Use It or Lose It: Railey Stern Yen Uses Fulbright to Reconnect with Taiwan</h1> <article> <h1>Use It or Lose It: Railey Stern Yen Uses Fulbright to Reconnect with Taiwan</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 25 May 2023 18:13:58 +0000</p> <span>Use It or Lose It: Railey Stern Yen Uses Fulbright to Reconnect with Taiwan</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-25T14:13:58-04:00" title="Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 14:13">Thu, 05/25/2023 - 14:13</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Railey Stern Yen looks forward to reuniting with family and reconnecting with the education system in Taiwan as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) next fall.</p> <p>A <a href="/admissions-and-aid/double-degree-program">double-degree</a> student with majors in economics and jazz performance and a minor in statistical modeling, Stern Yen applied for the Fulbright ETA because it aligns with his goal of working with children as a clinical psychologist, both as a practitioner and researcher. Ten years ago, a great aunt was instrumental in bringing Stern Yen to Taiwan to visit and attend school, and the experience left a positive, lasting impression. </p> <p>“I think living abroad is one of the best ways to develop as a person and expand your perspective, especially when using a different language,” says Stern Yen, who is from Oakland, California. “I am on the ‘lose it’ side of ‘use it or lose it’ with Mandarin, so being surrounded by other Mandarin speakers will help me learn to adapt and grow. I also feel like I am dealing with the same ‘lose it’ feeling with Taiwanese and Chinese culture. I am trying to regain some intuitive cultural understanding that I once had as a kid. It’s poetic to return to somewhere you once were, this time with something to give instead of just receiving from others.”</p> <p>This spring, Stern Yen learned the basic theories and application of teaching language in �鶹��Ƶ’s new Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages course. He also has experience with one-on-one tutoring for math and music. Through �鶹��Ƶ’s Junior Practicum, he worked as a teaching assistant for OhioGuidestone, a behavioral health agency, where the therapists and social workers informed his interest in working with young people.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Professor of Jazz Saxophone Gary Bartz, left, chats with Railey Stern Yen.</figcaption> </figure> <p>“The existence of an established Double Degree Program helped me grow a lot from the help of teachers and mentors with very different knowledge bases, all while (mostly) retaining my sanity,” he says, noting the bonds he made with faculty mentors in <a href="/conservatory/divisions/jazz-studies">jazz</a>, <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics">economics</a>, and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology">psychology</a>. He worked closely with his advisor, Assistant Professor of Economics <a href="/paul-brehm">Paul Brehm</a>, and he was a research assistant for psychology faculty members <a href="/clinton-merck">Clint Merck</a> and <a href="/katherine-lawson">Kailey Lawson</a>.</p> <p>“In the jazz department, I’ve had mentors who are also life coaches—particularly <a href="/gary-bartz">Gary Bartz</a>—but many others too. They helped me learn about growth and discipline in a way that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else.”</p> <p>Outside of the classroom, Stern Yen performed in the <a href="/conservatory/on-stage/ensembles">�鶹��Ƶ Jazz Ensemble</a>, as well as a student-created Afro jazz ensemble and swing band. </p> <p>Stern Yen looks forward to immersing himself in the culture of Taiwan, including the music scene and night markets. “I want to explore as much of the country as I can, from malls in cities to vast rural areas, and just be a sponge. It doesn’t hurt that the food is delicious, including the school lunch.”</p> <p>His Fulbright begins the first of August 2023 and lasts 11 months. Following the Fulbright year, Stern Yen intends to apply for clinical psychology PhD programs, with a focus on working with children and adolescents. He also plans to find ways to continue his musical journey.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">A May 2023 graduate of the double degree program, Stern Yen will apply his experiences in teaching and working with youth.</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="2023-05-25T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/25/2023 - 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=2357">Double Degree Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2413">Social Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</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=25341">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=34691">Jazz Performance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=84821">Statistical Modeling</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="/gary-bartz" hreflang="und">Gary Bartz</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/paul-brehm" hreflang="und">Paul Brehm</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/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/jazz-studies" hreflang="und">Jazz Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Railey Stern Yen will teach English in Taiwan.