Senior Independent Study Theses from 2026
Agricultural economics weaponized as a tool of neocolonial development, Jessica Nana Aniamponmaa Akonor
Department: Economics; French and Francophone Studies; History; Philosophy; Sociology and Anthropology
At the Crossroads of Law and Society: Understanding the world of Immigration Attorneys., Elvis Ariri
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Media Portrayals of the White Working-Class on Fox News and CNN, Isaac Borus
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
‘Giving Back’ as a Performative Imaginary: Voluntourism & the Nostalgic Narratives of Empire, Ava C. Caizzo
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Who's the Number One Spice? Exploring Muslim American Political Strategies Through Zohran Mamdani’s Mayoral Campaign, Leo Daoud
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Via Chicago: Airbnb Presence and its Effects on Perceptions of Neighborhood Identity and Authenticity within Wicker Park., Grace A. Dunlay
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
The Human-Bonobo Interface: Ethnoprimatology and Affiliative Bonobo Behavior in Zoological Gardens, Abigail E. Frock
Department: History; Sociology and Anthropology
అమ్మానానలు , అవ్వతాతలు: Understanding the Presence and Persistence of the Taboo and Stigma Surrounding infertility in Kurnool, India from Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, and Allopathic Practitioners, Mayukha Kaluva
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
“À la fois plurielle et singulière” : Franco-Antillean and Créole Identity Negotiation in the Context of French Assimilation, Katie Koeppl
Department: French and Francophone Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
兒童客家語教育：台灣與台灣離散族群如何推廣客家語與文化, Meghan E. Neville
Department: Chinese Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
You Make Stray Kids Stay: How Boy Bands Build Communities, Moss Parrott
Department: Religious Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
I Have Seen the Future: Visitor Memories from World’s Fairs of the Atomic Era, Natalie Pickens
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Satire, Sympathy, and Society: The Portrayal of the Lower Class in Dutch Print During the Protestant Reformation, Iris Roth-Bamberg
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
An Archive of One's Own: Collecting Fandom as a Feminist Project Through the Lens of Star Trek Fanzines, Anna Whiting
Department: English; Sociology and Anthropology
They Were Never a “Blank Slate Baby”: Transnational Adoptees and their Navigation of Grief, Meghan Willis
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Senior Independent Study Theses from 2025
Ethnographic Perspective on Loans, Emmanuel Abbey
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
To Be Unalive: Examining The Labor of Igbo Girls and the Correlation to A Death of Self, Vivian Osinachi Ariri
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
If the Creek Don’t Rise (or it Did): An Ohio Case Study on People’s Perceptions, Influences, and Experiences of Floods, Mariah Austin
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
My People Come From Where? Examining How Ethnicity, Race, and Relationships Are Interpreted Through Consumer DNA Testing, Liam A. Bradley-Tonchev
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Storms of Inequality: Collective Efficacy and Socioeconomic Vulnerability in West Bengal's Cyclone Zones, Camryn Burkhammer
Department: Sociology and Anthropology; Urban Studies
The World's Saddest Fight Club: How the Manosphere Works, Ciaran R. Dwyer
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
From Studying to Learning: Japanese International Student Experiences at Danish Folk High Schools, Nachi Goto
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Two Systems, One Harm: The Intersection of the Criminal Justice System and the Immigration Detention System, Aimee Hernandez
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
PFAS: The Sociology of Risk, Emily Hiebel
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Fluency as a Deficit Narrative: Language Attitudes of Heritage Speakers, Jack D. Hosler
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Food Access and Consumption: Exploring Factors that Influence Consuming and Obtaining Food in Rural America, Elizabeth H. Kohler
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Religion and Immigrant Outreach Work, Aiden S. Lentz
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Shipping, Self, and Sexuality: Queer Identity in the World of Fanfiction, Nora Loffredo
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Addressing Key Opportunities for Future Development and Education Relating to Limited Regional Awareness of the Newark Earthworks, Finn Malishenko
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
"By His Stripes, We Are Saved": How Church Leaders Perceive Health in Their Communities, Adam Daniel Noonkester
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Campus Collections: Status Building in Higher Education, Frances Z. Readshaw
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
The Impact of the Criminal Justice System on the Civic Engagement and Political Participation of Young Adults, Ellie Saguto
Department: Political Science; Sociology and Anthropology
Navigating Displacement and Resilience: A Study of Sense of Community among Refugees in the United States, Katherine Shue
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
How does Genetic Testing Affect The Relationship between Patients and Physicians410, Ruby Souza-Young
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
An Investigation of Indigenous Projects for Indigenous Language Work in Pacific Northwest Coast Museums, Oli Castañon Villa
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Positively Medieval: Constructing the Middle Ages in Literature and the Museum, Emily Voneman
