The Torch – FSU Anne's College Magazine, Fall 2024

A TEACHER FROM FSU

Anne Spencer Daves leaves her indelible mark.

ANNE’S FSU COLLECTION

Anne Spencer Daves has gifted the College a collection of FSU memorabilia representing 30 years of die-hard support. Read more about Anne’s dedication to the college on page 8.

Greetings from the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences!

What an incredible year it has been. Just last fall, I had the privilege of sharing our new college expansion, growing to six departments to incorporate research and programs from health and human sciences. Now, I get to share even more exciting news, as we begin a new chapter in our history as we become a named college.

As we unveil this issue of The Torch, I am filled with gratitude and pride as we officially celebrate not just the renaming of our college but also one extraordinary individual — Anne Spencer Daves. This monumental occasion is more than a recognition of Anne’s incredible generosity as an alumna of our college; it is a tribute to her lasting impact on Florida State University, our broader community, and the field of education. The scope of her support is incredible, and we now become one of only a handful of named education-related colleges in the nation. Even in this elite group, we are one of the few colleges named after a teacher, making our college even more special, in my opinion.

As you will read in the following pages, Anne’s story is one of humility and purpose. A dedicated teacher for more than three decades, she exemplifies the values of our college — commitment to education, community, and the betterment of society. Her special gift, the largest ever from an FSU alumna, was driven not by a desire for recognition but by a profound wish to support future generations of educators, leaders, and multidisciplinary professionals. Anne believes deeply in the power of education as a cornerstone of society, and she has dedicated her life to ensuring that others have access to the same opportunities she cherished.

This renaming is also a poignant reminder of the legacy of her father, Curtis Spencer, whose unfulfilled dream of education inspired Anne’s commitment to giving back. Through her numerous scholarships and funds, including the Curtis Edward Spencer Endowed Scholarship, she honors not only her father’s memory but also the countless educators who have shaped lives through their teaching.

As we move forward as Anne’s College, we carry her spirit of generosity, resilience, and service. Anne’s legacy lives not only in our college’s new name but also in the countless stories of the students, educators, counselors, and sport and health professionals who will continue to learn and grow here.

This magazine issue encapsulates the heart and soul of our college — stories of resilience, passion, and commitment to making a difference. It celebrates not only Anne’s support and contributions but also the accomplishments of our six departments. Our faculty, staff, students, and alumni are setting new standards in research, leadership, and educational excellence.

As we celebrate this significant milestone, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who make up our college community and play a vital role in our college’s continued growth and success. Anne’s remarkable generosity will support scholarships, faculty excellence, and innovative programs, ensuring that our college remains a leader across the fields of education, health, and human sciences.

I hope you enjoy this issue of The Torch, and as always, we would love to hear from you. Please send us your news and accomplishments at annescollege@fsu.edu

Sincerely,

Damon P.S. Andrew, Ph.D., FNAK, FNAKHE Dean and Professor

Anne

Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences

Florida State University

Damon P.S. Andrew

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Joshua Duke

CONTRIBUTORS

Melissa Powell

Kevin Derryberry

PHOTOGRAPHY

Sarina Williams

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Colton Flynn

annescollege.fsu.edu

BY

THE NUMBERS

A TEACHER FROM FSU

Anne Spencer Daves leaves her indelible mark

LEADING WITH EXPERIENCE

Introducing Dr. Amy S. Thompson and Dr. Paul Peluso

FOOD ON THE BRAIN

Dr. Ravinder Nagpal’s research on the gut microbiome

FINDING COMMUNITY THROUGH SPORT

Breaking down barriers to sports participation

FUELING PASSION AND PERFORMANCE

Dietetic interns apply their knowledge to sports

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

Jacob Perez and Jessica Smith

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Jhenai Chandler: From first-generation student to higher education leader

SNAPSHOTS

Research Showcase, Terrace Grand Opening, ISLT@50 Conference, and ElevatED Torch Awards

SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT

Students take their education overseas with the Barrie B. and Ralph R. Gonzalez International Travel Study Scholarship

SCHOLARSHIPS

BY THE NUMBERS

From groundbreaking research investments to top national rankings, Anne’s College is setting the standard.

RESEARCH

$66M In Research Expenditures

#7

In the Nation for Number of Journal Articles Published

#6 (Academic Analytics, amongst peer colleges) In the Nation for Journal Article Citations

140 Grant Proposals Submitted

RANKINGS

#1

Education-related College in Florida (US News & World Report)

#6

#7 Best Colleges of Education in America

Education-related College Among Public Universities (US News & World Report) (Niche)

#7 Best Colleges for Sport Management

& SUPPORT In Scholarship Support

8 New Endowed Professorships

POPULATION

$1,018,073

6 New Endowed Doctoral Recruitment Fellowships

3,898 Students

FACULTY EXCELLENCE

6 New Departmental Endowments

201 Full-time Faculty

4 New Endowed Scholarships

76 Full-time Staff

6 National Academy of Kinesiology Fellows

2 Fulbright Scholars

1 American Psychology Association Fellow

Portrait by Gregory Daniel, 2024

John Daves, Marcy Driscoll and Anne Daves, circa 2006

A TEACHER FROM FSU

By Kevin Derryberry and Joshua Duke

Anne Spencer Daves leaves her indelible mark on behalf of teachers and her family.

John Daves, Pearl Tyner and Virginia Bert Party after 2003 FSU-Miami game

uring family weekend, October 2023, Anne Spencer Daves met with President Richard McCullough, First Lady Jai Vartikar, Dean Damon Andrew, Assistant Dean Kevin Derryberry, and Vice President for Advancement Marla Vickers for a Presidential Tea in the former President’s Home at Florida State University, today called the Pearl Tyner House. It was the perfect setting for a momentous meeting to discuss the recent expansion of our two colleges and the potential rededication of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

The Pearl Tyner House was named after Pearl Tyner (’30), an alumna of the Florida State College for Women and one of the most generous supporters of FSU in the 20th Century. Pearl’s sister Mayme was a two-time alumna (’30, ’50) of the College of Education, while Pearl was a graduate of the College of Home Economics, later known as the College of Health and Human Sciences. Among the many programs they supported at FSU, Pearl and Mayme Tyner both created professorship endowments in the name of their parents, Mack and Effie Tyner. In the spirit of family, each sister made their gift to the other’s college. Pearl gave to Education and Mayme gave to Human Sciences. When the colleges came together last year, so too did the legacy of the

Under the gaze of Pearl Tyner’s portrait in the house that now bears her name, Anne Spencer Daves agreed to add her family’s names to the legacy of great alumni philanthropists who helped build FSU into a top 20 university, and make the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences a top-ranked education

In recognition of her sustained support to FSU over the years, the FSU Board of Trustees voted in the summer of 2024 to rename our College — the college of Pearl and Mayme Tyner and more than 70,000 educators, counselors, and doctors — the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

ANNE’S FSU COLLECTION

Anne Spencer Daves grew up in Polk County, Florida. As a student she participated in the FSU Choral Union and served as secretary and rush chairman of her sorority, Phi Mu. After graduation she returned to Central Florida where she began her career as an elementary teacher educating children and sharing her passion for the Garnet and the Gold.

During her time as a teacher, Anne met John Daves of Tennessee, who worked for NASA as a systems analyst in launch operations during the Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle projects. In retirement, he became a volunteer with NASA’s Public Affairs Office and loved his job as an escort for the Associated Press (AP) when they came to Kennedy Space Center to report on and photograph Space Shuttle launches and landings. The two wed and built their life together. Together they collected a treasure-trove of NASA memorabilia including a complete set of 135 shuttle launch envelopes postmarked on the day of each launch, as well as astronaut designed mission patches, and artifacts from John’s career. Their collection of NASA memorabilia has been donated to the College.

In addition to their collection of NASA memorabilia, Anne and John have gifted the College an immense collection of buttons, pins, Seminole Booster license plates, caps, shirts, books, programs and the assorted memorabilia representing 30 years of die-hard support. Included in the collection is Anne’s FSU freshman “Rat Hat” with the words “Beat Richmond” printed in ink on the brim, commemorating Anne’s first FSU game. FSU won the game 28-0 in Bill Peterson’s first year as head coach.

Anne and John lived their lives as so many Floridians have. They worked to educate Florida’s young people and reached for the stars through dedication to the space program. They walked Florida’s beaches collecting shells and enjoying the surf and seafood, and they followed the Seminoles wins and losses.

THE INSPIRATION

Curtis Edward Spencer and Annie Laurie Mitchell married and, several years later, welcomed their daughter, Lois Annelle Spencer. They called her Anne.

After serving in the US Navy and, afterwards, opening a small restaurant with his brother-in-law, Curtis Spencer went to work for a grocery store chain based in Lakeland, Florida, purchased by entrepreneur George Jenkins. Spencer remained with the company for more than 30 years until his death, always embracing Jenkins’ philosophy of treating employees like family.

On Friday, October 16, Anne, an FSU graduate and 30-year career elementary teacher in Florida, was enjoying a teacher workday lunch away from school with friends when she received a call. The school office secretary knew where she could be reached.

Her father, suffering from lung cancer, had been taken to the hospital. Anne stayed at the hospital with her father until he passed away early Sunday morning, October 18th.

In the two days Anne was at the hospital with her father, he had difficulty speaking, but did share with her how he so regretted that he was unable to finish his education. According to his sister, also an Annelle, he dropped out of school in the eighth grade to help support his family of six. She remembers him delivering groceries and coal oil on a bicycle to residents in his small hometown.

Anne never forgot her father’s regret told to her the weekend of his death. In describing the inspiration for her and John’s first gift to FSU, she related:

“When the Seminole drumbeat called me back to FSU in the fall of 1997, my heart had finally told me how I would honor my father.”

“John and I met with Martha Stewart and Paula Fortunas of the FSU Foundation and established the Curtis Edward Spencer Endowed Scholarship in Elementary Education. This gift would enable others to have the education that circumstances had denied this fine man.”

PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS CAMPUS

Since its inception, more than 100 scholarships have been awarded in the name of Curtis Edward Spencer, who never had the opportunity to complete his education. Inspired by her father’s legacy, Anne and John would go on to provide additional support to FSU for the better part of three decades.

In 2001, they created the Anne and John Daves Professor in Education, currently held by Dr. Sherry Southerland, Professor of Science Education and Co-Director of FSU-Teach. Dr. Southerland joined FSU in 2002 and has spent 22 years honoring the Daves’ legacy through excellence in teaching, research, and co-founding the FSU-Teach program in 2007 to recruit more students into STEM field teaching.

