One of these groups involved Professor Pluretti and
three students, Brandon Bicknase ’22, Ciprino Martinez ’23 and Paula Azuaje ’20. Together they explored how college students’ social media use shapes self-perceptions. The team collected secondary research to piece together what’s known about the topic and to identify research gaps. Azuaje, an international student from Venezuela who graduated in December, continues to assist Pluretti with data collection.
P A U L A AZU A JE ’ 2 0
“Creativity allows you to explore without knowing where you’re going.”
—Julie Funderburk, M.F.A Assistant Professor of English Literature & Creative Writing
The multimedia storytelling major credits the institute for helping her land a job as a production assistant for Susie Films prior to graduation. In Azuaje’s position at the Charlotte-based media production company, she’s been working on a documentary for PBS. “My first few weeks of work were spent fact-checking. A lot of what Dr. Pluretti taught me during the summer institute was how to research and how to make sure information is correct,” explained Azuaje. “I used those methods to research for the documentary.” She’s also using knowledge she gained last summer by managing Susie Films’ social media accounts. While the program benefits students, professors gain something, too. “It’s been of so much value to have students involved,” Pluretti said. “I got to teach them all these aspects of research, but at the same time, we were a team, and their input really affected the project.” Kalpaka “Kally” Pradip ’22 was a sophomore when
K ALL Y P RADIP ’ 22
she approached Amy Knab, Billy O. Wireman Associate Professor of Kinesiology, about a research project. The Queens tennis player was curious about the sources of stress among student athletes. Was it the intense competition? Rigorous academics? Both? The exercise and sports science major designed a survey, which 240 Queens student athletes completed, that revealed that financial stress was much higher on the list than students or professors imagined. “We learned that when students are stressed, it’s not their advisors or professors they turn to first,” Knab said. “They tend to go to their friends or coaches. That has me thinking about how we can improve our advising model and make it more mentor-based.” Knab and Pradip shared their findings with Queens’ counseling center so that it could better support student athletes under duress. Pradip also published her work in The North Carolina Journal of the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation,
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