2023 SRSU Undergraduate & Graduate Symposium – In-Person Presentation Schedule
Monday, April 17th, 2023
Click on a Session Time (left row of the schedule below) to jump down the page and view the Presentation Abstracts for that Session Time.
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SRSU In-Person Symposium Spotlight Event: Welcome and Keynote Introduction – Dr. Carlos Hernandez |
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| Session Time |
UC Espino |
UC Espino Room B |
UC Espino Room C/D |
UC Espino Room 210 |
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| 1:00-1:25 |
.Extended Time: 1:00pm-1:50pm |
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.Extended Time: 1:00pm-1:50pm |
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| 1pm Session Continues |
Presenter: Maya Ressler |
Presenter: Camryn Medina |
1pm Session Continues |
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| 2:00-2:25 |
Extended Time: 2:00pm-2:50pm |
Extended Time: 2:00pm-2:50pm Team Presenters: Yaritza Corona, Caitlynn Almance Theater Moderator: Carolyn Barrientes Faculty Nominator: Carolyn Barrientes Title: 2023 SRSU Undergraduate and Graduate Symposium Mock Auditions (start: 2pm) |
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Presenter: Jason Crosby |
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| 2:25-2:50 | 2pm Session Continues | 2pm Session Continues | Presenter: Hugo Andres Flores Criminal Justice Moderator: Dr. Shannon Moody Title: Domestic Violence (start: 2:25pm) |
Presenter: Sharon Barrett |
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| 3:00-3:20 3:00 – 3:50 POSTER PRESENTATION BLOC in UC FOYER |
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Poster Presenter: Nicole Dickan Wildlife Management Faculty Nominator: Amanda Dutt Title: Fine-scale habitat selection and denning ecology of the newly recolonizing West Texas black bear population . Poster Presenter: Eliana Dykehouse Wildlife Management Faculty Nominator: Dr. Carlos Gonzalez-Gonzalez Title: Overlap in Desert Bighorn Sheep, Aoudad, and Mule Deer Diets in the Van Horn Mountains, Texas |
Poster Presenter: Ty Goodwin Range and Wildlife Management Faculty Nominator: Dr. Carlos Gonzalez-Gonzalez Title: Common Forbes of the Trans-Pecos: A Field and Lab Guide . Poster Presenter: Jimena Proana Kinesiology Faculty Nominator: Mary Powers Title: Nutrition and the female athlete menstrual cycle . Poster Presenter: Desiree Macias Psychology Faculty Nominator: Dr. Alicia Trotman Title: Utilizing Standardized Assessments measuring Binge Watching Among College Undergraduate Students |
. Poster Presenter: Grace Knight |
Poster Presenter: Daniel Flores Psychology Faculty Nominator: Dr. Alicia Trotman Title: Investigating the Correlation Between Fantasy-action Video Games and Advanced Vocabulary Acquisition . Poster Presenter: Tina Neufeld Geology Faculty Nominator: Jesse Kelsch Title: Geochronologic analysis of multiple occurrences of fault-related calcite on a variable-slip-direction fault in Big Bend National Park, Texas |
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| 4:00-4:25 |
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Presenter: David Wellborn |
Presenter: Melissa Urness |
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| 4:25-4:50 |
4pm Session Continues |
Presenter: Elle Sutherland Wildlife Management Moderator: Dr. Justin French Title: Niche conservatism of desert bighorn sheep in the Trans-Pecos region, Texas (start: 4:25pm) |
Presenter: Caleb Woods |
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| 5:00-5:25 |
Extended Time: 5:00pm-5:50pm |
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| 5:25-5:50 | 5pm Session Continues |
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Noon – 12:50pm Symposium Spotlight Event – Welcome and Symposium Keynote Address
Noon-12:40pm / SRSU Symposium Spotlight Event
Welcome & Keynote Introduction – Dr. Carlos Hernandez
SRSU President
| . 2023 Keynote Co-Speaker – Alicia Trotman Ph.D. Dr. Alicia Trotman is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Sul Ross State University  Keynote Bio: Dr. Alicia M. Trotman is an Assistant Professor in Psychology whose Caribbean heritage hails from Trinidad and Tobago. She has an academic background in Computer Science and Applied Psychology from Pace University in New York, and earned her doctorate in Learning, Technology and Culture at Michigan State University. Her divine calling has always included teaching and working with students, which began in 1996. She came to Sul Ross State University in 2017 and has continued to work diligently with her instruction having been awarded SRSU Outstanding Teacher of the Year 2021-2022. Her favorite classes to teach are Emotions & Motivation, Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, and Humanistic Psychology, and she advises the students’ Psychology Club and Anime Manga Club.
