News & Events
2022 Capstone Award Winners
On October 21, the Boston University College of General Studies celebrated the outstanding students who received awards for the Capstone projects they completed last May. The Capstone project is a 50-page research paper that CGS students complete in their sophomore year. Students draw on two years of interdisciplinary studies, working together as a team to synthesize data into a meaningful whole. The Capstone award is given annually to the group of students who present the best overall Capstone paper and defense on each team. It is the highest honor bestowed upon a College of General Studies student for an academic project.
Team S: Social Media Privacy Protection Association: A Proposal for Data Privacy
Team S’s winning Capstone group–Zelin Liang, Anqi Lu, Peizi Wang, Zeya Wu, Jiarong Ying, and Yunqi Zhu–created The Social Media Privacy Protection Association, a nonprofit organization that aims to protect and raise social media users’ awareness of the right to data privacy in the United States. Their Proposal for Data Privacy calls for a more concrete and transparent Personal Privacy Rating system regarding the sensitivity of personal information. They also designed the Personal Information Rating System, a personal information hierarchy authorization system that users select and authorize. Faculty said, "Rather than seeking new legislation, their proposal seeks cooperation with and support from existing social media companies to seek a fine balance between consumer privacy and corporate profitability, as well as forging ties with the Federal Trade Commission and garnering community-level support."
Team T: Maternal Mortality in New Jersey: A Midwife-Centric Solution
Team T’s winning Capstone group was made up of Caroline Cain, Kyle Cioffi, Isabel Duverge, Olivia Madajczyk, Katie McHugh, Sarah Reeves, and Emma Shapiro, who engaged in a sound research project that highlighted the need to improve access to midwifery care in New Jersey. Solutions included incentives for midwives to work in communities where there is a shortage of healthcare providers and the development of educational programs to offer alternate and humane maternity care models. Team T faculty said that the Capstone was thoughtfully plotted and sophisticated in its understanding of the problem and detailed in its proposal of a solution. They wrote, "The thesis illustrated how midwives’ personalized care would address factors contributing to the high maternal mortality rate such as the overmedicalization of birth, lack of access to evidence-based care, and improper treatment of postpartum depression. Lucidly-written, well-argued, this Capstone provides a model for other states to replicate."
Team U: Exploring Solutions for Boston’s Rising Sea Levels
The students from Team U’s winning group–Margaux Calvignac, Emma Hill, Amelia Love, Margaux Mooney, Zachary Myers, Fernando Ramirez, Aiden Schimpff, and Dylon Thompson—investigated and assessed various proposed approaches to Boston’s rising sea level problem, before presenting their own plan, which combines manufactured and natural solutions. The group paid particular attention to the neighborhoods of Dorchester, South Boston and East Boston, making specific recommendations for each area. Deployable flood barriers and walls, permeable pavements, green solutions, enhancements to the MBTA system and changes to the city’s annual budget are all elements of the group’s comprehensive, well-researched and clearly written proposal, Team U faculty said.
Team V: On the Non-Consensual Usage of Private Consumer Data
The winning Capstone group for Team V–Myles Bahar, Olivia Clyne, Azad Ellafi, Hailey Gustafson-Alm, Elizabeth Kostina, Shiksha Nanda, and McQuaid Shin–tackled what faculty called "arguably the most challenging problem on our Capstone syllabus: data privacy." They examined the ethical, technical, and legal problems that arise as individuals give up more and more of their sensitive personal information—both willingly and unwillingly—to private corporations. Team V faculty said, "This group of students engaged these thorny problems with nuance, complexity, and a full knowledge of the difficulties they faced. They decided to take what was essentially a philosophical approach to the problem, entering into a lengthy discussion of consent in the digital age...Few of us are willing to take our lives offline to avoid the privacy concerns caused by massive data harvesting, but in their Capstone, this group of students offered us some ways to navigate online spaces with our eyes open just a little bit wider."
Team W: Resisting Widespread Antibiotic Resistance (RAWR)
Team W’s winning Capstone group–Nathan Chen, Gary Dong, Victoria Hwang, Minji Kim, Angela Miao, Eloise Ren, Sikha Sahu, and Kitty Xia–addressed the fact that bacterial resistance to antibiotics is becoming a major public health issue, with approximately 35,000 deaths from antibiotic resistant infections every year in the United States alone. Faculty said that this group not only succeeded in gaining and explaining this disparate knowledge, but also built a sophisticated and realistic policy, proposing a public-private partnership to bring new antibiotics to market. Team W faculty said, "Ultimately, this group excelled at research, wrote their Capstone in one clear voice, and formulated a policy that actually seems like it would work to address this significant problem."
Team Y: US-China Trade Relations
The winning Capstone group from Team Y, made up of Surui Chaui, Zechang Jiang, Xinyi Li, Haoyu Liu, Zhenhuan Wang, Sand Zhou, and Zirui Zhou, examined the trade imbalance between the US and the People’s Republic of China. To explore this topic, they adopted a hybrid format that combined the policy paper approach with the adversarial approach. Team Y faculty wrote, "Their briefs from the two nations and findings from the WTO showed a deep understanding of the issues involved and proposed innovative yet realistic solutions. Most impressively, in their defense, the entire group demonstrated a thorough knowledge of their subject matter and regularly showed an ability to go beyond the basics of their written work. The energy and dedication they put into the project process resulted in a work that is an example of what groups can achieve via Capstone. Their win this year is a well-deserved testament to a well-designed, well-executed, and well-defended project that asks important questions about our world and seeks to answer them."
—Compiled by Rukshana Khan
CGS Celebrates 70th Anniversary
For 70 years, the College of General Studies has been a home to students within Boston University, instilling the value of exemplary interdisciplinary education, providing the backdrop for lifelong friendships to be built, and preparing its students for the challenges of real world problem solving.
On Sept. 29, CGS alumni, students, faculty and staff gathered in the Katzenberg Center to celebrate the College’s 70th birthday, recognizing the accomplishments of the last seven decades while looking forward to the future.
The celebration, held as part of BU’s Alumni Weekend, also featured the presentation of three annual faculty awards as well as the Distinguished Alumni Award to attorney Mitchell Garabedian ('71, CAS'73).
70 Years of Excellence
In her remarks commemorating the anniversary, Dean Natalie McKnight reflected on how much about the College has stayed the same over the years, while also highlighting several key changes.
“We still offer an interdisciplinary core curriculum, the team structure is still in place, and we still end the sophomore year with a group project, which used to be the Utopia project and is now the Capstone project,” McKnight said. “Perhaps most important, we still believe in the transformative power of a liberal arts education that emphasizes strong connections among students, faculty and advisors.”
But while the College’s foundations remain unchanged, several new developments have been made in recent years, McKnight said, including the addition of the fall gap semester and summer study programs in London and New England for first-year students, the launch of the Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies, and the increased focus on research among undergraduates and faculty.
