Shape Internalized Weight Bias

Vitt, Sarah - Major: Chemistry and Earth Science, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #3, Room: Lobo B
Title: Noble Metal Nanoparticles and their Photocatalytic Properties using Polymer Ligands

Winters, Shauntrell - Major: Theatre (Biology Minor), Northeastern Illinois University
Oral Presentation Session #3, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Session #4, 11:00 to 11:20 a.m. SUB Top Floor Various Rooms
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Butler, Helina - Major: Cybersecurity , Harding University
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Exploring the impact of marriage on college students

Cazares, Lourdes - Major: Chemistry and Psychology, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Acoma A
Title: Effect of third-trimester-equivalent alcohol exposure on neuronal densities in the cerebellar lobule VI and Crus I

Cervantes-Contreras, Emiltze - Major: Anthropology, Washington State University
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Luminaria
Title: Migrant Farmworker Culture and Its Effects

Draven, Elia - Major: Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Lobo A
Title: Dust in the Caldera: Glacial-Interglacial Sediment Transport in Northern New Mexico

Guadarrama, Gabriela - Major: Education with Bilingual Certification EC-6, Our Lady of the Lake University
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Fiesta B
Title: Voices of Aspiring Bilingual Educators: Lived Experiences within the Bilingual Education Student Organization 

Jimenez, Anabelle - Major: Psychology, Northeastern Illinois University
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Acoma B
Title: "I Swear I'm Happy for You": The Link Between Malicious and Benign Envy and Prosocial Behavior

LaTourrette, Ryan - Major: BME Instrumental Music Education, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Trailblazer/Spirit
Title: Piano Tuning- Stability and the Environment: A Scientific Method Case Study at the University of Northern Colorado

McQueen, Carlin - Major: Dance, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Loyola Marymount University
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Fiesta A
Title: The Tubman Project

Mendivil Cabral, Michelle - Major: Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Lobo B
Title: Characterization of Temperature Behavior and Distribution in a Mach 5 Ludwieg Tube
 
Munstedt, Saturn - Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Isleta
Title: Headache: An epitranscriptome disorder? The role of m6A RNA

Switzer- Tryon, Harmony - Major: Psychology , California State Polytecnic University, Humboldt
Oral Presentation Session #4, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Examining the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Executive Functioning
.
Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Session #5, 11:25 to 11:45 p.m. SUB Top Floor, Various Rooms
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Barcelona, Jamison - Major: Chemical Engineering, Engineering Physics, University of Colorado Boulder
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Lobo B
Title: Kinetic Modeling of Thiol-Yne Polymerizations

Cervantes, Leelu - Major: Psychology, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Fiesta B
Title: How History Shapes Perception: Understanding Different Perceptions of Native Americans

Chavarria, Casandra - Major: Psychology, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Buscando el Sueño Mexicano: The Educational Goal Setting Behaviors of Mexico’s Returning Students

Guerrero, Adriana - Major: Kinesiology, Our Lady of the Lake University
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Isleta
Title: The Relationship Between Handgrip Strength and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Older Women

Jones, Alissa - Major: Biochemistry and psychology, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Acoma A
Title: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Alters Neuroimmune Gene Networks in a Brain Region-Specific Manner

King, Mikaela - Major: Atmospheric Science, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Lobo A
Title: Climate Change and Corn: Investigating Temperature and Precipitation Impacts on Yellow Dent Corn Harvest Timing across Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska

Pellegrino, Sofia - Major: Psychology, New Mexico State University
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Acoma B
Title: Can people remember other's emotional intensity?

Poole, Joyce - Major: Art History / Visual Art, Northeastern Illinois University
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Portraiture - A tool for socioeconomic change

Smith, Heaven - Major: Psychology, California State University, Monterey Bay
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: "The Skills Employers Consider Important Were Refined by Some Students During the Pandemic"

Tavarez, Clara - Major: Chemistry, University of Maryland, College Park
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Trailblazer/Spirit
Title: Stabilizing CODEx: Evaluating Locking Techniques for Cryogenic Buffer Gas Cooling Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy

Valdovinos-Arevalo, Lesly - Major: Human Nutrition and Food Systems, Washington State University
Oral Presentation Session #5, Room: Luminaria
Title: How Students with a Migrant Background Perceive Agriculture and the Influence It Has on Their Career Paths Presentation Canceled.