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. . 2023 Keynote Co-Speaker – Tiffany Culver Ph.D. Dr. Tiffanny Culver is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Schreiner University.  Keynote Bio: Dr. Tiffany Culver’s professional career began with a Bachelor’s in Psychology at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She then continued her education at Mississippi State University and earned her Master’s and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. Dr. Culver has contributed to her field with several published peer-reviewed scholarly articles in the Journal of College Reading and Learning, College Teaching, and Delta Educational Journal. Currently, she has over 63 research presentations. A far cry from her original undergraduate major in Chemical Engineering. |
1:00 – 1:25pm Session Presentations – Student Information and Abstracts
1:00-1:25pm / UC Espino Room A – Moderator: Dr. Rosemary Briseno
Team Presenters: Cole Payne, Alayna Damm, Jason Fortner, Taryn Aguilar, Irene Curry, Andreas Buttner
Languages and Literature
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Rosemary Briseno
Title: Writing Programs at Sul Ross State University
Presentation Mode: Student Panel – 45 min session
Undergraduate, Graduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Department of Languages and Literature focuses on helping students find and nurture their voices through many courses and writing opportunities. Today’s panel features freshman writers through graduate writers reading from various prose pieces offered in classroom settings and via departmental-sponsored contests.
1:00-1:25pm / UC Espino Room A – Moderator: Dr. Ryan Luna
Presenter: Caleb Hughes
Wildlife Management
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Justin T. French
Title: Winter Habitat Selection, Movement and Survival of Scaled Quail in the Trans-Pecos, Texas
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Graduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) have experienced population declines across their range in the last several decades. This population decline is partially attributed to habitat degradation, as habitat loss reduces scaled quail’s useable resources for food, water, and shelter. This becomes critical during the winter season in the Trans-Pecos, where lower food availability and cold weather make habitat resources essential for withstanding winter weather events. In addition, juvenile recruitment and available brood stock for the following nesting season are negatively affected by winter mortality, making winter a potentially influential period for scaled quail populations. Monitoring daily cycles in scaled quail habitat selection and movement allows us to observe how scaled quail respond to winter conditions, such as changes in movement patterns, selection of thermal refuges, and vulnerability to mortality. Our study seeks to describe these dynamics to supply knowledge on this understudied seasonal aspect of scaled quail ecology. We will trap quail in southern Brewster County, Texas, during the winters of 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 using walk-in funnel traps and fit them with aluminum leg bands and Global Positioning System backpacks to obtain location data and monitor survival across the winter season. Location data will be analyzed using an integrated Step Selection Analysis to identify scaled quail’s selection and movement behaviors throughout the winter. Examining individual variation in these dynamics will help identify habitat attributes and movement behaviors conducive to greater individual fitness, thereby better informing future management efforts for scaled quail in the Trans-Pecos.
1:00-1:25pm / UC Espino Room C-D – Moderator: Dr. Shanna Moody
Presenter: Caroline Lisboa Viana
Animal Science
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Laura Patterson Rosa
Title: Health Parameter Variation in Emaciated Stock-Type Horses Going Through Two Refeeding Protocols.
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Graduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Equine health and welfare are a concern in the equine industry and veterinary medicine. Clinical health parameters as Body Condition Scores (BCS), weight, body temperature (T °C), respiratory (RR), heart rate (HR) and hematological evaluation assist the veterinarian in the diagnosis of emaciation due to abuse or neglect. Yet, clinical parameters through the recovery process of emaciated horses are not well studied. Our goal is to establish recovery profiles in emaciated horses going through two modified refeeding protocols. Eleven stock-type horses (Geldings = 3, Mares = 8) aged between late-teens and early 20s, with a BCS, of unknown health history, were acquired at an auction. Animals were quarantined (30 days) at the Sul Ross Horse Unit upon arrival and offered free-choice grass hay, with individualized health care provided as needed and pregnancy checks performed by trained veterinarians. Vaccinations (Equi-Jec 7, Boehringer Ingelheim) and deworming (Ivermectin 2%) were conducted during the quarantine. Clinical parameters as TC, RR and HR, as well as BCS were collected a week after arrival (Quarantine), Adaptation and weekly into the refeeding protocol (Week 1 and 2) by trained veterinarians and animal scientists (N=4). Hematological analysis including complete blood count (CBC) and blood chemistry (BC) were performed before the adaptation to the refeeding protocol (Texas A&M VMDL). Preliminary analysis show significant differences in RR [F(6,36)=4.34, p=0.0022] and T °C [F(6,36)=2.71, p=0.0284] during recovery. While this study is ongoing, preliminary data demonstrates improvement in clinical health parameters of the studied horses. Better understanding of the changes throughout recovery in starved horses will support decision-making for the equine industry. Data originating from this study will support standards for the care of neglected and malnourished horses.
1:00-1:25pm / UC Espino Room 210 – Moderator: Dr. Joseph Velasco
Team Presenters: Madalyn Warren, Kilian Maeve Mcdonald-Boyer, Caitlyn Pena, Dawson Beard
Public and Professional Communication
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Joseph Velasco
Title: We’re on a Mission: A Demonstration of Public & Professional Communication Skills
Presentation Mode: Student Panel – 45 min session
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Sul Ross students demonstrate proficiency in public speaking and writing mission statements.
