2023 Psychological Sciences Outstanding Research and Academic Achievement Award Recipients

The Department of Psychological Sciences recognizes Psychology majors Rosalba Bonilla, Jennifer DeSantis, Samantha Eason and Alexandra Griffin along with Behavioral Neuroscience majors Viviana Castro, Erin Foley, Marissa Franco, James Ghaly, and Ryan Nguyen for receiving the Outstanding Research and Academic Achievement Award. Congratulations on everything you have accomplished. The Psychological Sciences department wishes you all the best in your future endeavors.

Here are some things they had to say:

What was the most impactful learning/research experience of your undergraduate career?

“The most impactful research experience I had was working in Dr. Kristen McCabe’s research lab. I was a research assistant and learned how to work on a large research project with a team. I also was exposed to important ideas to consider when working with culturally diverse families in need of treatment, and this further developed my interest in working to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in children’s mental health services,” says Bonilla

“I was involved in many diverse research and educational opportunities on and off campus which were afforded to me by USD. All of these experiences helped me shape my goals for the future and redefine my passion for helping others,” says DeSantis

“I was granted the opportunity to do an internship during the summer of 2022, funded by the Career Development Center, during which I began the process of working on my Honors Thesis. Spending that summer in the lab with my brilliant advisor, Dr. Getz, was so incredibly helpful as it provided me with a solid foundation moving forward into my senior year. If not for that research internship, my experience with designing and implementing the study I am conducting for my Thesis would not have been nearly as successful,” says Eason

“One of the most impactful learning/research experiences for me was taking Dr. Berkley’s classes (like Psychology of Black Families) and working in his research lab. Something that has resonated with me since is that psychological research and practice should shift to more intersectional and interdisciplinary perspectives. It is important to promote the voices and stories of those who are sometimes unheard and underrepresented,” says Griffin

“My most impactful learning experience is summer research experience as it helped prepare me for graduate school, understand the long hours and variability in the lab, and deepened my passion for research,” says Castro

“ My most impactful research experience at USD was working on my SURE project. It was very rewarding to see my proposal come to life after all the long hours of preparation, and fun to grow close to the other undergraduate researchers over the summer,” says Foley

“The most impactful learning experience of my undergraduate career has come from being in the Wenzel Lab where I found my passion for neuroscience research,” says Franco

“My experience in Dr. Hales' research lab in the summer of 2022 was incredibly impactful, as I worked full-time hours. It gave me a greater appreciation for the endless effort that researchers put in every day to advance their fields. I now read research papers with a newfound appreciation for the time and effort it takes to carry out tasks and analyze data,” says Ghaly

“The most impactful learning/research experience had the opportunity to attend Society for Neuroscience and present! It was nice sharing the hard work of several semesters that our team worked on,” says Nguyen

Shout out/thanks to anyone in particular?

“I’d like to thank Dr. Kristen McCabe for her continued support as my mentor during my time at USD. Her help has meant the world to me and has positively impacted my undergraduate experience. The McNair Scholars program and my former Student Support Services retention specialist Marcela Meave have also played a pivotal role in my success,” says Bonilla

“ I would like to thank Dr. McCabe for her support throughout my four years and multiple career changes. I would also like to thank Dr. Galvan for giving me the opportunity to be her TA for two years as well as being a close mentor and role model. To Dr. Appleton-Knapp I would like to thank her for being an honest, kind, and compassionate educator who always cares about her students and their success and future. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Ichiyama for his continual guidance and support throughout the entirety of my undergraduate career. I would like to thank him for his kindness, enthusiasm, and endless educational and life advice,” says DeSantis

“First, I would like to thank Dr. Getz for her guidance throughout my academic career as a student and a researcher. Her Cognitive Psychology class sparked my interest in research, and being an assistant in her lab helped me develop a deeper understanding of the cognitive processes that underlie language, which is crucial to my eventual career goals. Dr. Getz’s support has been instrumental in my undergraduate success. Additionally, I would like to thank all of the other professors with whom I have taken Psychology and Sociology classes; I am lucky to have been taught by so many professors who are genuinely passionate about their fields. Finally, I would like to thank my parents for their unending support in all of my endeavors, in academics and in life,” says Eason

“I would like to thank Dr. Laura Getz and the LAMP lab for their continuous support. LAMP lab was the first research lab I joined and I can’t thank Dr. Getz enough for her mentorship. I would also like to thank Dr. Steven Berkley and his REMP lab for my research experiences. I am so excited to continue working with him in the future! I would also like to thank my friends and family for their unconditional support and love throughout my academic journey,” says Griffin

“I want to give an enormous thank you to Dr. Jena Hales, my mentor, who has been an incredible source of guidance the past couple of years,” says Castro

“ I would like to thank Dr. Jen Wenzel for the amazing mentorship, laughs, and countless instances of support she has lent me in my undergraduate research endeavors,” says Foley

“Thank you to Jen for being an awesome mentor and to Dr. Hales and Dr. Walcott, who have taught me a lot!” says Franco

“I would like to shout out to my lab PI Dr. Hales, my loving grandma, my unbelievably supportive sister and of course my parents, who've made all of this happen since day one,” says Ghaly.

“I would like to thank Dr. Hales for giving me the opportunity to be a part of her lab. I learned so much but beyond that I met so many great people and enjoyed the relationships that were built during the process.Thanks, Jena!” says Nguyen

Advice to future students

“If you are an underrepresented student, apply to join the McNair Scholars Program! This is such a great program for those thinking of doing research and potentially pursuing graduate studies. I’d also say don’t be afraid to be open with others. Share knowledge and opportunities with each other! I was able to grow so much with the support of my peers who would share their varied experiences with me,” says Bonilla

“your path is most likely going to change - maybe multiple times - so just be patient with yourself and go with the flow!” says DeSantis

“I have two main pieces of advice for future Psychology students: use your resources and enjoy your time. We have a plethora of avenues to get academic help in this department; the professors are very accessible through emails and office hours, many of the classes have TAs who are extraordinarily helpful, and the Psi Chi Honor Society offers free tutoring to students. You have access to all of these wonderful resources, so use them to your advantage! Finally, and perhaps most importantly, savor the time you spend in USD. The content you will learn in your Psychology classes is fascinating, so allow yourself to be enriched by what you learn. Enjoy time with your fellow students, and form relationships with your professors; find mentorship in others wherever you can,” says Eason

“My advice for future students, however long they are here, is to take the time to celebrate yourself and your accomplishments (no matter how seemingly big or small). Your mental health is very important. Also, try and keep an open mind as well because through these years (for classes, clubs or new friends) because you never know what you’ll stumble upon that will bring you joy, inspiration, creativity, interest, or passion,” says Griffin

“My piece of advice for future students is to foster strong connections with your professors - this will go a long way!” says Castro

“My biggest advice to future students would be to make your undergraduate experience your own, and avoid comparing your successes, as well as failures, to others. You will find your way,” says Foley

“Plan for your future after undergrad,” says Franco

“My advice would be to take a deep breath here and there, find your passions in life and dive into them head first no hesitations, and like my dad once told me, “slow down and dance through life.”” says Ghaly

“My advice to future students is to get involved in student organizations, research or whatever they can get their hands on. USD is a small school and joining clubs, fun classes or picking up a hobby is a great way to maximize experiences and relationships,” says Nguyen