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Session #6, 11:50 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. SUB Top Floor, Various Rooms
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Araujo , Makani  - Major: Environmental Science, New Mexico State University
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Acoma A
Title: Investigating the Fate-and-Transport of Ammonium in Treated Produced Water (TPW)

Bebo, Jasmine - Major: Biology, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Trailblazer/Spirit
Title: Mapping Parasite Diversity: Uncovering Pinworms in Southwestern Lizards

Gomez, Victoria - Major: Cognitive Neuroscience, Harding University
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: The Role of Adverse Experiences in Emotional Responses

Hoskins-Warner, Nasya - Major: Psychology/Criminology, Concord University
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Acoma B
Title: The Emotional Impact of Unsolvable Anagram Tasks: A Study in Learned Helplessness

Lozada Gonalez , Everardo - Major: Electrical Engineering Technology, Michigan Technological University
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Lobo B
Title: Freshwater Sensor Integration in Lake Superior

Martinez Jr., Luis Abraham - Major: Finance and International Business, West Texas A&M University
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Fiesta B
Title: How do Cultural Immersion Experiences Effect College Students’ Professional Development Skills?

McDemos, Shane - Major: Chemistry, Cal Poly Humboldt
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Lobo A
Title: Water Adsorption on Mineral Aerosols

Nevarez, Alexis - Major: 1. Criminal Justice 2. Political Science 3. Psychology, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Luminaria
Title: The Impact of Empathy-Based Immigration Appeals on Political Efficacy and Support for Undemocratic Actions

Ortega Guzman, Ruby - Major: Psychology, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: The Impact of Student Support Services: Sense of Belonging as a Factor in College Persistence 
 
Pompa, Princess  - Major: Criminology and Political Science, Our Lady of the Lake University
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Democracy on Trial: U.S. Resilience and Regression

Serna, Jade - Major: Biology, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #6, Room: Isleta
Title: Investigating Axon Degeneration and Inflammation in Zebrafish Models of Olfactory Damage

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Join us in SUB Ballroom C for a fantastic Mediterranean style lunch buffet. Enjoy!
Buffet choices: All items are labeled and there are options for almost all dietary restrictions. Nut allergies/gluten free/vegans/Dairy Free = sugar berries dessert.
(VG | EW | PF) Mejadra Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions
(VG | PF) Mediterranean Salad Mix
Zaatar Chicken
(VG | EW | PF) Baked Falafel
(VG | EW | PF) Carrot Almond Salad
(VG | EW | PF) Kale Tabbouleh
(VG | PF) Baba Ghanoush
(VG) Lemon Tahini Dressing
(VG) Harissa Sauce
(VG) Dolma
(V) Feta Cheese Crumbles
(VG | PF) Half Grilled Pita
(V) Baklava
Sugar berries dessert  Nut allergies/gluten free/vegans/Dairy Free
Iced Tea
Lemonade

Coffee, assorted teas, & water will be available in the Cherry and Silver room for your enjoyment.

Oral Presentation Session #7, 1:25 to 1:45 p.m.
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Botero, Pacha - Major: Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Trailblazer/Spirit
Title: Investigating HIDA as a Ligand for Oxo-Bond Disruption in Actinide Complexes

Gomez, Kira  - Major: Animal Science, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Isleta
Title: Tracing Zoonotic Tuberculosis Using Whole-Genome Sequencing

Guzman, Neftali - Major: Psychology and Social Work, St. Edward's University
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Breaking the Cycle: The Criminal Justice System and the Barriers to Trauma Informed Care

Hancock, Erica  - Major: Psychology/Criminology, Concord University
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Acoma B
Title: The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Quality of Life in College Students from Rural West Virginia

Johnson, Alexis  - Major: Bioengineering , University of Maryland, College Park
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Lobo B
Title: Mucin-coated Nanoparticles for Modulating Neutrophilic Inflammation 

Mancinas, Jeremías - Major: Mathematics, University of Colorado Boulder
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Lobo A
Title: Lie Conformal Algebras and Celestial Holography

Novella, Areika  - Major: Psychological Science , Loyola Marymount University
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Fiesta B
Title: The Association between Health Literacy and Receiving Coordinated Medical Care among Hispanic and Latino/a U.S Adults with Chronic Disease 

