Skulls house sensory systems that perceive communicative signals and may be shaped by behavior over evolutionary time. Here, I used an indicator trait (presence of a blue patch used as a sexual signal and linked to differences in sensory behavior) to test whether Sceloporus lizard species that rely more on olfactory behavior differ in skull morphology and sensory structures from those that rely more on visual behavior. We marked specific morphological points on Sceloporus skulls to compare the distances between significant sensory structures, such as eye orbit and snout length. Adjusting for body length, I found that white-bellied lizards have a wider snout tip, suggesting more evolutionary investment in chemosensory structures. White-bellied lizards also had a pattern of larger olfactory and visual skull morphology. Finally, I found a strong robust positive correlation between visual and olfactory structures. Together, our results support a hypothesis of strong integration between sensory structures, suggesting that vision and olfaction are evolving in concert rather than independently in Sceloporus lizards.

This paper encompasses a reflection of my experience engaging Algebra 1 students in a math classroom. 5 main strategies were focused on: incorporating games in the classroom, asking students to create (projects, word problems, etc), using technology in the classroom, fostering student collaboration, and allowing student choice. Each strategy was implemented three times in the classroom, student feedback collected, and the level of student engagement was assessed.

In this creative project, I explore the effects of Founder's Syndrome and use my own experience as a co-founder of a student organization to determine effective practices for ensuring the sustainability of the organization. I conducted a literature review of other sources related to Founder's Syndrome and used their results to guide my decisions, and then later reviewed the effectiveness of those practices. For the final product, I created a website that can be passed down among future generations of leaders with important information regarding the organization and operations. I presented this website, as well as my research and findings in a presentation for my defense.

Sex education in Arizona is abstinence focused with little needing to be medically accurate. In today's technological era, students are exposed to a lot online that can be misleading. In my research, I compare Arizona to other Southwestern states sex education programs to suggest reform and changes that will better inform students on sex education. As a future educator, it is important to me that reforms be made to truly educate the youth in Arizona.

Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that affects an individual's ability to function per societal expectations, leading to the onset of stigmatization and discrimination. This can affect the course and outcome of the individual's diagnosis, which impacts several aspects of life, including interpersonal relationships, self-care, and medical attention. Reclassifying the term "schizophrenia" can create a better understanding of the disorder's symptoms and increase funding and research to alleviate the stigmatization currently affecting individuals with this diagnosis.

“Bridging Success: Reviewing Effectiveness and Implementing Additional Programming” focuses on partnering with Arizona State University’s Bridging Success program to evaluate effective program components and propose additional programming for the upcoming Bridging Success Early Start (BSES) program. To effectively evaluate Bridging Success, this thesis is broken down into several sections: methods, literary analysis, landscaping, presentation of results, discussion of results, recommendations, and conclusions to ultimately address our central research questions: How is Bridging Success Early Start valued by previous program members, and does the program contribute to a successful transition to college for students who were formerly in foster care?