In 2009, Anne and John responded to the College’s economic disadvantage in recruiting top students and built the Anne Spencer Daves Fellowships Fund. College faculty had identified a problem recruiting top students who could receive more lucrative offers from other colleges. The Daves Fellowship program for top Ph.D. students provided the model on which the College has built a significant recruitment fellowship program that supports 24 students each year, four per each of the College’s six depart ments, with recruitment stipends in addition to their tuition waiver and graduate assistantship.

In 2014, Anne and John created the John W. Daves Veterans Support Fund to provide gap support for student veterans. Student veterans may have GI Bill benefits for tuition, but they often have additional expenses related to being older than tradi

tional students, supporting families while attending classes, and for combat veterans, the added challenge of managing stress from experiences most students will never encounter. The John W. Daves Veterans Support Fund has also served as a model for three other donors to create veteran support funds for Anne’s College students.

In 2016, Anne and John also provided support to the FSU lab school, known as Florida High, through the creation of John W. Daves Space Flight Simulators for the Astronaut Challenge. These simulators encourage STEM students to work together to operate space flight simulators and space simulation laboratories. The Astronaut Challenge developed at FSU takes place at Cape Kennedy each spring.

All told, Anne and John have been major supporters to FSU every year since making their first gift in 1997, and their generosity extends beyond the College. They have supported the FSU Marine Lab beginning in 2015 where they funded the Anne and John Daves Closed Seawater System, built the Anne Daves Outdoor Classroom, and endowed the Anne Spencer Daves Field Trip Support Fund to support elementary school student visits to the Marine Lab.

They supported the Marching Chiefs on their trip to Normandy in 2019, endowed an archival fellowship with the World War II Institute for the Human Experience, and have contributed to the Veterans Legal Support Fund in the College of Law.

ANNE’S COLLEGE: THE OFFICIAL NICKNAME

While the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences is the official name of the college that will appear on student diplomas and faculty business cards, it is fair to say that the name is a bit of a mouthful. Often, colleges use the surname of the donor, so some might ask why we chose not to use the “Daves College” as our official nickname. One consideration is practical — Anne and John would tell you that the name is often mispronounced. It is pronounced like a plural of “Dave,” not as “Davis” or “Davies”, but the other consideration is more personal and more fitting of a teacher from FSU.

The College’s official name recognizes the two men whom Anne has loved throughout her life, but the name that will be used in everyday conversation will be named for her. After all, Daves is her husband, Spencer is her father, but Anne is a teacher from FSU.

Learn more about the impact of Anne Spencer Daves in our feature video at bit.ly/annespencerdaves

Homecoming Brunch

Anne and John Daves’ first scholarship recipient

Homecoming Celebration

LEADING WITH EXPERIENCE

INTRODUCING DR. AMY S. THOMPSON AND DR. PAUL PELUSO

By Joshua Duke

Anne’s College continues to grow and flourish, with five departments and a school home to nearly four thousand students. Over the summer, two of these — the Department of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) and the School of Teacher Education (STE) — welcomed new faculty members from other universities to serve as leaders. Dr. Amy S. Thompson became the new director of the School of Teacher Education, while Dr. Paul Peluso became the new chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Science. We recently sat down with both of them to learn more about their backgrounds and their vision for their respective departments.

A LOVE OF LANGUAGE

Dr. Amy S. Thompson

Director of the School of Teacher Education

On top of being the director of the School of Teacher Education, Dr. Amy S. Thompson is the Mack and Effie Campbell Distinguished Professor. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Michigan State University. Before coming to Florida State University, she was a Woodburn professor, chair of the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Director of International Relations and Strategic Planning for Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, and co-director of

the English Language Learning Institute at West Virginia University.

Her personal research interests focus on multilingualism and applied linguistics or second language acquisition. A love of language helped her ultimately discover her professional path.

“I took French in high school, and I really liked it. I really liked the way that speaking in another language let me develop another part of my personality. When I speak French, I feel like I’m a different person than when I speak English,” Thompson said.

Her love for French continued into college and only intensified when she studied abroad for a year in France. She ended up majoring in French with minors in Deaf Habilitation and Art, but despite her academic excellence, Thompson was still unsure what she wanted to do professionally. She was offered a job on campus, but almost at the same time, she received an English teaching assistantship through Fulbright to return to France.

“Was I going to go back to France to live and work for a year? Or was I going to take this full-time job with benefits and a bigger salary and, you know, start adulting more? And I chose the non-adulting path,” she joked. “I took the Fulbright!”

While it may seem impulsive in hindsight, the decision was instrumental to her career path. While teaching in France, Thompson found a book about linguistics at a used bookstore, which sparked her interest. Through her experience with the Fulbright Program, she also wanted to become a better teacher.

As her year in France came to an end, she learned that she had received a Rotary Scholarship to go to Costa Rica and learn Spanish. The intensive Spanish program solidified her love of language learning and exploring different cultures. “Through reading books, talking with people, and understanding different career paths, I realized that this was a career I could choose,” Thompson said. Suddenly, her passion for language became a way to make a living. Soon thereafter, Thompson applied to graduate school, and the rest is history.

BIENVENUE À TALLAHASSEE

Thompson has not been in Tallahassee long, but already she feels comfortable in her role as director of the School of Teacher Education, working alongside her colleagues and students. She cites the welcoming attitude as one of her favorite parts of Florida State University.

“What I have been really impressed about in the School of Teacher Education are the faculty and staff. As much as that may sound cliché, I found everyone to be very welcoming of me, very excited that I’m coming as an external hire, which is not always the case,” she said.

One of the first things she did was invite faculty members to meet with her one-on-one over the summer. Despite the fact that many faculty members do not teach over the summer, Thompson still met with about 35 people.

“I think the willingness to come in during summer to meet the new director shows how much the faculty care about STE and its success.”

These meetings solidified two things: the passion and the talent of the School of Teacher Education faculty. “I’m really happy to be here,” she said. “People have come to me with research ideas, with teaching ideas that are really creative and innovative, and we’ve been trying to figure out different resources to do some of these different initiatives. I’m impressed that people want to change up things and go forward and not just maintain the status quo.”

A VOICE FOR FLORIDA TEACHERS

One of the unique aspects of Florida State University is the fact that campus is just down the road from the Florida Capitol. As such, Thompson believes that the School of Teacher Education has an important role to play during legislative sessions. Not only can the school add an important voice to legislation affecting the K-12 system, but Thompson also believes that FSU’s proximity helps faculty grasp new laws quickly to then educate current students.

“We’re able to go listen to different discussions that may happen in the legislative sessions and have the opportunity to really understand how the legislation affects not just us as faculty and as a university, but really the K-12 system because many of our teacher education programs are preparing our students to work in that system.”

A PART OF THE FAMILY

Dr. Paul Peluso Chair of the Department of Human Development & Family Science

Dr. Paul Peluso is the Norejane Hendrickson Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Science. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, and his master’s, specialist and doctorate degrees from Georgia State University. He came from the Department of Counselor Education in Florida Atlantic University’s College of Education, where he held many titles during his career; he previously served as a professor of mental health counseling, a department chair, and as a senior associate dean.

Now chair of the FSU Human Development and Family Science department, Peluso brings his experience to Tallahassee. Already, he feels like a part of the HDFS family. He is amazed at how “legitimately nice people are. And it does not feel like a put-on. People have genuinely been helpful, people have genuinely gone out of their way

to be helpful, to make sure that my transition to Tallahassee has been a good one.”

“You hear people talk about [kindness], but I think you hear people talk about that in a lot of places, and a lot of times it’s more aspirational than real.”

Peluso also remarked on just how special the faculty members in HDFS are. “The scholars who are here in the department, whether they be tenure track faculty or specialized faculty who concentrate on teaching, are genuinely passionate about the field. We have some incredible researchers doing cutting-edge research. They’re looking at really important questions facing families, relationships, and child development, as well as the clinical application of some of these answers.”

FINDING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

One of the interesting things that Peluso discovered during his first semester as chair is just how passionate the students are about human development and family science. However, many of them come from different majors. “Particularly at the bachelor’s level with Human Development and Family Science, they find us because they’ve taken one of our courses as an elective. They come to discover that this is really the field that they were looking for to study.”

Peluso continued, “The major creates so many opportunities for people to branch into different directions, whether they go a clinical route, a human services route. They can go into healthcare; some of our students work in hospitals, or work in healthcare settings. And a number of our students work in policy areas or go on to become researchers.”

A MULTI-FACETED BACKGROUND

If anyone needed proof of the different directions a person can take with a degree in human development and family science, Peluso is exhibit A. He has worked in a number of settings, from private practice and agency settings to research studies and more. He has authored 12 books focused primarily on marriage and family therapy, but he has also published a new book on executive coaching.

His personal research interest focuses on infidelity, as well as examining effective therapy. “I’ve always wanted to learn what the ingredients were for the secret sauce that the masters have when they demonstrate just brilliant therapy. What goes on there, and how do they do it?”

He became interested in human development and family science due to a drive to help people and to find out what makes people tick. He demonstrated this immediately upon graduating with his bachelor’s, as he worked at a substance abuse treatment facility. “We would see incredible change. They would live [at the facility] full time. Then, they would become leaders, embrace a recovery mindset, and be serious about sobriety. We would graduate them, and they would go back home to a situation that hadn’t changed at all, and within about three months, they would wind up relapsing and then come back to us.”

That experience solidified in Peluso’s mind the importance of the family system in the life of an individual. “You have to change the system as well as the individual because you can make all the great changes to the individual, but if you put them back into a system that hasn’t changed, then it’s very difficult for them to make gains,” he said.

A NEW CHAPTER

Both Peluso and Thompson bring something new to their respective departments, and with new leadership comes new changes. As the Department of Human Development and Family Science and the School of Teacher Education continue to evolve, they will undoubtedly provide even more opportunities for students to explore their interests, make meaningful contributions, and impact society positively. ∎

FOOD ON THE BRAIN

By Melissa Powell

From Alzheimer’s disease prevention to nutrition and gut health studies on legumes, almonds, watermelon, and peanut butter, Assistant Professor Ravinder Nagpal’s research explores a wide range of topics, all tied to one key factor: the gut microbiome.

As director of The Gut Biome Lab at FSU, Dr. Nagpal’s work investigates how the collection of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes inhabiting our gastrointestinal tract could hold the power to transform not only our digestive health and physical well-being, but also our cognitive health. And when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment, these discoveries could change the way we approach disease prevention and management.

