3 Majors Present at 2105 NCUR in Spokane

Archaeology/art history double  major Carly H., archaeology major Alyssa R. along with social studies education/classical studies double major Alex D., recently presented at the 2015 NCUR Conference in Spokane, WA.  Each student presented research in their related discipline.  The conference was held April 16-18 at Eastern Washington University with over 2,000 students from across the nation in attendance.

Alex D., Alyssa R. and Carly H.

Student Brianna M. gets published

I had an internship at Willard Library in Spring of my sophomore year.  During my time as an intern, I transcribed the records from the Evansville Home for the Friendless, which was a maternity home in the late nineteenth century.  Maternity homes typically housed unmarried women and widows, but this particular Home was home to a variety of sexually delinquent girls and women.  The Matron of the homes recorded the stories of these women, and I noticed a blatantly judgmental tone in the records throughout the transcription process.  A selection of my transcriptions have been published in the September 2013 issue of The Tri-State Packet of the Tri-State Genealogical Society.

I subsequently approached the records with questions regarding why the Matron was judging and shaming the admitted women. Two years later, I wrote my senior thesis on my conclusions about the transcriptions as well as the influence of the Women's Movement in Victorian Era America.  I ultimately concluded that the Women's Movement harmed women through sexuality shaming.   I am submitting an article for an Indiana history scholarly journal this semester, and I plan to continue my research this semester as well as after graduation.

Archaeology and Art History Majors Present at NCUR

Three of the twelve UE students who presented their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) held April 11-13 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin were archaeology and art history majors!


Alexandra Cutler: “Scams and Shams: The Importance of Forgeries in Archaeology.”

Samantha Miller: “Evolution of the Villanovans to the Etruscans Through a Transition in Societal Beauty.”

Hilary Waltz: “The Savage Indian? 19th Century American Attitudes Toward Natives and the Work of George Catlin.”

Congratulations to these May 2013 graduates!

Senior Ben O. wins research award

Benjamin Ollestad, senior Archaeology and Sociology- Anthropology specialization double major, was presented with the inaugural Hanns G. Pieper Sociology and Criminal Justice Senior Research Award. Ollestad's research, entitled "Infidelity among College Students" was selected from a competitive field of senior research projects from Sociology and Criminal Justice majors. This award is named in honor of Dr. Hanns G. Pieper, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, for his dedication to promoting independent student research in Sociology and Criminal Justice. Congratulations, Ben!

Two UE Archaeology Majors Present at NCUR

We are very pleased that two of the eight UE students who presented at the 2012 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) held at Weber State University in Ogden, UT March 29-31 were archaeology majors!  Elizabeth B. presented a poster entitled "University of Evansville Veterans: Civil War to Afghanistan and Iraq" and Rachel L. presented a paper entitled "Castles, Confusion, and the Count: Vlad the Impaler's Impact on Tourism in Romania."  Both presentations were very well received and Rachel has been invited to publish hers in the NCUR 2012 Proceedings!  Elizabeth and Rachel had a great time and recommend that other students take advantage of this opportunity to present their original research.

History major Ashley M., Rachel and Elizabeth at Weber State.

Elizabeth with her poster.

Three UE Archaeology and Art History Majors present at Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention

Archaeology and Art History seniors Rachel Lawrence, Emily Mella and Leah Thomas presented their original research at the Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society) Bienniel Convention in Orlando, FL January 3-7, 2012. 

Leah (left rear) and Emily (right) enjoying Orlando when not in conference sessions.

Rachel presented a paper entitled "Vlad the Impaler: Incidents of an Unlikely Idol," Emily presented "The Development of European Religious Architecture," and Leah presented "The Art of 18th Century Dining."  Congratulations to these three members of the class of 2012!


Rachel gives her presentation at Phi Alpha Theta.

Student Lauren Weingart reports on summer NSF REU program at Notre Dame

In the months of June and July, I participated in the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) in Bioarchaeology at Notre Dame. This program was a perfect fit for me because it combined my interests in bioarchaeology and Near Eastern studies. The undergraduate research fellows involved worked with the human remains from three sites in the Levant: Bab edh-Dhra', Byzantine St. Stephens, and Tel Dothan. My team worked with the Early Bronze Age II and III (3000-2750 BCE; 2750-2300 BCE) remains from Bab edh-Dhra'. We were interested in determining whether or not the individuals buried at the site were locals or migrants. During Early Bronze I-III in the region, a transition from a more pastoral lifestyle to a more settled agricultural, and eventually urban lifestyle took place. While some scholars have theorized that this urbanization was an internal development, others have suggested that outside influences, perhaps from the already urbanized areas of Egypt and Mesopotamia, may have played a part in this transition. After examining the evidence for both theories, my group hypothesized that we would find individuals who appeared to be locals. In order to distinguish local from non-local individuals, we examined the radiogenic strontium isotope ratios of 25 tooth enamel samples taken from the remains unearthed at Bab edh-Dhra'. Our results are not yet available.

Lauren drills a tooth.

Participating in the program was an excellent experience. The first two weeks were spent learning human bone anatomy and biology, as well as learning to recognize some common pathologies that can affect bone. The remainder of the seven week program was spent conducting research in small groups. Throughout the program we were visited by scholars from a diverse range of fields, whose expertise all ultimately related to our research in some capacity. This was a great opportunity not only to network with eminent scholars, but to explore our interests in a wide range of fields and specialties. I learned that not only do I have a passion for research, but I have a great love and talent for drilling teeth, and I reaffirmed my active interests in bioarchaeology, Near Eastern studies, and public archaeology. The experience in conducting relatively independent research, and the opportunity to continue that research, were irreplacable experiences. Invaluable are the many connections forged with visiting and resident scholars and my fellow students. I am in tremendous debt to Dr. Sue Sheridan, Dr. Jaime Ullinger, Lesley Gregoricka, and Theresa Gilner for their hard work and guidance.

Juniors Leah Thomas and Rachel Lawrence present at conference

Leah (left) and Rachel (right) at Moravian College.

Juniors Leah Thomas and Rachel Lawrence presented their original research at the Fifth Undergraduate Conference in Medieval and Early Modern Studies at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA on December 4, 2010. Leah, who is a double-major in Archaeology and Art History, read a paper entitled “Italian Matrons and Courtesans: A Study in Portraiture,” while Rachel Lawrence, a double-major in Archaeology and History, presented “Vlad the Impaler: Monster with a Cause.” Both received UExplore Undergraduate Research Travel Grants that allowed for their participation in this conference.