Valdosta State University

Connor Bland and Pearce Persaud dedicated their summer term at Valdosta State University to studying moral injury in the healthcare system and identifying ways to address its contributing factors and help alleviate healthcare workers' psychological distress.

Fabiola Torres of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, partnered with Dr. Haley Sherman of the Department of Psychological Science at Valdosta State University to research the relationship between physical pain and psychological challenges in military-affiliated individuals. Throughout her study, she also questioned the role mindset plays in overall well-being.

Sidney Wilson of Valdosta, Georgia, recently teamed up with Dr. Ellis Logan from the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice to investigate the concept of success and wellbeing in a world that seems to encourage an all-or-nothing mentality.

Valdosta State University's Cameron Bennett and Cason Zachary partnered with Dr. Jia Lu of the Department of Chemistry and Geosciences this summer to study spatial disparity in healthcare facilities across Georgia.

Mallory Jablonski of Gainesville, Florida, devoted her summer semester at Valdosta State University to investigating the role artificial intelligence plays in the creative process. Her project - "The Unreliable Resource: Is AI the Artist or an Artistic Tool?" - was one of six selected for VSU's 2025 Blazer Summer Research Institute. Evelyn Davis-Walker from the Department of Art and Design served as her faculty mentor.

Jillian Blevins and Gabrielle Howell earned first place honors at Valdosta State University's 2025 Graduate Student Research and Scholarship Symposium.

Jordan Hewins discovered a passion for "humans in space" when he was just 8 years old and watching "Star Trek" on the couch with his mother. The Georgia Academy of Sciences recently honored him with a Best Oral Presentation award for his research, "Modeling the Orbital Dynamics of Super Earth Kepler-62f." This summer he's headed to the Edge of Space Academy in Iowa to study space-based instrumentation and how it's used to observe Earth and space. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and a Bachelor of Science in Physics at VSU and plans to graduate in May 2025.

Teressa Akuoko of Valdosta, Georgia, is the recipient of the 2022-2023 Bartram Award for Intellectual Exploration at Valdosta State University.

Jacee Holton and Leah Kubiak earned third place honors at Valdosta State University's 2025 Graduate Student Research and Scholarship Symposium.

Jazmin Borges's research, "Gopher Tortoise Mortality and Reliability of Passive Integrated Transponders at Reed Bingham State Park," recently won the People's Choice Award at the 2023 Southwest Georgia Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Summit Juried Poster Competition in Columbus. She is a senior from Griffin, Georgia, who plans to graduate from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Minor in Environmental Studies, and a Minor in Psychology on May 6.

Jasmine Freeman's research, "Utilizing the Continuous and Absorption Spectrum to Calculate the Components of Stars," recently won first place at the 2023 Southwest Georgia Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Summit Juried Poster Competition in Columbus. She is a senior from Shelby, North Carolina, who anticipates earning a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Valdosta State University in May 2025.

Jimmecha Carr of Albany, Georgia, recently presented "Defining Beauty Standards Through Media: Is It Worth It?" during Valdosta State University's 2022 Prosper Tsikata Graduate Colloquium.

Skylar Grinnell-Meeler recently presented "Silenced Sportswomen: An Evaluation of Muted Group Theory in Sports and How Roller Derby Challenges and Reinvents the Ideas of Gender in the Sports Industry" during Valdosta State University's 2022 Prosper Tsikata Graduate Colloquium.

Jonathan E. Bridenbaker of Gulfport, Mississippi, recently presented "Gun Girl: Kaitlin Bennett, Free Speech, and Mythmaking" during Valdosta State University's 2021 Prosper Tsikata Graduate Colloquium.

Matthew B. Rorer of Columbus, Georgia, recently presented "New Age of Online Image Crisis: Influencers" during Valdosta State University's 2021 Prosper Tsikata Graduate Colloquium.

Lauren A. Corley of Cairo, Georgia, recently presented "Making an Effort: Evaluating USA Gymnastics' Corporate Social Responsibility Following Negligence and Scandal" during Valdosta State University's 2021 Prosper Tsikata Graduate Colloquium.

Jael A. Stanton's "Gas Kinetic Modeling of Titan Atmospheric Entry Plasma" won Best Poster honors in the undergraduate research category at the 73rd annual Gaseous Electronics Conference.

Nya M. Lampkin's "Gas Kinetic Model for Titan Atmospheric Entry Plasma" won Best Poster honors in the undergraduate research category at the 73rd annual Gaseous Electronics Conference.

Three students from Valdosta State University's Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education presented "Shuffle Mania" at the 2018 Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Inc. Convention in Athens.

Mehvish Durrani represented Valdosta State University at the 70th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Augusta, Georgia.

Five Valdosta State University students recently presented original research at the seventh annual Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference in Gainesville, Georgia.

Kenyanna S. Parrish earned a $250 Travel Grant from the American Chemical Society to represent Valdosta State University at the 70th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Augusta, Georgia.

Patrick Elliott's "Effects of Egocentrism on the Vocabulary Development of African-American Preschoolers" won the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing's 2018 Student Research Award.

Victoria LeCroy's "Investigation of Hiring Bias Against Individuals with LGBT Involvement on Resumes" won the Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology Undergraduate Research Award at the Southeastern Psychological Association's 64th annual meeting in Charleston, South Carolina. Victoria LeCroy's "Investigation of Hiring Bias Against Individuals with LGBT Involvement on Resumes" won the Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology Undergraduate Research Award at the Southeastern Psychological Association's 64th annual meeting in Charleston, South Carolina.

Five students from Valdosta State University's Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy presented original research at the Southeastern Psychological Association 64th annual meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, March 6-9.

Valdosta State University's Miranda Huff and Dr. Anthony Scheffler were recently chosen to present research on academic mapping at the 2018 University System of Georgia Teaching and Learning Conference in Athens, Georgia.

An elite group of 43 students, nominated by faculty in their respective academic disciplines, presented at Valdosta State University's 2017 Graduate Student Research and Scholarship Symposium.

Valdosta State University students from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders were invited to present research at the 2017 Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention in Athens, Georgia. The theme was "Joining Together for Success."

Victoria R. Sandefur's "The Effect of Taste on Lingual Swallowing Pressure" won second place in the undergraduate research category at the 2017 Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention Student Poster Competition.

Katherine Bailey Stone's "Kinesio Tape in the Treatment of Dysphagia" won second place overall and second place in the graduate research category at the 2017 Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention Student Poster Competition.