“Several studies have shown that patients with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias have an imbalanced gut microbiome.”

“But we don’t know which microbes actively contribute to the disease and which are merely casually associated,” Nagpal said.

THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

With research funding from the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Florida Department of Health, Nagpal’s team is studying a potential link between hospital-acquired infections and Alzheimer’s disease risk and progression. Pathogens associated with these infections may trigger systemic inflammation, especially in patients already taking antibiotics.

When patients are hospitalized for sepsis or traumatic brain injury, they often stay in the ICU under critical care for multiple weeks and receive antibiotics as the first line of therapy. “The antibiotics deplete a lot of beneficial bacteria in the gut and diminish the diversity of the microbiome,” Nagpal said.

Pathogens are harmful microbes that cause disease. Some pathogens in our gut, usually kept in check by the microbiome’s balance, can become opportunistic when antibiotics weaken or wipe out beneficial bacteria.

Studies have shown that sepsis patients face an increased risk of developing dementia within 10 years or more after being discharged. Antibiotic-induced pressure on the microbiome could be a key factor.

“Antibiotics-induced imbalances in the gut microbiome increase the risk of leaky gut, meaning the gut barrier becomes more permeable, allowing more substances to enter the bloodstream,” he said. Some pathogens that proliferate during this microbial imbalance are toxigenic, meaning they produce toxins or other harmful products. “Leaky gut combined with having a pathogen in your gut is double trouble because toxins can penetrate the blood from the gut and potentially reach the brain.”

Once pathogens or toxins breach the gut-blood-brain barrier, inflammation is triggered in the brain as a defense mechanism.

“The brain and immune system start producing inflammatory molecules to tackle the invading pathogens or toxins,” said Nagpal.

hormones, and sleep pattern gets impacted.”

In the long term, it also leads to the overproduction of amyloidbeta proteins, a key factor in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid-beta protein accumulation in the brain clouds the brain’s functioning and disrupts neuron and cell function. “Under that situation, the brain starts suffering in a big way in five, 10, 15 years, which may lead to the start of mild cognitive impairments that we usually don’t realize,” said Nagpal. “You might say, ‘he’s just getting old, he just can’t remember addresses anymore, or he has a habit of forgetting names,’ but this is how it all starts. The accumulation of this effect may lead to a more detectable form of impairments leading to dementia and, eventually, sometimes Alzheimer’s disease.”

NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTIONS FOR COGNITIVE HEALTH

Nagpal hopes this research contributes to the development of new nutritional interventions or pharmacological therapies, like probiotics or prebiotics, to help prevent cognitive decline and related diseases. It may also reveal specific cellular or molecular targets for future therapies.

Nagpal is also collaborating with researchers at the FSU College of Medicine to see if Mediterranean or ketogenic diets can improve gut health and, in turn, improve or prevent cognitive impairment.

“We are doing dietary intervention studies in older adults who may have mild cognitive impairments, as they could be at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia later on,” he said.

“Our preliminary preclinical as well as clinical studies have shown that a diet combing Mediterranean and ketogenic diets rich in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, is quite beneficial not only for the microbiome but also for neurocognitive health.”

These dietary intervention studies focus on people living in rural communities around Tallahassee, for whom there is little health-related data. “We have found that six to eight weeks of this dietary pattern is sufficient to induce positive changes in the microbiome,” he said. “These changes also correlated with improvement in amyloid and tau proteins in the brain of these patients.”

Ultimately, Nagpal’s research aims to improve cognitive health in aging populations using dietary, nutritional, and lifestyle medi cine routes. And research on Alzheimer’s is just one part of his expansive work.

SMALL CHANGES, BIG IMPACT

Other studies being conducted by Dr. Nagpal’s Gut Biome Lab include a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded study exam ining the effects of pulses like lentils and chickpeas on gut and metabolic health in young adults; a National Watermelon Boardfunded study exploring watermelon’s impact on microbiome and metabolism in subjects with overweight and obesity; an Almond Board-funded study exploring the effect of almonds on gut and cardiometabolic health; and even a project funded by the National Peanut Institute investigating the influence of peanut butter on the microbiome and immune-metabolic health in children. Each of these studies furthers the lab’s goal of discovering how specific foods and prudent dietary patterns can be used as a powerful tool for improving health and preventing diseases.

Whether studying legumes or Alzheimer’s, Nagpal’s message remains clear: small, accessible, and prudent dietary changes can have lasting effects. “The microbiome is so easy to modify and is so easily controllable. You don’t have to totally shift your meal plan and sacrifice your favorite foods. Small tweaks here and there lead to big changes,” he said.

“Our gut health impacts our immunity, metabolism, behavior, social life, daily activities, exercise routines, sleep patterns, everything.”

“Our mission is to find out how we can improve the gut microbiome in a way that also improves our health in other areas like cognitive, neurological, and metabolic health.”

Nagpal’s research opens the door for both scientific and practical solutions that may help us better understand — and perhaps even help prevent — gut and cognitive disorders in aging populations. ∎

FINDING COMMUNITY THROUGH SPORT

By Melissa Powell

When Associate Professor of Sport Management Dr. Amy Chan Hyung Kim first arrived in Columbus, Ohio, for her doctoral studies, she found herself in an unfamiliar country, far from her friends, family, and home in South Korea. The challenge of adapting to a new culture and making connections was daunting.

“It was hard to socialize and feel a sense of belonging at first,” Kim said. “But I love sports, so I started finding clubs and sport leagues, and that’s when I started to feel a sense of community, camaraderie, and an overall better feeling about being here.”

Dr. Amy Kim Associate Professor of Sport Management

The experience of acculturating to the U.S. through sport was pivotal for Kim. “Sport was one of the most crucial things that helped me go through that process, and it was the same when I got a job at FSU about a decade ago.” It wasn’t just about physical activity; for Kim, sport was a powerful social connector. “As soon as I joined local tennis leagues, I found great friends and got useful information about the area, so it was very functional for me and meaningful, too, because it was a really welcoming community.”

This personal journey inspired Kim to devote her career to researching how sport can have the same transformative impact on others, particularly for underserved groups. Now, as co-director of the Center for Sport, Health, and Equitable Development, Kim focuses on how sports participation can enhance personal and community health and well-being while addressing the barriers that prevent many from accessing these opportunities.

“My research focuses on how to manage and promote sport participation to facilitate social and psychological well-being and

mental health at the individual, community, and population levels from a behavioral and social epidemiological perspective,” she explained. While some of her studies involve general populations, most of her work is dedicated to somewhat marginalized or underrepresented groups such as older adults, immigrants, international students, and people with disabilities.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

Kim’s goal is to break down the barriers that prevent many people from participating in sports, whether those barriers are physical, social, or psychological. “A major barrier for older adults is physical changes in the body that come with aging, such as bone loss or functional decline that can increase one’s risk of fall,” she noted. For people with disabilities, the obstacles may be more complex.

Part of Kim’s work involves developing sport programs tailored to these needs, including “older-adult-friendly sports such as walking soccer or pickleball.”

Kim’s work goes beyond just facilitating participation; she’s interested in how sport can uniquely benefit people’s mental and social health. “Compared to unorganized physical activities such as dog walking, gardening, running or weightlifting, we found that sport participation, which involves more social interaction and competition, can be a great means to boost individual social capital, social support, and social relationships,” she said. According to her research, these social benefits have a direct impact on mental health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, and increasing life satisfaction and overall happiness.

THE SCIENCE OF SPORT PARTICIPATION

To better understand how sport participation impacts mental health, Kim uses various research approaches. “I’m from a social science area, so I start with subjective measures,” she explained. “We usually do a self-report survey that has been developed to measure different types of stress, anxiety, as well as depressive symptoms.”

In addition to tools such as happiness questionnaires, Kim is collaborating with faculty at the FSU College of Medicine to incorporate scientific tools, such as testing cortisol levels through saliva samples to assess stress. “I’m also trying to see how we can use fMRI to see the evolving states of participants’ mental status throughout the participation progress,” she added.

One of her research projects involves the use of technology to engage older adults in sport. In a pilot study, her team introduced a smart soccer ball to encourage physical activity among older adults. Smart soccer balls can connect to an app to provide realtime feedback on performance and interaction with the ball. The team distributed smart soccer balls for older adults living in a community and observed their play over the course of six weeks. The pilot study, while small and experimental in nature, laid the groundwork for future research.

Another of Kim’s innovative projects involves intergenerational programming, specifically through pickleball, a sport that has seen a surge in popularity among older adults. “We developed an intergenerational pickleball program where college students acted as mentors to older adults,” Kim said. “We wanted to see how these intergenerational social interactions and physical activity programs could affect participants’ psychological, social, and physical health and well-being.” This program not only fosters physical activity, but also creates meaningful social connections across generations.

Despite the challenges faced by many of her research subjects, Kim remains hopeful about the potential of sport to create inclusive opportunities for all. “My ultimate goal of doing research is to make a positive impact on our community members, so I intentionally spend more time working with these organizations so that we can address ‘real problems’ in our community,” she says.

COLLABORATING FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT

Kim has collaborated with community partners such as the City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Affairs; the United States Tennis Association; and the USA Pickleball Association. Kim’s colleague and Sport Management faculty member, Katie Flanagan, has played a key role in building connections between the Center for Sport, Health, and Equitable Development and local nonprofits and sports organizations. These partnerships have provided valuable service-learning opportunities for FSU Sport Management students, who are required to volunteer with local organizations as part of their experiential learning. Over time, the relationships fostered through this volunteer work have encouraged the organizations to become more actively involved in the center’s research projects, creating a mutually beneficial collaboration between the university and the community.

“Once we build trust and show that we are here to help them, they have welcomed and supported our research efforts,” Kim said.

Her collaborations with organizations like the USA Pickleball Association and the United States Tennis Association have allowed her to provide practical solutions to real-world problems, from analyzing participation trends to strategizing how local leagues can attract more participants. These partnerships also allow her to apply her research in meaningful ways that directly benefit the community. “I want to make sure that our research impacts our community in a good way. I want to address what we’re going through in our community in our research and learn how to make that better,” she said.

Kim’s passion for inclusive sport participation extends beyond the academic realm. She views inclusivity as a personal mission that stems from her own life experience, and one that she wants to share with others. “I’m very passionate about my research. I’m proud of what we’re doing, and it’s really personal for me,” she shared. Often, she notes, lack of information on how to start or where to play can be the biggest barrier to participation. For those

who may be unsure of where to begin or feel intimidated by the idea of getting involved in organized sport, Kim offers encouragement.