“I am very proud to be part of such a vibrant college that has grown in such unique, creative and impactful ways while also still preserving the best bones of our initial architecture,” McKnight said.
McKnight also announced the creation of the CGS Anniversary Scholarship Fund, which will become endowed once $100,000 is raised. The fund will provide scholarships to support the education of CGS students in need.
Honoring a Distinguished Alumnus
CGS's Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, whose work representing and advocating for victims and survivors of sexual abuse was immortalized in the Academy Award-winning film Spotlight.
Garabedian has represented more than 2,500 victims of sexual abuse in 14 countries, won substantial settlements for those victims, and successfully argued that clergy should be added to the list of mandatory reporters of child abuse and that statues of limitations have not expired in cases brought by adults who were sexually abused as children.
McKnight praised Garabedian for his bravery in taking on the Catholic Church in Boston and for the difference he has made not just in the lives of his clients, but for the many other abuse survivors who have since come forward to tell their stories.
“Mr. Garabedian, you have made the world a better place for thousands of clients,” McKnight said. “You have helped them achieve some measure of justice, and compensation for their suffering, and your work has encouraged others to come forward and made it easier for them to present their cases. You have helped give voice to the voiceless and you continue to pursue this mission.”
In his acceptance speech, Garabedian thanked CGS for the education he received as a first-generation college student. He commended the faculty for always having the door open to students, literally and figuratively, and said he is still grateful to the school for the ways in which it shaped him as a young person.
“The door was always open. And they always interacted with you, they always encouraged you, they always pushed you,” Garabedian said of his professors.
Recognizing Extraordinary Faculty
McKnight also presented three awards to outstanding members of the CGS faculty.
The Peyton Richter Award, established by alumnus Gary Kraut and awarded annually to faculty who have demonstrated excellence in interdisciplinary teaching, was presented to Associate Professor of Rhetoric Aaron Worth.
Worth’s ability to balance his teaching duties with his prolific research and publishing record made him a deserving candidate for the award, McKnight said.
“Students praise Aaron for his enthusiasm, intelligence, and ability to make connections among disparate topics. Many thank him for the ‘valuable lessons’ he has taught them both within and beyond the classroom,” she said.
The Dr. Ismail Sensel Award, given to CGS professors who have demonstrated excellence in their professional record, was presented to Christopher Coffman, Master Lecturer in Humanities.
Coffman’s work as Book Review Editor for the last 11 years on Impact: The Journal of the Center for Interdisciplianry Teaching & Learning and his publications on topics ranging from Thomas Pynchon to the Grateful Dead were highlighted.
“On top of these professional achievements, Chris is also an outstanding teacher of Humanities in our Boston-London program and very capably led his team in London this summer in our return to the city,” McKnight said.
The Outstanding Service Award, which rewards faculty whose leadership and service has made substantial contributions to the CGS community at large, was presented to Meg Tyler, Associate Professor of Humanities.
Tyler was recognized for her work as Director of CGS’s Institute for the Study of Irish Culture for over 10 years, through which she has led a series of readings and lectures on contemporary poetry and literary studies.
“I am grateful to Meg for her leadership in running the series and building a sense of community centered in CGS, and also grateful for her leadership as coordinator for her team of faculty at CGS. She brings to the leadership of her team the same attention to detail and dedication to community building that make her events so successful,” McKnight said.
Watch a slide show of archive photos from CGS's 70-year history below:
-- By Chelsea Feinstein
A Look at Undergraduate Research: Women Writers in the Late Victorian Era
By Ella Nasca
Before coming to campus for the first time in the fall of 2021, Fangqi (Doris) Luo ('22, CAS'24) excitedly looked through the CGS website to get a sense of what in-person studies would be like.
Luo stumbled upon a section about the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning (CITL) and quickly became interested in the research opportunities the Center offers. CITL provides students with the opportunity to perform paid undergraduate research alongside the guidance of CGS professors.
“It surprised me because the center is open to freshman and sophomore students,” said Luo. “It’s hard to imagine that a sophomore student could have the opportunity to do undergraduate research.”
Luo was a student of Master Lecturer of Humanities Joellen Masters, and noticed that Masters had teaching interests in Victorian and British literature and research interests in Victorian and New Woman Fiction listed on her faculty profile. Though Luo did not yet know what she wanted to major in, she saw that they had a shared interest in women’s studies, and decided to reach out to discuss her academic plans and ask to work on research together.
“Dr. Masters inspires me to be a more engaged person,” said Luo, who is now planning to continue into the College of Arts & Sciences and major in statistics. “She always guides me to think about my questions from different perspectives.”
After a discussion during office hours, the two decided to work together.
For several years, Masters had been researching for her monograph study about a British periodical called Travel: An Illustrated Monthly Magazine, which first appeared in May 1896 and ran for eight volumes. The magazine, edited by Sir Henry Lunn, frequently featured short stories written by women writers.
When the pandemic struck, Masters had to put a halt on much of her research, as she didn’t have access to the physical materials she needed to study. She was able to resume this research with Luo.
The two decided to continue studying the short stories in Lunn’s magazine as well as seven British women writers—who also featured in Lunn’s periodical—and seven other periodicals. The writers include Adeline Sergeant, A.M. Williamson, E.F. O’Brien, Iza Duffus Hardy, L.T. Meade, Marie Corelli, and Mary Angela Dickens.
While some writers, like A.M. Williamson and E.F. O’Brien, have little information available about them, others like L.T. Meade and Marie Corelli were very well known for their work. Mary Angela Dickens was even one of Charles Dickens’s granddaughters.
The periodicals they studied included All the Year Round, Atalanta, Belgravia, Cassell’s Magazine, The Lady’s Realm, The Strand Magazine, and Tinsley Magazine.
Masters and Luo were both interested in finding out more about the backgrounds of these women writers and the work they were publishing, as well as the rise of the short story genre in the Victorian period and its appearance in periodicals.
“Doris and I were meeting once a week for about an hour,” Masters said. “I really didn’t want to stop the conversation, because it was just so interesting.”
Luo was responsible for gathering research through websites and online databases, and organizing her findings using numerical data and charts. Then, the two would discuss their findings and thoughts about the stories in weekly meetings.
“The study of humanities has moved into using data driven material,” Masters said. “I think that being able to have both the literary analysis and the quantitative visual with our work is going to be super important.”
The two have plans to delve deeper into feminist theory and women’s writing during the fall 2022 semester, as CITL often continues to support students even after they complete their two years CGS.
“I am ending this semester with nothing but amazing gratitude for all the work that Doris did and the conversations we had,” Masters said. “It’s important that people see what we’ve been able to do as collaborators, and especially in this academic environment right now where the emphasis is on collaboration between faculty and their students.”
Luo shares similar sentiments about the research she and Masters have completed so far.