1:25 – 1:50pm Session Presentations – Student Information and Abstracts
1:25-1:50pm / UC Espino Room B – Moderator: Dr. Ryan Luna
Presenter: Maya Ressler
Wildlife Management
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Ryan Luna
Title: Correlation Between Demographic Rates and the Influence of Catastrophic Weather Events on Montezuma Quail in the Trans-Pecos of Texas
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Graduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Montezuma quail ( Cyrtonyx montezumae ) are a cryptic species inhabiting the mountain deserts of the southwestern United States and much of Mexico. Little is known about Montezuma quail population demography and life history, but precipitation is likely a key factor driving Montezuma quail reproduction during summer monsoon season. In the Texas Trans-Pecos, this species is potentially vulnerable to environmental catastrophes, such as the extreme winter events experienced in early 2021, but the implications of such events on their demography is not known. Winter events are known to contribute to over species, such as northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus winter mortality in other quail) but these concepts have yet been extended to evaluate Montezuma quail winter mortalities. Recent work suggests that such events hold specific correlation structures among demographic rates, though most models treat them as independent. Neglecting such correlations may lead to grossly erroneous predictions of population outcomes. We created a stochastic matrix population model (MPM) to examine the effects of population parameter correlations on predicted dynamics, local abundances, and extinction probability of Montezuma quail populations. We found that stabilizing dynamics were possible when demographic rates were independent, but destabilizing dynamics when tail-specific correlations were considered. This suggests extreme weather events prevent stage-related rescue effects and may destabilize Montezuma quail populations.
1:25-1:50pm / UC Espino Room C-D – Moderator: Dr. Shanna Moody
Presenter: Camryn Medina
Kinesiology
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Shanna U. Moody
Title: A post-pandemic exploration of the baseline health status of college students in a rural division III university
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the overall health of rural, Division III college students. The objective of measuring their health status would be to mitigate any early signs of potential health diseases that could come from abnormal readings of baseline health and so that long-term results could be rectified with lifestyle changes now. Minimal data has been collected and recorded establishing baseline health of college students, not just at the Division III level. The significance of attaining this data will benefit future college students as well as those who are currently involved in the study.
2:00 – 2:25pm Session Presentations – Student Information and Abstracts
2:00-2:25pm / UC Espino Room A – Moderator: Dr. Joseph Velasco
Team Presenters: Jake Spurlock, Grace Knight, Andrea Morales
Interpersonal Communication Research
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Joseph Velasco, PhD
Title: Close Encounters: Communicating with the Ones We Love
Presentation Mode: Student Panel – 45 min session
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: This panel presents undergraduate Communication research examining communication patterns in personal relationships. Anchored in coursework in interpersonal, family, and relational communication, two student literature reviews and one summary of peer-reviewed research discuss adult attachments styles, love styles, conflict, family communication patterns, and emotion regulation strategies.
2:00-2:25pm / UC Espino Room 210 – Moderator: Dr. Justin French
Presenter: Jason Crosby
Wildlife Management
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Justin T. French
Title: Comparing Precision of Fine-Scale Rangeland Monitoring Methods for Grassland Enhancement in the Trans-Pecos, Texas
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Graduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Rangeland ecosystems make up nearly half of the earth’s land surface. These landscapes provide habitat for various flora and fauna and provide important ecosystem services. However, anthropogenic activities such as habitat fragmentation and excessive livestock grazing regimes have transformed rangelands into brush-dominated landscapes. The consequences of habitat degradation include loss of wildlife, soil erosion, reduced water harvest, and lower carbon sequestration. Such concerns drive restoration, and many monitoring methods exist to measure such efforts. Detecting change from restoration is essential to determining its efficacy.
My project aims to compare methods to evaluate the rate of change for vegetative ground cover and herbaceous production after habitat enhancement efforts. I will use red, green, blue (RGB) high-resolution photography collected with a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera to survey transects for an area undergoing enhancement treatment. These images will be captured near-simultaneously with point intercept surveys captured using standardized manual monitoring techniques found in the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems. Using advances in machine learning, I will train classifiers to automate the analysis of transect photographs. These automated outputs will be compared with the results of manual surveys to determine the degree of precision at which spectral values from high-resolution photography can identify ground cover percentages and plant species composition when compared to point intercept-based manual monitoring. My analysis will also determine gains per unit cost (in terms of hours and dollars per change in unit of precision). Determining which methods are most efficient at assessing rates of change following restoration in these landscapes will assist stakeholders in the planning and implementing of grassland enhancement in the region.
2:25 – 2:50pm Session Presentations – Student Information and Abstracts
2:25-2:50pm / UC Espino Room C-D – Moderator: Dr. Shanna Moody
Presenter: Hugo Andres Flores
Criminal Justice
Faculty Nominator: Benjamin Barrientes
Title: Domestic Violence
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Graduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: “This presentation is about the subject of Domestic Violence and its different structures. The presentation uses slides to show its common features, sorts of misuse, the pattern of violence, how to help a companion, well-being arrangements, pregnancy situations, senior maltreatment, and prescribed innovations.