Department: English; Sociology and Anthropology
The Plague (Yersinia Pestis) in China: From Historical Perspectives to Modern Day Genetics, Emily M. Winnicki
Department: Biology; Interdepartmental; Sociology and Anthropology
Contemporary and Historical Conflict between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the United States Government, Shilo J. Yellow Boy
Department: History; Sociology and Anthropology
Senior Independent Study Theses from 2024
Home is Where the Hate is: An Investigation into the Influence of Social Bonds on the Experiences of Former Members of White Supremacy Groups, Eli Cantrell
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Divine Interventions and Human Competition: Horses, Prizes, and the Gods in Homer’s Narrative of the Funeral Games for Patroclus, Helen Dobransky
Department: Classical Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
Adapting to Thrive: Feminist Identity Formation and Maintenance through Adjustment in Action and Care as Activism, Mai Fukuhara
Department: Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
My Language is My Culture: Language Attitudes, Language Use, and the Linguistic Identity Construction of Moroccan University Students, Kiki Giles
Department: Sociology and Anthropology; French and Francophone Studies
Teacher’s Perspectives, Barriers, and Training: Exploring Factors in Recognizing and Reporting Child Maltreatment, Stephanie Marilyn Griffin
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Unrelinquished Voices: Exploring the Experiences of Black Students at Predominately White Institutions, Daphnye Henderson
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Buried History: Exploring Sacred the Bonds Between African Americans and Their Cemeteries, Troy V. Johnson
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Betwixt and Between: The Role of Mediumship in Contemporary United States Society, Madeline Lawrence
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
怖い(kowaii) to 可愛い (kawaii): The Transformation of the Kappa and Tsuchigumo in Japanese Media, Mia Mann
Department: East Asian Studies; History; Sociology and Anthropology
“Creating Landscapes of Inclusion”: Analyzing NPS Community Engagement Through the Perceptions of Staff and Community at Cuyahoga National Park, Ryan Meyers
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Effects of Labeling Theory in Specialized Program Placements, Carter Pepa
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
A Girl's Girl: Media Analysis of Intersectionality in the Barbie Movie, Lily Romo
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Identity and the Shadow of Charisma: The Gap Between Bureaucracy and Need, Colson Rudd
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
The Coevolution of Humankind and Lake Erie – Past, Present, and Future Interactions, Natalie Tanner
Department: Earth Sciences; Sociology and Anthropology
"I Know Where That Happened!": How Local Museums Interact with Their Communities, Diana Tobin
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Grief in Prison: How Incarceration Shapes Inmates Experiences with Loss, Anna Walsh
Department: History; Sociology and Anthropology
Senior Independent Study Theses from 2023
Black and Red Markers on White Boards: Applying John Ogbu's Cultural-Ecological Theory of Minority Student Experiences to Higher Education, Geoffrey Allen
Department: Chinese Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
Reality Television’s Vision of Class: A Deep Dive into Class Performance in Windy City Rehab, Gillian Rhiannon Ashley
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Establishing Mixedness: Exploring the Role School Plays in Multiracial Identity Formation, Langston Bealum
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Creating a Caring Community: An Examination of Mutual Aid Networks, Abigail Beard
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Towards a New Political Sovereignty: A Case Study of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird Citizen-Science Project, Sam C. Boudreau
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Asian by Birth, American by Circumstance: How Transcultural East-Asian Adoptees in the U.S. Create Multi-Cultural Identities & the Toll of the Covid-19 Anti-Asian Hate Crisis in Altering Identity Conception, Maud Bulman
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
"Footsteps in the dark:" An Analysis of Identity Salience in Queer Christian College Students, Allison M. Cunningham
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
In the Spotlight or In the Wings? Looking at African American Culture and History in Museums, Anailah Funchess
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
“Newgenics”: A Comparison Study of Parents of Children with Down Syndrome in Denmark and The United States, Lauren Ganson
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Sexless in the City: Performances of Masculinity by Involuntarily Celibate Men in Online Forums, Dana Giffen
Department: Sociology and Anthropology; Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Summer Camp as a Social Institution of Change: An Investigation of the Relationship Between Summer Camp as a Total Institution that Cultivates and Fosters Self-Discovery and Personal Growth/Change Among Counselors, Conor J. Greene
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Ink Exchange: A Study of Traditional Japanese Tattoos Migration from Japan to America, Samantha Harrison
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Examining Influences Behind Perceptions of Inequality in Education: Meritocracy Through Multicultural Perspectives, Alicia Krielaart
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Becoming a National Park Ranger: An Ethnographic Research Study Examining How Rangers From the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Conceptualize Their Role in Nature and the Park’s Preservation for Visitors, Abby Kushner Benson
