The Appalachian College Association is very pleased to recognize the research of its 2025 Ledford Scholars. These undergraduate students receive funding that enables them to work on a significant research project during either the summer or fall of 2025.
Both the summer and fall projects are completed, and the Scholars' presentations are available for viewing. Click on each Scholar’s project title to view their research presentation. The recordings are divided between summer or fall projects, and they are listed in alphabetical order by the presenter’s last name. We want especially to thank the Ledford Faculty Mentors (included with each listing) for their important contributions to the success of these student projects.
Ledford Fall Project Presentations
Lathan Cornett, Alice Lloyd College (Biology): "The Impact of Smoking and Vaping on Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum in the Respiratory Microbiome," Emily Stanczak-Maple, Faculty Mentor
Taylor Dewald, Carson-Newman University (Biology Education): "Determining Bumblebee Diversity and Abundance Across Two Different Habitats," Jessica Evans, Faculty Mentor
Argo Fredericksen, Emory & Henry University (Biology & Chemistry): "Role of ASER and ASEL Neurons in Nicotine State Dependent Learning in Caenorhabditis elegans," Jonathan Lindsay, Faculty Mentor
Trevor Hansen, Campbellsville University (Biology & Psychology): "Cytotoxic Effects of Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide Cocktail in E. coli," William Mackay, Faculty Mentor
McKinley Jones, Lincoln Memorial University (Biology, Pre-Health Emphasis): "Investigating the Toxicological Effects of Fluoride on Juvenile C. elegans," Julie Hall, Faculty Mentor
Holly Jordan, University of Pikeville (Biology): "Rapid Production of FDA-Approved Lecanemab Using a Plant-Based Transient Expression Platform," Kevin Wang, Faculty Mentor
Annabella Kovach, Bethany College (Environmental Science): "Surveying the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) Population of a Stream in Northern West Virginia," Kathy Baker-Brosh, Faculty Mentor
Aubrey Long, Tennessee Wesleyan University (Health and Human Performance, Pre-Physical Therapy Emphasis): "Where Are Adults Physically Active in Non-Metropolitan Areas?" Douglas Gregory, Faculty Mentor (Video & Photo Forthcoming)
Dalton Maynard, University of Pikeville (Biology): "Study of Population Dynamic of Mice in a Forest Ecosystem Using Capture-Mark-Recapture (CMR) Method," Agus Sofyan, Faculty Mentor
Carly Mozingo, Lincoln Memorial University (Biology, Pre-Health Professions): "Prevalence and Diversity of Bartonella spp. in Eastern Bluebirds (Sialis sialis) from a Mortality Event in Western Tennessee and Kentucky," Barbara Shock, Faculty Mentor
Adrian Nelka-Hernandez, Tennessee Wesleyan University (Health and Human Performance, Pre-Physical Therapy Emphasis): "Impact of Park Use on Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life," Douglas Gregory, Faculty Mentor (Video & Photo Forthcoming)
Bailee Pennington, University of Pikeville (Biomedical Sciences): "The Binding of Novel Endogenous Cannabinoid Enzyme Inhibitors in Bovine Eye," Matthew Lazenka, Faculty Mentor
Reese Stivers, Alice Lloyd College (Biology): "Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Its Effect on Health Outcomes in Appalachia," Emily Stanzcak-Maple, Faculty Mentor
Charles Tuggle, Maryville College (Neuroscience): "Prevalence of Co-occurring Psychiatric Conditions Post Traumatic Brain Injury," Chad Schrock, Faculty Mentor
Erica Werth, University of Pikeville (Psychology & Chemistry): "Estrogen Potentiation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Activation Induced by Bradykinin," Guichun Han, Faculty Mentor
Cooper Willhite, Tennessee Wesleyan University (Biology, Environmental Science Emphasis): "Making the Invisible Visible: 3D Printing Organic Molecules to Stimulate Visual Thinking," Oksana Gerlits, Faculty Mentor
Shali Young, Carson-Newman University (Biology): "Quantitative Data Analysis of Ticks Carrying Rickettsia," Matt Wilkerson, Faculty Mentor
Ledford Summer Project Presentations
Jacob Bailey, Lee University (Mathematics): "Further Divisions of a 2 x n Rectangle," Richard Moy, Faculty Mentor
Sophie Daniel, University of the South (Political Science): "Suppression of the Voice: The Impact of Voter Restriction Laws on Racial Minority Voter Turnout in Southern Appalachia," Clarissa Peterson, Faculty Mentor
William Davis, Lee University (Political Science & History): "Giles of Viterbo: A Man Whose Encyclopedic Life, Work, and Intellect, Ought not be Lost," Jared Wielfaert, Faculty Mentor
Calli Dussia, Tennessee Wesleyan University (History): "Complacency and Complicity: Socioeconomic and Ideological Influences on German Citizens During the Holocaust," John Seitz, Faculty Mentor