The presentation includes slides and additionally incorporates references for precise and reliable wellsprings of data on this unpleasant subject.
Domestic violence is a problematic issue that negatively influences a large number of individuals around the world and this presentation intends to bring to light aspects of the issue that need to be addressed more in our society. Data and resources are provided to people that might be impacted by this terrible reality.
2:25-2:50pm / UC Espino Room 210 – Moderator: Benjamin Barrientes
Presenter: Sharon Barrett
Philosophy and Political Science
Faculty Nominator: Benjamin Barrientes
Title: Interdependent Bodies: Re-envisioning Women’s Autonomy with the Help of Feminist Philosophy and Natural Law
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Graduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Autonomy in American political discourse is commonly framed as radical individualism; feminist discourse commonly focuses on the theme of “my body, my choice.” Feminist thought, however, recognizes that women rarely make choices – especially about pregnancy and childbirth – from a radical individualist stance. Jenkinson, Kruske, and Kildea (2017) describe “feminist understandings of autonomy as a relational, rather than individualistic, construct…with fetal wellbeing best protected by supporting maternal wellbeing.” Women base their pregnancy and childbirth decisions on what they believe promotes well-being for themselves and their family unit, reflecting the mutual interdependence of all human relationships. The narrative of interdependence is inscribed in the human body, beginning in the womb with the mutually protective relationship between mother and fetus. This presentation unites feminist philosophies of autonomy, as well as the insights of natural law on the human body as expressed by John Paul II, with new findings in medicine and anthropology to explore a comprehensive vision of autonomy that supports both halves of the mother-baby dyad.
3:00 – 3:50pm Poster Presentation Bloc – Student Information and Abstracts
3:00-3:50pm / UC Espino Foyer
Presenter: Nicole Dickan
Wildlife Management
Faculty Nominator: Amanda Dutt
Title: Fine-scale habitat selection and denning ecology of the newly recolonizing West Texas black bear population
Presentation Mode: UC Foyer Poster Bloc with Presenters – 50 min event
Graduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Black bears have been naturally recolonizing West Texas since the 1980s. However, previous research conducted on this population was restricted to public lands and further limited by the technology of radio collars available at the time. Being the first to put GPS collars on bears in this region provides us with an opportunity to update our understanding of their ecology and behavior as they continue to recolonize further into the state and allows us to investigate habitat selection at a finer scale. We currently have 9 bears (8M, 1F) collared and plan to collar an additional 21 by 2024. We will evaluate seasonal and individual variations in fine-scale habitat selection by conducting field investigations of GPS cluster sites on private and public lands. We developed a clustering algorithm to identify collections of ≥5 GPS points within 50m to allow the inclusion of potential bed, den, carnivory, and foraging sites. By investigating a wide range of clusters, we will provide information on den and rest site characteristics, gain valuable insight into denning ecology, as well as identify the prevalence of carnivory events. This past winter, all but 1 male denned, and average male denning durations (44.4 days ± 15.7) were shorter than previously reported in BBNP (79 days ± 31) with later entrance times and earlier emergence times. Understanding fine-scale habitat selection and denning ecology of this population will provide important insights for management and ultimately assist black bear populations toward a successful recolonization and subsequent coexistence with humans.
Presenter: Eliana Dykehouse
Wildlife Management
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Carlos Gonzalez
Title: Overlap in Desert Bighorn Sheep, Aoudad, and Mule Deer Diets in the Van Horn Mountains, Texas
Presentation Mode: UC Foyer Poster Bloc with Presenters – 50 min event
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Since the introduction of aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) in West Texas, suspicions have been raised concerning the effects that they may have on native desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). If competition among the species is present, diet is just one possible component that may be impacted. The goal of this project was to measure the diet composition of desert bighorn sheep, aoudad, and mule deer in the Van Horn Mountains, TX, through histological analysis. Within a co-occupied landscape, 5 fecal samples were collected for each species each month for a year. Fecal samples were dried, ground, bleached, and mounted on slides. Three cover slips were prepared per slide, and 6 transects were run per coverslip. Identifiable cell structures were photographed. Currently, we are identifying cell fragments to the genus or species level by comparing photos to an existing reference library. Though the results are not final, we have found an unexpected amount of grass in desert bighorn samples. We frequently observed woody plants which include grey oak (Quercus grisea) and Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa). In addition, cacti and succulents such as prickly pear (Opuntia spp.), tasajillo (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis), ephedra (Ephedra spp.), and yucca (Yucca spp.) have occurred consistently throughout the diets of all three species. Once data has been compiled, we hope to estimate the degree of dietary overlap to contribute to the larger question of whether aoudad, desert bighorn, and mule deer significantly impact each other.