“I learned a lot from Dr. Masters,” Luo said. “I am so excited that I have the opportunity to become a more engaged person and reflect on these women writers and outstanding periodicals.”
CITL provides stipends for CGS students to pursue paid undergraduate research with a member of the CGS faculty. Students interested in pursuing undergraduate research can learn more here.
Senior Spotlight 2022
To celebrate the Class of 2022, we asked graduates who attended CGS to share their memories, proudest accomplishments, and plans for the future. Congratulations Class of 2022!
Kaitlyn Kelley, CGS and SAR, Health Science Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Alpha Phi, Sargent Peer Mentors
What have you done in your time at BU that you're most proud of?
I worked on a study with Cambridge Health Alliance where I interviewed a patient population about their struggles with food insecurity. This experience inspired my future career in health advocacy!
What do you have planned for the future?
I will be attending the University of Illinois School of Law in the fall!
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
My favorite CGS memory was completing my Capstone project. I had the best group and made some of my best friends working on this project!
Amanda Kong, CGS and COM, Advertising Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
AdLab, Mustard Seed a capella, Multi-Ethnic InterVarsity
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Two moments: Running AdLab as Executive Vice President and performing in a nationwide a capella conference
What do you have planned for the future?
I plan to travel and rest up, then get started working!
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
I really enjoyed taking trips to museums, plays, and performances when we were in London!
Moe Myat Khaing, CGS and Questrom, Finance and Management Information Systems Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Admissions Student Diversity Board, Admissions Ambassador, BU finance and investment club, BU Chaarg, herNetwork
What have you done in your time at BU that you're most proud of?
I took a leap of faith during my transition from CGS to Questrom. Surrounded by new students and professors, I did not know anyone there. I was not sure which concentration to pick in the beginning of the transition. I could not count the number of times I visited Questrom UDC and my amazing professors, figuring out which concentration I should do. Now, in a few weeks, I will be graduating from Questrom, with my dream job in line this summer.
What do you have planned for the future?
I am moving to NYC this July for my position as corporate investment banking analyst at Santander Bank.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Taking advantage of the Writing Center in Katzenberg Center in any way possible!!!
Ellie Spring, CGS and COM, Media Science Major
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
I am most proud of getting through this pandemic as someone who is chronically ill, and graduating on time! It was hard but we did it!!
What do you have planned for the future?
I am moving to Seaport in Boston to start working at PTC in their rotational program! I couldn't be more excited.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
London. It is one of my favorite memories and holds such a special place in my heart. My CGS friends and professors were so amazing- I learned so much and was able to have so much fun doing it! Shout out to Prof. Vandenberg for being one of the best teachers I have ever had!
Keiddy Curiel, CGS and CAS, Biology Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Sabor Latino, Alianza Latina, MSALS (Minority Students Association for Life Sciences), SHPE, NSBE, BU Naturally
What have you done in your time at BU that you're most proud of?
I am most proud of my involvement in student organizations, especially Sabor Latino. I was able to be on the executive board for three years, two of which I was President. Sabor Latino was an outlet for me to take a break from my academics and have fun while also creating long-lasting friendships with my team members. I never would have thought that I’d be on a dance team throughout my college experience but I’m very glad I took the chance and decided to try-out during my first semester. The team has made a positive impact on my life and will forever be my fondest memory of my time at BU.
What do you have planned for the future?
I plan to work as a research scientist in an industry lab and later earn my masters in Biotech.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
My favorite memory of CGS was being able to kickstart my career in science by working in the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning. Professor Kate Nash told me about the opportunity to work in the CITL where I was able to work on microbiology projects with both Professors Robin Hulbert and Sandra Buerger.
Mads Williams, CGS and COM, Journalism Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
BU Women’s Club Ice Hockey
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Growing the hockey team and publishing fantastic stories with BUNS and local publications
What do you have planned for the future?
Moving to Madison to work for EPIC!
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
I made so many friends in London back in 2019, and my BU experience never would’ve been the same without them <3 CGS GANG
Ryan Sullivan, CGS and CAS, Political Science Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
BU COMunicator, MASSPIRG
What have you done in your time at BU that you're most proud of?
Came into my own, learned what i enjoy most in life, and prepared myself to enter the world.
What do you have planned for the future?
I plan on working at Oracle doing consulting post graduation and hopefully move to LA in the near future.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Being in London and exploring all the different neighborhoods and meeting amazing people. I would like to shoutout Professor Lynch for making me fall in love with politics and ultimately helping me choose my major! He’s the BEST!
Rakiya Washington, CGS and CAS, Psychology Major
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
I am proud to have been a research assistant with the Developing Minds Lab!
What do you have planned for the future?
I plan on pursuing a master’s degree in social work and becoming a social worker!
Iris Simone, CGS and CAS, Chemistry Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Tri Delta, Dance Theater Group
What have you done in your time at BU that you're most proud of?
Conducted research in medicinal organic chemistry and helped to develop novel synthetic reaction conditions. Received a Clare Boothe Luce Scholarship for my work.
What do you have planned for the future?
Starting a PhD program in organic chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Favorite memory- My conversations with Wex before every class <3
Spencer Mar, CGS and Sargent, Healthcare Studies Major/Accelerated Doctorate of Physical Therapy Track
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Boston University Percussion Ensemble (Captain), Asian American Christian Fellowship,
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Transitioning from CGS, which focuses primarily on liberal art studies, into a Physical Therapy program, which is more science heavy. Eventually becoming a TA for a class (Human Anatomy) that I failed on the first try. This was a foundational class for transitioning into Sargent.
What do you have planned for the future?
Graduate School for Physical therapy at BU
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
The professors are so patient and caring towards the students. They've demonstrated their true character through action, not just words. I would not be where I'm at today if it weren't for them. My favorite memory has to be grabbing beers with the professors after graduating from the program.
Caroline Birdsall, CGS and SAR, Health Science Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Lightweight Women's Rowing Team, Bloom Family Leadership Academy, Strong Girls Family
What have you done in your time at BU that you're most proud of?
I have been a team captain for the Lightweight Women's Rowing team for 2 years and my Capstone Group placed first for our Capstone Project.
What do you have planned for the future?
I plan on applying to PA school and hope to work in emergency medicine and wilderness medicine. This summer I will be receiving my Wilderness EMT and EMT certification through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Lander, Wyoming so I can begin getting clinical experience for PA school.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
My favorite memory was touring the MFA my freshman year with Professor Sweeting and my whole class. I loved my CGS courses because they taught me to get out of my comfort zone and to appreciate the city in which I spent the past 4 years in. I am forever grateful for the friends I made through CGS my freshman and sophomore year because we are still close to this day!
