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Library Research Awards

2024 Recipients

Julianna Nichols and Nicole Mautone Named Recipients of the

2024 Library Research Awards

Graduate Award

Julianna Nichols' project, Final Population Health Program Plan, was completed for the occupational therapy course, OTD 510: Population Health, taught by Dr. Denise Crowley.  

 

"I used many searches to gather more information about the experiences of finding and maintaining work for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism, intellectual disabilities, and cerebral palsy who have aged out of the public school system (21+). I sought to examine pre-existing vocational rehabilitation programs and work skills training programs that served this population and link these programs to key concepts in psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and ultimately, occupational therapy. I used multiple databases as well as a diverse array of journal articles spanning from systematic reviews, pilot studies, and case studies. Through the services provided by the library, I was able to evaluate commonly faced barriers to employment for individuals and devise my own work skills training program that addresses these hindrances and prepares this population for meaningful entry into the workforce."

Undergraduate Award

Nicole Mautone's project, Expectations and Subversions: The Semiotics of Psychological Horror in 'Doki Doki Literature Club', was completed for the English literature course, HO 496: Honors Thesis/Capstone Completion, taught by Dr. Stanley Blair.  

"My topic was the semiotics of the visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club (DDLC). This meant I had to tackle several topics, including semiotics, visual novels, and DDLC itself, as well as multiple other subtopics. I worked very closely with my thesis advisor, Dr. Blair, who helped guide me to certain databases that could help me. The first database I spent the most time with was the Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory & Criticism. Johns Hopkins was very helpful to research and understand certain concepts such as semiotics, or specific theorists such as Edward Said. I spent hours gaining basic knowledge from this database, which would act as the building blocks for the rest of my research."