Willow Ferguson, Davis & Elkins College (Environmental Science & English): "Analyzing the Nature Writing Canon through Critical Disability Studies," Sebastian Williams, Faculty Mentor
Drake Fowler, Montreat College (Environmental Science): "Examining Mercury Biomagnification in Belted Kingfishers in Helene Impacted Western North Carolina," Joshua Holbrook, Faculty Mentor
Chloe Freake, Lee University (Sociology): "Why No-One Wants to Work Anymore: Occupational Burnout Amongst Customer Service Workers," Arlie Tagayuna, Faculty Mentor
Isabella Gall, Tusculum University (Psychology): "Fear of Failure, Life Satisfaction, and the Role of Stress and Reappraisal," Katherine Smith, Faculty Mentor
Muhammad Ghayur, University of Pikeville (Biomedical Sciences): "The Role of The Excitatory G Protein in Estrogen Receptor-Mediated Coronary Relaxation," Guichun Han, Faculty Mentor
Jetta Ghosthorse, Warren Wilson College (Sociology, Anthropology, & Global Studies): "Community, Climate, and Connection in Disaster Recovery: Creating Paths Forward through Frameworks of Place-based Knowledge and Local Stewardship in Practice," Siti Kusujiarti, Faculty Mentor
Benjamin Greer, Lincoln Memorial University (Conservation Biology): "Quantifying Predator Diversity in NE Costa Rica," LaRoy Brandt, Faculty Mentor
Kendall Hacker, Lindsey Wilson University (Biology): "Field Measurement of Personality Traits of Two Common Competitors: White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) and Golden Mouse (Ochrotomys nuttalli)," Sara Ash, Faculty Mentor
Terri Hamilton, Lincoln Memorial University (English & History): "Appalachian Folklore: A Fieldwork Collection," Abigail Heiniger, Faculty Mentor
Mallory Johnson, University of Pikeville (Biomedical Sciences): "The Role of Gm14964 and miR-487b in Fear Memory," Sujin Bao, Faculty Mentor
Aiden Jones, Lincoln Memorial University (Pre-Veterinarian Studies): "Taxonomic Identification and Key Development for Opossum Parasites," Kathryn Purple, Faculty Mentor
Madeline Jones, Carson-Newman University (Biochemistry): "Poly Vinyl Chloride Leaches from PVC Pipe to Common Chemicals," Christine Dalton, Faculty Mentor
Presley Kinser, University of PIkeville (Biomedical Sciences): "Appalachian Children's Eye (ACE) Study," Neeraj Singh, Faculty Mentor
Emily Kledzik, Carson-Newman University (English/Creative Writing): "Emily Dickinson in Bibliotherapy," Damjana Marovic-O'Hare, Faculty Mentor
Allison Lienemann, Warren Wilson College (Conservation Biology): "Survival and Success of Native, Riparian, Woody Live Stakes following Catastrophic Flooding," Amy Boyd, Faculty Mentor
Claire Matherly, Lincoln Memorial University (Conservation Biology): "Research Project Title: Mapping Habitat Patchiness within a Variable Tropical Landscape in the Caribbean Lowlands of Costa Rica," LaRoy Brandt, Faculty Mentor
Weslyn McIntosh, Lincoln Memorial University (Conservation Biology): "Quantifying Anuran Species Diversity in a Caribbean Lowland Rainforest," LaRoy Brandt, Faculty Mentor
Zachary Mendez, Lee University (Exercise Science): "Hydration Testing on Firefighters during Drills," Pamela Hobbs, Faculty Mentor
Lydia Norman, Montreat College (Environmental Science): "Assessment of the Imperiled Eastern Hellbender Post- Hurricane Helene," Joshua Holbrook, Faculty Mentor
Jonah Pope, Lee University (Biological Science): "Determining the Effect of Pufferfish Toxin 'Tetrodotoxin' on Cancer Cell Mobility," Jonathan Cornett, Faculty Mentor
Mason Raker, Lee University (Ecology/Environmental Science): "Jump Around: A Survey of Treefrogs in the Southeastern Forest Canopy," Thaddeus McRae, Faculty Mentor
Sydnee Rogers, University of Pikeville (Information Technology Management): "Bridging Educational Gaps for Non-Traditional Students in Rural Appalachia Using AI Tools," Praveen Kumar Guraja, Faculty Mentor
Samantha Sasinouski, Maryville College (Neuroscience): "Comparing the Efficacy of Lithium and Abilify on Bipolar-like Symptoms and BDNF Expression in Zebrafish," Jeff Kelly, Faculty Mentor
Josie Short, Lincoln Memorial University (Conservation Biology): "The Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Bat Guilds and Biodiversity at the La Suerte Biological Field Station in Costa Rica," LaRoy Brandt, Faculty Mentor
Lily Stooksbury, University of the South (Undeclared): "The Impact of Voter Restriction Laws on Racial Minority Voter Turnout in Southern Appalachia," Clarissa Peterson, Faculty Mentor
Stewart Thacker, Lincoln Memorial University (Conservation Biology): "Utilizing eDNA to Survey the Powell River for Presence of Blotchside Logperch (Percina burtoni) to Inform Conservation of the Critically Endangered Mussel, Cumberlandian Combshell (Epioblasma brevidens)," Matthew Lewis, Faculty Mentor
Alexa Travis, Carson-Newman University (Biology): "Nest Box Success of American Kestrels in Southeast Tennessee," Jessica Evans, Faculty Mentor
