Critical Analysis and Ethical Reasoning
Through two class projects (Nigerian Oil Conflict and Unequal Funding to Schools) I explored contrasting viewpoints and looked at complex issues in today's society.
For the Nigerian Oil Conflict, a class partner and I that were in Dr. Kurt Gingrich's honors history course looked at the pros and cons to Nigeria's large oil industry. We were able to explore why the oil companies are so large and also all of the extreme environmental and health pressures that the oil is putting on the society and people of Nigeria. Together we compared and contrasted our sides of "good" and "bad", but also were given the opportunity to hold a class discussion on the topic.
For "Unequal Funding to Schools" classmates of Dr. Boyce D. Durr's CORE 202 class looked at the way that funding is distributed to schools and how the area where the school is located plays a huge difference. We were pushed by our professor to think of hard topics in education, in order to see how much change and research needs to be done about the problems. Many of the issues that we found were due to area and income. Before this project, I had never seen such poverty in schools. This class and project opened up my eyes to school funding and gave me information that before hand I had never been exposed to.
Links to the Prezi's of both presentations are below.
Through two class projects (Nigerian Oil Conflict and Unequal Funding to Schools) I explored contrasting viewpoints and looked at complex issues in today's society.
For the Nigerian Oil Conflict, a class partner and I that were in Dr. Kurt Gingrich's honors history course looked at the pros and cons to Nigeria's large oil industry. We were able to explore why the oil companies are so large and also all of the extreme environmental and health pressures that the oil is putting on the society and people of Nigeria. Together we compared and contrasted our sides of "good" and "bad", but also were given the opportunity to hold a class discussion on the topic.
For "Unequal Funding to Schools" classmates of Dr. Boyce D. Durr's CORE 202 class looked at the way that funding is distributed to schools and how the area where the school is located plays a huge difference. We were pushed by our professor to think of hard topics in education, in order to see how much change and research needs to be done about the problems. Many of the issues that we found were due to area and income. Before this project, I had never seen such poverty in schools. This class and project opened up my eyes to school funding and gave me information that before hand I had never been exposed to.
Links to the Prezi's of both presentations are below.
SCI Courses
Dance Production with Professor Deborah McLaughlin: Including the "UNITED WE DANCE" link and the "FRENCH FARANDOLE" link.
DNCE 488 with professor danah bella:
Honors Capstone Press Release:
"Off-balance" is a dance performance that expands the use of choreography and blends together research and movement. Blending the two majors of Dance and Biology, Grace desires to reach a wider audience and display the connection between science and art. Through the guidance of danah bella, chair of the dance department, and Dr. Gruss, assistant professor in the Biology department, this evening of dance and research aims to portray the off-balances in bio-mechanics and the off-balances in social life. Through a presentation of research, the audience will get an analytical depiction of the way the body moves in dance, and through performance the audience will be encouraged to see that off-balances are not only analytical, but are also a part of our daily lives and journeys."
Dance Production with Professor Deborah McLaughlin: Including the "UNITED WE DANCE" link and the "FRENCH FARANDOLE" link.
DNCE 488 with professor danah bella:
Honors Capstone Press Release:
"Off-balance" is a dance performance that expands the use of choreography and blends together research and movement. Blending the two majors of Dance and Biology, Grace desires to reach a wider audience and display the connection between science and art. Through the guidance of danah bella, chair of the dance department, and Dr. Gruss, assistant professor in the Biology department, this evening of dance and research aims to portray the off-balances in bio-mechanics and the off-balances in social life. Through a presentation of research, the audience will get an analytical depiction of the way the body moves in dance, and through performance the audience will be encouraged to see that off-balances are not only analytical, but are also a part of our daily lives and journeys."
Future Goals
After graduation I will be getting married and moving to Central Texas. So far I have been looking into modern dance companies in the Austin and San Antonio area. Transitioning from graduation to marriage to moving to Texas, I expect, is going to be challenging and new. I am excited to move to a new area and to explore the opportunities that comes along with that, but am nervous about the transition.
With that being said I do have goals set up for myself that I would love to achieve, whether in the short or near future. I absolutely love research and going to school. It may seem surprising, but I am really going to miss coming to campus everyday to learn something new. I am one who needs to constantly be fed into and who loves to explore new topics, so with my future I would love to continue my schooling into a doctorates degree in Biology, an MFA in Dance, or possibly both. Because my fiance is in the military, I am not sure yet where I would want to pursue future schooling, but would love to continue to expand my education.
In the mean time, I am also looking into possibly doing research or teaching while I live in Texas. Baylor University, University of Texas, and University of Mary Hardin–Baylor are all within an hour from my future home, with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor about to open up a new Performing Arts Center. With the opportunities that these colleges and others offer, I hope to explore what it would look like to teach or conduct research on a larger scale. This summer I will continue my research with Dr. Laura Gruss, and continue to look into the biomechanics of dance. I am excited to graduate and see what type of opportunities I can get a hold of.
With that being said I do have goals set up for myself that I would love to achieve, whether in the short or near future. I absolutely love research and going to school. It may seem surprising, but I am really going to miss coming to campus everyday to learn something new. I am one who needs to constantly be fed into and who loves to explore new topics, so with my future I would love to continue my schooling into a doctorates degree in Biology, an MFA in Dance, or possibly both. Because my fiance is in the military, I am not sure yet where I would want to pursue future schooling, but would love to continue to expand my education.
In the mean time, I am also looking into possibly doing research or teaching while I live in Texas. Baylor University, University of Texas, and University of Mary Hardin–Baylor are all within an hour from my future home, with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor about to open up a new Performing Arts Center. With the opportunities that these colleges and others offer, I hope to explore what it would look like to teach or conduct research on a larger scale. This summer I will continue my research with Dr. Laura Gruss, and continue to look into the biomechanics of dance. I am excited to graduate and see what type of opportunities I can get a hold of.