April 16, 2026

by Lauren Ferguson

The creativity, hard work and scholarly research of Ramapo College of New Jersey students were on full display during the College’s 14th Annual Scholars’ Day Monday.

In all, 70 ambitious students from throughout the College’s academic schools undertook the 51 research projects presented to faculty, staff, friends, family and other inquisitive supporters during the celebration.

With the guidance of mentoring professors, Roadrunners delved into a wide range of topics during the 2025-2026 academic year. They produced projects with titles such as:

• Brains in All Shapes: Building Better Classrooms for Neurodiverse Learners;
• The Psychological Impact of Immigration and Detention on Latinx Children;
• Sustainable Packaging in High-Volume Manufacturing;
• Timing and Patterns of Autumn Migration of Blue Jays through the Ramapo Mountains; and
• The Ripple Effects of a Government Shutdown: Economic Disruptions and Recovery.

“Each poster and oral presentation showcases not only the depth of knowledge, but also the passion the students and their faculty mentors bring to their field of study. Their commitment to academic excellence shines brightly and serves as a testament to the vibrant intellectual community we have cultivated at Ramapo,” Associate Professor of Microbiology Dr. Kokila Kota told the crowd.

Engineering Physics Major Masayasu Nitta ‘27 explains his research during 2026 Scholars’ Day.

Dr. Kota served as co-chair of the Scholars’ Day Committee, along with Associate Professor of Communications Arts Dr. Satarupa Dasgupta. The Committee –  composed of representatives from each of Ramapo’s academic schools – also included Assistant Professor of Economics Dr. Sandipa Bhattacharjee, Professor of American Studies Dr. Stephen Rice and Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Studies Dr. Nathaniel Otjen.

The event featured poster presentations from students hailing from each academic school, followed by one oral presentation from each school.

Economics Major Amisha Singh ‘26 was chosen to give an oral presentation on her project entitled Coercion Without Compliance: Oil Sanctions and Labor Markets in Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. Her work examined the impact of sanctions on the labor market to discern whether they serve as an effective economic tool in international diplomacy.

The first-generation college student was grateful to be at Scholars’ Day. Singh, of Bogota NJ, said when she started the project she “kind of had a grip on it,” and then decided to see what she could do. “The fact that I am here today, as someone that has accomplished econometric modeling, has been able to interpret economic data, it means a lot, because I can show myself, and I can show my parents, and I can show the world that I can do it too,” she said.

Amisha Singh ’26 (left) was mentoried by Assistant Professor of Economics Dr. Sandipa Bhattacharjee (right).

Singh praised her faculty mentor Dr. Bhattacharjee. “She would always put me on the right path that I needed to be on. To have that person, that connection, really meant a lot, but it also really supported me in my academic journey,” Singh said.

Biochemistry Major Marlon Valladares ‘26, of Newark, NJ, also praised his faculty mentor, Assistant Professor of Physics Dr. Caroline Brisson. “Whenever I was stuck on some problems, she would always come in, offer up ideas, and I used those ideas and it helped a lot,” he said.

Valladares worked on a project entitled Micro-Scale Wind Energy Systems, Wind Energy Conservation Theory, and 3D-Printed Vertical-Axis Turbine Design. The project explored how “small-scale wind energy systems offer a promising pathway for low-power, renewable energy generation in urban and low-wind environments,” according to the abstract. It addressed the manufacturing of turbines through the use of filament-based and resin-based 3D printing.

Other projects gave students the opportunity to delve into local and regional issues.

For a project on Aggressive Interactions Among Migrating Raptors Over the Ramapo Mountains, Environmental Science Major Julien Roche ‘26, of Chestnut Ridge, NY, said he and other students went into the Ramapo Mountains twice a week from September through November to observe interactions among migrating raptors.

Their research, conducted with the support of Associate Professor of Environmental Science Dr. Eric Weiner, suggested that “raptor aggression may be greatest towards potential predators and competitors,” but that further research is warranted, according to the project’s abstract.

Julien Roche ‘26 (left) talks about the research that he and Josephine Mitchell (right) conducted into raptor aggression.

Another student, Management Major Kathleen Bishop ‘26, of Corpus Christi TX, researched nationally significant historic locations across Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson and Union Counties to identify patterns that define Northern New Jersey’s shared heritage. The goal of her project was to help evaluate the region’s eligibility to be designated by Congress as a National Heritage Area.

“Ever since I was a kid, I was really into history,” said Bishop, who was able to pursue her passion for history with Professor of Management Dr. Rikki Abzug.

Other students – like Contemporary Arts Major Wanda Walker ‘27 who returned to college at 66 years old – chose to research topics they were genuinely invested in.

Walker, of Jersey City, NJ, said when she enrolled in Ramapo’s Degree Completion Program, her “biggest dilemma” was technology. “I just had to get with it and learn my phone, get a laptop, learn my desktop, learn how to do emails, learn how to do passwords, and just interact in that way,” she explained. When she spoke to her contemporaries about it, many said they found technology too daunting to take on at their age, she said.

So Walker interviewed nine senior citizens ranging in age from 55 to 92, about their desires to improve their technology skills or learn AI. At Scholars’ Day, Walker presented her project entitled Exploring resistance towards learning technology and artificial intelligence among seniors that she completed with the support of Dr. Dasgupta.

Wanda Walker ’27 explains her research on exploring senior citizens’ resistence towards learning technology and AI.

Ramapo College Provost Michael Middleton congratulated all the students who conducted research for Scholars’ Day: “This is your moment,” he told them. “You’ve done the hard work of inquiry, reflection and creation, and we couldn’t be more proud of you.”

He also thanked professors and staff for their mentorship and encouragement. “You guided these projects from idea to presentation. Your impact is visible in every one of the presentations today,” Middleton said.

For more information on Scholars’ Day, and a full list of research projects, visit the Scholars’ Day webpage.