Math Major Presents Research at NY6 Undergraduate Research Conference
Alexandra Hill '23 presented her research project entitled “The Interaction Between Mental Health and Positionality in Literature: A Data Science Analysis” at the NY6 Undergraduate Research Conference at Colgate University on November 5th.
The culmination of two years of research, the project aims to statistically explore how mental health is portrayed in contemporary YA fiction novels, and specifically how race and gender influence that portrayal. Her research was made possible thanks to the Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship and her advisor Dr. Dan Look.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Alexandra is a triple major in English, French, and Mathematics, with a minor in Statistics. Her passion for mental health is a keystone for much of her academic pursuits. She presented her research on mental health accessibility in writing centers at a national conference in 2021, and her three senior honors projects each respectively analyze mental illness in literature in different ways. Beyond her scholarly interests, she works as editor-in-chief of The Laurentian Magazine and The Hill News, is president of the service organization APO, program manager for St. Lawrence’s Volunteer Services, a tutor in both the Peterson Quantitative Resource Center and WORD Studio, and a private French tutor.
The other two SLU students in attendance from other departments were Isabelle Dolcino and Lehlomela (Simon) Mofali.