Current Conyers Scholars
Zsanna Bodor is a master’s student in English literature. Born in Hungary, Zsanna immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in a bilingual family. She obtained her B.A. from Hillsdale College, where she studied music and German literature. Zsanna’s research focuses primarily on the British metaphysical poets, and she enjoys exploring the intersections between liturgy, poetry, and music. She is currently a graduate consultant at the Baylor University Writing Center and will serve as a graduate assistant director of the UWC in the fall of 2024. Zsanna is a member of Baylor’s Chamber Singers, and in her free time she enjoys singing Renaissance polyphony with the Choral Scholars at her local church choir.
Robert Brown is a fourth-year PhD student in Baylor’s English Department. His research focuses on moral, communal, and civic formation and the importance of place in American literature, particularly in the century between the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, and he is currently developing a dissertation on American small-town short-story cycles. Originally a missionary kid from Hungary, he moved to Waco from Southern California, where he attended Biola University and then Cal State Fullerton, wrote his MA thesis on a virtue-ethics approach to teaching academic writing, and taught as an adjunct at California Baptist University and San Bernardino Valley College. In addition to literature and pedagogy, Robert is passionate about film, theology, and moral philosophy and writes about them regularly online, including in a recent Mere Orthodoxy article about reading in the Star Wars universe. (On an alternate timeline, writing about Star Wars would be his day job.)
Michelle Hunt is a fourth-year Hebrew Bible/Old Testament PhD candidate in the Religion Department. She obtained a BA in Christian Ministry from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (2009), an MA in Biblical History and Geography from Jerusalem University College (2015), and an MA in Theological Studies from Houston Christian University (2019). Before coming to Baylor, she taught various Bible classes to middle and high school students at a Christian school in Houston, Texas. Michelle’s research interests include textual criticism, historical geography, and scribal practices in the Second Temple period. Her dissertation focuses on the compositional development of Joshua 18–19.
Joshua M. Jonas hails from Antigua and Barbuda. Boasting more than a decade of experience as a pastor and instructing high school students for a span of 14 years, Joshua has instructed courses in Religion, History, Speech, Physical Education, and Geography. Joshua's research interest centers around the convergence of educational technology and student learning outcomes, with a specific emphasis on investigating novel approaches to enrich teaching methodologies, cultivate profound learning encounters, and encourage heightened student engagement. His goal is to examine a range of technologies, including game-based learning, online learning platforms, metacognitive development, and adaptive learning systems. As part of his vision for the future, He aims to empower education in the Caribbean by developing innovative educational tools through an EdTech startup. He aims to promote inclusive learning and improve education for marginalized communities. Joshua enjoys sports, theology, history, and spending quality time with his wife and two children.
Juliana Kazemi is a second-year PhD student in the Department of Philosophy. Originally from Fredericksburg, Virginia, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of Scranton with a degree in Theology and Philosophy and a minor in Biochemistry. She obtained a Master of Theological Studies in the History of Christianity and a Master of Arts in Early Christian Studies, both from the University of Notre Dame. Her theological interests include women in the hagiographic tradition and ritual elements of Christian pilgrimage. Her philosophical interests include ancient philosophy, the philosophy of (Christian and liberal) education, and philosophy and literature. If she’s not planning her next pilgrimage, you can find Juliana reading speculative fiction, ballroom dancing with her husband, or being overly competitive at Bananagrams.
Isaac Liu is a second-year PhD student studying Material Science and Engineering. He is from Virginia, earning his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Liberty University. He works as a research assistant with the Point-of-Need Innovation Center, focusing on the additive friction stir deposition of aluminum, specifically how different process parameters affect the material microstructure and resulting material properties. His contributions to the PONI Center are the curation of the existing literature and acquirement of high-rate tensile results. Outside of research, Isaac participates with Baylor Taekwondo, plays piano for church, and reading long articles and short books. He enjoys hanging out with his friends—struggling at whatever sports or card game they happen to be playing—and being at church, especially at the potlucks.
Malcolm Macleod is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Biology Department who specializes in aquatic ecology. His research quantifies how water quality changes in Texas reservoirs across different hydroclimates. He earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations at the University of Texas, after which he served as a sustainable agriculture Peace Corps volunteer in a Ngäbe-Bugle community in Panama. Upon returning to the USA, he earned a Master in Environmental Management degree at Western Colorado University where he worked to restore wetland ecosystems. Malcolm is passionate about environmental justice and immersing himself in cultures from around the world. Having a keen sense of adventure, he can frequently be found outside either paddling on the water or hiking a trail. He also loves to spend his free time sharing food with friends and reading books in his hammock.
Marc Magaña is a second-year PhD student in the Health, Human Performance, and Recreation Department. Born and raised in California, Marc previously completed his B.S. In Exercise Science at California State University, Los Angeles before earning his M.S. in Kinesiology at Cal Baptist University in California. Marc’s research is focused on skeletal muscle with an emphasis on cancer and its treatments. Outside of his academic pursuits, Marc enjoys spending time with his wife, Kelly, playing and watching sports, listening to music and lifting weights.
Natalie Mastin is a PhD candidate in the Department of Statistical Science at Baylor. With a keen interest in functional data analysis and educating the future generations of data scientists, Natalie is dedicated to advancing statistical methodologies and fostering a deeper understanding of data science principles. Currently serving as a graduate research assistant for the Hering research team, Natalie contributes significantly to innovative projects in her field, exploring new frontiers in statistical analysis. Natalie's dedication extends to the classroom, where she finds fulfillment teaching, sharing her expertise, and fostering a love for statistics among students. Natalie finds joy in the classroom environment and aspires to pursue a career as a university professor, where she can impart knowledge, foster critical thinking, and inspire the next generation of statisticians and data scientists.