Faith Rynda, CGS and CAS, Political Science Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Howard Thurman Center Ambassador, CGS Dean's Host, CGS and HUB Advisory Boards, Black Business Student Association, AKPsi
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
As a first-generation student, I understood how challenging gaining access to university resources could be. I am most proud of the moments I was able to connect students with a similar background to mine with professors, internships, resources, and different opportunities that I learned about during the course of my undergraduate career. It brought me joy to be able to create space for others and bring people in.
What do you have planned for the future?
In the fall I will be working in D.C. on The Hill with the Congressional Black Caucus, the following fall I have plans to attend law school
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
During our first weeks of class, we read an article called "College is Not a Commodity.” The article stated that "Students need to apply themselves to the daunting task of using their minds, a much harder challenge than most people realize, until they actually try to do it." At the moment, it was hard for me to digest. However, as I started to commit myself to my classes and coursework, it radically transformed the way I viewed myself and my potential to excel. I am forever grateful to each and every one of my CGS professors because they taught me that curiosity and intellect were muscles to be developed and gave me the space, challenge, and courage to engage in the "daunting task" of using my mind.
Quinn Chappelle, CGS and CAS, Political Science Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Editor in Chief/President at Boston Political Review; Scarlet Squad volunteer; Social Chairperson for BU CGS Student Government Association; Vice President at Harriet E. Richards Cooperative House
What have you done in your time at BU that you're most proud of?
I presented my research on the right to marriage in the U.S. and Israel in a national student research conference this year.
What do you have planned for the future?
Moving to the SF Bay Area to begin my career
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
One of my favorite memories from CGS was going on a street art tour on Brick Lane in London with my class! It was a super cool experience and I loved sharing it together with so many friends
Tyler Davis, CGS and COM, Film and Television Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Club Sailing, BUTV10's The Wire, Delta Kappa Alpha, CGS Student Advisory Board
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
During the Fall 2021 semester I produced my senior thesis film titled "Babyface." Production was an incredibly challenging and rewarding experience that reignited my passion for filmmaking following the pandemic. I am so proud of the hard work my team and I put into the film, and I cannot wait to share it in film festivals and with everyone I know once it is complete!
What do you have planned for the future?
I recently moved to Los Angeles following my BULA semester, and I am excited to share that I'm working full-time as a production assistant on Season 2 of the CBS show Ghosts.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Engage with your professors and faculty outside of class! I am so grateful for my connection with Dean McKnight. During the summer of 2020, we did a directed study focused on women director’s underrepresentation in the film industry. Dean McKnight continues to be incredibly supportive of me long after my time in the CGS program.
Aile Cheng, CGS and COM, Public Relations Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Alianza Latina, Her Campus BU, Asian Student Union, Puerto Rican Student Association
What have you done in your time at BU that you're most proud of?
Studying abroad twice and completing an internship in London! I am also proud of going out of my comfort zone and meeting new people while networking with students, professors, and alumni.
What do you have planned for the future?
I will be completing a summer fellowship at Small Girls PR in New York City. I also plan to travel some more and explore different cities before pursuing higher education.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
I could not imagine starting my journey at BU without CGS! I had an amazing experience and I've made a lot of friends and meaningful connections because of it.
Haleigh Drew, CGS and CAS, Philosophy and Linguistics Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
BU Running Club, CGS Dean’s Host, CAS Dean’s Host, Office of the Provost Undergraduate Advisory Board
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Instead of following the path I initially thought I would, I opened myself up to new opportunities and new experiences
What do you have planned for the future?
I’ve accepted a fully-funded Teaching Assistantship coordinated by Fulbright Austria on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. Come October, I will my begin position in Leoben, a city in the Steiermark Province, and live there teaching English full-time until June
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
It’s hard to pick one but the BU wine tasting event in London was definitely memorable!
2021 Capstone Award Winners
As hybrid learning continued in Spring 2021, CGS students maintained an impressive work ethic as they engaged in the Capstone project, the 50-page essay and oral defense that marks the end of sophomore year. With students scattered across the globe, the Capstone groups created thoughtful and well-synthesized strategies, proposals, and debates on topics such as college admissions processes, social media regulation, and even health implications for the future colonization of Mars. The following teams, which all received high praise from CGS faculty, are this year’s award recipients for their remarkable work during challenging times.
Team R: Students for Fair Admissions, Plaintiff v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation), Defendant
Team R’s winning Capstone group was made up of Maya Ferris, Ashley Hsieh, Katie Fong, Ericka Liu, Brendan Green, and Paul Ovadeck. Acting as Supreme Court justices, the team explored whether or not Harvard University has racially penalized Asian students through awarding Black and Hispanic applicants more points in the application process. The group both determined that Harvard did not improperly use race as a major determinant for admissions and proposed a strategy for universities to increase diversity through an admissions process which considers location-based median incomes and education levels, ethic demographics, and frequency of past admissions. Team R faculty says, “The paper was well-researched and well-written and the students were extremely knowledgeable during their oral examination. We were pleased that this diverse group of students carefully reviewed the data before them and delivered a very informed and logical opinion. We hope that the Supreme Court, if it decides to take up this case, will be as deliberative as these students were.”
Team S: Genetically Modified Organisms and In Vitro Meat: The Future of Food Biotechnology to Combat Resource Overconsumption
The winning Capstone group from Team S, made up of Magdalena Christenson, Laila Inan, Dhruv Manik, Kaitlyn McFall, Acadia Monkman, Anthony Shelly, and Asritha Sure, proposed a biotechnological plan to combat the environmental issues that the growing demand for meat creates. Their solution, to clone animal cells in bioreactors, shows a thorough understanding of the technology. Team S faculty said, “this group thoughtfully addressed many of the objections that can be leveled against such a proposal by examining the current status of this biotechnology with an eye to its viability. This team also presented a new strategy for speaking about this technology to the public and gave a spirited oral defense of their paper.”
Team T: Where To Now With Social Media?
The students in Team T’s winning Capstone group were Katherine Harada Alcantara, Victoria Fernandez, Jason Miraka, Aruzhan Sarsenova, Ferren Winarto, and Yao Yao. he group pitched the Social Media Education Program (SMEP), a pilot program to mitigate the effects of misinformation spread by social media. GSM conducted their research by reaching out to a local school district superintendent, along with school principals, whom they were able to persuade of their program’s feasibility. The program, which incorporates a training program to teach students how to spot misinformation, is designed to create responsible social media consumers. According to Team T faculty, “if GSM demonstrates that its Social Media Education Program mitigates the impacts of digital misinformation in one district, the program could become a model for mandatory digital media literacy throughout the state.”
Team U: A Policy Proposal to the Association of American Universities
Team U’s winning Capstone group — Eliana Bortman, Taylor Brown, Hannah DeGraw, Sarah Eckerson, Evie Lipsig, and Sueda Nalcaci — proposed a better way to increase access to American universities for students of all backgrounds. In opposition to many current and traditional practices, the group created thoughtful recommendations on how to increase diversity and fairness during college admissions. Team U faculty noted that, “The project was particularly successful because every proposal was well researched and analyzed. The group members commented that they worked well together, especially as careful editors. One student mentioned that there isn’t a single sentence written by just one person.”