“There are many people in the sports community willing to welcome new friends. So don’t be afraid to reach out.”

And with Kim’s ongoing research and community initiatives, that sense of belonging she found through sport is becoming a reality for more people every day. ∎

FUELING PASSION AND PERFORMANCE

By Melissa Powell

Brinya Kydd, a current dietetic intern at Anne’s College, and Kieran Paterson, a former intern now working in performance science research, are living proof of how academic knowledge can fuel athletic success. Kydd, a natural bodybuilder, and Paterson, who worked with the FSU women’s soccer team during their 2023 national championship season, have both

leveraged expertise gained through FSU’s Dietetic Internship. The Dietetic Internship, which requires at least 1,200 hours of supervised practice, is designed to prepare future dietitians with hands-on experience in areas like clinical nutrition and sports nutrition, helping them merge their passion for nutrition with real-world athletic performance.

BRINYA KYDD: THE NATURAL PATH TO BODYBUILDING

When Brinya Kydd stepped onto the bodybuilding competition stage for the first time, she brought more than just muscle — she brought a nutrition plan fueled by her passion for dietetics — and left with a victory.

Hospital. She will be completing her sports nutrition rotation at the University of Miami in the spring of 2025 near her hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She applied only to FSU for her Dietetic Internship and master’s studies; not only because of her love for the school, but also because of its unique Sports Nutrition track, which has built an even stronger foundation for her bodybuilding success.

MASTERING MEAL PLANS

“I always try to stick to the principle of making sure your plate is colorful, knowing how important it is to incorporate a variety of proteins, and the strategies behind meal timing,” she said. “It’s applying a lot of the sports nutrition-type of ideas that I’ve learned within the program.”

Finding which nutrition strategies worked best for her personally was a fulfilling part of the journey, she says. “All the principles that we learn aren’t going to work for everyone, so it was cool to see exactly what worked for me.”

Kydd, an Exercise Physiology master’s student majoring in Sports Nutrition, has integrated her academic knowledge into her personal fitness and bodybuilding journey, demonstrating the profound impact nutrition can have on physical performance.

Kydd’s path to dietetics began during her undergraduate studies at FSU where she initially explored Food and Nutrition Science and ultimately found her calling in dietetics. Kydd graduated with her bachelor’s in spring 2023. Through FSU’s Dietetic Internship, she’s now working to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

As a natural bodybuilder, she relies on food and diet, not anabolic enhancements, to meet her nutritional needs, setting her apart from enhanced bodybuilders who utilize substances like growth hormones that accelerate muscle growth, increase strength, and improve recovery. This decision makes her background in dietetics even more crucial.

“Bodybuilding is almost 90% nutrition. I don’t think I could have done as well as I did without the knowledge that I had.”

“Your protein intake must be sufficient and should come from different bioavailable sources,” she said.

Kydd’s trek to the bodybuilding stage came during her final year of graduate coursework at FSU. After joining a gym with a strong bodybuilding community, she decided to take the plunge. “I thought, ‘It’s my last year in Tallahassee. I’m going to pursue bodybuilding because it’s going to be something I can be proud of, and it’s going to make me really focus in on my last year,’” she said.

As a dietetic intern, Kydd has now completed coursework and is cycling through her clinical rotations at Boca Raton Regional

Customizing her own meal plans and combining that with her coach’s training and programming expertise translated into success. Through careful planning and collaboration with her coach, Kydd was able to balance her training regimen and nutrition, ultimately achieving her goal of winning her first competition, the NPC Orlando Pro/Am Championships.

“My coach was very open and excited about the fact that I’m a sports nutrition graduate student,” she said. “I’d let her know, for example, that a certain type of carb before the training is better for me. Instead of having a sweet potato before I work out, I want to have rice, because it will digest faster and won’t bloat me.”

As a natural bodybuilder, Kydd also emphasizes the importance of incorporating whole foods into her diet and a wealth of micronutrients such as iron and other vitamins and minerals. “Because I was in school at the same time I was prepping, I’m already eating less food than many people. I wanted to make sure the food I am eating is very nutrient dense to support brain function through

2024 National Physique Committe Orlando Championships

those long study nights,” she said. “A common misconception is that bodybuilders only eat bland, unseasoned food, but mine was not because whatever food I am eating, I want to make sure I like it.”

“The Dietetics program has given me the tools to make informed decisions about my diet.”

One of the key challenges Kydd faces as a natural bodybuilder is maintaining muscle mass while in a caloric deficit. “Without enhancements, it’s harder to hold on to muscle, so I have to be very intentional with my protein intake and meal planning,” she explained.

GIVING BACK THROUGH DIETETICS

Kydd’s passion for dietetics stems from her own experience with weight and health challenges growing up. “I was always overweight as a kid, and I got to an unhealthy point in my life where I had doctors telling me I was developing preliminary health problems. During my senior year of high school, I was not doing my best mentally or physically, and I decided I really wanted to make a change, so I started doing my own research.”

Though she didn’t know much about fitness and nutrition at the time, she learned along the way and fell in love with the process. “I love working out and I love cooking, and seeing how food literally changed my life as a teen, I figured why not make it a career?” she said.

Now, one of the many options she’s considering once becoming an RDN includes pediatric nutrition.

“I do think back to when I was younger, and if I hadn’t made that choice to take control of my health, I don’t know where I’d be today,” she said. “I feel an immense need to give back to the community I grew up in because there was no dietitian, nobody who told me how to be healthy, and nobody who taught us about food in school.”

While taking on pediatric nutrition as a passion project, she also envisions a future as a sports dietitian, potentially working with collegiate athletes or owning her own private practice. She currently owns her own online nutrition coaching business, fuelwellnutrition.net, and looks forward to learning more about her options throughout clinical rotations. “Even before bodybuilding, I wanted to be a sports dietitian. I’m still figuring out exactly what I want to do, but I know I want to stay in the fitness and nutrition space,” she said.

As for bodybuilding, Kydd is open to wherever the sport takes her next.

“That was my first show ever. I want to see my natural potential, and at the end of the day, I’m always going to be changing strategies and responding to what’s working best for me. My knowledge of nutrition has taken me so far already.”

When dietetic intern Kieran Paterson chose the FSU women’s soccer team for his Sports Nutrition rotation, he knew he was stepping into a championship-caliber program. With four national championship titles, 10 ACC Tournament titles, and seven continuous years of being ranked in the top 25, the women’s soccer team and its support staff are no stranger to high performance — and neither is Paterson.

As a former collegiate soccer player himself, he brought both passion and expertise to his role, blending his love for the game with the science of nutrition to help fuel his team’s success. Now, after completing the Dietetic Internship and graduating with his master’s in Exercise Physiology as a Sports Nutrition major in spring 2024, Paterson serves as the Outreach Director and Performance Science Research Associate at the FSU Institute of Sports Sciences & Medicine just down the street from the Seminole Soccer Complex.

As a dietetic intern and master’s student, Paterson worked under the guidance of the team’s dietitian to provide nutrition education and counseling on an individual and group basis throughout the season, planed and ordered all the players’ meals for home and away games, and provided each player with their recovery shakes and supplements before, during, and after practices and games. Working with a national championship team meant Paterson got a front-row seat to what it takes to perform at the highest level.

“It truly feels like you’re in a professional setup. So many of the coaches and support staff have come from a high-performance background; they value the data and really bring out that high standard in the everyday workings of the program,” he said.

For Paterson, the most rewarding part was the trust the coaches and support staff placed in the nutrition team. “They respect the importance of nutrition and really leaned on us for support in this area,” he shared. “They ensured, especially early in the season, that we had allotted time to educate the team on the need for nutrition and the various aspects of fueling a top collegiate athlete.”

PREPARING FOR THE NATIONAL STAGE

Feeding a team of elite athletes isn’t easy, especially when they’re on the road for high stakes matches like the national championship.

“With any team, it’s always difficult as a dietitian to plan meals that will satisfy everyone’s taste or food preferences.”

But the FSU women’s soccer team was different — they understood how important nutrition was, especially on game days.

For the national championship in Cary, North Carolina, Paterson traveled with the team and was responsible for making sure everything went smoothly. “For these athletes, in such high stakes matches, it’s of utmost importance to keep everything outside of the match as ‘normal’ as possible,” he said. That meant making sure meals arrived on time, food was familiar, and any personal diet restrictions were accommodated — all while being away

SHAPING A CAREER IN SPORTS NUTRITION

Paterson’s background as a soccer player at Ashland University made a big difference in how he approached his role. “Growing up in the sport and previously being a collegiate athlete added to my passion for seeing these athletes succeed,” he said. He knew firsthand the physical and mental demands of being a student-athlete. “I feel as if it also helped me hold some credibility with the players,” he added.

Reflecting on his time as a dietetic intern, Paterson credits the experience with shaping his career path. “The DI provided a range of experiences that I personally felt exposed me to navigating the world of dietetics as a new professional,” he said. “Dietetics is an evidence-based field. Therefore, we need to recognize the importance of relying on the evidence and staying up-to-date and relevant in an evolving profession.” It’s a lesson he continues to carry forward in his role today. ∎

2023 Division I Women’s Soccer Championship

JACOB PEREZ

Pursuing his doctorate in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology, Jacob Perez is from Miami, Florida, and focuses his research on mental health relating to drinking behaviors in college students.

Why did you choose FSU for your studies?

As someone with a deep interest in developing research skills, FSU stuck out to me because the research opportunities are abundant here! It was also important to me that I could finance my education, and FSU has numerous funding opportunities and generous scholarships that have allowed me to continue progressing toward my professional goals.

What has been your favorite part of your time at FSU so far?

My favorite part at FSU so far has been presenting research at the College’s Research Showcase and taking that research to the national level! Together with Dr. Laura Reid Marks and colleagues from the College, I further developed this research and presented at Research Society on Alcohol’s annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Through the NIAAA grant-funded project “Engaging Black College Students Who Practice Risky Drinking Behaviors in Mindfulness Mobile Health,” we investigated what attributes of a mobile health application would increase engagement with mindfulness practice among Black college students who practice risky drinking behaviors. The project will inform future research to develop a gamified application with a basis in behavioral economics. I cherished this opportunity to learn so much from researchers in the field of psychology as well as other health-related disciplines, and it was gratifying to see my persistence pay off.

What drew you to Counseling and School Psychology?