Perfecto, Ashton Lucas Leonardo - Major: Oceanography, California Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Acoma A
Title: Progress on the Kumar Texts: Visual communication of oceanographic concepts for coastal science education

Richey, Kaydyn - Major: Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Preservice Teachers Exposure to Developmental Language Disorder During College

Sylla, Hadja Mariam  - Major: Finance , Washington State University
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Luminaria
Title: Navigating Financial distress in immigrant households: Identifying systemic barriers and policy solutions
 
Zurasky, Melyssa - Major: Psychology , University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #7, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Understanding Mechanisms of Behavior Change for Substance Use Treatment

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Oral Presentation Session #8, 1:50 to 2:10 p.m.
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Alexander, Summer - Major: Psychology and African American Studies , Loyola Marymout University
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Acoma B
Title: Feelings on the Field: the relationship between emotions and sports performance 

Arevalo-Pio, Ahtziri  - Major: Human Development , Psychology, & Leadership, Washington State University
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Investigating the Experiences of Autistic Students and Families During the Transition from High School to Adulthood in Low-Income Families and Marginalized Communities

Banjo, Mobosola - Major: Philosophy, University of North Carolina Greensboro
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Fiesta B
Title: Why Words Wins Cases

Barajas, Sofia  - Major: Marine Science, California State University, Monterey Bay
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Acoma A
Title: Exploring interannual variations in adult alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) energy condition as a proxy for changing environmental and feeding conditions in the Gulf of Maine

Corona, Laisha - Major: Biologu, Laisha Ruby Corona
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Trailblazer/Spirit
Title: Translanguaging in Stem education 

Davis, Arriona - Major: Cognitive Neuroscience, Harding University
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Lobo B
Title: Using Deoxyribose Assay to Measure Antioxidant Capabilities of Methionine

Gomez, Gema - Major: Agricultural Plant and Soil Science, University of Minnesota
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Isleta
Title: Improving Soil Health in High Tunnels: The Role of Legume Cover Crops and Rhizobia Inoculation
 
Jordan, Alani - Major: Data Science, Mathematics, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Lobo A
Title: Counting Closed Paths Using the Ihara Zeta Function

Morel, Mariely - Major: Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Fiesta A
Title: What Works For Me? Participant Perceptions and Experiences of Substance Use Treatment in a Drug Court Setting

Sanchez Hernandez, Jason - Major: Economics, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Luminaria
Title: New Mexico's Crude Oil: A Tax Burden Analysis

Vork, Jasmine - Major: Psychology, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: How do human and AI-generated feedback differ in their effects on self-efficacy and motivation?

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Oral Presentation Session #9, 2:15 to 2:35 p.m.
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Aiello, Angelina - Major: Pre-Health Biomedical Sciences, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Lobo B
Title: Investigating Dendritic Spine Plasticity and Drebrin Localization Following Chronic Fluoxetine Treatment in Adolescent Mice

Avila, Alfredo - Major: Nursing & Biology Minor, West Texas A&M University
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Isleta
Title: Investigation of dust storm particulate pollution episodes in the Texas Panhandle during March 2025

Carter, Preston - Major: Mathematics, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Lobo A
Title: Weighted General Chebyshev Polynomials

Dunakin, Katrina - Major: Social Work, Our Lady of the Lake University
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Fiesta B
Title: The Importance of Incorporating Self-Care Education in the Social Work Curriculum

Edwards, Trinity - Major: Rangeland Resource Science and Management , California State Polytechnic University Humboldt
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Trailblazer/Spirit
Title: Comparing Responses of California Annual and Perennial Grasses Under Simulated Grazing and Extreme Drought

Gootee, Angie - Major: Cognitive Neuroscience, Harding University
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Luminaria
Title: Effects of Generation Status and Parent Education Level On Imposter Phenomenon in Undergraduate Students

Hernandez, Julianna - Major: Cultural Anthropology, New Mexico State University
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Leaving Children Behind

House, Kiara  - Major: Psychology, Washington State University
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Gendered Constructions of Responses to Sexual Abuse

Lambert, Sarah  - Major: Computer Science, Concord University
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Acoma B
Title: Digital Resilience Within Library Institutions

Navarrete, Paige - Major: Natural Resources - Wildlife Conservation & Management, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Acoma A
Title: Influences of Climate on an Endangered Squirrel Population and Food Availability in the Southwest United States

