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Erskine fields five presenters at Alpha Chi convention

Five Erskine students spoke about their academic research at this year’s Alpha Chi convention April 4-6 in Cleveland, Ohio. Four undergraduates, some of them seniors who have since graduated, as well as one graduate student, offered presentations in various areas of study.

“The Alpha Chi Convention was an amazing and optimistic time, where as a faculty sponsor I got to see that Erskine students are right there with the best and brightest of peer schools,” Professor of Psychology Dr. Robert Elsner said.

In the area of environmental science, college senior Elizabeth Bishop—who graduated summa cum laude with a double major in biology and English and a minor in chemistry—spoke about “Sublethal Cyanide Exposure: Sources, Health Effects, and Remediation.”

“The presentation is great practice in presenting big research experiences,” Bishop said. “It is very uplifting to see how well Erskine students are prepared in knowledge and ability to present.”

Senior Emily Bray, now a magna cum laude graduate with a double major in chemistry and biology, gave a presentation in the area of health sciences entitled “Molecular Mechanism of Opioids and Current Treatment Options for Opiod Addiction.”

Junior biology major Sarah Kate Coleman, now a rising senior, offered a presentation in psychology entitled “The Placebo Effect Transcends to Packaging.”

In the area of psychology, senior Cori Damron, who graduated summa cum laude with a double major in chemistry and psychology and a minor in biology, spoke about “Cognitive Rehabilitation Following a Traumatic Brain Injury.”

Damron, who also made a psychology presentation last year, said, “Alpha Chi has helped me break out of my shell and become a more confident and engaging presenter.”

“The Alpha Chi Convention was an amazing and optimistic time, where as a faculty sponsor I got to see that Erskine students are right there with the best and brightest of peer schools,” Professor of Psychology Dr. Robert Elsner said.

Elizabeth Bishop, left,  received the H.M. Young
Ring this year.

 Emily Bray

Kyle Keesling, a 2018 graduate of Erskine College who completed a Master of Arts in Theology at Erskine Seminary this May, offered a presentation in the area of Philosophy and World Religions entitled “Of What Use is Discourse Analysis to the New Testament Student?”

“The Alpha Chi Honor Society provides a multitude of opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to present research, publish research, proofread, and network across disciplines,” Keesling said. “From my research in New Testament Greek linguistics to research on sublethal cyanide exposure, Erskine College and Theological Seminary presented on a wide variety of topics.”

Elsner expressed enthusiasm for the Erskine students’ presentations as well as for their responses to the work of other students.

“Across the disciplines, our students showed insight and abilities for solving major problems of the world,” he said. “Their passion for their disciplines and erudition, a sign of a good liberal arts education, was evident as they asked excellent and meaningful questions during other presentations that contributed to the scholarship of other students and faculty.”

Sarah Kate Coleman

Kyle Keesling

Cori Damron

Erskine and Due West Skyline

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Erskine College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

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