What do projects about the philosophy of math, election finance, online education in Russia, and magazine journalism have in common? Research! Join Ellamae, Emma, Kamila, and Emily as they break down what research and information gathering can look like across a variety of industries and fields. Learn how each summer experience culminated—or will culminate—in a written piece accessible to the public.

Moderator: Hannah Goodwin, Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies & Nexus Track Chair for Journalism, Media, and Public Discourse

Journalism & Communications at a Nonprofit Organization
Emily Tarinelli ’25, English major, Gender Studies minor, & Journalism, Media and Public Discourse Nexus

Existential Crisis: Are numbers real?
Ellamae Cazeault ’25, Math & Philosophy double major

Politics Senior Honors Thesis: Electoral Spending and American Democracy
Emma Cranage ’25, Politics major & Statistics minor

Online Professional Education in Russia
Kamila Iusupova ’25, Economics major, Computer Science minor, & Global Business Nexus

Speaker name: Emma Cranage
Title: Politics Senior Honors Thesis: Electoral Spending and American Democracy
Who empowers American politicians: their voters or donors? Spending and speech are both fundamental forms of political participation in the United States, but to consider them equally “free” methods of expression neglects the inherently capitalist context that surrounds American politics. To begin to address this gap, I analyze the comparative influence of in-state and out-of-state campaign contributions made by individual voters on Senate campaigns between 2012 and 2022. I hypothesize that an increase in either in-state or out-of-state fundraising will be correlated with an increase in candidate success. If so, these findings would call into question how modern campaign finance deregulation has impacted the electoral integrity of America’s representative democracy.

Speaker name: Emily Tarinelli
Title: Journalism & Communications at a Nonprofit Organization
This summer, Emily interned with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association’s Office of Communications, where she wrote articles for publication in a magazine, assisted in the production of a weekly summer e-newsletter, and performed minor website maintenance. Her daily responsibilities consisted of researching article topics, interviewing Coast Guard officers, managing regular correspondence over email, and editing documents posted to the USCGAAA website. Emily’s experience ultimately enabled her to step out of her comfort zone, develop her skills in journalism, teach her more about magazine publications and expand her skills beyond reporting and into the field of communications.

Speaker name: Ellamae Cazeault
Title: Existential Crisis: Are numbers real?
Are numbers real and exist independently from humans? Or are they figments of our imagination - merely symbols that refer to nothing? This is the question I researched over the summer as a part of my honors thesis. On top of posing interesting philosophical questions, this presentation will also cover what the honors thesis process is like, what philosophy research looks like, and give tips on how to stay motivated during an independent project.

Speaker name: Kamila Iusupova
Title: Online Professional Education in Russia
This summer, I researched Russia’s EdTech market, focusing on the rapidly growing field of additional professional education (APE). I analyzed literature critiquing the effectiveness and accessibility of online APE platforms, particularly in the IT sector. I also investigated the demographics of Russian learners, discovering a strong trend among individuals aged 20-25 who are increasingly turning to online courses for career advancement without traditional degrees. This phenomenon is more prevalent in Russia compared to the U.S., where formal degrees are still favored. Through this research, I took away the value of how online education opens up significant opportunities for skill development and career progression, even for those without higher education. The growing EdTech sector in Russia reflects the increasing demand for accessible, flexible education that empowers individuals in a rapidly evolving job market.