Team V: Report to the President on the State of White Nationalism and Domestic Terrorism
Araybia Ahmad-Goodlaw, Jasmine Alqassar, Toni-Marie Gomes, Said Kouiri, and Kyle Reiss delved into the connections between domestic terrorism and white nationalism in the United States for their winning Capstone project from Team V. Their research included analysis of the U.S. Government’s past actions and their current means to deal with the threat of domestic terrorism. According to Team V faculty, “all members contributed and displayed an in-depth understanding of the structure of the U.S. Government and how their proposed recommendations could be discussed and passed in real life, offering shrewd amendments to the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2021, currently under consideration. In addition, the group's camaraderie and high regard with which they held each other’s work and views, key in any successful collaboration, made this example of Capstone team work.”
Team W: Proposal for Regulating Surveillance Capitalism at the Federal Level: Enforcing Company Transparency to Ensure Consumer Safety
As one of two winning Capstone groups from Team W, Cameron Anderegg, Logan Diverniero, Leyla Eren, Serena Gajarawala, Abigail Lowry, Mariana Villegas, and Rachel Zhu created a solution which addresses the control over our personal information we have forfeited to companies that track us through our digital lives for profit. Acknowledging our dependency on our digital lifestyles, this group’s solution combines government legislation and a website which creates transparency between the public and the companies that collect personal data. Team W faculty praised the “unusual level of sophistication in their policy proposal, making a convincing case for how to rebalance, in the individual’s favor, the competition for control of our personal data.”
Team W: Debating the Regulation of Social Media: Possible Merits and Implications of the Proposed Internet Protection and Disclosure Act
Team W’s second winning Capstone group — Luca Carroll-Maestripieri, Alan Chau, Pei Du, Nicole Lopez, Payton Rohr, Isabel Yin, and Brandon Yu — formatted their Capstone as a debate focused on dealing with issues created by social media, such as cyber-bullying and the spread of misinformation, while also considering First Amendment rights. The pro-regulation of social media side of the debate suggested laws and regulations to mitigate the dangers of social media while the rebuttal side focused on the legal and logistical implications of regulating the mass information that is created daily on social media. Team W faculty noted that, “Capstones utilizing the adversary format rarely succeed in holding a consistent dialogue, yet this group made it look easy, proving just how much effort they put into their project.”
Team Y: Colonizing Mars: Addressing the Health Hazards of Radiation with Feasible Solutions
Team Y’s winning capstone group — Veronika Bukanova, Tsetan Dhondup, Nikolette Dusevic, Javier Faustino, Eliona Lecaj, and Jesse Uiterwijk — proposed solutions to the problems radiation will have on on the future colonization of Mars. Given the effects they researched that radiation will have on human health, they synthesized a strategy that takes into consideration both our current technological limitations and future research that should be conducted. Team Y faculty commended the group for their “extensive research and analysis of the problem.”
2021 Faculty and Alumni Awards
During Alumni Weekend, the College of General Studies honored this year's faculty and alumni award recipients in a virtual ceremony. Dean Natalie McKnight presented the following awards:
- The Outstanding Service Award, which recognizes service to the college above and beyond the call of duty was awarded to John Regan
- The Peyton Richter Award, which honors excellence in interdisciplinary teaching, was presented to Sal Genovese, June Grasso, and Karen Guendel
- The Dr. Ismail Sensel Award, which recognizes and honors outstanding professors, was awarded to Sandra Buerger, Thomas Finan, and Joshua Pederson
- The Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Valerie Ford Jacob (CGS’73, COM’75) in recognition of outstanding achievement and service
Watch video of the award ceremony:
A Look at Undergraduate Research: Covid-19’s Impact on the Airline Industry
By Julia Allard
Since its outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit many industries hard, but few were more negatively impacted than air travel. Due to travel restrictions and widespread anxiety among consumers, many airlines struggled to fill seats during the first several months of the pandemic.
Intrigued by the effects of the pandemic in this area of the economy, Christian Mouton (CGS ‘19, CAS ‘21) embarked upon an undergraduate research project to discover exactly how COVID had affected airlines, using data analysis techniques to research how the airline industry was affected by and reacted to the pandemic.
According to his research, while flight volume dropped noticeably across the board, commercial flights were hurt significantly more than non-commercial flights.
“Research into this suggested that many airlines changed their airplanes to cargo transportation in order to offset the massive drop in domestic demand,” Mouton said. “In addition to this, a look at the U.S. data on its total flights showed that domestic flights were significantly more damaged due to the pandemic, while international flights simply suffered a minor reduction in total flights.”
Mouton, who is majoring in Economics and minoring in Environmental Analysis and Policy, was introduced to the topic through material from his economics courses.
“I was recommended to do an undergraduate research project, one where I am the one actively pursuing and designing it, because it would be good for research experience and future applications,” Mouton said.
CGS presented Mouton with just such an opportunity. The CGS Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning (CITL) paired Mouton with Andy Andres, a Senior Lecture of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, to conduct his research.
Andres said that he enjoyed working alongside Mouton.
“He was very interested in learning more fundamentals of Data Science to further help his career options, and he pursued a project using an airline flights database to better understand the impact the pandemic had on air traffic,” Andres said. “His learning and his interest in the question was a testament to his skill, talent, persistence.”
Working alongside Andres, Mouton began to delve into different data sets and analysis software to conduct his project, including teaching himself the R language. Mouton said that throughout the project he learned a lot about not just this particular topic, but about the process of data analysis.
“My idea and plan was to do a write-up talking about my process with the data and process of going through and trying to answer my research question and how it’s been changed due to the data I have been finding,” Mouton said. “Instead [of my initial plan], I can talk about how data analysts need to be conscientious about their data and how they interpret and present to the general public because each data set tells a different story.”
The most rewarding part of the process, Mouton said, was being able to structure his own project.
“I was the one setting up meetings, setting and making milestones, and otherwise building up this research experience from the ground up,” Mouton said. “Students are very used to structure and parameters so this was a very different experience compared to what I’ve been exposed to in my undergraduate career.”
Mouton said that he would recommend the undergraduate research program to any other CGS students.
“The opportunity grants you the ability to pursue work in something one has an interest in while receiving mentorship from a faculty member on how to achieve that goal,” he said. “It’s an invaluable learning experience in addition to a helpful indicator that the student is actively trying to make use of their education during their undergraduate career to potential employers.”
CITL provides stipends for CGS students to pursue paid undergraduate research with a member of the CGS faculty. Students interested in pursuing undergraduate research can learn more here.
