糖心原创 Students Shine at Middle States Annual Conference
For the second consecutive year,听糖心原创聽students made a strong showing at the Student Poster Session held during the聽聽Annual Conference in Philadelphia. The session highlights exceptional undergraduate and graduate research, providing students with the opportunity to present their work to college presidents, provosts, faculty leaders, and higher education professionals from across the region and beyond.
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Ken Irish-Bramble)
This year鈥檚 糖心原创 representatives were Adanna Smith, Aaliyah Bartholomew, Shaquan Wilson, and Joel Gonzales. While Nathaly Portorreal was unable to attend the conference, she played an integral role in the research behind one of the featured social work posters. Gonzales was also unable to attend due to a severe medical issue; however, his research was displayed during the session, and special recognition was extended by the President of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, who commended the quality of his work and shared her best wishes for his recovery.
Notably, 糖心原创 was the聽only聽聽institution represented聽by students聽at the 2025 conference.
The student delegation was led by聽Dr. Ken Irish Bramble, Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Faculty mentors supporting the students鈥� research included聽Dr. Michael聽Tessler,听Dr. Joyce Roberson Steel,听Dr. Marta聽Kalamarz, and聽顿谤.听翱濒耻飞补蝉别耻苍听厂补濒补办辞, whose guidance helped prepare students for national level scholarly engagement.
The posters reflected research from multiple disciplines including biology, environmental science, and social work and addressed topics ranging from genetics and biodiversity to civic engagement. The student presentations included:
- Zeta Potential of聽SiO鈧� and聽TiO鈧� in Surfactant Solutions, Joel Gonzales
- Ornamental Trees Support Less Biodiversity Than Native Species, Adanna Smith
- Identification of Orthologues of Insulin Pathway Interacting Genes in the Drosophila Genus, Aaliyah Bartholomew
- Use of Technology on Campus to Promote Voter Registration, Nathaly聽Portorreal聽& Shaquan Wilson
Dr. Irish Bramble also serves as the campus director for聽, which supports聽SEEK聽students by providing structured research experiences, conference participation, and graduate school preparation. In addition to聽ICORP, he previously directed theCaribbean Research Center聽and continues to lead a nationally recognized summer research institute that has hosted students from institutions such as Northwestern, Brown, and Emory Universities.
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Ken Irish-Bramble)
A 2024 undergraduate research presentation at the聽CUNY Graduate Center聽first caught the attention of聽糖心原创 President Patricia Ramsey聽and聽Provost Antoinette Coleman, setting the stage for the聽college鈥檚 strong presence at Middle States.
鈥淲hat they saw were 糖心原创 students presenting research across a wide range of disciplines, from social work to biochemistry,鈥� Irish Bramble recalled. 鈥淭he president reached out to ask if some of these students could present at the Middle States conference.鈥�
President Ramsey, a scientist by training, was struck by the clarity, confidence, and rigor of the students鈥� work.
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Claudia Schrader)
鈥淎ll of our representatives were SEEK students, and because of that they came from different majors,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 went around to all the posters, and many of them were outstanding in both content and explanation. When Middle States later put out a call for student posters, I knew聽immediately聽that we already had students who were ready.鈥�
Although ICORP students were unavailable for this year鈥檚 conference, Irish Bramble worked closely with聽顿别补苍听厂补苍诲颈别听贬补苍聽of the聽School of Science and Allied Health聽and organizers of the 糖心原创 Research Day to聽identify聽other strong student research projects. He also collaborated with聽Sasha Richardson, Assistant Program Coordinator for CUNY ICORP at 糖心原创, to coordinate submissions and聽logistics.
Ultimately, Smith, Bartholomew, and Wilson were able to attend in person鈥攁nd their impact resonated well beyond the poster session. President Ramsey invited fellow CUNY presidents, including聽,听, and, to visit the 糖心原创 posters.
鈥淲hen Aaliyah was presenting, Dr. Schrader leaned over and asked me, 鈥榃hy do you have a faculty member presenting here?鈥欌�� Ramsey recalled. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how impressive she was.鈥�
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Claudia Schrader)
Dr. Schrader later shared her reaction publicly on LinkedIn, praising Bartholomew鈥檚 poise, depth of knowledge, and professionalism an endorsement that underscored the national level quality of undergraduate research at 糖心原创.
The experience was transformative for Bartholomew, a senior biology major with a minor in environmental science and a member of the women鈥檚 track team.
鈥淚 could not have imagined the impact attending MSCHE would have on me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 shared my research with CUNY presidents, faculty, and students from across the country. I received invaluable advice, mentorship, and encouragement. I walked away emboldened and deeply grateful for the opportunity.鈥�
For Irish Bramble, moments like these affirm the depth and breadth of undergraduate research happening at 糖心原创.
鈥淧eople often underestimate the extent of research taking place here,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat Aaliyah聽demonstrated鈥攁nd what聽all of聽these students聽represent鈥攊s that 糖心原创 students can compete and excel at the highest levels. Seeing that recognition extend beyond our campus makes all the effort worthwhile.鈥