</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>Students Lead Reproductive Justice Symposium March 10-11</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 20:29:11 +0000</p> <span>Students Lead Reproductive Justice Symposium March 10-11</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-03-09T15:29:11-05:00" title="Thursday, March 9, 2023 - 15:29">Thu, 03/09/2023 - 15:29</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Visiting scholars and �鶹��Ƶ student researchers will generate discussions on reproductive health and justice in the post-Roe era during a symposium hosted by the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a> (GSFS) Department on March 10 and 11. </p> <p>The symposium follows GSFS programming that has included two course modules exploring the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade. The campus community has an opportunity to attend a series of workshops led by invited experts whose work addresses sexual and reproductive health and justice from a variety of multidisciplinary perspectives. </p> <p>On Friday, March 10, students will present individual and group research projects from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the <a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">Center for Engaged Liberal Arts</a> (A-level of Mudd Center). The exhibits will highlight research and creative work that centers on reproductive justice. From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., symposium experts will participate in a roundtable discussion in Craig Lecture Hall. </p> <p>On Saturday, March 11, students can choose from seven different pop-up classes that cover a range of topics. Based on seating and demand, <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PKwR9Q1CqZ66UnsDf9ExmaZ9uco47YmCatY6_CM9ydc/edit">participants may sign up</a> for more than one class. The deadline to sign up is March 10. All classes will be held in CELA.</p> <p>Beginning at 10 a.m., Ash Williams will lead “Increasing Abortion Access 101.” A reproductive justice organizer, Williams advocates for abortion access by funding abortions and training abortion doulas.</p> <p>Three concurrent workshops will be offered at 11 a.m.:</p> <ul> <li>Chris Barcelos will lead “Mobilizing Coalitional Politics to Fight Back Against Banning Abortion, Criminalizing Trans Healthcare, and Maintaining White Supremacy.” The workshop will help participants to make connections between the Dobbs decision, anti-trans legislation, and bans on critical race theory in schools. Barcelos is Assistant Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston and the author of Distributing Condoms and Hope: The Racialized Politics of Sexual Health.<br> </li> <li><a href="/news/sparking-interest-sexual-health-education">Tory Sparks ’17</a> will ask “What is the role of sex education post-Dobbs?” and will cover the basics of the career path to becoming a professional sex educator. Sparks is a Michigan-based independent sex educator, facilitator, consultant, and trainer, and a student at Widener University in the dual degree MSW/ MEd in Human Sexuality Program.<br> </li> <li>From the <a href="/mrc">Multicultural Resource Commons</a>, staff members Katie Graham and NiK Peavy will teach “Parenting with Pride: An Unconventional Guide to Having Children.” The workshop will explore the ways in which different family structures can be formed, such as queer or otherwise “unconventional” ways to become parents, the inequities that may come with the process, and how to navigate them. </li> </ul> <p>Three workshops will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m.:</p> <ul> <li>“So you want to be an advocate?” Led by Jordyn Close and Anastasia (Ana) Martinez, the class will cover different kinds of advocacy. Close is deputy director with Ohio Women's Alliance (OWA) and board president of Abortion Fund Of Ohio, Ohio’s only statewide abortion fund, providing practical support across the Midwest. Martinez is senior campaign manager for OWA.<br> </li> <li>�鶹��Ƶ Doula Collective and the Reproductive Justice Alliance present “Understanding Abortion Doula Work: History and Reproductive Justice.” The �鶹��Ƶ Doula Collective is a student, community, and volunteer-run organization based in �鶹��Ƶ (not affiliated with �鶹��Ƶ College). The group is dedicated to providing free and compassionate support to people who are terminating their pregnancies.<br> </li> <li>Margaret Velto ’22, an outreach coordinator for the Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, will lead “Not All Religions: An Interfaith Lens on Reproductive Justice.” Velto will discuss how different faith traditions, including Christianity, protect and support access to choice and freedom of decisions.</li> </ul></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="2023-03-09T12:00:00Z">Thu, 03/09/2023 - 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=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2390">Events</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2413">Social Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2392">Social Justice</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=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</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/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">The Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies department is hosting a reproductive justice symposium March 10-11.</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">Alice Koeninger</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Fulbright Program Places Graduates Across the Globe in the 2022-23 Academic Year</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 19:05:24 +0000</p> <span>Fulbright Program Places Graduates Across the Globe in the 2022-23 Academic Year</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-06-15T15:05:24-04:00" title="Wednesday, June 15, 2022 - 15:05">Wed, 06/15/2022 - 15:05</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Beginning this summer and fall, �鶹��Ƶ graduates selected for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program will embark on a journey in their respective host countries, where they will serve as cultural ambassadors while providing assistance to local English teachers for up to a year. Through engagement in the classrooom and the community, Fulbrighters interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding.</p> <p>The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has recognized �鶹��Ƶ College for the 13th consecutive year as a <a href="/news/oberlin-named-top-fulbright-producer-2021-2022#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Department%20of%20State's,the%202021%2D2022%20academic%20year.">top producer of Fulbright students</a>. �鶹��Ƶ is fifth among baccalaureate institutions, sending nine scholars to study abroad during the 2021-2022 academic year. Since 1970, more than 250 �鶹��Ƶ College students have received Fulbright awards.</p> <p></p> <p><strong>The following �鶹��Ƶ graduates will go abroad as Fulbrighters in the 2022-2023 academic year. </strong></p> <p>Theater and Creative Writing Major <a href="/news/cassandra-gutterman-johns-awarded-fulbright-eta-czech-republic">Cassandra Gutterman-Johns '22</a> is excited to teach, travel, and reach outside her comfort zone with a Fulbright ETA in the Czech Republic beginning in August 2022. </p> <p><a href="/news/riley-davis-22-receives-fulbright-argentina">Riley Davis '22</a> graduated with a double major in Hispanic studies and Latin American studies with minors in anthropology and gender, feminist, and sexuality studies. Davis will apply her extensive experience in language and teaching as a Fulbright ETA in Argentina. </p> <p>Creative Writing and Cinema Studies major <a href="/news/peter-stern-22-receives-fulbright-greece">Peter Stern '22</a> will teach English literature to K-12 students while reconnecting with his interests in the ancient Greco-Roman world with a Fulbright in Athens, Greece.</p> <p><a href="/news/mikaela-de-lemos-21-receives-fulbright-spain">Mikaela De Lemos</a> graduated in May 2021 with a major in psychology and a minor in Hispanic studies. The Fulbright will take de Lemos to Spain's Canary Islands, where she will will continue her work as a service-oriented educator. </p> <p>History and politics major <a href="/news/abijah-ahern-22-receives-fulbright-serbia">Abijah Ahern '22</a> hopes to become more fluent in the languages of the western Balkans. A Fulbright ETA in Serbia is an extension of Ahern's interests in the history, politics, and culture of the Balkans region.</p> <p>For <a href="/news/elise-steenburgh-22-receives-fulbright-brazil">Elise Steenburgh '22</a>, a gap year in Brazil was a formative experience that shaped their learning and interests at �鶹��Ƶ. In February 2023, Steenburgh will return to the country that was a source of cultural and academic inspiration.</p> <p>A musical studies and law and society major, <a href="/news/sarah-wong-22-receives-fulbright-taiwan">Sarah Wong '22</a> applied for the Fulbright ETA to honor her Taiwanese heritage while becoming more fluent in her family’s ancestral languages. </p> <p><a href="/news/arman-luczkow-receives-fulbright-taiwan">Arman Luczkow '22</a> will combine his interests in teaching and East Asian culture with a desire to improve his knowledge of Mandarin as a Fulbright ETA in Taiwan. </p> <p>Art history and East Asian studies major <a href="/news/chloe-lai-receives-fulbright-taiwan">Chloe Lai '22</a> will reconnect with her family’s heritage and hone her skills in language pedagogy in Taiwan.</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="2022-06-15T12:00:00Z">Wed, 06/15/2022 - 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=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2413">Social Sciences</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">�鶹��Ƶ's Memorial Arch on Tappan Square.</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">Chris Schmucki '22</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Mikaela de Lemos ’21 Receives Fulbright to Spain</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 18 May 2022 15:11:34 +0000</p> <span>Mikaela de Lemos ’21 Receives Fulbright to Spain</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-05-18T11:11:34-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 18, 2022 - 11:11">Wed, 05/18/2022 - 11:11</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Mikaela de Lemos will continue her work as a service-oriented educator in the Hispanic community as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in the Canary Islands. </p> <p>De Lemos graduated in May 2021 with a major in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology">psychology</a> and a minor in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/hispanic-studies">Hispanic studies</a>. She currently works as a research assistant in the Chicago Healthy Adolescent Transition Study (CHATS) Lab and Children Adapting to Stress and Adversity (CASA) Lab at Loyola University Chicago. With assistance from the CHATS lab, she started the first virtual support group for teenage siblings of those with spina bifida, and will be conducting a study assessing the feasibility of the program this summer. She is also volunteering as an English language teacher at the Muslim Women Resource Center for refugee families affected by the crisis in Afghanistan.</p> <p>In Spring 2020, de Lemos studied abroad in Alicante, Spain, but the semester was cut short due to the pandemic. At �鶹��Ƶ, she volunteered at El Centro de Servicios Sociales as an English Language Tutor for those preparing for their U.S. citizenship exam.</p> <p>“I wanted to continue my work with the Hispanic community in a culturally-immersive setting,” says de Lemos, who is from Southlake, Texas. “Furthermore, I hadn't appreciated the privilege it is to speak English until I lived in another country. Using the skills I have developed as an English language tutor at El Centro de Servicios Sociales and the Muslim Women Resource Center, I want to give back to the community that welcomed me when I studied abroad. In addition to teaching, I'll be leading an intergenerational community engagement project to bring back together those who have been isolated due to the pandemic.”