What do a cookbook, microlending and a sci-fi novella have in common? They’re all creative takes on the honors thesis.
While many Honors College theses take shape in a laboratory, a library or in the community, Fiona Dunlop’s came together in her kitchen. For Dylan McDowell, ’14, it was at Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. And for Cassidy Ochoa, ’25, the year 2575.
Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Matthias Carney! Matthias earned an H.B.S in climate science with a minor in mathematics and completed his thesis, “Projected changes in extreme precipitation from high-resolution simulations in the western U.S.,” under the mentorship of Dr. Nick Siler, an associate professor of hydrology and climate change in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Following graduation, Matthias will be applying to law school and traveling.
Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Sophiana Kung! Sophiana earned an H.B.S in design and innovation management, an H.B.A in music with a focus on piano and a Design for Social Impact certificate and completed her thesis, “Design Thinking in Beginner Piano Pedagogy Curriculum,” under the mentorship of Dr. Brigitte Gaal Cluver, a senior instructor of design and human environment in the College of Business. After graduation, Sophiana will be attending nursing school and continuing to work as a phlebotomist.
Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Kevin Chang! Kevin earned an H.B.S in computer science and completed his thesis, “Learning to Dock: A Simulation-based Study on Quantifying and Reducing the Sim2Real Gap in Autonomous Underwater Docking,” under the mentorship of Dr. Geoff Hollinger, a professor of mechanical, industrial, and manufacturing engineering in the College of Engineering. After graduation, Kevin will be pursuing a M.S. in Robotics at Oregon State University.
Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Emily Rice! Em earned an H.B.S in earth sciences with a climate science option and completed their thesis, “Nitrous Oxide Records in the New ALHIC1903 and ALHIC1901 Ice Cores from Allan Hills, Antarctica Show that Allan Hills Cores Reliably Preserve Nitrous Oxide Concentrations,” under the mentorship of Dr. Edward J. Brook, a distinguished professor of earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. After graduation, Em will be starting a PhD program in climate modeling at UC Santa Cruz.
Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Josiah Chan! Josiah earned an H.B.S in physics with a mathematics option and a minor in mathematics and completed his thesis, “Fabrication and Optical Characterization of 2D Magnetic Layers of CrSBr, FePS3, and CrSBr/Organic Heterojunctions,” under the mentorship of Dr. Oksana Ostroverkhova, a professor of physics in the College of Science. Following graduation, Josiah will be joining the University of Oregon Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program on the Optics Track.
Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Jamie McMurray! Jamie earned an H.B.S in business administration and sustainability with a minor in organizational leadership and option in the Dean's Academy and completed her thesis, “Understanding perceptions of Oregon-based businesses on DEQ environmental regulation,” under the mentorship of Dr. Rajat Panwar, a professor of responsible and sustainable business in the College of Forestry. After graduation, Jamie will be continuing her higher education at Oregon State University, pursuing a Master of Science in Forest Ecosystems and Society. Her focus will be on sustainable business practices, combining her interests in environmental stewardship and responsible economic development.
Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Sophia Nowers! Sophia earned an H.B.S in agricultural sciences and a GIS certificate with minors in comparative international agriculture and French and completed her thesis, “Ecological Tradeoffs in Agricultural Wetlands: The Management of Flood-Irrigated Grass-Hay Systems in the Intermountain West for Waterbirds and Ranching,” under the mentorship of Dr. Aaron Wolf, a professor of water resources policy in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. After graduating, Sophia will be attending graduate school in Integrated Water Resources Management at McGill University.
For Kaitlyn Kim, a class of 2025 Honors College double degree graduate in biochemistry and molecular biology from the College of Science and innovation management from the College of Business, peer mentorship and a sense of belonging were cornerstones of her undergraduate experience.
Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Julian Loesch! Julian earned an H.B.S in oceanography and completed his thesis, “Investigating seasonal and interannual variability in Aragonite Saturation off the Oregon-Washington Coastline using the Ocean Observatories Initiative Coastal Endurance Array,” under the mentorship of Dr. Edward Dever, a professor of oceanography in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Following graduation, Julian plans on taking a gap year to get field experience in Oceanographic research, after which he plans on pursuing a Master's degree in public policy with a focus on science communication.
