2016 Royce Fellows - Brown University Athletics

Royce Fellows

Sofia Rudin ’17 (Women’s Rugby)
“Lessons from Christchurch: Schools as first responders”
Sofia will investigate how schools in Christchurch, New Zealand responded to the 2011 and 2016 earthquakes. She will examine how teaching practices surrounding natural disaster education have changed in New Zealand as a result of the 2011 earthquake. Working in partnership with Earth science teachers at two independent schools in Seattle and informed by the lessons of Christchurch, Sofia will develop a curriculum to engage students in earth sciences and prepare students in Seattle area for future earthquakes.
Faculty Sponsor: Timothy Whitfeld and Jan Tullis

Sport and Society Fellows:

Steven D'Ascanio ’17 (Men’s Track & Field)
“Improving Concussion Procedures in Rhode Island High Schools”
Steven will investigate the prevalence of concussions in high school sports in Rhode Island and the measures being taken to prevent their occurrence. Steven hopes the data will influence statewide, policies and procedures for both public and private high schools.
Faculty Sponsor: Russell Fiore

Nicholas Esemplare ’18 (Men’s Lacrosse)
“The Ramifications of Risk Aversion and Cooperation in Sport and Human Behavior”
Sports are a perfect arena for inquiry, as they provide a closed environment in which we can assess human behavior. Nicholas will gather and analyze statistics for a select number of Division I men’s lacrosse teams over the last 5 years in an effort to discern the risk and value associated with passing. His findings will drive a broader inquiry into cooperation and human behavior, examining the distribution of reward and punishment and its effect on whether or not people cooperate at efficient levels.
Faculty Sponsor: James Campbell

Oksana Goretaya ’17 (Women’s Rugby)
“Exploring Barriers and Opportunities to Disabled Children in Moscow”
Oksana will investigate sports programs available to disabled children through the Perspektiva program in Moscow, Russia. Oksy will investigate services and resources available to children and families, the effectiveness of the program on improving the well being of participants and the cultural attitudes toward disability.
Faculty Sponsor: Eli Wolff

Mikaela Karlsson ’18 (Women’s Lacrosse)
“Lacrosse and Refugee Integration in Sweden”
Mikaela will explore opportunities to connect Sweden’s nascent lacrosse. Initiative to the growing number of refugee sport organizations and programs in Sweden. As lacrosse is geographically widespread in Sweden, Mikaela will explore opportunities to connect regional club teams with refugee sport programs in hopes of expanding the development of lacrosse and provide opportunities for refugee youth to integrate into Swedish society through sport.
Faculty Sponsor: Arnold Weinstein

Tori Kinamon ’17 (Gymnastics)
“Tackling MRSA in the Athletic Setting”
In the last decade, community-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) or flesh eating bacteria has emerged as a serious threat to public health. Staphylococcus aureus is known for intense virulence, antibiotic resistance, and universal presence. Athletes are considered a high-risk population for infection because frequent skin abrasions, sharing of equipment and facilities, and inadequate hygiene practices facilitate MRSA transmission. Yet, even in the face of notable risk, there is a lack of MRSA surveillance and awareness from coaches and athletes at every level. Tori will investigate the prevalence of MRSA colonization among a select group of elite athletes and examine the current prevention and control protocols used by the 2 Olympic Training Centers and National Team sites.
Faculty Sponsor: Eleftherios Mylonakis

Anand Rajesh ’17 (Men’s Crew)
“Rowing with Chinese Characteristics”
Historically, rowing has been a sport associated with Western culture; recently there has been an explosion of rowing in China at the amateur and professional levels. Anand will investigate the experiences of a select group of Chinese rowers and administrators to understand how cultural characteristics are shaping the growth and practice of rowing in China, all against the backdrop of China’s global economic boom.
Faculty Sponsor: Paul Cooke

Kieja Veldman ’17 (Women’s Basketball)
“Shooting Touch in Kayonza, Rwanda”
Kieja will coach children in the Shooting Touch basketball program in Kayonza, Rwanda. In addition to coaching, Kieja will work with Shooting Touch to document the access families served by the program have to food and the impact of food security on children’s health and well being.
Faculty Sponsor: Eli Wolff