Meet Our 2025 Student Ambassadors!
Our 2025 Student Ambassadors are the creative force behind this year's conference.
Through their valuable insights and dedication, they've helped shape GURP 2025 into
a more engaging and student-centered experience. These outstanding psychology students have contributed conference planning and organization,
program development, and student outreach initiatives.
| Edwin Trejo-Rivera is a student at Kennesaw State University pursing a major in Psychology
and a minor in Data Science and Analytics. His research examines stressors and protective
factors affecting employees across various occupational settings, enhancing understanding
of workplace dynamics and employee well-being. Additionally, Edwin is a research assistant
for the Center for the Advancement of Military and Emergency Services (AMES) Research,
where he works on initiatives to improve the health and well-being of military and
emergency services personnel. Upon graduation, Edwin plans to pursue a doctoral degree
in industrial organizational psychology. |
| Cathy Powell, a senior honors student at Kennesaw State University, is completing a major in Psychology and a minor in Data Science. As a research assistant at the Death, Dying, and Bereavement lab, Cathy focuses on improving adherence to personal advance care planning among funeral and hospice workers. In addition to her academic pursuits, Cathy is a military spouse and parent who volunteers as a hospice companion. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work, with the goal of contributing to research that supports healthcare professionals through critical end-of-life care practices. |
| Jada Brown is a third-year Psychology major at KSU, with minors in Criminology and
Data Science & Analytics. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in Forensic
Psychology. On campus, she serves as the President of the Black Student Psychology
Association, Vice President of Marketing for the Kennesaw Activities Board, and also
a third year research assistant. Jada reiterates that being involved in research has
been an amazing experience. She believes every undergraduate student should explore
it because their work can make a real-world impact and change lives for the better. |
| Hailey is on her way to being a prolific psychology researcher. She is enthuasistic about her research on the relationship between the perceived accuracy of a dog adoption profile, behavioral expectations, and perceived difficulty of ownership using a two-week post-adoption survey. The sample included 32 adopters from Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue. Her findings indicated that adopters who rated the adoption profiles as highly accurate were also more likely to agree that the dog met their behavioral expectations . She believes that her findings highlight the importance of expectations and the adoption profile as factors in successful adoptions. |
| Emma Paskins is a senior at Kennesaw State University, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Applied Data Analytics. She is passionate about working with the special education population and supporting students in academic environments. After graduation, she plans to work full-time as a Neurodevelopmental Provider to gain experience before attending graduate school. In Fall 2026, she intends to pursue an Ed.S. in School Psychology, aiming to make a meaningful impact as a School Psychologist. |
| Maci DeMott is a student at Kennesaw State University majoring in Psychology with
a minor in Data Science and Analytics. Her research, with Dr. Xu, investigates the
impacts of social essentialist beliefs in higher education. Since Spring 2024, Maci
has been a Supplemental Instruction(SI) Leader for Statistical Applications in Psychological
Science with Dr. Hilley and recently an SI leader for Dr. Zheng, as well. After graduating,
Maci plans to obtain her doctorate in educational psychology with a concentration
in cognition and development. |
