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Student Project Showcase 2026

2026 Student Project Showcase

This special edition of our Ethics Spotlight highlights ethics fellowship and internship projects prepared by students during the 2025-26 academic year. Browse the projects below.

Programs for Students

2026 Showcase Recording

2025-26 Student Fellowship and Internship Projects

High Altitude Long-Range Networking (HALoN) Model showing various networking relationships and patterns. Image by Sahana Chandramohan

HALoN and Crisis Communication Networks

Sahana Chandramohan '26 presents an ethical analysis of the design and development of HALoN for crisis communications.

Attentive audience members listening during an indoor seminar or workshop. Matheus Bertelli via Pexels.

More than a Ritual: Rethinking the Purpose of the Land Acknowledgment

Shelly Cormier '26 examines the ritual and purpose of the Land Acknowledgement. 

Voter at election rally shown attached to strings and being controlled like a puppet by a hand from above Image created by Nicole using AI via Gemini

Bought In: A Controlling Interest in American Democracy

Nicole Davari '26 asks, "What happens when corporate money enters the political sphere?"

Slide outlining research conducted by Sam, Andrew, and Caleigh on Our Collective Responsibility Toward the Human Right to Water.

Our Collective Responsibility Toward the Human Right to Water

Caleigh Detels '26, positions that access to water is a basic human right in her project with the Environmental Ethics Fellowship.

Business Ethics Internship ARDC. Drawing of a laptop computer with words on the screen reading Business Ethics Internship and displaying the ARDC logo.

From Research to Responsible Data Standards

Quan Lam Do '27 worked as an ethical data collection and policy research program intern with ARDC.

Summary of presentation by Saron Weldemariam & Tate Dominguez on the topic of Middle School Curriculum on topic of Forced Migration

Ethical Impacts and Forced Migration

Tate Dominguez '26 examined the ethics of forced migration.

Exiled Voices: A Testament to Palestinian Displacement. Summary of study, key findings and core conclusions in a project by Ayden Sophia Eways.

Exiled Voices: A Testament to Palestinian Displacement

Ayden Eways '27 examined ethical issues on the subject of Palestinian displacement.

Cultural Stigma and the Model Minority Myth in Asian American Communities summary of findings by Malia Hoey, a 2025-26 Hackworth Fellow at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.

Ethics of Cultural Stigma

Malia Hoey '26 researched the model minority myth and Asian American communities.

Summary of inquiry about the transfer and international student experience at SCU by Arianna Javid, a 2025-26 Hackworth Fellow at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.

International and Transfer Student Belonging

Arianna Javid '26 studied the transfer and international student experience at SCU to understand how displacement impacts student agency. 

Summary of research conducted by Kaylee Jenson on the topic of Campaign Finance Structures.

Campaign Finance Structures

Kaylee Jensen '27 analyzed campaign finance structures through ethical lenses of justice, rights, and care. 

A woman wearing a hijab standing against a white wall with red iron fencing uses her hand to block sunlight from her eyes.

Media Representation and MENA Women's Democratic Participation

Taara Khan '27 examined the effects that media representation has on Middle Eastern women and their democratic participation. 

Nine obligations gating responsible release of companion AIs. A summary of inquiry by Noah Kisiel, a 2025-26 Hackworth Fellow at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.

AI Companions

Noah Kisiel '26 examined the ethical responsibility AI developers bear for vulnerable users. 

The “CS” in EthiCS is Missing: Why Integrating Ethics in Computer Science Fields is so Hard and What To Do About It. Summary of research by Sahana Kumar.

Why Integrating Ethics in Computer Science is Hard and What to do About it

Sahana Kumar '26 studied the issue of integrating ethics into Computer Science and what we can do to solve it. 

A computer motherboard with a chip resembling a green leaf. Image by Bernie Photo / Getty Images via Canva Enterprise.

Ethical Guidelines for Use of AI in Environmental Research

Asha LaManque '27 examined the ethical paradox of AI usage and its benefits and harms in environmental studies. 

Power lines and water canal at Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation. Photograph by Andrew Schatz.

Our Collective Responsibility Toward the Human Right to Water

Sam Lei '26 researched ethical frameworks for promoting our collective responsibility to universal access to clean drinking water. 

Business Ethics Internship Intel. Drawing of a laptop computer with words on the screen reading Business Ethics Internship and displaying the Intel logo.

Business Integrity

Grace Perryman '26 worked with Intel's ethics and compliance team.

Business Ethics Internship Adobe. Drawing of a laptop computer with words on the screen reading Business Ethics Internship and displaying the Adobe logo.

Putting Ethics into Action

Bianca Ricafort '26 put ethics into action as a legal compliance analyst intern at Adobe.

Full Width Manure pile at a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). Photograph by Andrew Schatz.

Our Collective Responsibility Toward the Human Right to Water

Andrew Schatz '26 researched an ethical approach to our collective responsibility to the right to drinking water. 

Virtue Ethics for Applied Scientists and Engineers. Summary of research by Aris Ozark including key findings, frameworks, and takeaways.

Virtue Ethics for Applied Scientists and Engineers

Aris Ozark '26 worked on developing a framework for AI usage in applied sciences and engineering. 

Close-up of a military veterans hands in a therapy session, emphasizing mental health support. RDNE Stock Project via Pexels.

An Ethical Framework That Follows a Soldier Home

Annie Schloss '27 researched the effects that moral injury has on soldiers once they return home from war. 

Four images of health care professionals using technology in their work and with patients. AI Interpreter Chatbots in Healthcare: Examining Accuracy, Equity, and Human Connection. Summary of research by Emily Serrato.

AI Interpreter Chatbots in Healthcare

Emily Serrato '27 examined what constitutes proper AI usage in healthcare. 

The Ethics of Name, Image, and Likeness College athletics & the rise of NIL. Summary of presentation by Amy-Elyzabeth Torrico Hackworth Fellow 2025-26

The Ethics of Name, Image, and Likeness

Amy-Elyzabeth Torrico '26 researched the impacts of NIL in collegiate sports and its ethical concerns.

Summary of research findings regarding meaning-making and reflection in romantic relationships.

Deciphering Meaning-Making and Reflection in Romantic Relationships

Zander Rafalovich '26 examined the extent to which relationships impact a person's sense of purpose and sense. 

Summary of inquiry by 2025-26 Hackworth Fellow Griffen Warren regarding SCU and Unaffiliated Greek Life organizations, including recommendations to build relationship improvements.

The Ethics of Non-Recognition: SCU and Unaffiliated Greek Life

Griffin Warren '26 studied the relationship between SCU and unaffiliated Greek life and suggest how to support and strengthen these communities. 

Governing Health at a Distance: Ethical Implications of Healthcare Marketization in the United States Summary Slide of presentation by Hermon Welde

Ethical Implications of Healthcare Marketization in the United States

Hermon Welde '26 researched the ethical implications of the monetary structure of the U.S. healthcare system.

Summary of presentation by Saron Weldemariam & Tate Dominguez outlining a 3-day lesson plan for Middle School Curriculum on the topic of Forced Migration

Ethical Impacts of Forced Migration

Saron Weledemariam '26 focused on the ethics of forced migration.