Finding a Calling in �鶹��Ƶ's Writing Associates Program</h1> <article> <h1>Finding a Calling in �鶹��Ƶ's Writing Associates Program</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:58:41 +0000</p> <span>Finding a Calling in �鶹��Ƶ's Writing Associates Program</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-02-23T11:58:41-05:00" title="Thursday, February 23, 2023 - 11:58">Thu, 02/23/2023 - 11:58</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ryo Adachi cultivated interests in education and writing through a variety of peer mentorship positions at �鶹��Ƶ. A 2022 graduate, Adachi came to �鶹��Ƶ as as an international student. She studied <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics">math</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics">economics</a> with minors in <a href="/linguistics">linguistics</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies">East Asian Studies</a> and a concentration in <a href="/education-studies">education studies</a>. In addition to her coursework, she gained experience as a writing and speaking associate, a Japanese conversation tutor, a teaching assistant for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), and a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/resources-and-support/pal">peer advising leader</a> (PAL), part of �鶹��Ƶ’s support network for new students.</p> <p>After graduation, Adachi started working full-time with the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/resources-and-support/wap">Writing Associates Program</a> at �鶹��Ƶ. On February 25, Adachi will facilitate an interactive workshop, “Overcoming the Comfort Zone,” in collaboration with the Office of Entrepreneurship and the Office for Disability & Access.</p> <p>Read more about Adachi’s career entry in the following Q&A.</p> <p><strong>How did you develop an interest in writing and communication while at �鶹��Ƶ?</strong></p> <p>Initially, it started from an interest in language education. During my first year, I was a Japanese tutor and took a class in Japanese language pedagogy. I then also took Kim Faber’s language pedagogy class, which furthered my interest in language education. As part of the class, I worked as an ESOL TA, teaching English lessons to international students. Tutoring and working with students led to being a writing associate. As I grew up bilingual, I resonated with the program’s core values that emphasized embracing language diversity.</p> <p><strong>What did you learn from your mentorship and teaching positions on campus?</strong></p> <p>I learned about the importance of reflection, especially as an ESOL teaching assistant. I originally had rigid lesson plans, but learned the importance of being flexible in my teaching. I was also informed by reflections of past experiences. Even though I’ve done a lot of workshops and presentations, I always reflect on what went wrong and how things can be improved next time. I also learned the value of building good boundaries with students. It’s possible to be sympathetic to students’ struggles while cultivating responsibility.</p> <p><strong>Which people at �鶹��Ƶ had the greatest impact on your experience?</strong></p> <p>Along with cultivating an interest in language education, Kim Faber encouraged me to spend more time writing. There was a specific assignment where she complimented my writing abilities and told me I had potential as a writer. Her comment was the first time I thought about pursuing writing more seriously. She really made an impact on me, and I still see her a lot. Additionally, Tania Boster, former director of the <a href="/bcsl">Bonner Center</a>, who played an important role in my college life. First as an academic advisor and then as a mentor. Tania Boster always listened to me and connected me with people on campus. She was very supportive throughout my college career.</p> <p><strong>How did you end up in your current role as the Writing Associates Program Fellow?</strong></p> <p>I first became involved in the Writing Associates Program at �鶹��Ƶ in the fall semester of my third year. During my last two years at �鶹��Ƶ, I was working on a lot of different projects for the program. I worked as a Writing Center writing associate, course writing associate for three different classes, and a speaking associate. With the involvement I had in the program, it made sense that I could fit into this role after graduation. Given my passion for language and writing education, I felt like this position would enhance my experience in the field.</p> <p><strong>Can you describe your responsibilities in the role?</strong></p> <p>I do a lot of logistical work in the writing and speaking centers to ensure that everyone gets the information they need. This includes training student writing associates and ensuring they are paid for their work. I also am in charge of workshop programs and outreach. I lead workshops that give writing and speaking advice that tailors to different audiences and contexts. For example, I work with the office of <a href="/fellowships">Fellowships and Awards</a> to help students with personal statements for programs like the Fulbright fellowship, Truman scholarship, and Goldwater scholarship. I also work with the <a href="/undergraduate-research">Office of Undergraduate Research</a> to support students who are applying for various summer programs.</p> <p><strong>What’s next for you after this role?</strong></p> <p>Down the road, I’m very interested in working with multilingual students and international students. Finding a way for everyone to incorporate their own unique voice and tap into linguistic resources is very important to me. I’m hoping to pursue literacy education.