Banner image courtesy of Andrew Palmer via Unsplash
Senior Spotlight 2021
To celebrate the Class of 2021, we asked graduates who attended CGS to share their memories, proudest accomplishments, and plans for the future. Congratulations Class of 2021!
Amanda Fay, CGS and CAS, Psychology Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
BU Women's Soccer
What do you have planned for the future?
Recently accepted a Marketing job in Orlando, FL
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
I remember loving and looking forward to Professor Marr’s classes
Gianna Loiacono, CGS and Questrom, Finance Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Alpha Phi
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Serving as President of Alpha Phi
What do you have planned for the future?
Working at Northern Trust in Chicago
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
CGS London Program! Best experience at BU!
Bridget Kelly Chiaravalle, CGS and COM, Public Relations Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
The Track & Field team, SAAC, BFLA
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
3x high hurdle Patriot League Champion
What do you have planned for the future?
To work at a PR agency
Katie Barnett, CGS and CAS, Economics Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
BU Women's Lightweight Rowing, SAAC
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
I am most proud of my accomplishments on the lightweight rowing team because I was a captain my junior and senior year. I am also most proud of being a Capstone winner my sophomore year.
What do you have planned for the future?
I will be working for JP Morgan Chase & Co. as a Data Analyst.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
I loved being in CGS and I think winning Capstone was a very pivotal moment in my college career. It gave me the confidence to pursue my degree in Economics.
Summer Willerth, CGS and Questrom, Finance Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Alpha Phi, Fintech Club, Residence Hall Committee, HerNetwork, HerCampus
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Graduate!
What do you have planned for the future?
Working as financial analyst right outside of Boston
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Thank you to all of my amazing professors for setting me up for success and pushing me to pursue my dreams!
Katie Yao, CGS and Sargent, Health Science Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Asian Studies Initiative at BU (ASIABU), Mock Mediation, First Gen Connect's G1 Peer Mentor Program
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
I got to go to Toronto for the 2019 INADR International Intercollegiate Mediation Tournament with the Boston University Mock Mediation team.
What do you have planned for the future?
Currently I am hoping to relax a bit before applying to graduate school.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
During the London semester, BU offered a trip to Wales for coasteering, hiking, and sea kayaking. The highlight of the trip was that I got to jump off a cliff into the ocean and enjoyed some delicious Welsh cakes after.
Connor McMillan, CGS and CAS, Neuroscience Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
I was involved with the CGS's Deans Host program, Boston University Esports, BU Snowboarding (BUST), as well as the Mind and Brain Society.
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
I am most proud of the vast research exposure opportunities that I have had the pleasure of being a part of. However, a close second would be my time as a CGS Dean's Host being able to welcome new students to the very close community that is CGS. My professors and peers will forever be in my memories and heart and it was an amazing experience.
What do you have planned for the future?
I am looking forward to attending medical school and applying all the knowledge I have attained over these four years as well as staying in touch with the great community here at BU.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
I would like to thank all my professors greatly, although I would like to recognize Professor Holm due to the great teaching methods and personality he brought to the classroom. He had a great relationship with his students and he helped turn bad snow days into a worthwhile experience when no one wanted to go to class. Also, Dean Godnick has helped me maneuver some issues that I thought might force me to fall behind but she was extremely understanding and made me realize the faculty and staff are willing to help you no matter what and I am extremely grateful for that. She is wonderful.
Marisa Gregory, CGS and COM, Public Relations Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
BUTV10, CGS Student Government, BU Student Government, PRLab, and Alpha Delta Pi Sorority
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Coming into a big city I was scared that I would not find a close-knit group of friends, I am so proud that I put myself out there and found peers and professors who I will be close with for the rest of my life!
What do you have planned for the future?
I will be working at a financial PR agency in Connecticut
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
I met my best friends through CGS and would not have the writing or reading skills I do today without my amazing professors. CGS will always have a special place in my heart!
Sebastian Del Principe, CGS and COM/CAS, Advertising and Philosophy Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
BU Baseball, BU Advertising Club, BU AdLab
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
I learned and read a lot. Became confident and determined in my own ability to succeed both academically and socially.
What do you have planned for the future?
Moving back to New York and finding a job in advertising, possibly pursuing a masters in Philosophy or Business in later years.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
The CGS environment was incredible. I miss it a lot, the relationships I made both with teachers and friends were truly unique and even more appreciated once I got to college. The teachers are so caring and instilled great values in me and my peers and I will be forever grateful for that. I miss Mr. Brown and Dr. Cheung and all my other teachers.
Song Kim, CGS and CAS, Economics Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
BU KISA, BU ASU
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Connecting with my CGS advisor who helped me the most and continuing my journey to CAS
What do you have planned for the future?
OPT, Become a CEO of IB company
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Professors that I can not forget and pushed my academics the MOST.... : D. Lynn O’Brien Hallstein! She teaches one of the best writing classes you should take if you happened to be in her class because of your schedule do not worry, it will be your favorite. Though I suck at writing she is patient and understood me the most and really wanted me to improve. She also gives a friendly hello all the time. Also professor Davida Pines! How can I forget her as well. Also one of the most understanding, enthusiastic professor she is ready to teach students what she knows and really wants to prepare students for future writing skills so students please listen and remember her lectures for life :)
Sarah Janel Schmacher, CGS and CAS, Biology Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Alpha Phi Omega, The Outing Club, The Navigators
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
I was able to conduct three years of research on non-communicable diseases, funded by UROP and research-for-credit, and be co-authored on a study!
What do you have planned for the future?
I will be continuing my education at Boston University School of Public Health to purse my MPH --Epidemiology and Biostatistics with concurrent graduate certification in Statistical Genetics.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
My summer in London was a definitive time in my life that I will always hold dear to my heart.
Helen Kitrosser, CGS and Sargent, Speech Language and Hearing Science Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
I have been involved with Camp Kesem, which is fully run by BU students. We spend the school year providing support to children through and beyond their parents cancer (@campkesembu). I have also been involved with NSSLHA - National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. Additionally I was an undergraduate research assistant at the BU Aphasia Research Laboratory and a Deans Host for CGS!
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
I am proud of so many things- how can I pick one! I think I am most proud of getting Camp Kesem from a small student org of 15 people to over 50 in four short years. I could not be more proud!
What do you have planned for the future?
Even though I technically graduated in January, I finally feel like my time at BU is coming to a close. I currently work as an Administrative Associate at Good Shepherd Community Care in Newton. In the future I hope to go to grad school for Speech Language Pathology.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
My favorite memory was probably working for orientation as a CGS Student Advisor. I loved getting to know the class of 2023 and working with my co-workers that summer was just a fantastic experience!
E-Beth Leach, CGS and Pardee, International Relations Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Co-founded BU Food Engineers Club, BU Running Club, Kappa Alpha Theta, ASB
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
My proudest BU moments were studying abroad in Rabat, Morocco and Geneva, Switzerland and absorbing the different cultures.