Rodriguez, Briana - Major: Psychology , Our lady of the Lake University
Oral Presentation Session #9, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Examining the Relationship between Parent Martial Status and Factors of Self-Efficacy and Resiliency

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Oral Presentation Session #10, 2:40 to 3:00 p.m.
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
An, Cris - Major: Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Fiesta A
Title: A Call to Reconsider Coercion as Carceral Practice: Analyzing the Absence of Critical Discourse of Coercive Measures in U.S. Child Adolescent Psychiatry Compared to International Contexts

Brown, Collin - Major: Neuroscience and Cognitive Science | Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Lobo B
Title: Adaptive Control of Spatial Orienting Behaviors During Dynamic Movement

Canaday, Candis - Major: English, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Accessibility and diversity in Open Educational Resources

Castro, Gilberto - Major: Double Major: Criminology & Psychology, Our Lady of the Lake University
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Fiesta B
Title: Thinking Like the Predator: 
Cognitive Profiling and Behavioral Analysis in Serial Killer Investigation

Dalton, Edmonde Beverly - Major: Criminal Justice and Psychology, Florida International University
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Luminaria
Title: Culturally Responsive Mentorship: Addressing Conduct Behaviors in Second-Generation Immigrant Youth
 
Eddy, Emily - Major: Psychology, Washington State University
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Impact of Adolescent Isolation and Cannabis Exposure on Brain Development and Behavior

Ejekwu, Ugonna  - Major: Biology and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Acoma A
Title: mVenus as a Reporter for the saeS, braS, and graS Genes in Staphylococcus aureus

Gonzalez, David - Major: Mathematics (Pure and Applied) and Computer Science, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Lobo A
Title: Exploring the Efficiency of Neuro-Symbolic Generative AI with Logic-Based Learning

Murphy, Theo - Major: Microbiology, California Polytechnic University Humboldt
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Trailblazer/Spirit
Title: From Moss to Microbes: Overcoming Microbial DNA Extraction Challenges in Sphagnum Moss

Smith, Risa - Major: Biochemistry, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Isleta
Title: Identification of Potential Molecular Interference of Lipids and Micro(nano)plastics During Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Vasquez, Kassandra - Major: Marketing, Information Systems and Art (Triple Major), New Mexico State University
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Acoma B
Title: Exploring Public Perception and Ethical Boundaries of AI in Marketing Systems through Social Media Discourse

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Our official photographer, Liz Lopez, and her assistant, Max Woltman, will be taking portraits/headshots of registered conference attendees from 3:00pm to 5:00pm in the foyer outside of SUB Ballrooms B & C. This service is provided to you for free if you are registered for the conference. This is your opportunity to get a professional headshot during the conference!

Headshots, as well as all other photos taken by our photographers will be available as a free download approximately 10 days or so after the conference. Look out for an email from us about the photos after the conference.

Oral Presentation Session #11, 3:05 to 3:25 p.m.
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Coffelt , Parker  - Major: Biology (Pre-Health track) & Chemistry (Pre-Health track) , University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Isleta
Title: CBD's effect on gastrulation and vascular formation 

Delgado, Fernanda - Major: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Creating Emotionally Protective Experiences for First-Generation Hispanic High School Students Entering Higher Education Environments

Diaz, Haley - Major: Chemistry, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Lobo A
Title: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Optimizing GLUT3 Inhibitor Binding Through Analog Design and Validation

Fofana, Magou - Major: Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Luminaria
Title: Unmet Psychological Needs: Impacts of Acculturation on Immigrant-Origin CUNY students help seeking

Gramajo, Bryan - Major: Physiology , University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Acoma A
Title: Reimagining Joint Analysis: Evaluating a Markerless Motion Capture System

Jackson, Brandon - Major: Psychology, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Lobo B
Title: Cell Assembly Membership in the Hippocampus

Juarez, Jonathan - Major: Data Science and Economics, California Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Trailblazer/Spirit
Title: Methane on the Map: A Multi-Source Approach to Monitoring Anthropogenic Emissions Using Satellite, Surface, and Machine Learning Data

Price, Desirae - Major: A double major in BA Anthropology and BA in Linguistics; Minor in International Relations , New Mexico State University
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Fiesta B
Title: Relational resonance and language
visibility across Aotearoa: A mixed methodology of linguistic landscaping shaped by cultural experience through etic engagement