</p> <p><strong>Do you have any advice for students interested in your position?</strong></p> <p>My advice is to keep a teaching journal and record what you are thinking before and after lessons. It’s really helpful to look back and see what changes you can make.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Ryo Adachi helps students hone their writing and speaking skills—a role she started as a student.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-02-23T12:00:00Z">Thu, 02/23/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Ava Miller '25</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After �鶹��Ƶ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2396">International Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25236">Linguistics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25226">Education Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25341">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25401">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Ryo Adachi graduated from �鶹��Ƶ in 2022.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Riley Davis '22 Receives Fulbright to Argentina</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 05 May 2022 16:02:23 +0000</p> <span>Riley Davis '22 Receives Fulbright to Argentina</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-05-05T12:02:23-04:00" title="Thursday, May 5, 2022 - 12:02">Thu, 05/05/2022 - 12:02</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Riley Davis will graduate this spring with a strong foundation in teaching English to non-native speakers, as well as a keen awareness of her position in doing global work, as she prepares for an eight-month Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Argentina. </p> <p>Davis has left no time to spare throughout her undergraduate career in �鶹��Ƶ. She has double majors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/hispanic-studies">Hispanic studies</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/latin-american-studies">Latin American studies</a> with minors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/anthropology">anthropology</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs">gender, feminist, and sexuality studies</a>. In addition to her coursework, Davis has taught Spanish lessons to local youth through the <a href="https://www.oberlinsites.org/">Spanish in the Elementary Schools</a> program; co-taught a course on the United States citizenship exam through her involvement with the <a href="https://www.lorainelcentro.com/">El Centro</a> Volunteer Initiative; and served as a teaching assistant for a handful of lower and upper level Hispanic studies courses. </p> <p>Through her work with El Centro, Davis also volunteers to teach English to a local family on Sundays. She has taken classes in language pedagogy, introduction to linguistics, and advanced linguistic anthropology, all of which have affirmed and encouraged her passion for language and language-learning.</p> <p>“I feel like this is the right next step after �鶹��Ƶ,” says Davis, a resident of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “After being a student for so many years, I’m looking forward to being able to share my knowledge and to be a resource for those whom I can support.”</p> <p>The Fulbright program begins in March 2023 and will last for eight months. Davis has studied abroad in Latin America twice—first during a 2019 Winter Term group trip to Guadalajara, followed by a Winter Term trip in 2020 called Amazon Learning, in which she lived with an indigenous community in Ecuador for several weeks. </p> <p>“In both experiences, I grew extremely close with my families and I enjoyed learning most about their lives and relationships,” Davis says. “I’m excited to see how the culture of Argentina compares and contrasts with the countries in Latin America I am more familiar with. I’m curious to see how the country’s history of European immigration has shaped the art, architecture, and language of Argentina, as well as how these influences interact with indigenous communities, and to explore how cross-cultural interactions have shaped the different provinces of the country. Of course, I’m also looking forward to interacting with the students and faculty wherever I’ll be teaching.”</p> <p>Davis recently completed her honors thesis in Hispanic studies. Outside of academics, she is a member of �鶹��Ƶ’s all-gender jazz and folk a cappella group ’Round Midnight, and she works as a manager of the 'Sco, �鶹��Ƶ’s bar and music venue.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Davis is looking forward to applying her experience in language and teaching.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-05-05T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/05/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3781">�鶹��Ƶ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2376">Study Away</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4796">�鶹��Ƶ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25276">Latin American Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=24656">Anthropology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25236">Linguistics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/hispanic-studies" hreflang="und">�鶹��Ƶ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/latin-american-studies" hreflang="und">Latin American Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/anthropology" hreflang="und">Anthropology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Riley Davis '22 will embark on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Argentina beginning in March 2023.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Fulbright Fellowship Winner Connects Language to Heritage</h1> <p>ygay — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 13:17:45 +0000</p> <span>Fulbright Fellowship Winner Connects Language to Heritage</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-04-27T09:17:45-04:00" title="Tuesday, April 27, 2021 - 09:17">Tue, 04/27/2021 - 09:17</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ruth Bieber-Stanley ’21 has German ancestors and relatives on both sides of her family, but never learned to speak German as a child. Today, not only does she know the language, but uses it to have an even deeper connection with her heritage.</p> <p>“Learning German was a way to connect with a culture that intrigued me,” says <a href="/blogs/ruth-bieber-stanley" target="_blank">Bieber-Stanley</a>, a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico. “I think learning a language is a way to access a culture and that’s what leads to cultural understanding.” </p> <p>Although Bieber-Stanley was also able to take advantage of a study abroad experience in Germany, her time there was cut short due to the pandemic. She hopes her recent Fulbright Fellowship will grant her a second chance. </p> <p>The Fulbright Fellowship provides the opportunity for United States students to serve in professional placements in foreign government ministries or institutions to gain hands-on public sector experience in participating foreign countries. Bieber-Stanley, a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" target="_blank">psychology</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/german" target="_blank">German</a> major with a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/languages/studying-linguistics" target="_blank">linguistics concentration</a>, will be in Germany for 10 months, where she will teach English in a school setting while volunteering with refugee aid organizations and or children and family services, depending on her placement location. </p> <p>Besides becoming more fluent in German, Bieber-Stanley hopes to come away from her experience with perspective on how other countries handle issues such as education, social welfare, elections, and refugee resettlement. She also hopes to challenge herself to live in a place where she will be a complete stranger. </p> <p>“My goal is to become a psychotherapist working with adolescents,” she says. “Part of what was so appealing about the Fulbright was the opportunity to really get to know a community and work and form relationships with people very different from myself, which I consider a crucial skill as a hopeful future clinician.</p> <p>“I picked Germany specifically because of my German heritage, but also because I’m really fascinated by German culture and by Germany’s history as a formerly divided and reunified country. In my senior German seminar we talked a lot about what it means to come to terms with a problematic past and how cultural identity is reformed after conflict and division. I think our country is at a major crossroads right now, and I hope that spending time in Germany with Germans could give me perspective about how I can foster positive change in my own country.” </p> <p>Bieber-Stanley started taking German language classes during her first year at �鶹��Ƶ College and developed a love for its intricacies, including its grammar. “It feels like a fun puzzle to me,” she says. “German is also quirky. It has so many fun features that are so generative. The language has a lot of cool concepts and words that don’t really exist in English, which I love. For example, the word “Waldeinsamkeit” describes the feeling of being alone in a large forest contemplating the smallness of your being among old trees, a concept with which I particularly resonate.”</p> <p>Some of the German classes at �鶹��Ƶ that have added to Bieber-Stanley’s interest in the language include an Expressionist German course and poetry translation workshop in the comparative literature department, where she translated contemporary German poetry, some of which she recently presented at the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/languages/translation-symposium" target="_blank">Jed Deppman Translation Symposium</a>. Bieber-Stanley also took a class with �鶹��Ƶ’s <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/german/writer-residence/nora-gomringer" target="_blank">Max Kade German Writer in Residence Nora Gomringer</a> in 2019. Gomringer, an accomplished German poet, held weekly classes where she shared her work, the work of others, and the German culture. </p> <p>Students who would like to learn German, but are too intimidated to pursue it should just try it, says Bieber-Stanley. “The German classes at �鶹��Ƶ are so fast paced, so fun, and so rewarding. Participate in department events, watch German films and series, and listen to German music. If that isn’t enough, learning German to travel is also a great incentive. Germany is a wonderful place. The natural landscape is beautiful, the arts are so privileged, and so many cities are full of European fairy-tale charm. That, and the bread is like, really good. I was nervous to learn German, too, but it’s brought me so much and I would not be here today if I hadn’t decided to enroll in German 101 as a first-year student.”