PSFA Student Projects at the 2025 SDSU Student Symposium showcase what research in the arts and professional studies looks like

Drawn to the power of storytelling and its ability to shift narratives and challenge biases, Marlena Ngim, a fourth-year health communication major and public health minor at San Diego State University, believes in the importance of amplifying the voices of the communities most impacted by disparities. 

Ngim, one of the many inquisitive College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts students in the symposium, created a project that focuses on supporting cisgender and transgender Black women living with and at risk for HIV by prioritizing care and prevention. 

“I wanted to be part of a project that directly addressed these disparities through health communication, something that can bridge gaps in understanding and make real change,” Ngim said.

The SDSU Student Symposium (S3) showcases the projects that undergraduate and graduate students have been working on under the direction of faculty mentors. The event helps students network with peers, faculty, staff, and potential employers, as well as improve public speaking skills.

The symposium will take place on Feb. 28, followed by an Awards Ceremony on Mar. 8. 

Mary Gowen, a master’s student in painting and printmaking, challenges ableist structures in her project “Decentering Social Norms: Neurodivergent Resistance in Art.”

Her project explores alternative and more inclusive ways of communicating from the perspective of neurodivergent individuals, as well as how verbal communication is prioritized in education and the workplace.

Inspired by her own experiences as a neurodivergent with neurodivergent sons, Gowen says this exhibition is her way of advocating for alternative forms of communication and aims to show how visual knowledge can be just as valid as verbal communication.

“Creating this project has taught me the power of art as a form of resistance,” Gowen said. “It has been a journey of reclaiming my voice and experience.”

Andrew Ginzel, a master’s student in critical studies in music, explores hauntology, a framework that examines how cultural artifacts are "haunted" by unrealized futures and lingering aspirations. His project looks at “Penny Lane” by The Beatles through this lens, using lyrical, musical, and historical analysis to reveal how the song critiques unfulfilled postwar ideals.

His study will demonstrate how popular music not only reflects past societal dreams but also embodies the ongoing struggle of a society still grappling with those unresolved aspirations.

“The symposium has given me a space to gain confidence in presenting my research and to receive feedback from mentors and peers in the practice sessions,” Ginzel said.

Ekaterina Pavlova, a fourth-year communication major co-presenting with Taylor Williams, is doing an oral presentation on a paper titled “Commands, Avoidance, and Resistance: International Challenges Between Police Officers and Civilians.”

Pavlova and Williams were interested in how authority uses specific language with non-authority people and analyzed videos of interactions between the two to unpack their data and implications.

Genesis Velez, a master’s student double majoring in public administration and arts in Latin American studies, worked on a project focused on gender-based violence in Honduras and how the national government uses its budget to mitigate that violence.

“This year is my first time presenting my research and while I am nervous about public speaking, I am excited to showcase my work,” said Velez.

“I decided on this topic as an ode to my family and victims of domestic violence,” she continued. “I hope that this project makes them feel like their stories are recognized.”

Madison Ruffin, a master’s student in criminal justice and criminology, created a project focusing on how fans react to criminal allegations about celebrities becoming public knowledge. 

“I learned a lot about my love for the research process and academia,” Ruffin said. “Sharing popular topics and research amongst scholars and generating conversation has been so much more fun than I thought it could be.”

Aurora Bryant, a fourth-year graphic design major, works with the Project for Sanitation Justice at SDSU and researches how lack of infrastructure for public restrooms adversely impacts public health among BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, and economically disadvantaged demographics. 

For her presentation, she will take the research from the team’s work and showcase it on their website where it can be found by researchers, nonprofits, students, city officials, and more.

“The Symposium allows us to not only showcase the processes we executed toward solving our respective problems, it gives us an opportunity to learn from each other regardless of what field we belong to,” Bryant said.

Andy Lopez, a fourth-year interdisciplinary studies major in communication, sociology, and criminal justice, also focused his project on sanitation justice, emphasizing San Diego’s severe shortage of public restrooms, which creates unsafe and unsanitary conditions, particularly for unhoused individuals.

By raising awareness and demonstrating that public restroom access benefits everyone, Lopez’s project explores how to build a coalition of individuals and organizations who care about sanitation justice and how to shift public perception to inspire advocacy and systemic change.  

Inspired by Dr. Megan Welsh-Carroll’s class in the School of Public Affairs, Lopez hopes to foster community engagement, policy discussions, and actionable solutions for a healthier and more equitable San Diego.

Alexander Ameen, a master’s student in theatre arts, has a uniquely artistic project: a one-act play titled “Affected Place.”

“My primary reason for writing ‘Affected Place’ was to explore the duality of regret and wisdom,” Ameen said. “I have bipolar disorder, which went undiagnosed for many years. Now that I’m lucid and receiving care, I have found that the wisdom that comes from a multi-faceted lifetime of experiences isn’t always enough to reckon with the pain of the past.”

Ameen said creating this play was a significant part of his healing process and hopes that its message of learning to grow beyond a former self will resonate with others who have struggled.

“I believe words can affect change, words do affect change, words must affect change,” said Ameen.

Courtney Corey-Armstrong, a master’s student in musical theatre, researched the integration of emotional intelligence into the practice of acting, providing a framework for actors to enhance preparation, specificity, and authenticity. 

“By gaining a better understanding of the subjective, physiological, and expressive components of emotions, practitioners can add this tool to their existing acting tool belts,” Corey-Armstrong said. “For S3, I will apply these principles to the acclaimed Broadway musical Wicked, by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which will illustrate how understanding emotions’ adaptive functions inform nuanced character work.” 

María José Durán, a master's student in mass communications, is conducting a qualitative study about how journalists in Spanish-language local television news stations view their work. 

After working at a Telemundo local station in 2018, Duran learned that journalists’ experiences as journalists matter.

“As reporters or producers, we tend to put ourselves last, and the news first,” Duran said. “Investigating this issue has made me realize that we are people too and our experience is significant.”

Tamarra Sylber, a master’s student in theatre arts, will be presenting her work as technical director on the SDSU Fall 2024 musical, “A New Brain.”

She will be showing technical documentation from her budgeting, scheduling, and drafting processes along with build and production photos of the final picture. 

“My goal is to bring awareness to the creative opportunities and points of intersection in the arts and sciences,” Sylber said. “It takes an analytical and mathematical mind along with quick problem-solving skills in order to bring these creative worlds to life.”

Sarah Royer, a master’s student in city planning, examined the disproportionate impact of the January 2024 storm on Southeast San Diego, focusing on how socioeconomic status influenced disaster vulnerability and recovery.

“By comparing low-income, predominantly Black neighborhoods like Encanto and Paradise Hills with the affluent community of Point Loma, I highlight systemic inequities in stormwater infrastructure and preparedness,” Royer said.

Royer advocates for policy changes that promote equity and resilience and demonstrate how outdated systems and underinvestment worsen climate-related disasters in marginalized communities. 

The projects in S3 required significant time from the students, and highlight their discoveries, innovations, and creativity at SDSU. This event provides students the opportunity to present their scholarship and creative activities to the rest of the community, allowing them to practice new skills and grow their connections.

For more information on the SDSU Student Symposium, visit the SDSU website.

Students who are interested in applying for the SDSU Undergraduate RSCA Program (SURP) can visit this page.