What do you have planned for the future?
I will be studying for a Masters in Global Migration at University College London next fall!
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
I wish I could have turned my root beer mug into a beer mug, but thank you professors and classmates from Teams B & T!
Juliana Torrez-Ortiz, CGS and CAS, Architectural Studies Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Student Government, Alianza Latina
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Studying abroad twice in London and Italy!
What do you have planned for the future?
I will be attending the University of Southern California (USC) in the fall to receive my Masters in Architecture.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
My favorite memory was studying abroad in London with my favorite classmates and teachers (Byttebier and Lynch!) for an unforgettable summer.
Keziah Zimmerman, CGS and COM, Advertising Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Delta Gamma sorority, AdLab Eboard, Adclub member, BU Marketing Club Instagram committee, empath worldwide creative content creator
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Learned some invaluable life lessons about friendship, work-life balance, and how to manage and prioritize mental health.
What do you have planned for the future?
For now, I am planning on moving home to save money and to put my full time/effort into applying to jobs. Eventually, I hope to work at an advertising agency in NYC, Chicago, or LA/San Diego where I can network and move either in-house or doing freelance work for people working in entertainment.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
After transferring from community college my sophomore year, I had a slight crisis about my career path and what exactly I should be pursuing as a major. As CGS students know, sophomore year is when you decide what school/college you are going to enter and I felt like I was torn between choosing a career path that would make money and one that would make me happy/play off of my strengths. After vocalizing this to Dean Godnick (my advisor at the time), I started sobbing about my future and had a bit of a breakdown (as many of us do when thinking about the future). She immediately got up, gave me a hug, and told me that I would be successful in whatever I pursued, as long as I was playing on my strengths and doing something I was passionate about. This moment shaped the rest of my college experience, the way I view my career and aspirations, and made me realize how important it is to look to do something you love. I owe this mentality to Dean Godnick. She is such a crucial part to how my college experience played out. In writing this, I just want to thank her for the role she played in who I am and who I grew to be. Not many people are as lucky as I am to have had such a caring and wonderful college advisor and I just wanted to write this to vocalize my gratitude for the work Dean Godnick does. So to Dean Godnick I say: thank you. You are impacting so many lives in such a positive way and that deserves so much recognition :)
Ethan Kolsky, CGS and COM, Advertising Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Captain of Men's Tennis Team
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Being named captain of the mens tennis team
What do you have planned for the future?
Working in Burlington, Ma for Oracle in the fall.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Professor Chris Coffman had a big impact on my life whether he knows it or not. The content of his course challenged me mentally and helped me see life from many different perspectives that I still carry with me today.
Caitlyn Federico, CGS and CAS, Psychology Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Kappa Delta
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Winning Capstone for Team S
What do you have planned for the future?
Getting my masters in Applied Behavioral Analysis at Salve Regina University
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Beyond thankful for my time in CGS! Professors Tyler, Genovese, Whalen, and Cole have had such an impact on my education. CGS will always have a special place in my heart!
Wesley Lau, CGS and Questrom, Business Administration Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
President, Global Business Brigades; Head of Investment Research, Finance and Investment Club
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
The opportunities to represent BU beyond Boston has been invaluable. Traveling to Atlanta my Freshman year on the BU mediation team; Toronto my Sophomore year in an Investment Banking Competition; Panama my Junior year as an economic consultant; and Munich my Senior year for the TUM Business Game Competition. With the aforementioned events and many more, I held the BU brand proudly on my shoulder.
What do you have planned for the future?
I will be an Investment Banking Analyst for Oppenheimer & Co. based in Boston focusing on Technology and Software. Outside of work, I will act as a regional board member for the national non-profit, Easterseals.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Truly cherish the late nights working on your Capstone Project. The thesis was just as impactful as the memories and friendship developed as a result. CGS is where I met my closest friends.
Kendall Brown, CGS and CAS, Psychology Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
CGS Dean's Host, FY101 Peer Mentor, TTBU Peer Mentor, Peer Tutor, BUnited, Umoja: The Black Student Union, Omega Phi Alpha National Community Service Sorority, Sisters United, ASB, Undergraduate Psychology Association, Whitmore Leadership and Mentoring Lab, Social Learning Lab
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
As a peer mentor, I loved forging relationships with first year students and supporting them as they navigated life at BU! Through these leadership positions, I found a career path that spoke to me and my passions.
What do you have planned for the future?
Next fall, I will continue my studies as I pursue my Master of Arts in Social-Organizational Psychology at Columbia University's Teachers College.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
I am forever indebted to CGS for providing me with the best friends and mentors I could have imagined:)
Caitlin Burke, CGS and COM, Public Relations Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
President of Terpsichore (BU’s first a cappella group)
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
When I first came to BU, my goal was to learn about new ways of thinking by engaging with diverse and inclusive groups of intellectuals. I remained active in pursuing this by finding strong communities in CGS and COM, and by studying abroad twice (through the January-London program and Sydney, Australia Internship Program).
What do you have planned for the future?
I plan to work for a few years at an integrated communications agency that specializes in healthcare. Then, I hope to earn my MPH and JD to specialize in Health Law and Policy.
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
I’m very thankful for the community and experiences I found through CGS. Also, thank you to Professor Stewart for inspiring me to elevate my writing when possible. Another thank you goes to Professor Wexelblatt, for sparking my considerations and interest in existentialism.
Lisette Thurlkill, CGS and CAS, Psychology Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
President and Program Coordinator of BU Photography Club, member of Alianza Latina, member of Art Club, and member of Psi Chi
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
I have been able to TA some amazing classes, spend time with awesome people, and explore the city the most that I can! At BU, connecting with the best professors and friends is what I’m most proud of because I know I will have a community whenever I visit.
What do you have planned for the future?
I am going to attend Columbia University for my Masters in Quantitative Methods in Social Science and then work towards my PhD in clinical psych!
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
To all my CGS Professors, Byttebier, Pederson, Lynch, and more, thank you for the best years of learning and camaraderie! I loved your classes, going to office hours, and you all motivated me with your enthusiasm and knowledge. I will keep in touch and y’all will always have a place in my heart!
Kelly Blake, CGS and Questrom, Marketing and Information Systems Major
Emilie Hibbard, CGS and Pardee, International Relations Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Fashion at BU & marketing club
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Emilie: Starting fashion at BU
Kelly: Finally feeling like I’m equipped for the real world
What do you have planned for the future?
Job searching!! Hire us please :)
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Getting to shake professor Lavalli Wexelblatt and Deese’s hands when we gave our final Capstone presentation. CGS gave us so many friendships too - best community at BU!
Anastasia Boulos, CGS and Pardee, International Relations Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
BU Lebanese Club, NSLS, CGS Deans Host, CAS Academic Ambassador, CGS Peer Mentor
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Most proud of my leadership roles on campus and my work with community service.