</p> <p>Her Fulbright grant starts in early September 2022 and ends in mid-June 2023. She will be placed on one of the eight Canary Islands, where she will teach English at an early childhood or elementary school. </p> <p>“I'm looking forward to building meaningful relationships with my students and getting to know the local community,” she says. “I've never been to the Canary Islands, so I'm excited to explore a new place and culture. I’ve read that the Canary Islands are one of the best places in the world to go star-gazing.”</p> <p>In addition to volunteering with El Centro, DeLemos played on the �鶹��Ƶ women’s soccer team, was inducted as a member of the �鶹��Ƶ College Chapter of Sigma Xi (the Scientific Research Honor Society), and worked as a research assistant in Professor <a href="/cindy-frantz">Cindy Frantz</a>’s social and environmental psychology lab. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The Fulbright will take de Lemos to one of the Canary Islands, where she will apply her experience as an English language tutor.</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="2022-05-18T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/18/2022 - 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=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2413">Social Sciences</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=25286">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4796">�鶹��Ƶ</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/hispanic-studies" hreflang="und">�鶹��Ƶ</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">May 2021 graduate Mikaela de Lemos is a recipient of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in the Canary Islands of Spain.</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">Courtesy of de Lemos</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Playing a Critical Role in Child Development</h1> <p>ygay — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 15:34:12 +0000</p> <span>Playing a Critical Role in Child Development</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-03-31T11:34:12-04:00" title="Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - 11:34">Wed, 03/31/2021 - 11:34</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Taylor majored in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology">psychology</a> at �鶹��Ƶ College and interned at the New England Center for Children, a Southborough, Massachusetts-based facility that provides comprehensive services for children with autism. While at the center, Taylor was instructed on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a form of therapy that focuses on improving specific behaviors, such as social skills, communication, and reading, as well as fine motor dexterity and domestic capabilities. ABA was applied in Taylor’s one-on-one work with autistic children under the age of nine. She taught everyday life skills such as tying shoes, participating in group activities, and object identification.</p> <p>Today, Taylor works as a teacher at Bright Horizons, an early childhood education center in Westborough, Massachusetts, that emphasizes early childhood education. She attends to the needs of children ages four years and younger, creates a weekly curriculum to enhance their development, and documents and evaluates their progress. “I knew I wanted to work with children in some way, but I didn’t think I would love teaching as much as I do until I started working here [seven years ago],” she says. </p> <p>Taylor says children in the age group she teaches have a desire to investigate and learn, which makes the path to keeping them inspired and engaged less difficult. However, learning how to handle challenging behaviors has been one of her biggest hurdles. “We see a lot of things such as biting. Although this is a typical behavior for young children, we have to teach them that this isn’t OK and that there are other ways to channel their anger or frustration,” she explains. </p> <p>Another challenge was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many educators, Taylor says the early stages of the pandemic required she and her colleagues to relearn how to interact with their students. </p> <p>After Bright Horizons was forced to shut down, once a week teachers conducted Zoom check-ins with their classes and read to the children. The center reopened five months later to provide childcare to working families and so teachers could offer better development skills. </p> <p>Taylor encourages �鶹��Ƶ students who are considering a career in early childhood education to “not be afraid to try it. [Working with this] young age can seem daunting but it is such a fun, exciting age. I also hear a lot of people are afraid of becoming an early educator because they don’t want to be considered ‘just a babysitter.’ We are just as much educators as the teachers who teach school-age children. These ages are so critical to development and we need more people who love to see children grow and become the best they can be.”</p> <p>As she progresses in her career, Taylor hopes to one day serve as an educational coordinator, where she can assist other teachers with learning and advancing in their own careers.</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="2021-03-31T12:00:00Z">Wed, 03/31/2021 - 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="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Being an early childhood educator means playing a critical role in a child’s development. The industry needs more people who love to see children grow, says Sela Taylor ’15.