I wanted to explore my interests in improving psychological health outcomes for years, but the nature of a combined program, in particular, encourages my interest in interdisciplinary research and practice. I truly value exposure to other health service professionals’ approaches so that I can practice humility and openness to other perspectives. I continue to maintain that gaining this insight will improve my ability to think critically and best serve the psychological needs of a given person or group.

What advice would you give to someone interested in the program?

It’s not a DSM diagnosis, but the notion of “impostor syndrome” is real! Entering a doctoral program is competitive and can be intimidating, so persistence and an airtight support system are key. When faced with stressful decisions, it’s crucial to seek guidance from your mentors and lean into your community. You simply cannot pour from an empty cup!

What do you hope to do after you graduate?

I plan to continue my pursuit of research and become a professor at a university. I really enjoy the mentorship and collaboration that are characteristic of a faculty position, yet I also wish to integrate research with clinical practice as a licensed psychologist. In other words, I hope to wear multiple hats in the future!

Anything else you’d like to share?

I always love sharing about my graduate assistantship with Counseling & Psychological Services! As the RENEW (Realizing Everyone’s Need for Emotional Wellness) student outreach program coordinator, I work with a community of passionate, undergraduate peer leaders making a positive impact on FSU’s mental health climate through outreach and education. My professional goals include practicing as a psychologist, but so much of mental health intervention begins with prevention. I feel so lucky to be part of this process on our very own campus and to mentor so many driven students each semester. Say hello if you see RENEW around campus! ∎

J ESSICA SMITH

From Port St. Lucie, Florida, Jessica Smith is a Special Education doctoral student with a focus on Visual Disabilities Education and was recently awarded the Anne Spencer Daves Fellowship for students in education programs.

What other degrees or credentials do you already have?

I have a bachelor’s degree in Visual Disabilities Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I am a certified teacher in Florida for visual disabilities K-12 as well as orientation and mobility. I am also an education member at large for the Florida Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (FAER) and a treasurer for the FSU chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

Why did you choose FSU for your studies?

I attended an FSU satellite campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, to complete my B.S./M.S. degree because it was the closest university with a visual disabilities education program and because I heard such positive things about the program. While researching how to become a teacher for students with visual impairments, I also met so many people from FSU who were so kind and helpful. When I decided to pursue a Ph.D., FSU was the first school to come to mind based on the positive relationships I was able to create in my professional life. I also love the fact that FSU excels in both teacher preparation as well as research, which piqued my interest. I also wanted to be part of what shaped me as a professional. While completing my B.S./M.S. degree and while considering pursuing a Ph.D., I felt so much support from my professors.

What types of challenges or obstacles have you overcome on your educational journey?

I believe everyone goes through their own challenges or obstacles while working toward something they want to achieve. My educational journey has felt like a never-ending trail of hoops to jump through, but the obstacles have made me who I am today. I originally started my educational journey at the University of Florida where I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. I just knew I wanted to continue learning. I fell into some financial hardships and had to leave the university. When I found out about the Visual Disabilities Education program at FSU, I did everything I could to get accepted. I was working full-time and commuting more than two hours one way to class multiple times a week. Shoving exhaustion aside, I poured myself into my new job and focused on doing my best on class assignments. It seemed so easy to look past the struggles of balancing work, school, and commuting because I truly could not contain my curiosity and newfound love of learning everything related to teaching students with visual impairments. Of course, COVID-19 threw a wrench into my educational journey by changing the way I experienced some courses. When deciding to pursue my Ph.D., I also had to move away from a little community I built for myself and am currently working on building that community again with the great people I get to meet daily here in Tallahassee. Throughout almost all of these challenges, I felt like my professors here at FSU were there to support my education and were a huge motivation for me to keep going as well as to come back after my B.S./M.S. adventure to further my education and give back to the field of visual disabilities.

What inspired or motivated you to pursue the field of education and work with students with visual impairments?

I have found that many people who work with students who are visually impaired find this field accidentally. After having to leave the University of Florida, I decided I wanted to be a middle school English teacher. I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew that I was not done learning. I thought that it would be

beneficial for me to get my foot in the door, so to speak, at a school to gain experience. So, I decided to try to get a job as a paraprofessional. However, none of the schools I applied to wanted me because I was so inexperienced. Luckily, there was one school who was interested in hiring me because I was inexperienced. They liked the fact that they could train me to do things in the way they needed them done. The only “catch” was that I would be working with some students who were blind. At the time, I thought this was a cool experience that would shape me into a great teacher someday, so I jumped at the chance. It only took me about two weeks at this new job to decide that visual impairment education was incredibly cool, and I wanted to learn more about it. I was learning braille, adapting materials for the students, and learning so many things from the students I worked with as well as from the teachers of the visually impaired I worked with. Those teachers told me about the Visual Disabilities Education program here at FSU, so I found out more, and the rest is history! It was truly the best accident I could ever encounter.

What has been your favorite part of your time at FSU?

My favorite part of my time here at FSU so far is really the people I have gotten to know. While working on my B.S./M.S. degree, I lived with a classmate who became a long-time friend. My professors along the way have been there to support me in any way they know how, including sharing job opportunities or professional development opportunities, and now, as I pursue my Ph.D. I am meeting new people almost weekly who offer support and advice even when I think I don’t need it. The activities available for students are also such a fun part of continuing my education. I am often found somewhere in the stands of the beautiful fields on campus, losing my voice to cheer on the football, women’s soccer, softball, and baseball teams.

What do you hope to do after you graduate?

There are so many things I want to do! There is such a dire need for teachers of students with visual impairments and orientation & mobility specialists, so recruitment to the field has been something I have been working toward. I am currently a member of the Florida Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, where I work with a fabulous group of people who are as passionate about recruitment into the field as I am. I am also a graduate teaching assistant, so I get to participate in teacher preparation by teaching some of the classes I took as a B.S./M.S. student, and it is really the highlight of my week. There are also so many research opportunities in this field that I am so excited to be a part of. I am currently in my very first semester of my Ph.D. and am still working on narrowing my field of interest when it comes to research. After I graduate, I am planning on continuing to contribute to this great field as much as possible by participating in teacher preparation and conducting my own research to share with anyone who will listen.

Anything else you’d like to share about your journey or what has kept you motivated throughout your educational experience?

My biggest motivator has really been my peers and professors along the way, so if I could share advice, it would be to talk to as many people as possible, volunteer as often as possible, and ask questions when you have them. You never know where your volunteer activities and dedication to what you believe in will take you. ∎

J HENAI CHANDLER

FROM FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT TO HIGHER EDUCATION LEADER

By Melissa Powell

Jhenai Chandler’s journey from a first-generation college student to her current role as a leader in higher education policy and student affairs is a testament to her resilience, determination, and commitment to addressing inequities in higher education. Her story is rooted in her own lived experiences that mirror the struggles of the many students she now advocates for — those who are navigating multiple roles and priorities while also pursuing their education.

In August 2024, Chandler, a graduate of FSU’s Higher Education doctoral program, was named vice president for research and policy at NASPA, a professional organization for student affairs administrators in higher education.

NASPA is the professional home for student affairs. With a student-centered approach, NASPA serves the field of higher education by providing professional development, advancing research to address critical challenges, advocating for inclusive and equitable practices in higher education, and fostering networks that mentor and support the next generation of student affairs professionals.

The statistics she works with in her role are more than just numbers. They represent lives, including her own. “I was a first-generation college student. I was a student parent. I was a transfer student,” she said. “These are all challenges we’re talking about in higher education today. I lived that life, and so I’m able to humanize the data points and the experiences of students when I’m involved in research and policy conversations related to these areas.”

She advocates for the estimated 40 million Americans who started college but have not finished, motivated by her own family’s experiences. “Until that number dwindles down, that’s really my motivator: the working adults who want to go back to school, the student who needs to transfer. Keeping them on the pathway to completion is what inspires me.”

Chandler’s time as an undergraduate student at Anne’s College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Food, Nutrition, and Exercise Science, was not just a turning point — it was a lifeline. As an upper-division transfer student, access to childcare on FSU’s campus was vital to her success.

“The folks at University Housing helped me get connected with childcare, and it made all the difference,” she recalls. It was one of many moments when the support of others — often behind the scenes — enabled her to keep moving forward.

A CAREER SPARKED BY AN UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY

While working at the Florida Department of Corrections as an undergraduate student, Chandler found herself struggling to balance work, parenthood, and the demands of her class schedule. An academic roadblock unexpectedly led her into the world of higher education advising. “I had a hard time getting into organic chemistry, a course I needed to take to graduate, because childcare closed at the time the course was offered,” Chandler said. A conversation about her scheduling conflicts with Jodee Dorsey, who served as the associate dean for academic affairs at the time, unknowingly sparked a future in higher education. “I was telling [her] about all the things going on, and she connected me with Jennifer Farrell, who offered me a job as an upper division advisor for the College,” Chandler said. “That’s how I got into advising — it all took off from there.” She was able to complete her degree while working on campus.

AN INTERSECTION OF IDENTITIES

Chandler’s journey is one marked by perseverance and a deep sense of responsibility to advocate for students from various backgrounds.

“I’m also a Black woman, so I lie at the margins and the intersectionality of being a student of color, a transfer student, and a student parent.”

These overlapping identities have shaped her experience and fueled her passion to drive meaningful change in higher education. “It inspires me and encourages me to be thoughtful about my contributions to the field and to critically analyze the implications of the policy and research that we do.”

PERSONAL CONNECTIONS AND FACULTY SUPPORT

She credits much of her collegiate success to the personal support of faculty who understood her unique situation as a student, a mother, and a wife juggling a full-time job. “There were some blows in my journey,” she acknowledged. But the unwavering support of faculty like Toby Park-Gaghan, now the College’s associate dean for academic affairs, Gregory Harris, now the associate dean for strategic partnerships and community engagement, and Brad Cox and Tamara Bertrand Jones, who served as faculty at FSU at the time, made all the difference, she says. She recalls a particularly personal moment when her son was diagnosed with autism during her studies. “Brad Cox stopped everything and spent almost a half day with me, walking me through what that looked like for him and his family, and the resources that are available.”

This personal connection is at the heart of Chandler’s approach to leadership and advocacy. “I have so many family members who attempted college and weren’t able to finish because they didn’t

have a TBJ [Tamara Bertrand Jones] or a Brad Cox,” she says. “I transferred to Florida State for childcare. Not all people have that level of access to make adjustments.” These experiences are what fuel her drive today.

“I’m in these positions to give voice to the experiences of students, to make sure we’re making systems-level change so that no student has to drop out.”

