Sensory Friendly Performance of Roald Dahl\u27s Matilda the Musical

This project contains examples of best practices in theatre to make it accessible to those with sensory sensitivites such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, etc

How External Efficacy Influences Support for Third-Party and Independent Candidates: A Mediational Analysis

As displayed by Ralph Nader in 2000, non-major party candidates can play a decisive role in presidential elections without emerging victorious. Throughout U.S. history, several third-party and independent candidates have garnered notable support, typically among voters who self-identify as independent of partisanship. However, most Independents, particularly leaning Independents, ultimately vote for one of the two major political parties. This research utilizes external efficacy--an individual’s perceptions about the responsiveness of government officials and institutions to citizen demands--as a predictor for voting behavior and partisan identification. In theory, citizens with low external efficacy are more likely to possess frustration with the two major parties and less likely to view non-major party votes as wasted, increasing their likelihood of supporting such candidates. Mediational analyses of American National Election Survey cross-sectional probability samples and a Lucid Theorem convenience sample distributed prior to the 2024 election demonstrate that lower external efficacy predicts a greater likelihood of voting for non-major party candidates, partially mediated by independent identification. This mediated effect appears significantly stronger in the pre-election survey data, suggesting many disillusioned citizens ultimately revert to major party voting despite earlier intentions. The results, all statistically significant, display external efficacy is an important aspect of electoral behavior, independence is not entirely ideological, and third-party candidates should depict the government as unresponsive to the demands of the people in order to generate more support

Are You Really “Just a Girl?”: A Rhetorical Analysis of Female Identity Construction on TikTok

This paper analyzes the use of the phrase “just a girl” on the social media platform TikTok through a feminist rhetorical lens to understand how female identity is being constructed and defined by the young women who use the phrase. By analyzing fourteen videos using the phrase “just a girl,” this paper identifies themes of incompetence, innovation, vanity, and overconsumption. The phrase functions similarly to the phrase “boys will be boys” by infantilizing the people being described while assigning specific behaviors to gender. Men are expected to be dangerous and violent, while women are expected to be incompetent and vapid. The usage of these phrases supports negative stereotypes and assumptions about gender, which then uphold hegemonic gender norms that culturally support violence against women. However, the use of the phrase “just a girl” can also be seen as a rejection of unachievable standards placed on women in contemporary society

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena: Exploring Post-War Ethics

In my paper, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena: Exploring Post-War Ethics, I explore the embodiment of care ethics and informed altruism through the novel’s protagonists, Akhmed and Sonja, respectively, who each care for a local girl Havaa whose home has been destroyed and whose father has been disappeared by the Russian Feds from their small Chechen village. Akhmed immediately takes her on as his own while Sonja is hesitant. As the novel progresses, Sonja and Akhmed each provide an even amount of time and effort into her care, though they approach it differently. Akhmed—Havaa’s neighbor and family friend—works together with Sonja—the surgeon of the nearby hospital who returned to Chechnya during the First Chechen War to find her sister—to maintain a refuge for the girl. Through research on feminist theory regarding care ethics and informed altruism, I analyze the ways in which both characters respond to Havaa and their post-war society through those respective lenses. I further contrast their embodiments of care ethics and altruism to utilitarianism through another character, Ramzan—Akhmed and Havaa’s neighbor, former friend, and current informant to the Feds who, it is suggested, is indirectly responsible for Havaa’s father’s disappearance. This paper aims not to conclude what an appropriate response is to the trauma of wartime and its aftermath, but rather assess how these characters do respond and provide an understanding of why, and how it may reflect real world reactions

Know Thyself: A History of Ancient Neuroscience

Neuroscience is often described as one of the youngest bodies of science, but documented study of the brain begins as early as the Neolithic period. The ancient Mediterranean was a hub for science, mathematics, philosophy, and literature, all disciplines necessary for the study of the brain. Evidence of neurosurgical procedures like trepanation and craniotomy began in the Neolithic period and were practiced and improved upon throughout the ancient Mediterranean. The first detailed studies on brain anatomy were carried out in the 3rd century BCE in Greece which created a necessary structure for future scientists to build on. While many theories of the brain from antiquity have since proven false, multiple theories of function, cognition, sensation, and perception from ancient scientific sources and literary sources echo findings that are foundational for modern neuroscience. The brain’s complexity and ability to change is why it has required centuries of exploration to reach our current understanding. We have the same goal as then, the only major change between then and now is access to modern technology and the speed of information. By examining the similarities and differences of ancient and modern neuroscience we can create a concise timeline of our understanding of the brain

“Every Mother a Missionary”?: The Vlogs of Mormon Mothers

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) places high expectations on mothers because their role in the church is to rear children into godly adults. When their lives are made public through social media, Mormon mothers online avoid religious expectations by withholding information about their Mormon faith and scarcely showing their husbands on-camera. Mormon husbands are expected to be the providers for the family, but as demonstrated through mothers’ vlogs on Instagram, husbands’ erasure allows for mothers to market their expertise to others as a paid product to earn their own revenue. Through descriptive coding, this study categorizes the roles of husbands, children, and online marketing in the vlog content of ten Mormon mothers on Instagram. The coding process incorporated the 10 most recent videos on each Instagram account as of March 21, 2025, totaling at 100 posts coded. In only 9% of the videos, husbands were present and cared for, while in 33% of the videos, children were present and cared for. In place of the absences of family, 53% of the videos contain advertisement, the operational definition of which includes partnerships, sponsorships, affiliate links, or self-promotion. Looking to their accounts as a whole, all 10 Mormon mothers earn commission on products, sell their own products, or both. Finally, only 2% of the videos mentioned their religious beliefs. Mormon mother influencers omit their husbands and religion where possible to monetize themselves independently of their family members, become marketable to a broader audience, and subvert expectations of the LDS Church

A Special Little Guy

Amelia Emory’s Senior Project for UMW Theatre’s production of Matilda the Musical

Becoming Lead Artist for Peter and the Starcatcher

In completion of THEA 492, this website holds my work throughout my time as the Lead Artist for Peter and the Starcatcher at the University of Mary Washington. Here are the documented journals throughout the process, paper work I worked with, works in progress, the finished product, and a final reflection

Athletic Attendance Research

Athletics play a significant role in college communities, providing entertainment, camaraderie, and purpose for students and fans alike. This study examines attendance trends at University of Mary Washington (UMW) home softball games, analyzing factors that may influence spectator turnout. Using a dataset spanning from 2015 to 2024, this research explores attendance numbers in relation to variables such as temperature, time of game, day of the week, opponent type, and UMW’s win percentage. A linear regression analysis conducted in IBM SPSS identified temperature and day of the week as the only statistically significant factors impacting attendance, with p-values of 0.007 and 0.001, respectively. Results indicate that colder temperatures correlate with lower attendance, while weekday games tend to attract more spectators. The study suggests that UMW softball can increase attendance through strategic scheduling and enhanced promotional efforts, particularly for weekend and cold-weather games. However, limitations such as missing attendance data and the exclusion of travel considerations may impact the findings. This research provides insights that could help optimize attendance strategies for collegiate softball and similar athletic events

Production Electrician for Peter and the Starcatcher

A digital collection of the experience fulfilling the role of Production Electrician for the University of Mary Washington Department of Theatre and Dance\u27s 2025 production of Peter and the Starcatcher. This website displays technical information and photos relating to the lighting of this production. Additionally, daily journal entries reflecting on the process of implementing the lighting design for this production are showcased