Exploring. Learning. Creating.
2026 CAPSTONE PROJECTS
This project reflects learning in at least one of the main themes of the program and involves experiential learning, community engagement, research in peer-reviewed journals, a research paper, and the creation of unique products. The products represent different genres and share multiple perspectives on the students' focus topics. In the style of a multigenre research project, students show their understanding through creative work such as leading workshops, podcasts, videos, etc.
Global Studies Evenings
The students will present their projects in live, moderated panel discussions, bringing their learning together to more deeply explore the world we live in. Talk to the students after when they host tables showcasing their work, products
and more.
Thursday 5/14
5:30-7:00pm
Watkinson Foisie Amphitheater
Olivia Chambers
Healthcare Behind Bars: Comparing Prison Healthcare in The United States and Norway
My Global Studies Capstone Project examines the healthcare crisis facing incarcerated people in the United States, specifically the gap between the care inmates receive and what international human rights standards require. Throughout my research, I investigated how the U.S. prison system's profit-driven structure leads to untreated chronic conditions, inadequate mental healthcare, and financial barriers that prevent inmates from accessing even basic medical treatment.
Dylan Griffith
The Global Spread of Digital Authoritarianism and Its Impact on Democracy
My Capstone Project explores the global rise of digital authoritarianism, examining how surveillance and information control technologies are spreading from authoritarian regimes into democratic societies. My project also investigates how these tools are leveraged to undermine fundamental human rights, weakening the foundations of democracy in favor of digital control.
Amanda King
Transracial and International Adoptions
My Senior Capstone Project examines transracial and international adoption through the lenses of global inequality, cultural exchange, and postcolonial dynamics. I explore why families adopt across racial and national lines, how adoptees experience identity and belonging, and how global systems and power structures shape adoption practices and outcomes worldwide.
Aria Teva
Culinary Culture: The Evolution of Global Trade and
Food Systems
My Global Studies Capstone Project analyzes the role of food as a living archive of culture and as a valuable tool for understanding historical situations. While past acts of colonialism have shifted the international culinary landscape away from traditional foods, the spread of ingredients has created opportunities for new dishes that connect communities worldwide.
Talia Harris
Exploring Systemic
Failures in Sports
For my Global Studies Capstone Project, I researched how young athletes are exploited worldwide. I focused on three case studies: the Russian doping scandal, the Duke lacrosse hoax, and the Larry Nassar case. For my products, I produced a research paper, led a teaching session, and created an infographic.
Ja Seng Ra Nkhum
The Immigrant Experience: Policy, Experience, Impact
My Global Studies Capstone Project explores immigration through both global and local perspectives. It includes a comparative research paper on the U.S., U.K., and North Korea, alongside a booklet highlighting immigrant experiences in Connecticut. By combining policy analysis with personal narratives, my aim for this project was to show how systems shape migration while emphasizing the human stories that define it.
Aviv Teva
Nomadism and the
Costs of Modernity
My Capstone Project examines how humans relate to land, comparing nomadic and state-based ways of living. It explores how nomadism may better align with human nature, environmental sustainability, and human rights, while questioning the dominance of modern state systems.
William Herzog
Authoritarianism and
Post-Cold War Economies
My Capstone Project analyzes how authoritarian governments have altered the trajectory of post-Cold War economies. By looking at the vastly different economies of China, Russia, and Indonesia, I attempt to draw conclusions about the extent to which authoritarianism dictates economic outcomes and whether or not Western bias tells the complete story.
