Though Sierra first became passionate about conservation when she began volunteering at the Akron Zoo, she notes that her courses at ϳԹ helped her focus her general interest in conservation on more specific areas of study. For example, in Primate Ecology and Conservation, Sierra learned how the problems animals face in the wild can promote better understanding of human social structures and behavior. With her growing understanding of specific conservation issues, a number of Sierra’s instructors encouraged her to pursue her conservation interests further through independent studies. David Kaplan, a professor in the Department of Geography, first made Sierra aware of the honors thesis program. Later, after Sierra had begun to think of all the topics she could study in an honors thesis, Morgan Chaney, Sierra’s Human Evolution instructor, helped Sierra narrow down her ideas.
After deciding to complete a thesis and shortening her list of topics, Sierra enrolled in the thesis program and asked Dr. Mary Ann Raghanti, the chair of the Department of Anthropology, to be her thesis advisor. Sierra says Dr. Raghanti has been an asset to her thesis project, adding that Dr. Raghanti’s connections within the Cleveland Zoo allowed Sierra access to the gorilla she is studying for her thesis. Reflecting on the faculty support she has received, Sierra encourages her fellow honors students not to be daunted by the prospect of an honors thesis. “When you see everything listed out that you have to do, it seems like a lot,” she explains, “but the key is finding someone in the faculty who shares your passion because the right advisor can help you break everything down.”
Sierra also mentions how beneficial her honors thesis work has already proven. She says she is gaining important research skills, able to quickly evaluate resources and write literature reviews on publications she could reference in her thesis. She also notes that, in the course of her preparatory research, Sierra has become better equipped “to understand what different statistics mean and how seemingly small numbers can have big impact.”
Both of these skills, as well as her independent behavioral analysis of the gorilla in the fall, will set Sierra apart as a graduate school applicant. Hoping to study behavioral science with zoo animals as a graduate student, Sierra’s thesis will showcase her ability to perform graduate-level work with zoo animals. In fact, Lori Michael, the Thesis Coordinator, adds that, not only will an honors thesis “make a student’s application to graduate school stand out,” but “a number of our alumni [also] credit the thesis as the start of their careers!” As such, with her independent research and her bright prospects for graduate school, Sierra hopes to continue following her passion for conservation in her future studies and career.
Sierra is excited to begin her formal thesis hours in the fall of 2021 and is grateful for all the faculty who helped her along the way.
For more information on the Senior Honors Thesis/Project, please contact Thesis Coordinator Lori Michael.
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PHOTO CAPTION 1: Sierra Duncan staning indoors in Massillon, Ohio.
PHOTO CAPTION 2: Sierra wearing a mask in Massillon, Ohio.
Media Contact: Stephanie Moskal, smoskal@kent.edu, 330-672-2312