Presenter: Ty Goodwin
Range and Wildlife Management
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Carlos Gonzalez-Gonzalez
Title: Common Forbes of the Trans-Pecos: A Field and Lab Guide
Presentation Mode: UC Foyer Poster Bloc with Presenters – 50 min event
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: The Trans-Pecos region of Texas is one of the most diverse ecoregions in the world. However, for plants, the rich diversity makes it highly challenging to identify different species. Stochasticity in climate and plant growth patterns, combined, add to the difficulty of understanding the region’s diverse flora. The primary purpose of this work is to provide descriptions and pictures that aid in the identification of common forb species in the field and on a cellular level. Additionally, we aim to provide reference material and bridge a gap between the biological world and the natural resource management profession. When conducting vegetative monitoring, it is common to find specimens that are nearly impossible to identify due to a lack of distinguishing characteristics. The same case arises when conducting dietary work. Plant material that has been mechanically masticated and chemically digested showcases no standard structural properties. Using scraped or ground samples that mimic digestive processes, we identify the defining characteristics of the dermal tissue structure and shape. These descriptions can then be utilized as a reference to identify partial cellular structures in fecal samples, stomach contents, or unidentifiable‚ “twigs” collected in the field. The project also explains the functional livestock and wildlife value of flora. Correct identification and knowledge of a plant species can be used in the lab and everyday settings. Identifying plants and memorizing info can be simple, but this amounts to nothing if it is not put into practical use. The text is a collection of general knowledge, personal observations, and working science from many peer-reviewed resources brought together to help aid botanical studies in the Trans-Pecos region of the Chihuahuan Desert.
Presenter: Jimena Proana
Kinesiology
Faculty Nominator: Mary Powers
Title: Nutrition and the female athlete menstrual cycle
Presentation Mode: UC Foyer Poster Bloc with Presenters – 50 min event
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: To date, there has been little to no research concerning the female menstrual cycle and its association with fitness and nutrition. Some recent studies have shown a possible correlation between the phases of the menstrual cycle and nutritional considerations that may offer benefits toward athletic performance. Not just for professional or collegiate athletes, but for any female looking to improve her physical performance. The initial proposal for this research is intended to focus on a sample size who will track their menstrual cycle phases, nutritional intake associated with each phase and their perceived physical performance during each phase. With the intention of adding specific nutrients to each phase of their cycle, based off recent similar research, the data gathered may indicate that female physical performance may be improved by altering specific nutritional intake during the menstrual cycle.
Presenter: Desiree Macias
Psychology
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Alicia Trotman
Title: Utilizing Standardized Assessments measuring Binge Watching Among College Undergraduate Students
Presentation Mode: UC Foyer Poster Bloc with Presenters – 50 min event
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: The binge-watching phenomena has dramatically increased because of its mobility, which means it can be done from literally anywhere, even while you are at work on a mobile device. Statistics show that 69% of young adults are engaging in binge-watching (Statista Research Department, 2023). There are many definitions of the term “binge-watching” but the most appropriate for this study is the Netflix (2013) definition “watching between 2-6 episodes of the same television show in one sitting.” This definition best fits actual viewers’ habits for excessive consumption of television (Panda & Pandey, 2017). There are few studies examining binge-watching and college students’ symptoms and motivations for engaging in such behaviors, especially at rural universities (Panda & Pandey, 2017). The objective of this research is to replicate the study completed by Flayelle, et al. (2020) investigating binge-watching behaviors among college students. If students are under high stress, then we predict an increase in binge-watching behavior. We also hypothesize that the positive and negative motivators are like those found in Flayelle, et al. (2020) cross cultural study.
Presenter: Brianna Berry
Psychology
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Alicia Trotman
Title: Home Food Preparation. How can those behaviors stymie maladaptive eating amongst college students?
Presentation Mode: UC Foyer Poster Bloc with Presenters – 50 min event
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Although food is a requirement to sustain all living beings, there is limited research on the impact of college students’ experiences with stressors affecting their eating habits (Harris, Haack & Miao, 2022). College students are under high levels of stress with being away from home, taking harder classes, possibly facing discrimination in a new environment, the financial responsibility of supplying their own meals, and the limited access to healthy food in their environment. This study examines the relationship between college students’ ability to prepare their own meals, the types of food they choose to eat or make, and why they choose those options. Specifically, we propose to analyze students’ home food preparation in response to maladaptive eating behaviors, caloric intake, and everyday discrimination.
Presenter: Gabriel Cervantes
Psychology
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Alicia Trotman
Title: Examination of Emotion Suppression and Self-monitoring and its Correlates with Loneliness
Presentation Mode: UC Foyer Poster Bloc with Presenters – 50 min event
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Loneliness is related to higher rates of mortality and a predictor of violence that ultimately could cause mass shootings within the United States. Over time, there are predictors as habits and situations. When looking at the background or any signs of loneliness, the shooters have a history of social isolation and heavy distrust with everyone. In late January 2023, ABC News released an article that highlighted three shootings that were all tied to an individual that exhibited signs of social isolation (Kekatos, 2023). It is important to recognize the elements that lead to this unfortunate outcome. My proposal will focus on the predictors of loneliness with undergraduate students and how they might affect any mechanisms with building relationships with others.