BUILDING STRATEGIC VISION AT NASPA

Now in her role at NASPA, Chandler is working to build a strategic vision for how research and policy can improve student outcomes. “Right now, I’m on week seven of the job,” she said with a smile. “I’m learning my team, learning about the work we’re doing, and planning for what comes next.”

Chandler is particularly excited to be part of NASPA’s leadership team at a pivotal time, with another Anne’s College alumna, Amelia Parnell, stepping into the role of president. “NASPA is going through a full leadership change,” Chandler explained, but the opportunities that come with this change are energizing, she said. “I’m setting a policy and research agenda, and I’m making it a priority to build relationships with vice presidents of student affairs across the country.”

For Chandler, relationships are at the core of what she needs in order to be successful especially working remotely in a virtual environment. “I’m a relationship builder. I am personable, and I think that’s important because higher education is all about making and maintaining strong connections with colleagues across the field,” she said. “We can be so transactional sometimes that we forget to make personal connections.”

REMEMBER YOUR “WHY”

Her advice to students reflects the same resilience and determination that has defined her own career. “For the student who might fall somewhere in the middle and not be the top performer, I would encourage them to keep at it,” she says. Chandler emphasizes that high-quality work and communication with faculty and employers are key to success, even when the journey feels overwhelming. “Don’t give up on yourself. Remember your ‘why.’”

In many ways, Chandler’s “why” is about creating opportunities for others who are walking a path similar to her own. “Even though I fell into higher education, I love the change that I was able to create for students who came from similar backgrounds or who didn’t have advocates,” she said. It’s clear that Chandler’s work is not just about policy or data — it’s about people. And with every student who finds success because of her efforts, her journey comes full circle. ∎

RESEARCH SHOWCASE

The College’s Research Showcase, held on March 22, 2024, highlighted groundbreaking projects by both students and faculty. The event served as a platform for innovative ideas that have the potential to shape the future of these fields.

Gwoncheol Park, a student researcher, took home the top student award for his presentation exploring the connection between gut bacteria and the development of Alzheimer’s disease, a topic with significant implications for future treatment strategies. Park was part of a research team that included Saurabh Kadyan and Dr. Ravi Nagpal.

Dr. Robert Schoen’s project titled “Impact of an Inquiry-Oriented Intervention on Teaching and Learning of Seventh-grade Statistics” garnered the faculty award. Schoen’s research delves into the effectiveness of inquiry-based learning methods in middle school math education, offering valuable insights for educators seeking to improve student engagement and understanding.

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15-minute research presentations from faculty members and students

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Posters presented by students

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Other conferences attended by presenters to further share their research

The showcase spotlighted the College’s commitment to fostering a vibrant research environment that tackles critical contemporary issues. Park and Schoen’s award-winning projects represent the caliber of scholarship pursued at FSU, with the potential to make significant contributions to their respective fields.

TERRACE GRAND OPENING

On March 26, 2024, the College celebrated the grand opening of the new outdoor terrace at the Stone Building. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony to recognize the hard work behind the project, followed by a reception with snacks, music, and games. Faculty, students and guests gathered to enjoy the new space, marking an exciting addition to Anne’s College.

After remarks from Dean Damon Andrew, the ribbon was cut with the help of Student Advisory Council Chairs Billy Bean and Ravi Bhatt, Dean Emerita Marcy Driscoll, Director of Business Operations Kelly Conner, and Business Manager Holly Crosby.

“What makes our college special is undoubtedly the people who work, learn, and grow here. It is my hope that students, faculty and staff use the Stone Terrace as a meeting place to foster new ideas and make new memories.”

— Dean Damon Andrew

The event was a vibrant celebration of community, innovation, and collaboration within the College.

ISLT@50 CONFERENCE

In April 2024, the College celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies (ISLT) program with a three-day event. At the ISLT@50 Conference, alumni, students and faculty connected through presentations and workshops, reflecting on the program’s rich history while exploring the future of instructional systems and learning technologies.

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Panel and group discussions, highlighting the history, current state, and future of the ISLT program

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90-second lunch and learn presentations

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Breakout sessions on specialized subjects

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Small-group roundtable sessions on real-world applications of ISLT principles

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Student poster presentations on a variety of research topics

ELEVATED TORCH AWARDS

The ElevatED Torch Awards celebrated educators and leaders who shape the future of education. On May 16, 2024, Dean Damon Andrew opened the evening with heartfelt remarks emphasizing the event’s purpose: to honor and recognize the important contributions that cooperating teachers, school leaders, and district partners make in the development of FSU students, as well as their impact on local schools and the future of education.

PATHMAKER AWARD

Dr. Denise Aloma from St. Thomas Aquinas High School received the inaugural Pathmaker Award for her mentorship and leadership qualities. Her nominator highlighted her ability to encourage innovation and provide invaluable support to students, even in challenging circumstances.

COOPERATING TEACHER AWARDS

Ms. Kara Weaver from Kate Sullivan Elementary School was honored for her exceptional ability to connect with students and prepare future teachers.

Ms. Phyllis Wright from Fairview Middle School was recognized for her dedication and hands-on approach in mentoring student teachers.

Mr. Keith Griffis from Sickles High School, a proud FSU Music Education graduate, received accolades for providing outstanding educational opportunities and support to his students.

SCHOOL LEADER AWARD

Ms. Jen Powell from Amos P. Godby High School was honored for her mentorship and investment in the professional growth of aspiring educators.

MEREDITH HIGGINS DISTRICT PARTNER AWARD

The award was given to Ms. Jessica Titze from the Leon County Schools Office of Professional Learning, honoring her dedication to educational partnerships and the legacy of Meredith Higgins.

ANNE’S COLLEGE ABROAD

By Joshua Duke

Students take their education overseas with the Barrie B. and Ralph R. Gonzalez International Travel Study Scholarship.

Students at Anne’s College broaden their knowledge in classrooms, but sometimes they have an opportunity to broaden their classrooms through study abroad experiences. Students in Human Development and Family Science spent five weeks in Valencia, Spain, while a group of Sport Psychology students traveled to the European Federation of Sport Psychology Conference (FEPSAC) to present and learn from experts. The group of eight Sport Psychology graduate students had the opportunity to travel to Innsbruck, Austria, last summer thanks to the generous support of the Barrie B. and Ralph R. Gonzalez International Travel Study Scholarship.

The Barrie B. and Ralph R. Gonzalez International Travel Study Scholarship helps Anne’s College provide students with unique educational experiences through cultural immersion as a means of enhancing their future careers. The Gonzalez scholarship has supported both undergraduate and graduate students who participate in faculty-approved international programs since 2016. To date, 15 students have studied internationally thanks to the Barrie B. and Ralph R. Gonzalez International Travel Study Scholarship.

“The benefits of international travel opportunities and education are immense,” said Jordan Smith, a doctoral candidate in Sport Psychology. “First, they allow you to meet and connect with people from diverse backgrounds that you might never encounter otherwise. Second, for many of us, these experiences would be financially out of reach without grants like this, which provide the support needed to travel without financial stress. Lastly, such opportunities help expand your research horizons and build valuable networks, both of which can significantly boost your career.”

ANNE’S COLLEGE IN AUSTRIA

Smith was one of eight students who traveled to Europe and attended FEPSAC, which took place in beautiful Innsbruck, Austria. Smith said that she had never heard of the city until it became the host city for FEPSAC, but she immediately fell in love upon arrival. “The breathtaking mountains, so picturesque they seemed like they belonged in a painting, left me in awe,” she said.

“Experiencing that natural beauty was something truly unforgettable, and I’m incredibly grateful for it.”

Tyler Greene, a fellow Sport Psychology Ph.D. student, appreciated not just the change in scenery, but the change in perspective traveling abroad provided her. “Any time you interact with people from a different background than your own you are bound to grow your own knowledge,” she said. “I had the opportunity to not only learn about sport psychology from the conference, but I learned about various historical elements of places like Germany and Austria while visiting. I learned about cultural values and was able to witness these values in action, some of which I would not have understood otherwise.”

Greene will also remember FEPSAC as her first time presenting at a large-scale conference. “It was great to see how people were able to take my research and consider applying it to the various settings in which they work around the world,” Greene said. “People asked interesting questions that demonstrated to me that they were engaging with what I was sharing and considering how they can put it to use, so that was really rewarding for me!”

FEPSAC is a highly regarded conference in the world of sport psychology, bringing together some of the best minds in the field. Anne’s College had a great showing, with five students presenting in a symposium and three students presenting research posters. “Having the opportunity to share my work on that stage filled me with pride and boosted my confidence,” said Smith. “It’s a moment that truly reinforces my passion for what I do!”

VAMOS A VALENCIA

The 11 students who traveled to Valencia, Spain, continued their education in human development and family science in a unique setting that complemented their coursework. Students took two required classes, CHD4537 Parenting and FAD4265 Family Diversity, and Dr. Ming Cui who led the program took advantage of the international experience to drive home important lessons in the classes.

“We tried to step outside of the classroom during every class to immerse ourselves in the local community and explore the parks, playgrounds, plazas, and museums.”

Cui and students observed children of various ages from several summer programs at Gulliver Park, famous for its massive play structures depicting the titular character of Gulliver’s Travels. At Plaza de la Reina, Cui and students studied the interactions and differences between local and tourist parents while enjoying the charming heart of old town Valencia.

“The goal of the program is to give students in our major the opportunity of an immersive experience in a different culture while learning how, from an ecological perspective, families rooted in different cultural backgrounds shape their family ties and interactions,” said Cui.

With classes taking place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, many students took the opportunity to see other parts of Spain and Europe. Some students took advantage of the FSU Valencia Center’s organized trips to Barcelona, while others visited cultural capitals like London, Paris, Rome, and Morocco.

The program is only in its third year but continues to grow year after year. Dr. Lenore McWey will lead the program in Summer 2025. ∎

For more information about the program, visit bit.ly/HDFS-Valencia-2025

SCHOLARSHIPS

The following scholarships were awarded by Anne’s College in the fall the 2024-25 academic year. Over the decades, these scholarships have provided critical support, empowering students to pursue their dreams and make lasting contributions to their fields. Each scholarship is listed by the year it was established, highlighting the enduring legacy of generosity that continues to shape the future of our students.