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
The Socio-Cultural and Biomechanical Impacts of Throwing Velocity for Professional Baseball Pitchers, Steven Leicht
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Eat Your Heart Out: The Role of Food in the Health and Livelihood of a Free-Meal Site Community, Brianna Lyman
Department: Biology; Sociology and Anthropology
Together, We Can Everything: The Social Outcomes of Cohousing Communities in Denmark, Alice K. Markey
Department: Environmental Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
"Does this spark joy?": Aesthetics, Gender, and Ideals in Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Kayla E. Stevens
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Why Athletes Lose Money: Examining Social Factors That Cause Male Professional Basketball Players to Go Broke, Paige Wells
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Somewhere In Between: Examining Mixed-Race Beauty Politics in The United States, Chloe Dawn Wright
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Senior Independent Study Theses from 2022
On The Basis Of Biological Sex: Examining The Social Impacts Of The Maintenance Of The Two-Sex System In Sports, Camille Carr
Department: Religious Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
Clifton Canidae: An Anthropological And Sculptural Exploration, Sydney D. Clifton Ms
Department: Sociology and Anthropology; Art and Art History
Biopolitics And Immunitary Paradigm: Understanding College Of Wooster Students Opinion Towards The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sky Crain
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Identity Crisis: The Internet As An Alternative Source Of Sex And Reproductive Health Information For LGBTQ+ Individuals, Ruth Dahlhausen
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
The Right To Healthcare In Practice: Affordable Health Clinics & Spanish-Speaking Patients, Nicholas J. Harling
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
You Can’t Build A Canoe Online: Activism And Identity In Indigenous Taiwan, Adam King Hinden
Department: Chinese Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
Meat Your Vegetables: An Exploration Into Food Sustainability On A Small Liberal Arts Campus, Audrey R. Holder
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
“Orange Is The New Mistreatment?”: An Analysis Of Knowledge And Perceptions Of Incarcerated Women And Their Mistreatment Through (Non)Viewing Of Orange Is The New Black, Nikki M. E. Hoseus
Department: Communication Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
Paleolithicc: Understanding The Woman Of Willendorf Through Contemporary Fat Studies, Shelby HL Jones
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Ganesh On My Christmas Tree: A Look At How Immigration To The Us Affects Generations, Anika Grace Teredesai Karp
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Why Is K-Pop So Popular?: A Study Of K-Pop Fandom, Abby M. Krizan
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Follow Your Arrow Wherever It Points: How Fandom Forms And How Fandom Interprets Gender Dynamics Through Kacey Musgraves, Noah Levy
Department: Communication Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
The First-Generation College Student Experience: How Financial Disparities Impact Success Rates Among Students, Riley Leann Maas
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Exploring The Black Entrepreneur In America: The Relationship Between Black Business And Society, Khaylen M. Mahdi
Department: Business Economics; Communication Studies; Economics; Psychology; Sociology and Anthropology; Interdepartmental
The Impacts Of Childhood Parental Death Among College Aged Students, Jillian L. Ness
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Conjuring Authenticity: The Coven, Buckland Museum, And The Representation Of Magic Behind Glass, Ellen M. Nikirk
Department: History; Sociology and Anthropology
Play Like A Girl: Examining The Stigma Of Women’s Health And Menstruation In Athletics, Rachel M. Osterhouse
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Forming National Identity Through Commemoration: Representation Within Postage Stamps At The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum, Kate Read
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Will You Accept This Rose?: The Representation Of Black Women On The Bachelorette Seasons 13 And 18, Saralee Renick
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
The Effects Of Second-Hand Trauma: A Look Into The Lived Experiences Of African American Students And Their Perception Of Police Officers Versus Campus Security, Aryana Rhodes
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Analyzing The Experiences Of Adult Children Language Brokers In Mexican Immigrant Families, Vanesa Rubio Toxtle
Department: Education; Sociology and Anthropology
Keep Students On The Field To Stay In The Classroom: The Effects Of Public School Funded And Regulated Extracurricular Activities On The School-To-Prison Pipeline., Sydney Pare Schuster
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Decision-Making in the Face of NFIP Policy Changes, Mohini Sharma
Department: Global and International Studies; Sociology and Anthropology
“No Matter Where You’re From, We’re Glad You’re Our Neighbor”: Enacting Justice Initiatives And Community Formation In Faith-Based Organizations, Jenna M. Smith
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Our Bodies, Our Work; An Ethnographic Study Of Tattoo Artists In Chicago, Gabriel C. Spalding III
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
A Love Letter To Myself: The Social And Cultural Experiences Of Sexual Assault Survivors On Small Liberal Arts College Campuses And Using Ethnographic Playwriting As Advocacy, Gabriella M. Sullivan
Department: Sociology and Anthropology; Theatre and Dance