Tea Colored Minds: An in-depth Evaluation on The God of Small Things and Transgressive Love in India’s Caste System

Jillian Handley, Verrazzano Class of 2026, completed major in English Literature 

For my thesis, I examined the structure of India’s caste system and how it shapes and forms everyday life, creating tight restrictions on love. I think what primarily motivated this research was my infatuation with the concept of love. It can be found everywhere, within anyone, and lingers for years. It can be shown and represented in so many ways, and everyone deserves that invisible bond that trails amongst us all. It is such a mundane topic, but it impacts us in so many ways, and it's a common ground we can all relate to in one way or another. Almost everyone I am surrounded by has had either a great love, a tragic love, a first one, or even a doomed love.

Arundhati Roy took everything I wanted to focus on and compiled it into an intricate work of art that remains extremely relevant to this day. In her work, she draws on her experience living in India and the effects of caste, post-colonialism, and family dynamics leading up to tragedy and altering lives.

When I went into this paper, I was excited because I had never quite done something like this before. Despite being an English major, I haven’t had to complete something of this caliber. When I was a sophomore, I took a class with Professor Ray, and on the first day, he asked us, “Do you know the caste system?”, and went into great detail about the social system in the country, making for a well-informed conversation throughout the semester. Although we had spoken about it throughout the course, it still didn’t make the topic any less daunting. For me, focusing on love and family bonds was the bridge I needed to feel most at ease with during the conversation.

I found more things to be more hard than easy when working on this, but I feel that is expected and maybe even more appreciated. I love feeling challenged, but I also like adding to conversations, and I was able to do exactly that in my research. I don’t think I’ll ever speak about temporal hybridity or the bildungsroman the way I do now, but who knows!

If I were to ever expand on this topic, I would need something that can provide a new avenue of perspective to enhance the work rather than sounding like I’m repeating the same four sentences. But from my work, I am leaving with the importance of childhood experiences in shaping lives. Prejudice is taught, not born. Love is truly the greatest risk taken and the most rewarding, despite all odds.

Dietary Factors Impact on Oral Microbiome

Emily Eisler-Grynsztajn, Verrazzano Class of 2026, complete major in Biology and minor in Psychology

I chose the focus of my capstone to be the relationship between diet and the oral microbiome. I have always been interested in health, and I never really took the time to realize how much what we eat can affect oral health beyond just cavities. Getting to learn that the things we consume can influence bacteria in the mouth, and even connect to overall health, made me want to explore it further. This topic felt relevant because diet is something people have the ability to control, and understanding its impact could help prevent not only oral diseases, but systemic ones as well.

At the very start of this project, I expected it to mainly focus on basic nutrition and dental hygiene. However, the research ended up being much more complex than I thought. I learned that different dietary patterns, like high-sugar diets versus plant-based or Mediterranean diets, can significantly change the diversity of bacteria in the mouth. For instance, high sugar intake promotes harmful bacteria and reduces microbial diversity. On the other hand, plant-based and Mediterranean diets support beneficial bacteria and reduce inflammation. I did not expect the connection between the oral microbiome and overall health, including diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, to be so strong.

One of the most challenging parts of this project was organizing all the scientific information and making it understandable. A good amount of the studies had complex terminology, especially when learning about microbial diversity, metabolism, and research methods. Something else that was difficult initially was understanding the methodology, like the two-phase design with both observational and experimental research. To make it easier to follow on my part, I broke it down. The easiest part of the project was connecting the research to real-life examples, especially our choices in diet, because it made the topic feel more relatable.

Impacts of AI on the Fashion Industry: The Future of Fashion

Kaitlyn Cunningham, Verrazzano Class of 2026, completed major in Business Marketing   

I chose my research topic based on my own experience working in the fashion industry as a model over the past few years. I’ve seen a lot of changes happen recently, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence, and it made me curious about what was going on behind the scenes. I started noticing a rise in digital content, data-driven decisions, and even AI-generated models being used in campaigns. Because of that, I was wanted to learn more about how AI is affecting the industry and what it could mean for people like me who are part of it.

Before starting this capstone, I thought it would mostly just be about finding sources and putting information together into different sections. I didn’t expect it to be as in-depth as it was, and I realized there was a lot more to it once I started researching. I had to think about different perspectives, especially when it came to ethical issues like privacy, bias, and job loss. It ended up being more about analyzing and understanding the impact of AI rather than just explaining what it is.

One of my biggest challenges was narrowing down my topic, because AI in fashion covers so many different areas. I wanted to include everything, but I had to figure out what was most important and relevant to me. Another challenge was making sure I was using my sources correctly and connecting them to my ideas. Some parts were easier, especially when I was writing about the modeling industry and AI-generated models, because I could relate it to my own experiences. Something that surprised me was how much AI is already being used in ways people don’t even realize, like predicting trends or managing inventory. I didn’t realize how advanced and common it already is.

