EXPLORING PUNITIVE ATTITUDES

Kelly Pierce (’20) studies punitive attitudes in the criminal justice system. While working on her master’s degree at UNT, she started research on public attitudes toward harsh punishment for crimes, which is now being funded by the University of Cincinnati where she is pursuing her Ph.D. She has contributed on two research publications with UNT criminal justice faculty mentors including one on anti-immigrant sentiment with Adam Trahan and another on protective efects of social bonds with Jessica Craig and Haley Zettler. Her current research focuses on human trafcking in Ohio. After fnishing her dissertation, she hopes to continue research and work for a nonproft or think tank.

Analyzing The Chemistry Of Confections

Xiaohu Xia (’03 Ph.D.), currently a principal scientist for Mars Wrigley Global Research and Development, leads material research to improve the performance and sustainability of confectioneries enjoyed every day by consumers around the world including Double Mint gum, M&M chocolate, Snickers bar and others. His work has led to about 20 patent applications and earned him the Wrigley Breakthrough Innovation Award. While at UNT, Xia worked on hydrogel nanoparticles for biomedical applications under the mentorship of late professor Zhibing Hu in the Department of Physics.