Pictured left to right: Dr. Alex Trillo; Jackie Silva ’16, Christian Ugaz ’15, Dr. Donal Malone, Dr. David Surrey, Elizabeth Nunez ’14, Joe Delorenzo ’17, Nicole Vega ’15, Melissa Gomez ’15, Malia Fredrickson ’15, Dr. Jennifer Ayala, Emmanuel Brito ’17, Christine Colon ’17 and Dr. Joseph McLaughlin. Not shown are Michelle Perez ’16 and Ashley Taylor ’15.

Eleven Saint Peter’s University students, who worked with five members of the Saint Peter’s faculty, presented papers at the Society of Applied Anthropology Meetings in Pittsburgh in March. The students are members of the Latin American/Latino studies program, the sociology and urban studies program, the English department and/or the Title V program. The papers included: Immigrant Children in Translating Culture: Does Origin and locations Matter?; Gentrification, Resistance, and Identity in Spanish Harlem; In Order to Stay the Same You have to Change; A Study of Cultural Conversation and Change in a Latin@ Neighborhood; Gentrification in Downtown Jersey City; and Gender, Stress, and Coping Strategies among Undocumented Immigrants.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Marylou Yam, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education Jennifer Ayala, Ph.D., and Professor of Sociology and Director of the Title V Program David S. Surrey, Ph.D., presented a paper, “Strengthening the Achievement Gap: A 306 Percent Participant Action Report,” at the 27th Annual Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities meeting in Chicago last month. The paper, co-written with student Valezka Cruz ’14, highlighted many of the activities of the $2.8 million Title V grant, which is used to assist students from ninth grade through college graduation. Also discussed were assessment measures and the planning process.

Twelve Saint Peter’s students presented at the Eastern Sociology Society meeting on March 22. Outcomes from the Title V Oscar Romero Project, “The Sociological Imagination and Social Justice,” were discussed and Professor of Sociology Joseph McLaughlin, Ph.D., served as discussant. Student papers were: “Researching of Latin@ Educations,” Catalina Adorno, Elsy Castillo, Fiorella Cacho and Gabrielle Sepulveda with advisor Associate Professor of Education Jennifer Ayala, Ph.D.; “Campaigning for Student Debt Relief at Saint Peter’s University,” Renee Brzyski, Tasheeda Chavis, Julie Obregon and Kaneisha Smith with advisor Associate Professor of Sociology Donal Malone, Ph.D.; “Social Embeddedness and (Very) Small Business Decision-Making,” Alberto Groves and Julio Herrera with advisors Assistant Professor of Business Administration Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., and Associate Professor of Sociology Alex Trillo, Ph.D.; and “Social Media: Vehicle(s) for Social Change: Maybe Too Fast for Sustainability,”  Veleska Cruz and Kayla Hanley with advisor Professor of Sociology David S. Surrey, Ph.D. The students are majors and minors in Africana studies, American studies, anthropology, biology, business and trade, chemistry, criminal justice, education, history, Latino/Latina studies, management and marketing, nursing, political science, psychology, public policy, social justice, sociology and urban studies.