1975

Walter H. Wray Endowed Memorial Scholarship Walter H. Wray, Jr., M.D. and Mrs. Gwendolyn L. Wray

Ravi Bhatt

1976

Ruth Dales Scholarship

Meghan Litchfield

1977

Marion Barclay Endowment Fund

Alexa Curts

1978

Carolyn Xandrina Hudnall Scholarship-Loan Fund

Michaley De Leon Mikayla Heath

1980

Hallie Deaton Choate Scholarship

Venus Skowronski

1982

College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Fund

Amaia Ariail

Lauren Strickland

Herman L. Frick Endowed Scholarship

Ms. Beverly B. Frick

Angela Murphy

Kuras-Taylor Memorial Fund Colonel

Alexander C. Kuras and Mrs. Eileen M. Kuras

Lillie Smith

May Watson Connor Graduate Scholarship in Child Development

Dr. Connor M. Walters

Mikayla Heath

W. Hugh Stickler Memorial Fund Mrs.

Sindy S. Burggraf and Mr. William N. Burggraf

Laura Vaughn

1983

Florence Smith McAllister Endowed Fellowship Fund Mr. Bert Roper

Katherine Spurling

Marisa Luciano

1984

Betty N. Griffith Scholarship

Isabella Dabage De La Espriella Karina Jalapa Sandoval

Carolyn Daffin McAfee Memorial Fund

Alysa Miller

1985

Ara Lee Mashburn Fund

Xinting Wu

Maurice L. Litton Memorial Fund

Mr. Stan Litton

Ravi Bhatt

1987

George Aker Scholarship Fund

Mrs. Mignette S. Aker

Samuel Luby

1988

Marie Geneau Memorial Scholarship/ Loan Fund Mrs. Justine G. Swenson

Erin Swan

Mark DeGraff & Lula Hamilton DeGraff Research Loan Scholarship Fund in Education

Brianna Tucker

Haley Laguador Johnnie Allen Jr

Norejane J. Hendrickson Scholarship Fund Ms. Dorothy Hendrickson and Mr. Donald R. Vodicka

Yunzhi Zheng

Stan Dietrich Endowed Memorial Fund Mr. Mark B. Dietrich, Mr. Fred H. Dietrich

Ivan Rabbath

1989

Anne Marie Erdman Endowed Scholarship Fund in Honor of Betty M. Watts

Rhiannon Crawford

Dr. Tommy K. and Carolyn M. Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund

Mr. Jeffrey C. Johnson

Cameron Davison

Elizabeth Bell Smith Endowed Scholarship

Julia Moffa

Hardee Center for Leadership and Ethics in Higher Education Fund

Dr. Laurey T. Stryker and Mr. Charles A. Stryker, III

Derrick Pacheco

Wayne King Endowed Scholarship

Juan Gao

1991

Elsie Thomas Miller Scholarship Fund

Mr. Chad A. Miller and Ms. Melissa S. Miller, Mr. Derek T. Miller, Mr. Roger W. Miller and Ms. Donna S. Miller, Ms. Ann W. Parramore, Mrs. Jo Shuford-Law

Daniel Smedley

Wilson Sitton Endowed Scholarship

Jackson Harding

Rhiannon Crawford

1992

Dr. Julia B. Schwartz Endowed Scholarship in Early Childhood Art Education Mr. Steven L. Gross

Morgan Wummer

Fay Kirtland Excellence in Education Endowed Fund

Ashley Murphy Elizabeth Paat

Gertrude Kandi Helin Memorial Fund

Ms. Stephanie M. Bascot, Mr. Stevin C. Helin, Mrs. Tracey A. Winkler and Mr. Edward R. Winkler

Thomas Kilbane IV

Mina Duty Cubbon Scholarship Fund

Mr. Mike K. Sheridan

Madison Lawler

1993

Emma and Costa Kittles Scholarship in Health and Human Sciences

Ms. Costina Kittles

Darius Robinson

1994

Herbert J. Reese Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Educational Leadership

Ms. Patricia A. Doody, Mr. Ronald J. Reese and Mrs. Candace L. Reese

Annmarie Rodriguez Douglas Warnock Jr

Mabel Jean Morrison Endowed Scholarship Fund

Mrs. Debbie J. Lane and Mr. Michael S. Lane

Hayleigh Fairbanks

Willie Le Hall Johnson Endowed Scholarship in Education

Brianna Sosa Meagan Jefferson

1995

Alyce B. Bobkin Scholarship

Dr. Randolph T. Barker and Dr. Sandra B. Barker

Serena Bujtor

Career Advisor Alumni Scholarship

Jillian Schiller

Dr. Milton O. Jones Scholarship

Milton O. Jones, Ph.D. and Mrs. Alice Jones

Katelyn Slosson

Fearless Five — Class of 1944 Scholarship

Alyssa VanLinder

Elizabeth Kyhos Laura Swinyer

Gary W. Peterson Endowed Fund

Dr. Gary W. Peterson and Ms. Carolyn B. Peterson, Dr. Michael Shahnasarian and Mrs. Jean M. Shahnasarian

Carlin Weinberg Qiong Li

1996

Donna Carilia Hedrick Endowed Scholarship Fund

Mr. Ted T. Hedrick and Mrs. Lori A. Hedrick

Riley Webber

Genevieve W. Thomas Scholarship

Saurym Quezada

Herb and Josie Rand Endowed Scholarship Fund

Ms. Catherine Chisholm Walker

Daniel Chiarodit Jake Bucher

James Walters Graduate Fellowship

Dr. Connor M. Walters, Dr. Lynda Walters

Trinity Johnston

Margaret K. & Fred S. Lewis Endowed Scholarship in Special Education

Ms. Diane L. Johnson and Mr. Gerald J. Johnson

Danielle Morsching

Ellah Alamo James Bonbrest

Kendall Jacobs

Patrick Alex Brahaney Endowed Scholarship

Voranica Joseph

1997

Curtis Edward Spencer Endowed Scholarship Fund Mrs. Anne S. Daves

Ashlyn Dominey

Delia Cuevas Elizabeth Paat

Dorothy Sue Holland Endowed Scholarship Fund

Catherine Young

Ellen H. LeDuc Endowed Scholarship Fund Ms. Ellen H. LeDuc

Ian Haas

Maggie Lassiter Natasha Bishop Tyla Adams

Joan and Ted Ziel Endowed Scholarship Fund Dr. Joan W. Ziel

Samuel Luby

Lisa Barkin Gootman Endowed Scholarship Fund Mr. Donald B. Barkin and Mrs. Carol S. Barkin, Dr. Craig Gootman

Leah Rodgers Sarah James

Nancy Ruth Fountain Morrow Endowed Scholarship Fund

Ms. Ruth J. Fountain, Mr. William R. Morrow, Jr. and Mrs. Jill E. Morrow

Elizabeth Connor

1998

Bruce Ernest Haddad and Dorothy Summers Haddad Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund

Mrs. Elaine M. Blanchard

Naya Cortelyou Tommy McCall III

Dennis and Kathy Newman Endowed Scholarship Mr. Dennis K. Newman and Mrs. Kathy R. Newman

Alondra Miranda-Tirado

Gideon and Martha Jones Endowed Fund for the Program for Visual Impairments in Special Education

Mrs. Martha J. Jones

Kaleigh Wilson

Gilbert R. Stone Endowed Scholarship Fund

Ronald F. Stone, Ph.D. and Mrs. Marcia T. Stone

Madeline Gomes

Hellen Caro Endowed Scholarship Fund Mr. Willard Caro

Laurel Kate Voeltz

Hortense M. Glenn Scholarship Fund

Ms. Karen Glenn

Julia Moffa

Rosalie and John Bowen and Kathleen Bowen Tesch Endowed Scholarship Fund Mr. John W. Bowen, Sr.,

Mrs. Kathleen L. Tesch and Mr. John D. Tesch

Carson Kaiser

Sharon Gray Van Dusseldorp Endowed Scholarship Mr. Larry Van Dusseldorp, Sr.

Xiaofan Xu

1999

Eleanore and Frank Kaney Endowed Scholarship The Honorable Frank N. Kaney and Mrs. Eleanore I. Kaney

Anais Clark

Janet Wells and Billie Jones Endowed Award Fund in Pedagogy

Jenna Clifton

Michaela Decker

Susan Henson

Lavina Laybold Endowed Scholarship Fund

Frank E. Dorsey, CPA and Jodee A. Dorsey, Ph.D.

Avery Tangen

Leon Watts Endowed Scholarship Fund

Ms. Karen Watts McCoy, Ms. Elizabeth Watts

Bromery, Ms. Jean J. Watts Brown

Johnnie Allen Jr

R. Palmer & Savannah S. Day Endowed Scholarship Dr. Savannah S. Day

Dylann Lowery

2000

Angel Dell Colborn Scholarship Fund

Mr. Russ L. Colborn

Marielle Newmark

Barbara Trawick Moreman Endowed Scholarship Fund

Mrs. Rebecca Goldberg, Mr. W. Andrew Trawick and Mrs. Maria Y. Trawick, Mr. Steve Moreman

Johnna Bowden

Broward County/Florida State College for Women Endowed Scholarship

Ms. Mary L. Perfect

Alisha Francois

Dr. T. Grant Brown Endowed Fund

Dr. Dawn L. Brown

Hao Lin

Xiaoyue Cui

Florida State University School Boosters Endowed Fund

Katie Pelham

Jean Garvin Howenstine Endowment

Mr. Walter L. Garvin

Jhessicka Hilaire

John and Clara McDonald Endowed Scholarship Fund

Adjua McNeil

Dillon Riera

FNU Rameez Raja

Natalie Shakir

Qiong Li

Sarah Trupiano

Sean Burke

Xinyu Liu

Kathryn & David Platt Endowed Scholarship

Miseong Kim

Louise & Hugh Hinely Endowed Scholarship Fund

Mrs. Louisa H. Martin and Mr. W. Peter Martin

Catherine Metcalfe

Nancy Duran Thomas Scholarship in Early Childhood Special Education

Mr. Peter D. Thomas and Mrs. Sharyn D. Thomas, Mr. Tod Thomas and Mrs. Frances P. Thomas

Alexis Leftwich

Natholyn Harris Endowed Scholarship Fund Dr. Natholyn D. Harris

Josefina Ariet

Staunton Military Academy — John Deal Education Scholarship

Mr. Hunter W. Henry and Mrs. Elaine V. Henry

Rachel Casanueva

Sylvia Sparkis Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund

Mr. Romas Sparkis and Mrs. Gabrielle Sparkis

Naomi DeCarvalho

2001

Cornelia Davis Hamlin Endowed Fund

Mr. Richard N. Hamlin and Ms. Anne T. Hamlin

Jaleah Knox

Donna Lou Askew Scholarship Fund

Mrs. Donna Lou Askew

Kali Kamiya

Frances Newton Hall & Evelyn Wichelns Jerger Scholarship Fund

Mr. Dean W. Jerger and Mrs. Andrea H. Jerger

Gabriella Jacobs Naya Cortelyou

Mary Hicks Endowed Scholarship Fund

Ms. Lorna C. Hicks

Frances MacVicar

2002

Melvin & Helen Pope Elementary Education Scholarship

Mrs. Mary Helen Daniel, Mr. Melvin L. Pope, Jr. and Mrs. Katharine J. Pope, Mr. Robert W. Pope

