College of Applied Arts graduate students take home top awards

Gemini Creason-Parker received the Top Presentation Award in the doctoral category as well as the Compassionate Research Award for her presentation, “Rape Myths in Numbers: Do Stereotypical Case Characteristics Correlate with Arrest?”. There were over 60 presentations at the conference with more than 25 participants competing for the Compassionate Research Award. Presentations were judged based on content and clarity of the e-poster, video introduction, and abstract presentation elements.

Gemini’s research aims to shine light on the prevalence and stigmatization of sexual assault on college campuses. Her work has also explored topics such as policing, media and crime, the death penalty, transgender student perspectives, Native American issues, and public speaking. She holds B.S. degrees in Criminal Justice and Spanish and Sociology as well as a M.S. in Criminal Justice and a M.A. in Communication Studies from Northeastern State University. She plans to teach at the university level and continue her research after completing her PhD.  

Chin May Teoh’s presentation, “Effects of Methyl-donor Nutrients Supplemented to a High-fat Diet during Pregnancy and Lactation on Colonic Vitamin D Signaling and Inflammation” received the Top Presentation Award in the master’s category as the judges agreed her presentation was exceptional and made information accessible to a general audience. Her research focuses on the rising obesity epidemic associated with chronic diseases and increased risks in certain types of cancer. Chin May seeks to investigate nutrients’ role in mitigating the effect of obesity-induced inflammation on the development of diseases. She is also exploring the role of Vitamin D in the immune system and how it can regulate the balance of gut microbiome.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and will apply to a dietetic internship program upon completing her degree and plans to become a registered dietitian and practice integrative and functional medicine with a holistic approach that including dietary and lifestyle modifications aimed at the prevention of diseases and management side effects from treatments. Chin May thanks all the co-authors and faculty in the food and nutrition program and Dr. Gar Yee Koh for the opportunity to participate in the study and serve as the presenting author.