</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=3519">Early Careers</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=25286">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25226">Education Studies</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> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Sela Taylor ’15</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">Courtesy of Sela Taylor</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> <article> <h1>Winter Term - Summer 2020</h1> <p>ygay — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 14:10:28 +0000</p> <span>Winter Term - Summer 2020</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-09-03T10:10:28-04:00" title="Thursday, September 3, 2020 - 10:10">Thu, 09/03/2020 - 10:10</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Kimberly Hickey ’21 intended to pursue biomedical research in Stockholm, Sweden, this summer. However, after the onset of the coronavirus, her plans were canceled. She decided to shift her attention to learn more about the very thing that has the world’s attention.</p> <p>“My individual research project was a great way for me to continue furthering my education and career interests despite the challenges presented to academic programs by the pandemic,” says Hickey. </p> <p>“Overall, the project has been very rewarding for me. Although it was challenging, I did this project to learn as much as I could to expand my understanding of the coronavirus pandemic, not to make any breakthroughs. As someone who is at risk for developing fatal complications from COVID-19, living through the coronavirus pandemic is a very scary reality. I felt that if I tried to learn as much as I could about the coronavirus, it would ease some of the anxiety and uncertainty.”</p> <p>With a multitude of ways to cover COVID-19—from public health to politics—Hickey says her monthlong project could have easily turned into a graduate school thesis. Ultimately, the pre-med student decided to delve into medicinal aspects of treating the virus. </p> <p>After looking into the efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and Chloroquine (CQ), Hickey learned that both HCQ and CQ have more than 70 serious side effects, which is one of the reasons why HCQ’s FDA emergency use authorization was revoked.</p> <p>“I hope that learning more about how this virus functions and its treatment protocol will not only aid me in continuing to understand the scientific research process, but also make me a more well-informed student of medicine, and help prepare me for medical school and a lifelong career as a physician.” </p> <p>Hickey, a resident of Massachusetts, returned to �鶹��Ƶ in August, to continue her premed studies in psychology and as a horn performance major.</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="2020-09-03T12:00:00Z">Thu, 09/03/2020 - 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>More than 200 students performed individual and group projects during this year’s Winter Term. Although typically held in January, it was shifted to August this year under the same premise: encourage students to explore opportunities outside of their regular course of study.In this first series of Winter Term coverage, we look at a student’s attempt to take fear out of COVID-19.</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=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</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=25286">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37371">Horn</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="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Kimberly Hickey '21 and material used in her COVID-19 research.</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">Courtesy of Kimberly Hickey’21</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>From Double Major to Law School: Emily Kelly-Olsen ’19</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 16:59:29 +0000</p> <span>From Double Major to Law School: Emily Kelly-Olsen ’19</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-07-22T12:59:29-04:00" title="Wednesday, July 22, 2020 - 12:59">Wed, 07/22/2020 - 12:59</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Class of 2019 graduate Emily Kelly-Olsen was a dedicated track and field athlete and double majored in politics and East Asian studies with a concentration in Chinese studies after taking a particularly illuminating politics course about Chinese socialism and revolution taught by Marc Blecher. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Olsen is currently a student at the University of Michigan Law School, but will return to Portland this summer as a Summer Associate/Fellow at the law firm K&L Gates.</p> <p><strong>Why did you double major in politics and East Asian studies?</strong></p> <p>I went into �鶹��Ƶ thinking I wanted to study the social sciences because I loved the government, history, and sociology classes that I took in high school. I dabbled in sociology, classics, and history courses my first semester, but during my second semester at �鶹��Ƶ I was lucky to stumble into <a href="/marc-blecher">Professor Marc Blecher</a>’s politics course. Cue me finding out exactly what I was going to major in! </p> <p>As for East Asian studies, I took Mandarin in high school, so I decided to try out some college courses. I ended up enjoying those courses more than I ever enjoyed my high school ones because they were so much more immersive and intensive, so we learned very quickly. I just continued to take them without any thought to making a major out of it. It actually wasn’t until I studied abroad in Beijing during my junior year and came back very proficient in Mandarin and nearly finished with an East Asian Studies major that I finally decided to declare it as a second major.</p> <p><strong>Did any professors or faculty at �鶹��Ƶ particularly enhance your college experience? </strong></p> <p>It’s hard to choose one single faculty member who particularly enhanced my college experience because I had so many amazing professors, but what I will say is that Professor Blecher is an absolutely incredible individual whom I plan to keep in touch with for years to come. He is just amazing and I owe him so much. I took pretty much every possible politics course that he offered throughout my �鶹��Ƶ career. He became my mentor and was my advisor for both of my majors, as well as for my honors thesis about Chinese politics. </p> <p><strong>What extracurricular activities or student organizations were you a part of at �鶹��Ƶ?</strong></p> <p>I did fun activities such as swing and blues dancing through OSwing, and teaching third through fifth graders as an America Reads tutor. I spent most of my energy, however, on the track team. I was a sprinter all four years and was the sprint team captain during my senior season. What I loved most about being an athlete at �鶹��Ƶ is that I never had to choose between sports and my education. My coaches all understood and reiterated that our education (as well as mental/emotional health) always came first over athletics, and it’s special to find that type of environment on a team that was highly competitive in our conference like ours was. �鶹��Ƶ Track and Field is something I put on my resume and is actually a great topic during interviews. </p> <p><strong>What experiences, opportunities, and classes did you have that were unique to �鶹��Ƶ?</strong></p> <p>Something that makes �鶹��Ƶ such a gem is their <a href="https://oberlinexco.org/">Ex-Co program</a>! Ex-Cos courses are taught by students, staff, and �鶹��Ƶ community members for one or two credits (or you can take them for no credit). They can be about pretty much every topic imaginable, from “How to Make Beauty Products” to “How to do Jiu Jitsu.” I took a beginning swing dancing course and advanced swing course for credit as well as a blues dancing course for fun my first and second years at �鶹��Ƶ. To this day I still am an especially avid swing dancer, and my dad and I swing danced for our father-daughter dance at my wedding, using moves I learned at �鶹��Ƶ. It was a hit! I highly recommend taking an Ex-Co if you can. They are usually low-commitment and a great way to make new friends. </p> <p><strong>What’s next for you?</strong></p> <p>I thought about taking a gap year or two to teach English in China, but I decided that I had the energy to continue my education and I knew what I wanted to do, so why wait? I am not completely sure what type of law I will end up practicing yet, but this summer I have accepted a position as a Summer Associate/Fellow at K&L Gates in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, and I’ll be joining their Corporate Practice group this summer. I’ll probably be doing transactional law and if I stay with this particular firm, I will have the opportunity to practice Asia Law, which is my main interest. My plan is to move back to Portland and practice law there.</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="2020-07-22T12:00:00Z">Wed, 07/22/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jaimie Yue '22</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Class of 2019 graduate Emily Kelly-Olsen was a dedicated track and field athlete and double majored in politics and East Asian studies with a concentration in Chinese studies after taking a particularly illuminating politics course about Chinese socialism and revolution taught by Marc Blecher. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Olsen is currently a student at the University of Michigan Law School, but will return to Portland this summer as a Summer Associate/Fellow at the law firm K&L Gates.</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=2360">After �鶹��Ƶ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2389">Young Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2413">Social Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</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=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</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="/marc-blecher" hreflang="und">Marc Blecher</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/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</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">A law student at University of Michigan, Emily Kelly-Olsen '19 aspires to practice Asia Law.</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">Courtesy of Emily Kelly-Olsen</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="field field--name-field-bio-card-el-biography field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="biography-card"> <figure> </figure> <div class="biography-card__content"> <h2><span>Marc Blecher</span> </h2> <ul class="item-list list--clean" style="margin-top: 0px;"> <li class="professional-title">James Monroe Professor of Politics and of East Asian Studies</li> </ul> <a class="view-more" href="/marc-blecher">View Marc Blecher’s biography</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Mental Health Research Assistant: Ify Ezimora ’19</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 13 May 2020 17:28:21 +0000</p> <span>Mental Health Research Assistant: Ify Ezimora ’19</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-05-13T13:28:21-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - 13:28">Wed, 05/13/2020 - 13:28</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ify Ezimora ’19 double majored in psychology and environmental studies. While she had a passion for psychology since high school, the environmental research she did with Professor of Psychology and Environmental Studies <a href="/cindy-frantz">Cindy Frantz</a>, Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Biology <a href="/john-petersen">John Petersen</a>, and Associate Professor of Environmental Studies <a href="/md-rumi-shammin">Rumi Shammin</a> compelled her to double major in environmental studies.</p> <p>With all the professional experience she gained at �鶹��Ƶ from budget management to tutoring and community service, she now applies it to her current role as a clinical research assistant at Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and the Miriam Hospital. There, she is directly engaged in studies about current physical and mental health issues plaguing society.</p> <p><strong>What does an average day look like for you?</strong></p> <p>On a typical day, I screen the medical records of all the patients who present to the emergency department and look at their past medical history and chief complaint to see if they meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria for any of our active studies. If they are eligible for any of our studies, I approach them, pitch the study to them to see if they’d be interested, and complete any enrollment procedures like quantitative and qualitative surveys and blood draws before they get discharged from the hospital. Currently, we are working on studies addressing the opioid epidemic, Lyme disease, gastroenteritis, adult and child trauma, active suicidal ideation, gout, and geriatric fall prevention. In addition, as the lead RA on a couple of our studies, I also monitor the regulatory binders and make sure that all of our paperwork is in line with the IRB requirements.</p> <p><strong>Why did you double major in psychology and environmental studies?</strong></p> <p>I took AP psychology during my junior year of high school and fell in love with it. Everything I learned in that class really resonated with me and just made sense, and I couldn’t imagine being in any other field. I came to �鶹��Ƶ as an intended psychology major. I actually didn’t plan on majoring in environmental studies, but after participating in the STRONG program (Science and Technology Research Opportunities for a New Generation) and working on interdisciplinary psychology and environmental studies research with Cindy Frantz, John Petersen, and Rumi Shammin on �鶹��Ƶ’s campus the summer before my first year, I completely fell in love with the environmental studies department and decided to double major in that.</p> <p><strong>Did any extracurricular activities or student jobs at �鶹��Ƶ give you professional experience?</strong></p> <p>I feel like every job I ever had at �鶹��Ƶ gave me professional skills that can be applied to the real world. Working as the assistant student treasurer in the Office of the Student Treasurer and then as cochair of the Student Finance committee—the bodies that oversee and allocate the roughly $1.4 million Student Activity Fund to different student organizations—I built skills in budget-balancing, employee management, public speaking, collaboration, and form processing. Tutoring for America Reads and the Ninde Scholar program as a Bonner Scholar, I learned the intricacies of working with youth and adolescents in an academic setting and how to tailor teaching approaches to the specific individual. And working as a resident assistant and then village assistant for ResEd, I built professionalism over email and phone communication and an ability to adhere to confidentiality and learned how to build community among groups of people. Every week I find myself remembering what I learned at �鶹��Ƶ and applying it to my current job.</p> <p><strong>Did any professors or faculty at �鶹��Ƶ particularly enhance your college experience?</strong></p> <p>So many faculty members—and just in general, so many people at �鶹��Ƶ for that matter—really made my college experience one that I can never forget. However, the one faculty member that was the cornerstone of my undergraduate experience was Professor of Psychology and Environmental Studies Cindy Frantz. Cindy pushed me every step of the way through undergrad, and I definitely would not be the same person I am now if I had not met her. She was my academic advisor and research advisor and beyond that, a second mom for me. I was able to talk through difficult decisions with her, and she would give me advice and help me brainstorm whenever I needed it and was always there for me. Cindy taught all of her classes with so much compassion and care for social issues and individuals in the class. Additionally, because she serves as faculty for both the environmental studies program and a psychology department, she was able to be my academic advisor for both of my majors which allowed us to grow closer.</p> <p> </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="2020-05-15T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/15/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jaimie Yue '22</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=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <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 class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2389">Young Alumni</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=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25286">Psychology</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="/cindy-frantz" hreflang="und">Cynthia (Cindy) Frantz</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/john-petersen" hreflang="und">John Petersen ’88</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/md-rumi-shammin" hreflang="und">Md Rumi Shammin</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/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Ify Ezimora '19 is a clinical research assistant</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">Courtesy of Ify Ezimora</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Goldwater Scholarship Winner: Olivia Goldstein</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 17:26:37 +0000</p> <span>Goldwater Scholarship Winner: Olivia Goldstein</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-04-08T13:26:37-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 8, 2020 - 13:26">Wed, 04/08/2020 - 13:26</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Out of the nearly 5,000 college sophomores and juniors who competed for the Goldwater Scholarship this year, Olivia Goldstein rose to the top of the applicant pool representing a discipline that only recently has been eligible for the scholarship program.</p> <p>The <a href="https://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/2020-scholar-press-release/">Goldwater Scholarship</a> <span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-external-link"></span> is awarded to outstanding students pursuing research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. In 2019, the scholarship expanded to include nominations in the field of psychology for the first time in its 30-year history, says <a href="/node/31851">Nick Petzak</a>, �鶹��Ƶ’s director of fellowships and awards.</p> <p>Goldstein is a third-year psychology major with a concentration in statistical modeling. She is among the 396 college students across the United States—and one of only 11 pursuing psychology—who will receive up to $7,500 for tuition and expenses in the 2020-2021 academic year. </p> <p>Goldstein is a research assistant for Visiting Assistant Professor <a href="/kenneth-allen">Kenneth Allen</a> in the Cognitive, Affect, Self-Regulation, and Health (CASH) laboratory in the psychology department. </p> <p>“We are interested in the relationship between mental illness and emotional response inhibition, which is essentially one’s ability to control their negative emotions,” says Goldstein, who is from Louisville, Kentucky.</p> <p>“My primary research focus is on nonsuicidal self-injury, which is the deliberate infliction of bodily harm (most commonly cutting) without any intent to die. Nonsuicidal self-injury is one of the best predictors of future suicide, which is the second-leading cause of death in American adolescents and costs the United States approximately $69 billion per year. I hope that my research helps people, specifically children and teenagers, alleviate pain and experience better well-being and more happiness in their lives.”</p> <p>Goldstein recently attended the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies in Atlanta, Georgia, to present the CASH laboratory study that examined how perceived criticism affects people’s decision-making abilities. </p> <p>“Right now, I’m focusing on my independent research project to try to identify groups of people based on unique demographic and clinical characteristics who may be at increased risk for engaging in dangerous behaviors. The results could inform our knowledge about who is at risk and what behaviors clinicians should be looking for when trying to assess risk.”</p> <p>Goldstein says this scholarship will help her stand out when applying to graduate programs. </p> <p>“Clinical psychology graduate programs are notoriously competitive, so being one of the few psychology students in the country to have this award will help me stand out in a pool of really impressive, smart students,” she says.</p> <p>Professor of Psychology <a href="/nancy-darling">Nancy Darling</a> explains that psychology has always bridged the natural and social sciences, yet the popular idea of what psychologists do is very poorly mapped onto what psychology actually is. </p> <p>“Advances in neuroscience have underscored and validated many earlier findings of research psychology,” Darling says. “It has also provided clear visible evidence of the strong connection between brain and behavior. These findings have led to a change in how psychological science is perceived, moving it more towards the STEM side of its roots. As neurological, biological, and biochemical approaches to understanding brain and behavior have gained prominence, the value of psychology’s traditional study of behavioral outcomes and its strong grounding in measurement and statistics ties much more into the Goldwater Foundation’s focus on STEM.”</p> <p>In addition to her research, Goldstein works as a peer advisor for the Career Development Center and a student coordinator for the Office of Study Away. She is also a cohort leader for the Writers in Residence program, which mentors and supports teens in the Lorain County Juvenile Detention Home. </p> <p>After �鶹��Ƶ, Goldstein says her ultimate goal is to obtain a PhD in clinical psychology, focusing on child and adolescent psychopathology.</p> <p>“I hope to advance suicide and violence prevention measures for children and teenagers who struggle with mental illness.” </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="2020-04-10T12:00:00Z">Fri, 04/10/2020 - 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="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Olivia Goldstein is one of �鶹��Ƶ’ s three recipients of the Goldwater Scholarship, a competitive award program that supports students in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.</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=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2413">Social Sciences</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=25286">Psychology</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="/nancy-darling" hreflang="und">Nancy Darling</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> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Third-year Olivia Goldstein</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">Courtesy of Olivia Goldstein</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>