Library research awards honor outstanding scholarship

The J. Eugene Smith Library's 2025 Library Research Awards honored four students for outstanding scholarship on May 16. Seniors Emma McCormack and Saoirse Ward received the awards, while first-year student Jackson Smith and senior Erika Jones received honorable mentions.

Awardee: Emma McCormack

McCormack won an award for her project, “McPotempkin Village: The Globalization of Post-Soviet Russia.” A senior history major, McCormack received a supporting document from history Professor Thomas Balcerski.

McCormack, who is adopted, was born in post-Soviet Russia and thus takes a research interest in the nation’s recent history. “McPotempkin Village” examines how the opening of a McDonald’s restaurant in Moscow in 1990 inspired hope in capitalism in Russia before regional tensions escalated in 2022.

Aside from her “origin story,” McCormack was inspired to research this topic after seeing several “iconic” images of the McDonald’s opening in Moscow. She views McDonald’s not just as a Western economic giant, but a “digestible symbol of globalization.”

“The research process was challenging, but I found each stage deeply fulfilling and rewarding,” said McCormack.

She thanked several history faculty members for helping bring her project to fruition. History Professors Caitlin Carenen and Scott Moore “provided valuable support with research and revisions,” she said, while Balcerski was her primary mentor.

Awardee: Saoirse Ward

Ward won the junior/senior category for her project, “Biogenetic Endorsements of Depression: The Enduring Influence of the ‘Chemical Imbalance Theory.’” She was inspired to research this theory after reading Robert Whitaker’s “Anatomy of an Epidemic,” recommended by her research mentor, psychology Professor James Diller.

“The book resonated deeply with my personal experiences within the mental health system and provided clarity on a question that had long troubled me: why are we prescribing medications to increase serotonin levels in the brain when the direct cause of depression remains uncertain?” said Ward.

“These insights led me to investigate how widely the chemical imbalance theory is accepted among the general public and how this belief might influence treatment preferences.”

Despite being a commuter, Ward took full advantage of the J. Eugene Smith Library’s resources. “Much of my writing and research took place on the third floor, which became a second home during busy semesters,” she said.

“Whether I was designing a study, analyzing data, or reviewing literature, the library was an essential part of my academic journey. This award not only recognizes the effort behind my research but also honors the many hours of determination and support systems that made that work possible.”

Honorable mention: Erika Jones

Jones, a non-traditional student, hopes her recognition can inspire those in similar positions. “As I am an older student juggling a family, work, animals, and studies, I feel that I represent those students who are not what you would consider a typical, young, full-time student,” she said.

She completed her project, “The Impacts of Preterm Birth on Both Parents and Children,” with the guidance of her research mentor, psychology Professor Melanie Keyes. She was inspired by personal experience to delve into this topic.

“As a parent of a child born prematurely, the vast amount of information I gathered about psychological, behavioral, physical, and financial repercussions both enlightened me and reinforced what I experienced personally,” she said.

“The ability to have access to many databases and a wealth of empirical studies that highlighted this topic was vital,” she continued. “Delving into studies that came from psychology, sociology, education, and medical and developmental fields helped create an encompassing foundation for my paper.”

In addition to Keyes, Jones thanked psychology Professor Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault for her assistance during the research process: “Dr. Salters-Pedneault presented some vital information about this topic that subsequently influenced one research direction that became an important aspect of this paper.”

Honorable mention: Jackson Smith

Smith received an honorable mention for his project, "Defining the South: Revisionism Against Historical Truth." This project examines the deceptive effects of the "Lost Cause" narrative, a revisionist angle belittling slavery's role in the American Civil War.

"I wanted to examine in my research how the myth developed over time and how southern identity came to form as we understand it today," wrote Smith in his research statement.

Smith examined the work of scholar U.B. Phillips, who was considered an expert on the Antebellum South in the early 20th century. According to Smith, Phillips's reputation earned him notoriety more than his arguments, which historian and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois dismantled as weak.

History Professor Stacey Close, Smith's faculty mentor, taught him to focus on the scholars and historians who perpetuated the "Lost Cause" myth. "Something Dr. Close did in class that I really appreciated was highlighting not only the historical narratives themselves, but the historians who shaped and developed those narratives," wrote Smith.