Rubio-Lobaton, Kevin - Major: Finance, Our lady of the lake university
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Acoma B
Title: The Perceived Impact Of AI On Business Decision-Making an Operation Efficiency 

Simmons, Kathryn - Major: Triple: Pre-Med, Sociology, Psychology, University of Colorado Boulder
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Stigma and Placement Instability in the U.S. Child Welfare System

Vargas, Jennifer  - Major: Psychology , Northeastern Illinois University
Oral Presentation Session #11, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: COGNITIVE REFLECTION PREDICTS GENDER ESSENTIALISM IN GIRLS, BUT NOT BOYS

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

Oral Presentation Session #12, 3:30 to 3:50 p.m.
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Canler, Adam - Major: Psychology, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Exploring the Relationship of Emotional Intelligence and a Growth Mindset

Guerrero Rivera, Katherine  - Major: Criminology and Criminal Justice , University of Maryland, College Park
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Luminaria
Title: Always the Same, Always Effective: The Ever Evolving and Cruel Rhetoric of U.S.-Salvadoran Migration Policies.

Herrera, Nathan - Major: Exercise Science, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Acoma A
Title: Effect of Resistance Training on Type 2 Diabetes

Hunt, Roddy - Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Barriers in Access to Speech-Language Pathology Services for Latine Caregivers of Young Children in Colorado

Johnson, Fondren - Major: Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Punishment or Care: Exploring Factors Associated with Incarceration Versus Psychiatric Diversion in Individuals with Serious Mental Illness 

Lara, Orlando - Major: Biology, University of Chicago
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Lobo B
Title: Characterizing an intronic variant to understand wide disease severity variation among patients with ATP1A3 splice variants

Lopez , Sailyn  - Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Isleta
Title: Colocalization of Ash1 mRNA with Ded1 and Edc3 in Stress Granules and P-Bodies During Heat Stress

Melendez, Chloe - Major: Mechanical engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Lobo A
Title: Investigating Composite Materials of PLA and PLA+

Morales Jr., Ruben  - Major: Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law & Sociology, New Mexico State University
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Fiesta B
Title: “Filed, Forgotten, Deported: When the System Becomes the Sentence”
 
Sepulveda, Johnathan  - Major: Cybersecurity, Michigan Technological University
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Acoma B
Title: Securing Digital Evidence Using Blockchain

Velez, Luciano - Awaiting abstract.

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link

The closing ceremony will feature a formal sit-down dinner with a keynote address from Dr. Finnie Coleman and a cultural performance from the National Institute of Flamenco.

Cultural Performance: We are excited to present a fantastic New Mexican cultural experience for our conference attendees in the form of a flamenco performance from performers affiliated with the National Institute of Flamenco! Established in 1982, the National Institute of Flamenco has developed into an internationally significant arts organization, unparalleled in its breadth and depth of programming. While creating and maintaining international connections for the past thirty-nine years, the Institute has enriched the city of Albuquerque with the art of flamenco. Through performance, presentation, and education, the Institute impacts more lives than any other single flamenco arts organization around the world. Website: https://www.nifnm.org/

Shuttles will be available after the ceremony to take participants back to the official conference hotels.
Conference hotels are the Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, and SpringHill Suites all located on Central Ave.

PLATED MEAL (no nuts in this meal):
•All entrees are gluten free including the chicken.
•Vegans/vegetarians/Halal= Polenta entrée & fruit cup dessert (Place card from your neck wallet on table when you sit down)
•2 People with avocado allergies will get a salad w/o avocado (Place card from your neck wallet on table when you sit down & inform the server you will need another salad)
Menu:
-Mexican Cobb Salad - romaine, black olives, roasted corn, avocado, tomatoes, cilantro with creamy avocado lime dressing and balsamic dressing on the tables.
-Cilantro lime rice
-Calabacitas (squash)
-Dinner rolls and butter
Entrees (based on RSVP):
--Pan seared chicken with hatch green chile cream sauce (gluten free)
--Polenta and vegetable stack with red pepper coulis (vegetarian/vegan/dairy free option/gluten free)
Deserts:
Caramel flan egg custard
fruit cups ((vegetarian/vegan/dairy free option)
Drinks:
Ice water and Iced tea

Updated 9/5/25