2018-Taylor Corsi

Taylor Corsi

Dual Degree: Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies

300 Word Statement

Qualities of the ideal Lafayette student go beyond intellect and passion for extracurricular involvement. While not always executed in the same style or fashion, ideal members of the Lafayette community demonstrate collaborative intellectual flexibility, consistently pushing the boundaries of knowledge in different directions. In addition, they are willing to dissent when necessary for the betterment of our community, to foster connections and care for others. As a Lafayette student, I have sought to strongly embody these qualities. As a candidate for joint honors in Neuroscience and WGS, I have been able to practice intellectual flexibility as I explore epistemic traditions from both disciplines. My project aims to provide knowledge for each field I am seeking honors in, but is also capable of occupying an intellectual space that fosters integrative understanding greater than merely the production of knowledge for each respective discipline. While important in an academic sense, this skillset extends beyond the lab or classroom. Intellectually flexible individuals are able to ideate innovative solutions and voice previously invisible questions. Lafayette, as an institution that champions integrative collaborations, has sought to produce learners that will continue to productively contribute to our integrated society through sharing knowledge with others and gaining insight from those around them. Though difficult, willingness to dissent when necessary is often integral to a better community. Whether it be as an advocate at Take Back the Night/It’s On Us Takes a Stand, as a voice discussing campus climate with the College’s Board of Trustees, or as a member of the Bias Response Team, I have been able to communicate campus concerns and make visible perspectives and experiences that deserve to be heard to further nurture our community. Furthermore, as demonstrated by my involvement in Residence Life, I have committed myself to fostering connections that positively impact individuals and our campus. Care for personhood and well-being beyond the intellectual or extracurricular is a distinct quality in the Lafayette ideal that allows each member of our community to be influential in creating a whole that swells to its full potential.

Academic Activities/Awards – Total Years Involved

  • Joint Honors Thesis in Neuroscience and Women’s & Gender Studies (1)

My joint honors project has employed the use of feminist standpoint theory in the scientific method to create and execute a neuroscience experiment and gain new knowledge for both disciplines. I have been fortunate enough to work with Professors Armstrong (WGS) and Tomaszycki (Neuroscience, and with the Zebra Finch as a model organism. For our research, we hypothesized that paternal song quality will be acquired by male Zebra Finch offspring and that female offspring will prefer male song similar in quality to that of their paternal figure. Throughout the research process I have been responsible for literature review and synthesis, study design, completion of the application to the Lafayette College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, performing paternal nerve transection and control surgeries, performing daily animal care, bioacoustic analysis of song quality, observation of preference and pair bonding behavior, and data analysis using SPSS Statistics software.

  • William C. Rappolt ’67 and Walter Oechsle ’57 Neuroscience Prize

Awarded to an outstanding senior based on scholarship in the classroom and laboratory and service to the major, College, or community.

  •  Professor Susan A. Basow Prize in Women’s & Gender Studies

Awarded to a graduating senior who has made a significant contribution to the field of women’s and gender studies.

  •  EXCEL Scholar (2)

I have been fortunate enough to work with my honors thesis advisors as an EXCEL scholar as well. The summer of 2017, I worked with Dr. Tomaszycki to determine the role of the endocannabinoid system in Zebra Finch courtship and pair bonding behaviors. We hypothesized that administration of a cannabinoid agonist will increase pair bonding behavior; administration of a cannabinoid antagonist will decrease pair bonding behavior. Similar to my honors thesis, I was responsible for completing the Lafayette College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee application, study design, intramuscular injection of endocannabinoid agonists/antagonists, and observation of preference and pair bonding behavior. In addition, during the 2016-2017 academic year, I worked with Dr. Armstrong to research underrepresented minority women in STEM. I was responsible for literature review within the realm of economics, women’s & gender studies, philosophy, social science, and federal initiatives. I was also responsible for extensive database research, analysis of United States Census information and various social survey compositions, presentations and synthesis of materials, and aiding in the creation of theoretical frameworks and research parameters.

  • Psychology Lab Assistant (1)

In the spring of 2017, I worked with Professor Buckley and the Lafayette College Department of Psychology. I supported Professor Buckley in instructing introductory psychology students, including the implementation of experimental planning and various lab

  • Summer Research Scholar- Lehigh Valley Health Network (1)

Working with the president of the medical staff at LVHN and various Obstetrics and Gynecology residents, I was fortunate enough to conduct clinical research in Allentown, PA in the summer of 2016. The research we conducted was focused on developing a more objective way of evaluating resident surgical skill and a more effective way of training surgical skill, all to ultimately increase the quality of health care available to women in the Lehigh Valley. Our project, “A comparative Analysis Using Endoscopic Simulation to Assess Surgical Skill of OB/GYN Residents,” was presented and honored at the CREOG (Council on Resident Education in Obstretrics and Gynecology) & APGO (Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics) Annual Meeting in March 2017. Throughout the research process, the research team assessed resident surgical simulation performance versus surgical outcome data and attending physician evaluation. In addition, I observed patient care and surgical procedures such as cesarean sections and oncological gynecology tumor removal. I was able to participate in pre-rounds, resident research article discussions, Maternal Fetal medicine rounds, Mortality and Morbidity conferences, and quality assurance meetings to glean further insight into a career in medicine beyond an operating room or examination room.