Presenter: Grace Knight
Psychology
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Alicia Trotman
Title: Examining How Emotional Distress in Athletic and Non-Athletic Female College Students Manifests as Localized Non-Specific Chronic Pain
Presentation Mode: UC Foyer Poster Bloc with Presenters – 50 min event
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Chronic pain along with emotional distress were examined among athletic and non-athletic female college students at a South-Western university campus. Goldbart and authors (2020) found that pain can often express itself in more than just physical pain, and that emotional distress was a part of such expression. When a correlation is made between emotional distress and chronic pain, Lien and authors (2005) found that some would experience these chronic feelings in areas of the body when having different negative emotions or distress. Both chronic pain and emotional distress, when coupled with an additional stressor such as COVID-19, the resulting impact can influence people’s mental state (Consonni et al., 2020). This is a vital connection to make because often the prowess of female athletes is neglected in comparison to their male counterparts resulting in female players feeling less valued. My hypothesis then was that female athletes would exhibit higher pain centrality and pain severity, as they may evaluate their pain as tied to their physical labor as opposed to their mental state. My second hypothesis was that female athletes would have higher pain self-efficacy, as they would connect more with how confident they were with their chronic pain and less with their emotional state. The findings illustrated that female athletes were more likely to experience negative emotions like loneliness, sadness, and fear; along with a lack of feeling secure and appreciated in relation to their chronic pain. Athletes were more likely to experience pain in the last three months than the non-athletes. And regarding self-efficacy, both groups experienced high self-efficacy with no difference between them.
Presenter: Daniel Flores
Psychology
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Alicia Trotman
Title: Investigating the Correlation Between Fantasy-action Video Games and Advanced Vocabulary Acquisition
Presentation Mode: UC Foyer Poster Bloc with Presenters – 50 min event
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: This correlational study examined advanced vocabulary between students who play fantasy-action video games and students who do not at a southwestern university campus. Previous studies (Vásquez & Ovalle, 2019; McGregor et al., 2019) conducted on acquiring vocabulary through video games suggest video games aid in developing and acquiring vocabulary . Further research has suggested that this acquisition of vocabulary may be due to the narrative contexts of video games in terms of their dialogues, terms, instructions, directions, and overall storytelling (Piirainen-Marsh & Tainio, 2009). Fantasy-action video games, used interchangeably with the term Role-Playing Games (RPGs), refers to video games that usually depict a fantasy-like narrative (Gass, Z., 2021). This specific video game category was chosen for this study due to its affinity to produce more advanced vocabulary in its storytelling. Since some words are ambiguous and may be interpreted differently from the actual definition (Eligio & Kaschak, 2019), this category of video games provides vocabulary found across almost all of the games that are from this category and the definitions of these certain words are more homogenous in their interpretations. Our first aim was to determine if those who play fantasy-action video games would be more likely to understand and correctly interpret advanced and unique words that are commonly found in fantasy-action video games than those who do not play fantasy-action video games through the use of a vocabulary test. Preliminary findings suggest that participants that play fantasy video games have a larger vocabulary of advanced words and fantasy-themed lexicon.
Presenter: Tina Neufeld
Geology
Faculty Nominator: Jesse Kelsch
Title: Geochronologic analysis of multiple occurrences of fault-related calcite on a variable-slip-direction fault in Big Bend National Park, Texas
Presentation Mode: UC Foyer Poster Bloc with Presenters – 50 min event
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Fault-related calcite precipitates along a mapped, unnamed normal fault in the Sierra del Carmen mountains in the Big Bend region of Texas were investigated structurally and geochronologically. This north-northwest-striking fault is in the southern segment of the Rio Grande rift, the southeastern portion of the Cenozoic extensional system of western North America that includes the Basin and Range province. It is mapped as one of many north-northwest-striking normal faults in the region. Slickenlines present on the normal fault surface express two orientations, however: strike-slip motion preserved in rakes of 08 degrees and dip-slip motion preserved in rakes of 78 to 98 degrees. These are calculated stereographically to represent north-south and east-northeast to west-southwest principal extensional strain axes, respectively. No cross-cutting relationships are apparent that would reveal the ages of the two disparate motion directions; therefore, samples were collected from each directional set of slickenlines for U-Pb geochronological dating, to reveal the relationship between the slickenline orientations and identify the initial and later directions of crustal extension. At each of the two directional sets of slickenlines, a euhedral calcite occurrence is closely associated with the calcite-lineated fault surface. Thin section analysis supports close association of the two occurrences of calcite, lineated and non-lineated, near both the strike-slip and dip-slip slickenlines. The fault-associated, non-striated euhedral crystals are also being analyzed with U-Pb geochronology to determine whether the non-striated crystals that are coincident with slickenlines were produced coincidentally; if so, fault movement could be dated using the more abundant non-striated crystals.
