Roanoke faculty release new work that advances insights across disciplines

Roanoke College faculty are making an impact with new research, presentations at national conferences and media features highlighting their expertise. Take a look at some of the latest news: 
 
Professor of Practice Joe Boucher (Screen Studies) was interviewed about his award-winning work as a producer on “The Simpsons” for a new deep-dive book: “Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television–and America–Forever” (Grand Central Publishing, 2025). The book examines how the show’s groundbreaking first decade transformed television, comedy, and American culture. 
 
Associate Professor Alison Clifton (French) was tapped to join a competitive, yearlong leadership program with the Southern Conference on Language Teaching’s Institute for Language Leadership (SCILL). The program supports educators who stand out for their dedication and deep commitment to fostering language learning in their communities. 
 
John P. Fishwick Associate Professor Cheryl Hopson (Literary Studies) was invited to present her research at the Association for the Study of African American Life and History Annual Meeting and Conference in Atlanta. Her paper, “Alice Walker and The Jackson Years: A Meditation of Creative Writing, Region, Historical Time, and Labor,” explored the complexities of Walker’s life, work and activism during her time living in Jackson, Mississippi, in the 1960s and 1970s. 
 
Assistant Professor Lauren Kennedy-Metz (Psychology) co-authored two new papers that were selected for presentation at the recent Hamlyn Symposium on Medical Robotics in London and the upcoming 21st Annual Academic Surgical Congress in Florida. Her research examines how stress and mental load impact surgical performance and patient care. Kennedy-Metz also recently published a paper in the journal Perfusion and a paper in the International Journal for Quality in Health Care, which was co-written by Simran Gill '25, a psychology major who is now attending medical school.
 
Assistant Professor Daniel Nasrallah (Chemistry) was invited to present his research, "Methods to make C-N and C-B bonds," at the American Chemical Society meeting in Washington, D.C., in August. His presentation, which was co-authored by student research assistants at Roanoke, aims to develop new ways to create chemical bonds that are used as key building blocks to help scientists design new medicines and materials. 
 
Professor of Practice Elizabeth Parkins (Business Administration) was quoted in an CNBC article offering insight into how tech companies are bundling services with AI tools that raise subscription prices for consumers. Parkins explained that labeling a product as “AI-powered” can successfully sell consumers on the potential of progress, justifying higher prices until users recognize they may be paying for perceived innovation rather than tangible utility.
 
John R. Turbyfill Professor Stella Xu (History) published a paper tracing the path of Ko Sǒnji, a prominent Tang dynasty general of Koguryŏ descent, through his campaigns across Central Asia, his defeat at the Battle of Talas and his career-ending political struggles, all against the backdrop of China’s changing roles on the Silk Road. Xu’s work appeared in Acta Via Serica, an international journal dedicated to scholarship related to the Silk Road.