McNair-Ballotti Undergraduate Research Symposium (MBURS)

Welcome to the online home of the McNair-Ballotti Undergraduate Research Symposium (MBURS). The Symposium is designed to showcase the scholarship of Suffolk University undergraduates participating in the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program housed within the Center for Academic Access & Opportunity and recipients of the Geno A. Ballotti Scholarship in the Center for Learning & Academic Success.

This year’s McNair-Ballotti Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held Friday April 19, 2024 in the programming space on the ninth floor of 73 Tremont.

Schedule of Events

Welcome   Abraham Peña, Jamie Bondar
Session 1 11:00 a.m. Mingyue Lao, Cristina Castillo, Luke Stocker
Lunch 12:30 p.m.  
Session 2 & Closing Ceremony 1:00 p.m. Isabelle Lavallee, Gwyneth Hiller, Neka Vladimirov, Abraham Peña, Jamie Bondar

Presentations

Cristina Castillo - Suffolk UniversityCristina Castillo (she/her)
McNair Scholar
“Implementing an Equitable Business Model Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives”
Research Advisor: Monique Gibbs

Gwyneth HillerGwyneth Hiller (she/they)
Ballotti Scholar
“Maximalist Tutoring: The False Dichotomy of Directive and Non-Directive Pedagogy”
Research Advisors: Jamie Bondar and Bryan Trabold

Mingyue Lao - Suffolk UniversityMingyue Lao (he/him)
McNair Scholar
“Understanding Generation Z’s Awareness of Social Media’s Privacy Policy”
Research Advisor: Ming Chen

Isabelle Lavalee - Suffolk UniversityIsabelle Lavalee (she/her)
Ballotti Scholar
“Peer-Tutor Engagement”
Research Advisors: Jamie Bondar and Keri Iyall-Smith

Luke Stocker - Suffolk UniversityLuke Stocker (he/him)
 Ballotti Scholar
“Working with Large Language Models: Tips for Students & Tutors”
Research Advisor: Jamie Bondar

Neka_Vladimirov - Suffolk UniversityNeka Vladimirov (they/them)
Ballotti Scholar
“Critical Reading in the Tutoring Center: Reading Against the Grain”
Research Advisors: Jamie Bondar and Shoshana Madmoni-Gerber