4:00 – 4:25pm Session Presentations – Student Information and Abstracts
4:00-4:25pm / UC Espino Room A – Moderator: Dr. Theron Francis
Team Presenters: Stephen Falick, William Fievre, Richard Foley, Sara Ramos, Silvestre Silva, Samuel Valadez, Jesus Gutierrez
Environmental Literature
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Theron Francis
Title: Creative Writing on the West Texas Landscape
Presentation Mode: Student Panel – 45 min session
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: This is a reading of creative writing inspired by excursions to a ranch north of Marathon, Texas, which has a buffalo herd, and to The Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area, south of Alpine, TX. The writing will include both poetry and prose. The writing may describe other living things encountered, such as the buffalo or the grasslands. It can also describe the impact of human settlement and management of the natural environment. Through an aesthetic experience of the natural environment, this literary output should express an ethics about our relationship to nature.
4:00-4:25pm / UC Espino Room B – Moderator: Benjamin Barrientes
Presenter: Saul Jadon Baruch Barrientes
Criminal Justice
Faculty Nominator: Benjamin Barrientes
Title: Caylee Anthony: Is there a theory of the case by Mr. Baez?
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: In Fundamentals of Criminal Law class, we discussed how a defense may be established to avoid conviction in a murder trial. The 2008 case involved a murder accusation of Casey Anthony. She was the principal suspect for the mysterious and suspicious death of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee, in the Orlando, Florida, area. The death is still considered “a problem” in terms of definitively determining who committed the crime. Defense attempted to blame Casey’s father for the death of Caylee. The challenge of the defense case was to prove indeed the father was guilty. There was uncertainty as to how Caylee Marie Anthony died. Some in law enforcement believed that suffocation by either the defendant’s mother or father to be the cause of death. The prosecution claimed (for the 2008 murder case) that, although the child’s mother, Casey, had gone an entire month without informing anyone the victim was missing or dead, there was reason to believe that other parties were involved. Casey Anthony’s father, George Anthony, previously had been accused of abuse on at least four counts by his daughter. In addition, the victim, Caylee (granddaughter of both Cindy and George Anthony), also had been found in their daughter’s trunk of the car before she got rid of her body. There was duct tape covering her nose and around her head, which indicated may have died of suffocation. Thus, CAsey Anthony’s defense attorney, Jose Baéz, was able to avoid conviction by giving the judge and jury for the case evidence that proved to counter the evidence of the prosecution.
4:00-4:25pm / UC Espino Room C-D – Moderator: Dr. Justin French
Presenter: David Wellborn
Wildlife Management
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Justin T. French
Title: Optimizing efficiency in wildlife research through effective relational database programming
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Wildlife science is in the middle of a technological revolution. The increasing ease of satellite imagery access, increased accessibility of remote sensing algorithms, declining costs of GPS monitoring, and availability of affordable cloud computing have launched the traditionally data-poor discipline into the era of big data. Researchers use multiple tools when collecting and analyzing these data that allow them to gain unprecedented understanding of the natural world. However, wildlife scientists are poorly trained in big data curation and management. In particular, integrating across datasets and programs is difficult without well designed workflows. The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) is developing a cloud-based relational database to collect and analyze data for research projects in an effort to modernize and standardize the data collection process. My project is to build interactive applications that are accessible over the Internet. These applications will allow BRI staff and students to enter, view, analyze, and share their data. I will use the program language R, the package Shiny, and the relational database PostgreSQL to create these applications. Specifically, I am currently developing a web-based tool that allows for intuitive data entry, which will be used to record and upload data electronically while in the field. This will help improve the workflow and efficiency of the data management process and will facilitate BRI in keeping up with reproducible research standards, all while maintaining the integrity and security of their data. The expectation is that this endeavor will serve as a template for other research projects and institutions.
4:00-4:25pm / UC Espino Room 210 – Moderator: Carolyn Barrientes
Presenter: Melissa Urness
Theater
Faculty Nominator: Carolyn Barrientes
Title: A Look Inside Technical Theatre: The Props Design for “Silent Sky”
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: The field of technical theatre involves a variety of different disciplines that all collaborate together for the finalized product of a show, especially for those involved in design positions. Props design is a component of technical theatre that creates, finds, or modifies different items to serve as portable and moving objects for actors to use on stage or in films. Props, or properties, aid in the presentation of the story as a fundamental value for crucial storytelling in several ways: They are memorable, inject humor within a scene, can make a point concrete, be effective metaphors, and help focus the audiences’ attention within the theatrical world that is being presented. In other words, props help actors play their roles more adequately and make the scenes of a story more authentic.
Props can also be considered support tools. From cellphones, brooms, beverages, to umbrellas and garbage cans—these items play major roles (no matter how small, big, or ordinary they are!) as important assets to furthering the plot in a safe and efficient manner. Even though props are meant to be as authentic as possible to “read well” for an audience, safety measures are also taken into consideration by making props behave differently than how a real object would. By demonstrating key props from the Sul Ross production of Silent Sky, this presentation will discuss the responsibilities of a Props Designer and the process, primary duties, and how a prop functions as an object to “think with” and “act with.