What do you have planned for the future?
I will be going to NYU to pursue a Master’s degree in International Relations with a concentration in International Law
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
My favorite memory is going on so many fun adventures all over with my CGS friends. My most fond memory is having picnics in Hyde Park while studying in London.
Rilie Curd, CGS and Sargent, Human Physiology Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Sargent Honor Society
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Graduating as the valedictorian of both CGS and Sargent College!
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
Dean Godnick is the best ever!!!!
Sam Ducharme, CGS and Questrom, Finance/Management Information System Major
What student organizations have you been involved in?
Finance and investors club
What have you done in your time at BU that you are most proud of?
Winning CGS Capstone Project, Getting a job at Amazon
What is your favorite memory of CGS?
One meeting with Dr.Schoch, he talked with me about his experience and about his time on the Joe Rogan Podcast. One of the most helpful professors I’ve ever had that definitely inspired me to change what I can for the good of us all.
A Look at Undergraduate Research: Brexit’s Toll on the United Kingdom
By Grace Chen
When Megan Lau (CGS ’21) traveled to London during her gap semester, the trip sparked an interest in the impact Brexit left on the United Kingdom. With the help of the CGS Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning (CITL)’s undergraduate research program, Lau was able to translate that interest into a 20-page research paper examining Brexit's effects on the country.
In the Fall 2020 semester, Lau worked alongside Social Sciences Lecturer Shawn Lynch to examine the different movements persisting in the UK after withdrawing from the European Union. Her research focused on the rise of nationalist and right-wing sentiments and racism after the UK severed ties with the EU.
The topic was one Lau and Lynch expressed a shared interest in.
“I jumped at the chance because of my personal experience witnessing the Brexit vote and aftermath personally, due to my role in the CGS Boston-London Program,” Lynch said.
Lynch and Lau came to work together through mutual connections. Lau had expressed her interest for the CITL program to Associate Dean Lynn O’Brien Hallstein, the Director of CITL, and Donna Connor, CITL’s administrative coordinator, who connected her with Lynch. The pair met over Zoom, where they discussed Brexit and agreed to work together that very meeting.
The pair worked together solely over Zoom, but that didn’t limit Lau and Lynch’s productivity.
“We met regularly to discuss a variety of research related topics, but also just general global events such as the Presidential election in 2020,” Lau said.
While Lau researched, Lynch served as a resource for her. In meetings, she was able to solicit feedback and ask questions about her paper.
“Dr. Lynch’s feedback was extremely helpful for me because it forced me to reconsider my position, dive deeper into the topics, and question the accuracy and reliability of the sources I used,” Lau said.
Upon beginning their project, both Lynch and Lau established several goals, most of which have already been achieved. Lau hoped to learn more about researching and writing a twenty-page paper and enjoy the process of researching Brexit specifically. According to Lau, she planned to translate these skills to Capstone, and her next research project: a directed study focused on feminist literary intellectual thought.
Additionally, the pair shared a goal for her paper to be published, an achievement both Lau and Lynch hope to pursue in the future.
“I came into this experience unsure of what guided research entailed but came out with a wealth of knowledge, a mentor, and a growing passion of shedding light on global events that have an impact on our daily lives,” Lau said.
She strongly recommends the CITL research experience to CGS students as passionate about researching as she is.
“I live by a simple philosophy: learn everything I can, anytime I can, from anyone I can,” she said.
CITL provides stipends for CGS students to pursue paid undergraduate research with a member of the CGS faculty. Students interested in pursuing undergraduate research can learn more here.
A Look at Undergraduate Research: Boston’s Last Surviving Salt Marsh
By Meghan Bohannon
Several hundred years ago, when colonists ventured into the Boston area, they came across land sprawling with wetlands, mudflats, and salt marshes. Since then, much of the area has been filled in with landfill to build the city we know today. But though the urban landscape of Boston has changed dramatically over the centuries, one small nature preserve, located just a few miles northeast of Boston Logan International Airport, serves as a reminder of the way our environment shapes our lives.
Known as Boston's last standing salt marsh, the Belle Isle Marsh Reservation faces several threats, including rising sea levels due to climate change and the recent proposed Suffolk Downs development. The marsh caught the attention of College of General Studies Associate Professor of Humanities Adam Sweeting for its evolving impact on the cultural history of Boston.
“It’s part of the cultural legacy of New England, and climate change is going to force us to rethink how we think about our landscape. That’s actually sort of the broader issues that my work is concerned with right now,” said Sweeting, whose scholarly interests include the environmental humanities and the intersections of literature, art history, and environmental issues. He plans to write a personal reflection on the marsh this summer, regarding its cultural legacy and potential future as a result of climate change.
When the COVID-19 pandemic postponed a conference presentation Sweeting had planned on the marsh last year, he was able to dive deeper into the marsh’s history with the help of undergraduate researcher Dena Ciampa (CGS ’20, CAS’22). Their partnership is supported by the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning at CGS, which funds undergraduate researchers who partner with faculty members on a project of mutual interest.
In order to aid Sweeting’s research, Ciampa looked into new topics every week regarding the marsh, including future flooding projections of East Boston due to climate change, the health of the marsh’s ecosystem and its animal inhabitants, and the implications of a proposed redevelopment of Suffolk Downs.
Although the marsh is the last one standing in the Boston area, it serves the important function of preventing flooding to coastal areas.
“Climate change is causing more sea level rise, but the marsh can’t necessarily keep up with it because on the other side, there’s all this built land, preventing it from moving inland, so the marsh is being squeezed from both sides,” said Ciampa, who is currently studying environmental analysis and policy in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Moreover, the Suffolk Downs development would bring more people to the area, adding further stress to the marsh. According to Sweeting and Ciampa, these issues of gentrification would alter the character of the surrounding neighborhood of East Boston.
Despite the pandemic confining Ciampa’s research to her apartment, she was able to find many unique sources, including poems, newspapers, paintings of the marsh, and old maps from the Boston Public Library’s digital map collection. She said the research was interdisciplinary, epitomizing CGS’s focus on thinking and problem-solving across disciplines.
“I’ve always been interested in resource conservation, but it was really interesting to see the history and its complications with gentrification and social justice issues,” Ciampa said.
During the fall 2020 semester, Ciampa and Sweeting met virtually at least every 10 days, expanding their knowledge on the salt marsh. While it was her first time conducting undergraduate research, Ciampa said she greatly enjoyed the learning opportunity and the research experience.
For Sweeting, the feeling was mutual.
“The opportunity to work so closely with an undergraduate was just terrific. I would encourage more of my colleagues to do this,” Sweeting said.
CITL provides stipends for CGS students to pursue paid undergraduate research with a member of the CGS faculty. Students interested in pursuing undergraduate research can learn more here.