CAS STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS ZYNEYCEA DEFFENBAUGH MAJOR | SOCIOLOGY CLASS OF 2024 RESEARCH MENTORS: DRS. JOSHUA JANSA AND REBECCA HERRICK WAGONER, OKLAHOMA HOW DID YOU BEGIN YOUR RESEARCH? I was unaware that you could do undergraduate research with professors as well as receive compensation for the work conducted. I began my research through a program called Advancing Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. Through AURCA, I became a research assistant for Dr. Joshua Jansa and Dr. Rebecca Herrick in the Department of Political Science to evaluate “Race and Roadblocks Enclosed in American Voting.” This led me to apply for an internship with Dr. Parker VanValkenburgh from Brown University and Dr. Alicia Odewale from the University of Tulsa to map the historical traumas of the Tulsa Race Massacre. WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT OF YOUR RESEARCH? Within Dr. Jansa’s and Dr. Herrick’s research, the focal point is centered on how registration can serve as a major conflict that can depress and discourage certain voters from participating in the process. Due to this, voting turnout is significantly lower among minorities as opposed to their white counterparts. To help enhance and create better voting procedures, five key registration laws are analyzed: Registration Deadline, Registration Portability, Online Registration Access, Ability to Preregister, and Automatic Voter Registration. I presented this research at the 2023 Undergraduate Symposium at OSU. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS? Since graduating in May, I am taking a gap year to focus on the LSAT and apply for law school. I also participated in the Oklahoma Legislative Fellowship Program during the summer. Within the College of Arts and Sciences’ 24 departments, there are countless scholars performing groundbreaking research. Here’s a glimpse of five students who — along with their faculty mentors — are proving why Orange is the Answer when it comes to solving problems and improving the world. COMPILATIONS DR. RACHAEL EATON | PHOTOS ELLIE PIPER AND PROVIDED 16 CONNECT 2024
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAxMjk=