Research by Salisbury University students recently caught the attention of Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who was a surprise guest at SU’s annual Posters on the Bay presentation in Annapolis. SU’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (OURCA) gave some 29 students the opportunity to showcase their recent research projects for Maryland senators, delegates, alumni, family and friends during the event. Moore spoke to each presenter about their work and shared his well wishes for their future.

“It’s an honor to have Governor Moore speaking to our students about their research,” said SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre. “Posters on the Bay allows SU students to highlight topics they are passionate about and demonstrate to legislators and others the impact undergraduate research has on our community and across the state.”

Maryland Governor Wes Moore was a surprise guest at SU’s annual Posters on the Bay presentation in Annapolis recently.

The event returned to Annapolis for the first time since 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions for the past two years. Projects covered a wide variety of social, health and economic issues. 

SU presenters and their topics included:

• Madyson Amo of Cape Vincent, N.Y., and Abigail Walsh of Bel Air, Md. – Volunteerism at the Newton Street Community Center

• Emmanuela Angu and Min Thway Khant of Salisbury, Stefani Lanahan of Secretary and Danielle Olenchak of Valhalla, N.Y. – Targeting Cancer–Associated Proteins for Tumor Imaging

• Connor Bean of Crownsville and Bradley Cruikshank of Denton – The Combinatorics of a Small Family of Odd Symplectic Partial Flag Manifolds

• Lydia Bradshaw of Delmar, Md. – Does Visitor Behavior Effect Animal Behavior within Zoos?

• Dre’von Clark of Salisbury, Amanda Niederland of Clayton and Jaedyn Messer of Olney – The Continuing Efforts to Redress Government Discrimination Toward the LGBTQ+ Community: Imprint of the Lavender Scare

• Tiah Coates of Fort Washington – Does Maryland’s Local Government Funding for Mental Health Service Reflect Systemic Bias Against the Population?

• Ryan Devine of Villas, N.J. – Aiding the Youth Homelessness Crisis Through Community Action

• Jenna Feinauer of Silver Spring – Zero Waste at the Maryland Folk Festival

• Jake Goodman of Gaithersburg – The Intersectionality of Environmental Conflict and Disability in Maryland, Other States, and Abroad

• Eliza Hurd of Elkton – Analyzing the Efficacy of Public School Mental Health Systems

• Maria Kaschak of Clarksville – New Insights on the Fecundity of the Blue Catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, Brings About a New Understanding of this Invasive Species 

• Francis Lopez Chilel of Salisbury – Effects of Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) Mucus and Scales on Terrestrial Friction

• Kellan McAleer of Ellicott City – The Lack of Financial Literacy of Americans and the impact on the US Economy

• Carly Nascimbeni of Berlin – Ethics Education Combats Epistemic Injustice in Prison

• Samantha Peters of Rockville, Conn. – Trace Metal Concentration of Sediment in Two Chesapeake Bay Tributaries, Wicomico and Nanticoke Rivers

• Evan Polkinghorn and Andrew Wilson of Salisbury – A Comprehensive Public Transportation Survey of the Delmarva Peninsula

• Rebecca Pritt of Havre de Grace – Exodus: Sex-specific Movements of Endangered Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) Leaving Breeding Ponds and their Terrestrial Activity

• Zobi Rani and Ann Thomas of Salisbury – Using Chemistry to Find Better Solutions for Available MRI Contrast Agents

• Sean Roesener of Bel Air – Rhabdomyolysis in the NCAA

• Luke Zolenski of Berlin – Creating… Creating…

SU sponsors graduate and undergraduate student research projects throughout the year. Those interested in research opportunities may contact OURCA at

OU***@sa*******.edu











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