Maura Bailey

"Religion and Politics in Southern States"

Research: My research focuses on the presidential campaign speeches given in the South to predominately religious audiences and examines the rhetoric used by the presidential candidates in their campaign speeches; specifically the appeals to common Christian principles, thus diverting attention away from the candidate’s minority religious community. 

Bio: From Alabama, Maura is a sophomore here at Notre Dame.

mbailey3@nd.edu

Emily Conron

"The Impact of Religious Coping on Mental Health in Individuals with Chronic Illnesses in the Developing World"

Research: My research is identifying specific religiously-based coping strategies and types of prayer that are linked to high measures of resilience, quality of life, self-esteem, and sickness impact, and low measures of stress and negative affect, in individuals with chronic illnesses in the developing world.

Bio: Emily is from Virginia, majoring in Psychology and Theology, with a minor in Catholic Social Teaching.

econron@nd.edu

Hope Feist 

"Understanding the Role that Catholic High Schools Play in Helping Students Cope"

Research: My research addresses questions surrounding education and religion, specifically within the Catholic context. How do Catholic high schools in the dioceses of the United States help their students who are experiencing challenging situations like loss, cancer diagnoses, or divorce in their families, and how do those schools’ foundations in faith motivate or affect the way in which they respond to their students’ changing needs?

Bio: Hope is a sophomore at Notre Dame, hailing from Tennesee.

hfeist@nd.edu

Chelsea Merriman 

"Religion and Water in Israel and Palestine"

Research: My research addresses the following questions: what is the religious basis for the water discrepancy between Israel, Palestine, and Jordan, and how does that correlate with a religious interpretation, if any, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)? Is there a religion-based discrepancy in interpretations of the UDHR between the Palestinians and Israelis?

Bio: Chelsea is majoring in Environmental Science and Political Science, with a minor in Anthropology.

cmerrima@nd.edu

Alexa Solazzo

"Dorm Mass Attendance at Notre Dame"

Research: Interests: Gender and religion have unique interactions, my research focuses on understanding the dorm rituals and practices that have developed these gendered participation outcomes. Religious practices differ by dorms to determine what practices and community attributes attract more students and how these practices and attributes tie in with gender.

Bio: Alexa is from Florida, majoring in Peace Studies and Sociology, with a minor in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service.

asolazzo@nd.edu