To fully complete an honors thesis, students must also produce a video presentation (less than five minutes) describing their honors thesis project. Below, you can find links to the most recent set of honors thesis videos.
2025–2026
Logan Hage
*Winner of the Mike Gilotti/Pi Sigma Alpha Best Honors Thesis Award*
“Reducing Barriers to the Ballot: The Impact of Automatic Voter Registration on Youth Voter Turnout in the United States.”
Thesis Adviser: Christopher Beem, Ph.D.
Honors Adviser: Professor Matt Golder
Emma Cassidy
“The Impact of Reproductive Healthcare Access on Women’s Socioeconomic Outcomes: Evidence From Ireland, Poland, and Argentina.”
Thesis Adviser: Professor Vineeta Yadav
Honors Adviser: Professor Matt Golder
Andrew Cole
“The Impact of Reproductive Healthcare Access on Women’s Socioeconomic Outcomes: Evidence From Ireland, Poland, and Argentina.”
Thesis Adviser: Professor James Piazza
Honors Adviser: Professor Michael Berkman
Isabelle Ems
“The Effects of Abortion-Related Referenda on Women’s Voter Turnout During the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.”
Thesis Adviser: Tracee Saunders, Ph.D.
Honors Adviser: Professor Sona N. Golder
Jessica Firestone
“The Relationship Between Ideology and Patriotism in Explaining Individuals’ Support for the Right to Protest in the No Kings and Stop the Steal Movements.”
Thesis Adviser: Justin Crofoot, Ph.D.
Honors Adviser: Professor Michael Berkman
Emmanuel Kraft
“Feeding Success: Food Insecurity and Academic Performance in Pennsylvania K-12 Public Schools.”
Thesis Adviser: Professor Michael Berkman
Honors Adviser: Professor Sona N. Golder
Annelise McGowan
“Reactive Generosity: The Role of Terrorism in Shaping U.S. Aid Distribution.”
Thesis Adviser: Professor Bumba Mukherjee
Honors Adviser: Professor Matt Golder
Veronika Miskowiec
“The Impact of Religious Heterogeneity on Civil and Political Rights in Former Soviet States.”
Thesis Adviser: Professor Catherine Wanner
Honors Adviser: Professor Michael Berkman
Savannah Morris
“Gender and Foreign Policy: The Role of Female Policy Elites in International Conflict.”
Thesis Adviser: Professor Lee Ann Banaszak
Honors Adviser: Professor Michael Berkman
Mia Ramirez Gutierrez
“Taking the Leave: Exploring Variation in State Paid Parental Leave Policy and Female Unemployment from 2000 to 2019.”
Thesis Adviser: Professor Bumba Mukherjee
Honors Adviser: Professor Michael Berkman
Adam Schnipper
“From Point A to Point B: Physical Mobility and Quality of Life Across US Counties.”
Thesis Adviser: Isaac Pollert, Ph.D.
Honors Adviser: Professor Michael Berkman
Payton Smith
“Pathways to Power: The Role of Gender Equality, Respect, and Ambition in Female Political Participation.”
Thesis Adviser: Professor Lee Ann Banaszak
Honors Adviser: Professor Sona N. Golder
Hunter Steach
“The Impact of Partisan Judicial Elections on Judicial Independence in US States.”
Thesis Adviser: Professor Michael Nelson
Honors Adviser: Professor Michael Berkman
Clarissa Theiss
“Open for Debate: Quantitative Analysis of Deliberation.”
Thesis Adviser: Professor Eric Plutzer
Honors Adviser: Professor Michael Berkman