</p> <p>After completing her Fulbright Fellowship, Bieber-Stanley plans to pursue a master’s degree in clinical social work and potentially a PhD in counseling psychology. </p> <p>Bieber-Stanley is also a member of the �鶹��Ƶ College Tau Lambda chapter of Delta Phi Alpha, the national German honor society, and the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society.</p> <p><br> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-04-27T12:00:00Z">Tue, 04/27/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25236">Linguistics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25286">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25371">German</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/german" hreflang="und">German Language and Literatures</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Ruth Bieber-Stanley ’21</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jonathan Clark '25</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Pandemic Impact Award Helps Zoe Swann ’19 Continue Research on StartReact Effect</h1> <p>ygay — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 19:30:34 +0000</p> <span>Pandemic Impact Award Helps Zoe Swann ’19 Continue Research on StartReact Effect</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-09-09T15:30:34-04:00" title="Wednesday, September 9, 2020 - 15:30">Wed, 09/09/2020 - 15:30</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>“Our lab (which works with individuals with stroke—an already at-risk population) was effectively banned from doing any research,” says Swann. “While our solution—tele-health—increases accessibility and is relatively cost-effective, we were required to dip into funds that would have otherwise gone toward supporting students. </p> <p>“Now we spend extra money on individual testing kits [that consist of a phone with an app, headphones, and an amplifier], shipping, and sanitization. While we were set up for success, it took more financial resources than we had or would ordinarily need to cover tele-health costs and continue our data collection.”</p> <p>Although Swann has worked from home in recent months—the ASU Sync program is flexible and allows most students to take classes in person, remotely, or asynchronously—she can continue her research because of its interdisciplinary and non-invasive therapy. The fact that her work involves people who don’t often have access to speech therapy was also a motivating factor, says Swann. </p> <p>“People need accessible therapy more than ever—both preventatively and as a result of the neurological effects of the virus,” says Swann. “To be able to send people a device that can help them achieve that (and to be able to give them some money for participating on top of that) has been really gratifying. This tele-health model is pretty cool. We can ship these kits all over the country, which gives us access to a huge range of participants we would never have even thought to contact. It has led to some funny moments, like regional accents getting in the way of speech processing. Did they say “werter’ instead of “water’ because they’ve had a stroke, or because they’re in Philly?”</p> <p>In this Q&A, Swann offers more details about her research and her time at �鶹��Ƶ.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Did you have any mentors while at �鶹��Ƶ? </strong><br> My primary mentors were <a href="/pat-simen" target="_blank">Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Linguistics Pat Simen</a> and <a href="/jason-haugen" target="_blank">Associate Professor of Anthropology and Linguistics Jason Haugen</a>. I worked in Simen’s lab for four years, and I was Haugen’s teaching assistant. Together, they helped me develop my love of neurolinguistics and [how to ] apply it practically. </p> <p><strong>Do you have any �鶹��Ƶ experiences that helped shape your decision to pursue your career goals?</strong><br> I suppose the most obvious change was that I came in wanting to be a mezzo in the Con, while simultaneously developing my science chops. I realized pretty quickly that I was falling in love with my lab work. �鶹��Ƶ gave me the flexibility to continue expanding my musical chops in collegium, the jazz department, and my weekly stints singing at the Farmer’s Market, while pursuing the intricacies of 1 square cm of flesh behind the ear and its ability to index timing while playing a drum. Plus I got to play with giant syringes! The muscle we were evaluating [at �鶹��Ƶ] actually has a lot to do with my current research focus. Human research is my jam. Second, [my research at �鶹��Ƶ] was highly involved in the startle response, and gave me insight into how reflexes like startle might interact with higher-level processing like planning a movement. This drew me to my current lab [at ASU], where we use the startle circuitry to help people with brain damage recover their movement. Along with my experiences in linguistics, I have the best of both worlds, working with neuroscience, clinical research, and speech! </p> <p><strong>Can you describe in layman's terms your initial course of study: </strong><br> "An exploratory study into whether or not StartReact enhances speech after severe post-stroke aphasia? Our lab explores the StartReact effect. Normally, when we are startled, we pull our arms and head down and flail about. Turns out, when we ask someone to get ready to move and then startle them, they complete the movement (instead of flailing about) and that movement is much faster. For people with severe stroke, who maybe don’t have any arm function, we can actually help them reach