On April 29, Russell Sage College’s Interdisciplinary Studies department held an academic celebration as part of the college’s annual Undergraduate Research Day.
The event began with a presentation from 2026 Ferguson Fellow Mackenzie Chatham, who shared research on how holistic self-care practices may serve as supportive strategies for individuals experiencing stress and burnout. A grant from the Doris Adams Ferguson ’53 Memorial Fund for Sociology allowed Chatham to attend a retreat at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, where she learned more about practices including shinrin-yoku (immersion in nature, also sometimes called “forest bathing”) and Ayurveda, the traditional Indian healing system.
Following the presentation, the department — which includes undergraduate programs in Sociology, English, History, Psychology, Forensic Psychology, and Criminal Justice, and graduate programs in Criminal Justice and Forensic Mental Health — recognized students who demonstrated exceptional academic achievement in sociology, women’s studies, and criminal justice.
The following students were inducted into international and national honor societies during the celebration:
Alpha Kappa Delta: The International Honor Society in Sociology
- Jaia Caron
- Kirsten Hansen
- Isabella Harris
- Jaidy Hernandez
- Claire Idema
- Giannah Inglese
- Annanoelle Lenard
- Molly Oravsky
- Kristina VanDenburgh
- Gianna Viscusi
- Emily Willoughby
- Elizabeth Zollman
- Skyler Zygmont
Iota Iota Iota: The National Honor Society in Women’s Studies
- Giannah Inglese
- Gianna Viscusi
- Kyra Weatherwax
- Emily Willoughby
- Skylar Zygmont
Alpha Phi Sigma: The National Honor Society in Criminal Justice
- Molly Barber
- Victoria Burger
- Jaia Caron
- Kerringtyn Davis
- Olivia Dyer
- Molly Esposito
- Giovanni Goss
- Annanoelle Lenard
- Sara Parker
- Kimonte Ross
- Matthew Ruona
- Alexa Schillinger
- Holly Steepe
- Alisha Stocklas
- Chelsea Sturtevant
- Caitlyn Vanderhoof