If I were to continue this research I would want to focus on how AI is going to affect jobs in the fashion industry long-term, especially for models, designers, and other creative roles. Overall, this project helped me understand that AI is changing the fashion industry in a lot of ways, both good and bad. It can make things more efficient and personalized, but it also raises important issues like privacy, fairness, and authenticity. The biggest thing I am taking away from this is that AI is something that is actively shaping the future of the fashion industry. As someone who is part of it, doing this capstone made me think about how these changes could affect my career and the importance of balancing technology with human creativity. 

Reducing Postpartum Hemorrhage: Evidence-Based Nursing Practices in the Immediate Postpartum Period

Jacqueline Marchese, Verrazzano Class of 2026, completed major in Nursing

 

My capstone project focused on reducing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), which is excessive bleeding after childbirth, through evidence-based nursing practices during the immediate postpartum period. PPH is one of the leading causes of maternal complications and death worldwide, yet it is often preventable with early recognition and timely intervention. The goal of my research was to examine how specific nursing actions - such as accurately measuring blood loss, following standardized care protocols, and working collaboratively with the healthcare team—can improve patient outcomes and reduce the severity of hemorrhage.

Through reviewing current research, I found that nurses play a critical role in identifying early warning signs because they are continuously at the patient’s bedside. Interventions like quantitative blood loss (QBL), which involves measuring rather than estimating bleeding, help detect complications sooner. Additionally, the use of structured care bundles ensures that all members of the healthcare team respond quickly and consistently. Simulation training and interprofessional education were also shown to improve communication and preparedness during emergencies. Another key finding was that postpartum care does not end after the first 24 hours. Complications such as delayed hemorrhage can occur up to six weeks after delivery, making patient education and awareness essential even after discharge. Overall, the research reinforced that strong nursing assessment skills, teamwork, and patient education are vital in preventing serious outcomes related to PPH.

I chose this research area because of my interest in maternal and newborn nursing, particularly the importance of safety during and after childbirth. During my clinical experiences, I saw how quickly postpartum conditions can change, and how essential it is for nurses to act promptly. I was motivated by the idea that improving education and awareness could directly impact patient outcomes and potentially save lives.

Before starting this capstone, I expected the process to be more straightforward, mainly involving gathering articles and summarizing information. However, it turned out to be much more in-depth and analytical than I anticipated. I had to carefully evaluate research studies, identify common themes, and connect findings in a meaningful way. It also required strong organization and time management skills to synthesize a large amount of information into a clear and cohesive paper.

One of the most challenging aspects was narrowing down the research and selecting the most relevant studies from thousands of available articles. It was also challenging to ensure that all information remained focused on nursing practice rather than becoming too broad or medical in general. On the other hand, one of the easier and more enjoyable aspects was connecting the research to real-life nursing practice. I found it rewarding to see how the evidence directly supports what nurses do in clinical settings. I was also surprised by how much of an impact non-pharmacological intervention, such as breastfeeding and patient education, can have on preventing complications.

In the future, this research could be expanded by exploring postpartum hemorrhage management beyond the hospital setting, such as in community health or telehealth follow-ups. It would also be valuable to examine how different hospitals implement postpartum safety protocols and how patient outcomes compare. Additionally, further research could focus on improving patient education tools, such as discharge instructions or identification methods for postpartum patients in emergency settings.

Overall, this capstone experience has strengthened my understanding of evidence-based practice and the importance of continuous learning in nursing. I have gained confidence in analyzing research and applying it to clinical care. Most importantly, I am taking away a deeper appreciation for the nurse’s role in patient advocacy, education, and safety. This experience has reinforced my commitment to providing high-quality, informed care and has prepared me to enter practice with a stronger foundation in both knowledge and critical thinking.

Human Resource Practices & Workplace Behavior/Ethics

Cody Smith, Verrazzano Class of 2026, completed major in Business Management and minor in Business Finance

As a Business Management major, I decided to focus on workplace harassment for my capstone, as that is an important part of human resources. Most of my classes were heavily focused on human resources and how to help employees in the right way, which helped with my decision for my research.

I expected the capstone to be quite difficult, as I don't consider myself great at writing long research papers, but it wasn't so bad overall. I see myself as a quick and to-the-point writer, so I'm not good at writing long detailed answers. I also find searching for valid research to be difficult, as I find most articles aren't viable or relate to my topic well enough, especially if it's a niche topic.

If I expanded my research on this topic I would begin by looking at additional articles that talk about strategies to prevent and control harassment. What I've found out from this research is that companies have several steps to control and prevent harassment, and that prevention is key to a healthy work environment.

Working with a mentor was interesting, as I've never done a project that involved a mentor before. It was a fun and unique experience, and I enjoyed presenting my poster at the Undergraduate Research Conference this spring.