4:25 – 4:50pm Session Presentations – Student Information and Abstracts
4:25-4:50pm / UC Espino Room C-D – Moderator: Dr. Justin French
Presenter: Elle Sutherland
Wildlife Management
Moderator: Dr. Justin French
Faculty Nominator: Dr. Justin T. French
Title: Niche conservatism of desert bighorn sheep in the Trans-Pecos region, Texas
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Graduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: In Trans-Pecos region of Texas, desert bighorn sheep were extirpated by 1960. Restoration efforts have shown signs of success; however, management of desert bighorn populations of the Trans-Pecos region is particularly complex as they exhibit a high degree of niche overlap with invasive aoudad, which not only carry and transmit diseases to native desert bighorn populations but also compete with them for resources. Previous research has demonstrated that aoudad and desert bighorn niches heavily overlap in optimal habitat. However, there is still little information concerning how competition may impact desert bighorn space use. Recent die-offs in desert bighorn populations (following outbreaks of the pathogenic disease Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae), highlight the need for a deeper understanding of any factors impacting population viability, including niche constraint in the face of competition. The aim of this study is to explore variation in niche breadth among populations in the Trans-Pecos in order to determine whether desert bighorn exhibit niche conservatism. Specifically, we will use integrated step selection analyses to model inter-individual habitat selection behavior and assess niche breadth of populations. To accomplish this, we will utilize ten years of movement data accumulated from five separate desert bighorn populations. By focusing on potential competition induced niche shifts, we intend to lay the groundwork which will inform future targeted management actions for desert bighorn in landscapes co-occupied by aoudad.
4:25-4:50pm / UC Espino Room 210 – Moderator: Carolyn Barrientes
Presenter: Caleb Woods
Architecture and Interior Design
Faculty Nominator: Carolyn Barrientes
Title: A remodel project for Universal design
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: This project was completed with a focus on remodeling an older university-owned home into a place where any guest could stay, regardless of physical abilities or handicaps. The design implementation was an Architectual Drafting and Home Planning (IT 3303) class project executed during Fall, 2022, semester. The purpose of this project was to utilize an existing home near campus that needed to be remodeled as a lab for planning and implementation. Since this was a house owned by SRSU, the class enjoyed full access to a vacant home, allowing practice in measuring and studying a base, existent floor plan in order to remodel an older home to conform to program-specific requirements for ideal clients.
Students were given primary instruction on programmatic requirements. They researched what Universal Design was with regard to remodeling an existing home that was not ADA compliant. Students were required to do this remodel design based on the use of any potential client, whether handicapped or not. Students were also introduced to new software for computer-aided design (Chief Architect) allowing students to illustrate their work via 3-D visual technology.
5:00 – 5:25pm Session Presentations – Student Information and Abstracts
5:00-5:50pm / UC Espino Room A – Moderator: Sid Balman
Team Presenters: Brooke Manuel, Johanna Covington
Journalism
Faculty Nominator: Sid Balman
Title: Skyline Attends 2023 TIPA Conference
Presentation Mode: Student Panel – 45 min session
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: Skyline employees and Sul Ross students, Brooke Manuel and Johanna Covington, attended the 2023 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference. The Skyline won two awards at the conference, and the Skyline attendees learned about various aspects of journalism including open records requests, recruiting employees for a news organization, the laws regarding student journalism, and how to find quality news stories. The Skyline plans to apply new recruitment styles that were gathered at the conference from experts in the field in order to boost student journalism at Sul Ross State University. In an era where news is rarely trusted, training young minds on how to produce accurate and timely news is essential
5:00-5:50pm / UC Espino Room 210 – Moderator: Carolyn Barrientes
Team Presenters: Yaritza Corona, Caitlynn Almance
Theater
Faculty Nominator: Carolyn Barrientes
Title: 2023 SRSU Undergraduate and Graduate Symposium Mock Auditions
Presentation Mode: Student Oral Presentation – 25 min session
Undergraduate SRSU Alpine
Abstract: The progress of creating a theatre production is a long and difficult journey. There are many parts that need to be put together in order to create a full production from start to finish. One thing that is essential is, of course, the actors. A show cannot go on without the actors.
Our presentation will consist of giving a short run-through of the different aspects of creating a full production. This will include pre-production, auditions, casting, table reads, costuming, stage design, lighting, sound, stage managing, etc. The presentation will also include presenters engaging in a mock audition for an original play written by Caitlynn Alamance, entitled Juice Joint Criminal. The playwright will discuss the process and the reason of creating the play giving a writer’s perspective. Many people do not know the preparation process that goes on behind presented theatrical scenes, which have never been presented or auditioned.
This presentation will be interactive, with physical copies of selected scenes being offered for readers to choose what character they would like to audition for. The intention is to illuminate the technical and creative processes that the audition process offer, what actors “go through” and what “goes on behind the scenes.
5:25 – 5:50pm Session Presentations – Student Information and Abstracts
There are no presentations currently scheduled to begin for this time period.