  • Psi Chi International Honors Society (1)

Psi Chi is an honors society for psychology (and neuroscience). I was inducted in April of 2017.

  • Order of Omega (1)

Order of Omega is an honors society for members of Greek Life. I was inducted in April of 2017.

  • Lafayette College Community Based Learning Expo Presentation

In April, I will be presenting at the Lafayette College Community Based Learning Expo Presentation, which will showcase my involvement with the Paxinosa and Cheston Elementary Schools in Easton and my involvement with the Roof Over Shelter for teen mothers in Easton. I have been working with local elementary schools to provide engaging lessons on neuroscience and gender stereotypes in science.

  • Dean’s List and Career Services Externship Participation (4)

I have been honored with inclusion on the Lafayette College Dean’s List for the past 7 semesters (8 anticipated this spring). This honor is awarded to students with a GPA of 3.60 or higher. I have also been an active member of Career Services’ Gateway program for the past 4 years, and was able to participate in 3 externships. My externships ranged from pharmaceutical industry to medical practices.

Campus Services/Activities and Awards – Total Years Involved

  • Head Resident (1)

This academic year, I act as a supervisor to a staff of 13 resident advisors. I am responsible for supervising all Greek chapter houses, alongside Reeder Street, Grossman House, and McKelvy House. My responsibility is to act as a managerial liasion between residents, student staff, and the professional Residence Life/College staff. I attend weekly meetings with my fellow head Resident staff and Professional staff, lead weekly meetings with my staff, synthesize weekly RA paperwork, meet weekly with the Assistant Director of Residence Life, and help my staff members solve residential and interpersonal problems as they arise.

  • Resident Advisor (2)

As a resident advisor, I was lucky to work in both Ruef Hall my sophomore year and in Alpha Phi fraternity my junior year. As a resident advisor, I was responsible for the social,academic, and overall wellness of first year women and my sorority sisters.

  • Bias Response Team Member (1)

Throughout this academic year, I serve as a sole senior representative on the Bias Response Team. The team is composed of rotating Deans of the College, the College Chaplain, various faculty members, and representatives from the classes of 2018-2020. This small group of students, faculty, and staff review and ideate responses to biase-related incidents officially reported at the college.

  • Senior Interviewer (1)

Starting in the summer of 2017, I have worked with the Lafayette College Office of Admissions to interview and evaluate candidates for admission to the college. In this role, I am responsible for not only interviewing potential students, but also answering family questions, directing them to the proper resources, following up with the candidate, and providing formal, written feedback to the Admissions team regarding the candidate.

  • Director of Academics- Alpha Phi Fraternity (1)

During my time as the Director of Academics for my fraternity, of which I have been for the past 3 years, I oversaw member academic performance and headed intervention programs such as tutoring and academic mentorship.

  • Society for Neuroscience (3)

I have been a regular member of the Lafayette Society of Neuroscience club for the past 2 years. This academic year, I was named co-president of the club, and have been spear-heading and organizing fundraising efforts for St. Lukes maternal care supplies for STEM-related supplies for Easton elementary schools. In addition, I was able to plan and execute engaging lessons on neuroscience and stereotypes in STEM for 2nd and 3rd grade students at Paxinosa and Cheston elementary schools in Easton. SFN seeks to provide mentorship and educational opportunities (in neuroscience and related fields) for both students at Lafayette and the larger Easton community.

  • Association of Lafayette Feminists (2)

ALF is a club that meets weekly to discuss current or important issues as they pertain to feminism and our experience as feminists at Lafayette and in the world beyond. As a first-year member, I was asked to lead a discussion on the topic of female slut-shaming, which is a prominent issue in our society, both on our campus and beyond.

  • Contributor to College Archives (2)

In professor Armstrong’s Sexuality Studies course, I was able to engage with the Lafayette College Archives. A rich source of institutional history, the archives are an incredibly important resource for students, faculty, and staff of the college. As a student in Professor Armstrong’s course, I was able to contribute to important research regarding the availability of women’s healthcare on campus and the development/revision of the sexual assault and harassment policy. This paper tells a vital story regarding sexuality and gender at the college, and is not only recorded as part of the Lafayette history, but available for the community to engage with, learn from, and reflect/build upon in the future. Similarly, I have also been a supported of the push for the inclusion of bias incident reports published in the archives, in addition to the work of vital and new campus groups such as Pards Against Sexual Assault.

  • President Selected Ground breaker and Integrated Research Panelist for the Rockwell Integrated Science Center Groundbreaking

In the spring 2017, I was personally selected by President Byerly to serve as a student representative of integrative research on a panel for the groundbreaking of the Rockwell Integrated Science Center. In addition, I had the honor of representing the Lafayette integrated, interdisciplinary mind, as I personally accompanied President Byerly in the groundbreaking of the building site for our new science center!

