Independent research provides individuals an opportunity to apply the skills they've learned in the classroom to create their own curriculum and explore passions not yet on any syllabi. Our panelists dedicated their summers to researching populations whose experiences have gone under-examined by society. Angel investigated changeling children and neurodivergence, focusing on the challenges of researching difficult topics. Axis released video essays on YouTube that approached some of his favorite fictional franchises through marginalized lenses, from imagining nonbinary Pokémon to exploring how western fantasy franchises have historically coded dwarves as Jews. Yakira adapted her research on community formation in San Francisco's Chinatown and The Richmond into photo essays and soundscapes. J worked with a nonprofit to research and create a curriculum about nonmonogamy. Belinda conducted archival research on Mount Holyoke alums to determine how a Mount Holyoke education influenced their careers. We hope you'll join us!

Moderator: Eleanor Townsley, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Sociology and Director of Nexus & Nexus Track Chair for Journalism, Media, and Public Discourse

The Changeling Child and Neurodiversity
Angel Fox ’26, English major & Journalism/Museums, Archives and Public History Nexus

The Red Thread, A Study of Chinese Cultural Spaces in San Francisco
Yakira Sameth ’25, Spanish major & Mathematics minor

Creating Video Essays for YouTube
Axis Familant ’25, Psychology major & English minor

Mount Holyoke Firsts: A Summer of Politics Research
Belinda Mazzaferro ’25, Politics major & Education major

Affirming Nonmonogamy
J Farrington ’26, Psychology major, Gender Studies minor, & ASL Certificate