The Department of English is proud to congratulate Elyse Reed for her Center for Ethics and Human Values Award at the Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum! This award, given by its namesake office, recognizes “exemplary undergraduate research in moral and political philosophy or on applied ethical questions underlying contentious social issues and policies.” 

Reed’s research project, tentatively titled "Immigration, Disease, and the Body Politic: A Rhetorical Study of the Immigration Act of 1924 and Its Legal Legacy," is a rhetorical study of the language of hygiene in the law, and how this language reflected the eugenic values of the Progressive Era. Her project tracks this language from the Immigration Act of 1924 through legal cases that disproportionally block immigration from "less desirable" groups to the modern day, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her research has developed under the mentorship of English librarian Jennifer Schnabel and law librarian Natasha Landon. 

Now in its thirtieth year, the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum is a competitive poster forum for graduating students to present their research and earn recognition from faculty, staff, and Denman alumni reviewers in their category. The Denman Forum was held on March 4, 2025, and winners in all ten categories were honored at the Awards Ceremony on March 6, 2025.  

Reed is a senior politics, philosophy, and economics (PPE) and English major, with a focus on rhetoric. Reflecting on the experience, she says “I was excited to be included in the Denman and that humanities research was being recognized. Undergraduate research in the humanities is often not emphasized as it is in STEM, but when we are able to showcase our research, it is always exciting to see how students use different methodologies to study history, literature, and more.” 

To her fellow students she says: “I encourage students in the humanities to become involved in research on campus—whether it's joining faculty projects or spearheading your own like this one—research is a great way to dig into topics in ways the classroom doesn't typically allow. Thank you to Jen Schabel and Natasha Landon for their support on this project!” 

Congratulations to Elyse and to all the Denman Forum awardees and participants!