  • Association of Future Healthcare Professionals (1)

As a member of the Association of Future Healthcare Professionals, I was able to attend lectures given by local medical professionals, attend advising sessions, and participate in field trips to local hospitals to learn more about the medical field.

Community Service – Total Years Involved

  • Emergency Medical Technician (2)

As a member of my hometown’s volunteer rescue squad, I am responsible for responding to emergency medical calls in the community on rotating weeknight and weekend shifts. I help to provide emergency medical care to patients, execute transfer of care to nurses and physicians, and document incidents and care given.

  • Relay for Life (3)

As a member of the Alpha Phi Fraternity team, each spring I participate in the relay for Life event held at Lafayette. I actively fundraise for my team, and walk in our Lafayette event to raise funds for cancer research.

  • St. Peter’s University Hospital Labor & Delivery Unit Volunteer (1)

As a volunteer in the Labor & Delivery Unit at the hospital, I was responsible for welcoming patients, paperwork organization, and working with triage for incoming patients and deliveries. I was oftentimes a liaison between patient families and physicians as well, communicating information and family requests/questions as they arose.

  • Alpha Phi Foundation (3)

As a member of Alpha Phi Fraternity, I have been an active member in our women’s heart health philanthropy mission. I have been a participant in all philanthropic events such as our annual Red Dress Gala, our annual soccer tournament (Alpha Phifa), our Heart Healthy Week events, and our frequent philanthropy dances to fund raise for our Alpha Phi Foundation for Women’s Heart Health.

  • Society for Neuroscience Fundraising and Community Engagement (1)

As mentioned previously, as the president for SFN, I designed and executed fundraising events such as “I’m Thankful for You Because…” to raise money to purchase maternal supplies needed by St. Luke’s University Hospital. In addition, this spring I am planning events to raise money to purchase needed STEM-related supplies for Easton elementary schools. Furthermore, I have planned and executed engaging neuroscience and gender stereotypes in STEM lessons for 2nd and 3rd grade students as an after school program for Cheston and Paxinosa elementary schools in Easton.

  • Easton RoofOver Shelter Informational Material Provider (1)

This past fall, I was able to work with Professor Byrd and the RoofOver Shelter for teen mothers in Easton. Throughout this experience, I learned that information regarding healthy relationships and Autism Spectrum Disorder were very much needed by this population. To help provide such information, I developed informational materials on both topics that are available for the teen mother population in Easton.

Athletics Activity/Award – Total Years Involved

  • Lafayette College Equestrian Team (1)

I have been an avid horseback rider my entire life. As a senior, I decided to continue my passion as an equestrian on the Lafayette team. I have participated in many competitions, in addition to weekly meetings and practices off campus. I was fortunate enough to be selected to travel to the Tournament of Champions, with 8 other teammates, in Ohio this past fall. The tournament featured 18 of the best collegiate riding teams in the U.S.

  • Lafayette College Women’s Club Soccer (1)

As a former Varsity soccer player, I decided to continue my love for the sport and play for our club team. Unfortunately, a hip injury has prevented me from returning to the field, but I very much enjoyed being a teammate and competitor!

  • Intramural Soccer (1)

Member of the Alpha Phi Fraternity team.

  • Intramural Floor Hockey (1)

Member of the Alpha Phi Fraternity team.

  • Intercollegiate Horse Show Association All-Academic Award

As a member of the Lafayette Equestrian Team, I will be receiving the IHSA All-Academic Award this spring. Student riders with a GPA above 3.65 are honored with this award.

  • Half-Marathons (3)

I have been a participant in the local St. Luke’s Half-Marathon for the past 3 years to stay active, continue my love for running, and to raise money for this local institution!

Special Interest – Total Years Involved

  • Horseback Riding (4)

In reality, I have been riding horses from a very young age. My mother and sister are both very involved as well, which has made the sport much more personal and enjoyable throughout the years. My love for riding stems from my love for caring for and having a partnership with animals. I have rehabilitated previously abused horses, and have helped to train very successful competition horses throughout my career!

  • Title IX Discussion (2)

I have always been incredibly passionate about sexual assault/harassment victim advocacy, and have interest in law/policies that govern college campuses. After learning about Title IX and Lafayette policy, I reached out to our previous Title IX coordinator (Amy O’Neil) to provide my experience and input regarding campus climate and education surrounding these matters. In addition, I am currently working with PASA and our Educational Equity Coordinator (Jessica Brown) to ideate ways in which education surrounding Title IX can be implemented on campus.

  • It’s On Us/Take Back the Night (2)

As mentioned above, I have always been passionate about sexual assault/harassment victim advocacy, vocalizing unheard stories, and raising awareness of such stories and matters in a public forum to influence change. In this spirit, I was an active, vocal participant in both It’s On Us Takes a Stand and Take Back the Night over the past 2 years, sharing my own stories, listening to others, and providing support as a responsible member of our community.