toward the target with relatively high accuracy. We are the first to use this as a therapy in post-stroke aphasia (speech difficulties after a stroke). The neural pathways involved in this process are not understood well, so we had originally planned to a) see if it worked for speech, and b) do some scans and figure out what was happening in the brain. We started to bring in people with stroke, startled them, and got some promising preliminary data. ...but then the pandemic hit and we were banned from the lab. </p> <p><strong>Please describe in layman's terms your current course of study: </strong><br> "A huge clinical RCT for tele-health for participants with stroke around the country.” We are beginning to assess START as a tele-therapy by sending testing kits. We can do tele-medicine over Zoom and conduct clinical tests. With this tele-medicine paradigm, we hope to accomplish two things: 1) make START more accessible for individuals with severe post-stroke aphasia and 2) serve as a model for other labs at ASU in our ability to creatively adapt to what the current pandemic situation requires. </p> <p>In just under two months, we were able to brainstorm, develop a new protocol, validate clinical tests and equipment for tele-health, prototype an app and a device, recruit participants, and collect pilot data. I am immensely proud of this team’s ability to continue to be resilient. And the data is looking good. Previous data suggest START is a safe and extremely effective intervention, especially in individuals whose impairments are too severe to be eligible for typical physical therapies. Our pilot data suggest individuals have increased abilities to read, count, initiate, and produce spontaneous speech. Participants’ perception of their communication skills improves after training, too. We hope that START can provide clinically meaningful improvements for these individuals regardless of socioeconomic or minority status due to its low costs and easy implementation. </p> <p><strong>What are your plans after ASU?</strong><br> I could honestly see myself doing anything. Industry seems like the safest option financially (as a liaison, project manager, or data consultant). But I have a flame for NASA and space medicine,particularly in brain plasticity in microgravity, so I’ve definitely thought about government work as well—either in a lab or as a consultant. The most direct path, though would be academia. </p> <p><strong>The coronavirus has led to many changes at �鶹��Ƶ: social distancing, a virtual Commencement in 2020, and virtual Orientation and classes. Do you have any advice for current students who might find these changes difficult? </strong><br> Keep fighting. When the world is falling apart, that’s all we can do. You all are Obies, which means you have a fundamental understanding of how to use your talent, passion, and interdisciplinary spirit to change the world—or at least, improve life for the ones you love. Surround yourself with things you are passionate about, and don’t stop looking for your people. Celebrate yourself by maintaining the little things that keep you moving forward because when your muse hits (and it will), you want to be ready to use it! </p> <p><strong>Were you involved in clubs or organizations while at �鶹��Ƶ?</strong><br> I was a writer and copyeditor for <a href="http://www.synapsemagazine.org" target="_blank"><em>The Synapse</em></a> for all four years I was at �鶹��Ƶ, and I cofounded the �鶹��Ƶ Linguistics Society with my linguistics buddies. We came up with the under-the-table name “SKWORLS”—Society for Kids Wanting �鶹��Ƶ to have a Real Linguistics Society! I also served on the Neuroscience Majors and Department Association (NMDA), the acronym of which was also my own. I like acronyms. I was also involved in peer mentoring, through being a tutor in <a href="/clear/owls" target="_blank">OWLS</a> and as a TA. In a non-academic capacity I was an avid participant of the swing, blues, and contra dance scenes. Perhaps my favorite group during my time at �鶹��Ƶ was my tenure in <a href="/conservatory/on-stage/ensembles" target="_blank">Collegium Musicum</a>. </p> <p><br> </p> <p><br> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-09-09T12:00:00Z">Wed, 09/09/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>After graduating from �鶹��Ƶ College with high honors in neuroscience and a concentration in linguistics, Zoe Swann ’19 immediately embarked on a PhD program at Arizona State University (ASU), where she began writing a literature review, and started developing a dissertation proposal. Then COVID-19 struck. It brought her research to a screeching halt until her lab was granted a $1,500 Pandemic Impact Award to support research expenses.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2413">Social Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After �鶹��Ƶ</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4861">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25236">Linguistics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/pat-simen" hreflang="und">Patrick Simen</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jason-d-haugen" hreflang="und">Jason D. Haugen</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Neuroscience major Zoe Swann ’19 (left) uses electroencephalogram (EEG) in her research project on the computational basis of decision-making and interval timing in the human brain during her senior year at �鶹��Ƶ College.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Mike Crupi</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>