Students explore big ideas through Summer Scholars research program

Thirteen students from diverse majors will tackle innovative, in-depth research projects on campus as part of the Summer Scholars program.

Summer Scholars supports real-world learning for students by offering paid research positions that enable them to do a deep dive into an original topic. Selection for the program is competitive. Each successful applicant works closely with a faculty mentor.

This year's cohort of Summer Scholars was announced April 16. Their work will take place between May and July.

“This is a stellar class of Summer Scholars, with work spanning a wide range of topics and disciplines," said Associate Professor Travis Carter, Roanoke College's Director of Experiential Learning. "Getting dedicated research time during the summer is an incredible opportunity, and I look forward to seeing how their projects progress and what kind of discoveries they’ll make along the way."

2025 Summer Scholars

C.H. Angleberger '26, a history major, is working with Professor Mary Henold on the project: “Be Glad You're An American” The Norfolk & Western Railway Advertises Stability and Industrialization."

Ama Damuah '26, a creative writing major, is working with Associate Professor Teresa Milbrodt on the project: "Anansi Meets Spiderman: Using West African Folklore to Shape Contemporary African Fiction."

Camilla Digoussar '27, a math major, is working with Professor Ian Michalski (Modern Languages) and Professor Maggie Rahmoeller (Math) on the project: "Modeling and Comparison of Grammatical Case Systems in Romance and Slavic Language."

Madeline Dillon '27, a public policy and art history major, is working with Professor Andreea Mihalache-O’Keef on the project: "A Practical Evaluation of and Recommendations for Transportation and Associated Resource Accessibility in the Roanoke Valley."

Lynzie Cape '27, a public health studies major, is working with Assistant Professor Kimberly Garza on the project: "The Adventure Play Network."

Mary Langan '26, a French major, is working with Associate Professor Nelson Barre on the project: "His Doll: A Dramaturgical Analysis of Henrick Ibsen’s A Doll’s House Through Feminist and Historical Lenses."

Alexis Hamilton '26, a chemistry major, is working with Assistant Professor Daniel Nasrallah on the project: "Intramolecularly Activated sp3 Boronate Complexes."

Crockett Hill '25, a chemistry major, is working with Professor Kelly Anderson on the project: "Analysis of Solid-Liquid Interactions in Thin Films."

Moazzam Maan '27, a computer science major, is working with Professor Anil Shende on the project: "Finding Largest Independent Sets in Families of Circulant Graphs."

Ayham Makhamra '27, a computer science major, is working with Assistant Professor Michael Weselcouch on the project: "Darts Analysis."

Austin Nielsen '26, a health and exercise science major, is working with Assistant Professor Sean Cochran on the project: "The Effects of Aerobic Fitness on Bilateral Transfer in Older Adults."

Lucas Pace '26, an environmental studies major, is working with Professor Kathy O'Neill on the project: "Tourism vs. Conservation: Unveiling ecotourism’s impact through an analysis on Reserva Araponga, Brazil."

Liz Satynska '26, a computer science major, is working with Associate Professor Dan Robb on the project: "Exploring Dynamic Phase Transitions in a Mean-Field Model of Magnetism."