Jacqueline Kist’s artwork explores where grief and loss linger in the body, utilizing charcoal to create what she describes as “an image of a memory” — something felt as much as it is seen.
She presented a series of cropped figure drawings. Body shapes were partially obscured, their full forms just out of reach.
“I like to focus on memory and what remains with you as you age,” said Kist, a senior in the University of Akron’s Mary Schiller Myers School of Art. “Cropping the image makes it more mysterious — like how you don’t always remember something clearly.”
A few feet away, Elyse Orosa approached her charcoal drawings from a different perspective, layering references that included mushroom patterns, butterfly wings and microscopic textures into dense, atmospheric compositions.
“I wanted to combine my interests,” Orosa said, drawing on a background in environmental science and psychology. “How we connect with nature can impact our well-being.”
More than 100 University of Akron students presented projects spanning 17 disciplines — from music and art to statistics and psychology — as part of the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences’ fourth annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creativity on April 14.
The event brought together scientific research, performance and creative work, highlighting how students are applying what they learn in the classroom to questions that reach far beyond it.
What stood out across the ballroom of Jean Hower Taber Student Union was the level of work being completed by undergraduate students, said Heather Walter, associate dean of student success at the University of Akron.
“A lot of students don’t get to this point until graduate school,” Walter said. “But here, we have students — even freshmen — engaging in research and creative work at a really high level.”
A closer look at behavior and mental health
Elijah Lefeld’s project examined how personal and family experiences shape behavior and perception, drawing in part from his work at Oriana House of Akron, where he worked as a case manager and listened to people in recovery describe their experiences.
“We really talked about how their experiences shaped them,” Lefeld said, “and how that influences behavior — whether someone continues using or decides to seek help.”
His findings showed that students without firsthand experience with substance use were more likely to view those struggling with addiction negatively.
The presentation served as a warm-up for Lefeld, who said it was his first research-focused presentation ahead of a regional psychology conference in Chicago.
Should mental health professionals or law enforcement respond?
Who should respond to a mental health crisis — and how does that answer change depending on the situation?
People tended to favor mental health professionals in nonviolent situations but shifted toward law enforcement as the perceived level of danger increased, as Bryan Phillips, a senior in psychology major found in his survey. The findings raise broader questions about how communities respond to crises — and whether different systems could work together more effectively.
“It’s not black and white,” Phillips said.
What can data reveal about factors that influence housing prices?
Alex Ruvolo, a senior statistics major, used statistical modeling to analyze factors that influence home values.
The project was inspired by a previous internship with Associated Materials Innovations, where he was introduced to the housing industry and began thinking about how data could be used to better understand it. His findings showed that overall quality had the strongest influence, followed by square footage and features such as garage capacity and number of rooms.
While the topic itself may evolve, Ruvolo said he hopes to continue working with data to uncover patterns and inform real-world decisions.
Finding resilience through poetry
Another form of art — this time through words — explored resilience and identity.
As a senior anthropology major, Mason Swanson examined the writing of Reynaldo Arenas, whose work reflects life under political repression. Drawing from his memoir, “Before Night Falls,” and poetic work, the project explored how storytelling can serve as a form of survival for marginalized communities.
“He shows a lot of resistance through his work,” Swanson said. “That’s something we can apply to a lot of things.”
The project began in a Spanish class discussion on U.S. influence in Latin America but quickly became more personal.
“One of the biggest takeaways is perseverance,” Swanson said, adding that in a time of political division, recognizing different voices and identities remains essential.
Tracking microplastics in the Cuyahoga River
What’s in the water? What does it reveal about human impact?
Both questions were central to Ella Pitz’s research, as a senior geology major.
Pitz studied microplastics in the Cuyahoga River and found they were widespread across multiple sampling locations. Her research showed that concentrations often decreased farther from population centers, though some areas still showed unexpectedly high levels.
“We live here, we use this space, and we affect it,” Pitz said.
She plans to continue the work in graduate school, expanding research on how microplastics move through local waterways.
Motherhood in the justice system
Defining what it means to be a “good mother” becomes far more complicated inside the justice system — especially for women trying to rebuild their lives.
Brynn Lewis, a criminal justice major, interviewed professionals across Akron to better understand how local systems support mothers navigating the legal process.
She found there is no single definition of a “good mother,” with responses shaped by individual circumstances and challenges. The research also highlighted gaps in the system, including transportation barriers and a lack of family-friendly spaces in courts.
“At the end of the day,” Lewis said, “it’s about helping them get back on their feet.”
Walter, the associate dean, said growth relies heavily on mentorship, with faculty and graduate students guiding undergraduates as they develop their skills.
“Nobody’s looking for perfection,” Walter said. “This is about experience — and being able to talk about what you created and why it matters.”