Brianna Tucker

Elizabeth Sharp

Erin Swan Hayleigh Fairbanks

Kali Kamiya

Morgan White

Phoenix Fund for Professional Development in Public Schools

Ms. Cynthia J. Schumacher, Ms. Nina J. Shuman

Haley Edgecomb

Lauren Amparo

Leah Rodgers

Maggie Lassiter

Thomas Wesley Byrun Endowed Scholarship

Alexander Knowlton

Caitlin Murphy

Freddy Juarez

Jacqueline Hare

2003

2005

Maliyah Henry McKay Bloxham

Nicole Nicolas

Maria Solares

Molly Buchanan

Dr. Fanchon Felice Funk Endowed Scholarship Dr. Fanchon F. Funk

Emily Donner

Dr. Helen Cate Memorial Scholarship Fund Ms. Dianne S. Dempsey

Justin Caldwell Nafisa Sadaf

Dr. John Scott Dailey Endowed Scholarship The Honorable John E. Dailey and Virginia E. Dailey, Esq., Mrs. Sarah Ann Dailey

Margaret Fraser

Etta Joel Scholarship

Mr. Richard R. Joel and Mrs. Elaine P. Joel

Lauren Chen

Phyllis L. Richards Endowed Graduate Scholarship in Child Development

Ruth Rodriguez

2004

Barnes Family Scholarship for Teachers of the Visually Impaired

Mrs. Diana L. Barnes

Kris Wang

Endowment for Excellence Fellowships & Scholarships Fund

Mr. William G. Smith, Jr. and Mrs. Paula P. Smith

Alayne Thompson

Aravind Kumar Bingi

Raveen Rani

Wayne Ayers-Creech

Jean A. Reutlinger & Lillian H. Munn Scholarship

Mr. Craig Reutlinger and Mrs. Paula M. Reutlinger

Nafisa Sadaf

Nethraja Kandula

Sadio Fenner

Dr. John H. Bolden Memorial Scholarship

Alexis Leftwich

Dr. Richard C. Kunkel & Dr. Dawn M. Ossont Scholarship Fund Dr. Richard C. Kunkel and Dr. Dawn M. Ossont Kunkel

Clarissa York

Fund for Excellence in Family Education Mrs. Jean B. Hughes

Meghan Litchfield

Kathryn Graham Crayton Memorial Scholarship Mr. Gary L. Crayton

Tayler Barrett

Kelly Foundation Scholarship at FSU

Emil Asanov

Lois & Thomas Edwards Scholarship for Special Education

Mr. Isaiah Edwards and Mrs. Dorothy S. Edwards, Mr. Marlon Edwards

Saurym Quezada

Pao-Sen Chi Memorial Scholarship Endowment

Min-Hwa Chi, Ph.D. and Mrs. Mangsun S. Huang, Yun-Hwa P. Hsieh, Ph.D. and Mr. Yuch P. Hsieh

Carly Thomason

Deakon Schuette

2006

Saurabh Kadyan

Timothy Griest

Dr. Karen Lee Singh Latin Club Leadership Awards Endowment

Dr. Bawa S. Singh and Dr. Karen L. Singh, Mr. Kevin Singh

Carter Nelson

Drs. Owen F. and Constance B. Gaede

Endowment for Science Education

Excellence Dr. Constance B. Gaede

Sukanya Chakraborty

Mary Groover Huey and Anna Groover Carr Endowed Scholarship

Ciara Woodall

Murphy Prue

Myrtis Langston Watts Endowed Scholarship Fund

Charles E. Garris P.A. Attorney at Law

Chufeng Bai

Damilare Ajayi

Dhwanil Shah

Felipe De Almeida Verneque Sr

Marcelo De Oliveira Loureiro

Ria-Skylar Brooks

Seyoon Oh

Shuangxiong Wu

Xuzihan Mao

Yarui Chen

Robert C. Reardon Scholarship

Dr. Robert C. Reardon and Dr. Janet G. Lenz

Danielle Smallwood

Mosimileoluwa Adegbesan

Visual Disabilities Fund

Dawlyn Dieudonne

William J. and Jane G. Montford Excellence in Academics Scholarship

Senator William J. Montford, III and Mrs. Jane G. Montford

India Woods

Kyra Freeman

2007

2008

Janet Roh Hirsch Scholarship Fund

Mrs. Kimberly A. Brown and Mr. Jess R. Brown, Mr. Jeffrey T. Hirsch and Mrs. Kimberly A. Hirsch, Mr. Thomas B. Hirsch and Ms. Sandra Hirsch

Chassidy Parker

2009

Amy Guerette and Sandra Lewis Fund for Students in the Visual Disabilities

Program Ms. Darlene Christina Almeda, Ms.

Barbara Ponder

Ashley Grguric

Anne Spencer Daves Fellowships Fund in the College of Education

Mrs. Anne S. Daves

Bamidele Ajayi

Cigdem Cokay

Riccardo Purita

Florida Council for Social Studies Fund for Excellence in Social Studies Education

Florida Council For The Social Studies, Inc.

Jordan Jackson-Cates

Mya Lwanga Travis Cain

James Robert Barger and Carolyn

Anne Roof Barger Endowed Scholarship Fund Mrs. Carolyn A. Barger

Rusty Lotfi

Jim Giroux Scholarship in Sport Management Ms. Nancy M. Giroux

Robert Hendricks

Margaret Spearman Parkman Endowed Scholarship Fund

Ms. Paula Mims

Chassidy Parker

Daniele Shick

Jillian Schiller

Kayla Lewis

Laura Brimer Nikki King

Sharon Rose Sloan

Trinity Johnston

Virginia Barrett

Jessica Smith

Ben Whitfield Scholarship Fund

Ms. Adell K. Whitfield

Britain Riley

2010

Tornillo Family Scholarship Fund

Ms. Donna M. Tornillo

Bright Bakiweyem

Patrick Sonde

Peter Idowu Shallamar GoodwinRichards Zhen Zhang

Wood-Parramore Scholarship Fund

Ms. Ann W. Parramore

Meghan Litchfield

2011

Dr. Ava D. Rodgers Endowed Scholarship

Asia Dukes

Harold F. Cottingham Memorial Fund

Peter J. Scanlon, Ph.D. and Mrs. Lois A. Scanlon

Mosimileoluwa Adegbesan

Mary Gwen Smith Endowment Fund

Delia Cuevas Gabriella Jacobs

Robert E. Lee Scholarship Endowment

Dr. Robert E. Lee and Michelle M. Lee, Ph.D.

Qinglan Feng

Robert L. Patrick Scholarship Endowment Ms. LaVerne J. Schultz

Cason Faris Jackson Riesen

2012

A. L. Dua Endowed Scholarship in Instructional Systems

Mr. Sanjay K. Dua and Mrs. Uma S. Dua

Jaesung Hur

Brita Darling Endowed Fund for Teacher Education Mrs. Jennifer B. Driscoll

Emily Martin-Willott

Dr. Emily Haymes Graduate Student Scholarship Endowment

Emily M. Haymes, Ph.D.

Avery Tangen

James P. Sampson, Jr. and Sandra M. Sampson Endowment

Dr. James P. Sampson, Jr.

Diane-Claire Villarreal

Joel Ross Driver Memorial Scholarship

Mr. Paul E. Driver and Mrs. Judy Driver

Asia Henry

Joyce B. and Bob L. Miles Scholarship

Mrs. Joyce B. Miles and Mr. Bob L. Miles

Ava Cockey

2013

Carrie G. Hall Endowed Fund

Cheryl D. Lovell, Ph.D.

Laura Vaughn

D. E. Gordon Endowed Scholarship in Instructional Systems

Doretta E. Gordon, Ph.D.

Chaewon Kim

Emory and Dorothy Johnson Endowed Scholarship

Mr. J. Emory Johnson and Mrs. Dorothy J. Johnson

Carson Outler

NMSI UTeach Endowment Fund

National Math and Science Initiative

Sarah Ware

2014

Beth Bates Bass and John Davis Bates Fund Mr. John E. Bates

Abigail Koprowski

Amelia Brangaccio

Cristina Murdock

Mitchell Reeves

Billie J. Collier Graduate Scholarship

Professor John R. Collier and Billie J. Collier, Ph.D.

Frances MacVicar

College of Health and Human Sciences Preeminence Endowment

Health and Human Sciences — Dean’s Advisory Council

Alisha Townsend

Dr. Helen Clark Brittin Endowed Scholarship

Helen C. Brittin, Ph.D. and Mr. Anthony N. Brittin

Colleen Brennan

Lane Fund for Excellence in Health and Human Sciences Dr. Betty Lane

Audrey Brenner

2015

College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Scholarship Fund

Alexis LaChance

Alexis Leftwich

Joseph Musselman Jr

Katelyn Slosson

Peter Idowu

Stephen Weisman

Van Bryant Yinan Li

Dr. Janet G. Lenz Endowed Scholarship Fund

Dr. Robert C. Reardon and Dr. Janet G. Lenz

Riley Heffernan

Dr. Kay Pasley Endowment for Excellence Mr. Lilbourne I. Mills, III

Cho Rong Lee

Dr. Linda J. Smith Endowed Scholarship for Lifelong Learning

Linda J. Smith, Ph.D.

Asha Harp Karine Zohoun

Norma Ronan Chafin Endowed Scholarship Mr. Robert W. Sheets, Jr. and Ms.

Margaret M. Behr

Sarah Fitzpatrick

Susan Key Award

Victoria Langone

Tom and Evelyn Smith Vlasak Endowed Education Scholarship

Mr. Tom S. Vlasak and Mrs. Evelyn S. Vlasak

Cali Dyal

2016

Christopher E. Iansiti College of Education Outstanding Leader in Instructional Systems Endowed Scholarship Fund Mr. Christopher E. Iansiti

Bianca Sanguinetti

Dr. Imogene M. Mixson Endowed Scholarship Imogene M. Mixson, Ph.D.

Emma Vaughn

Ellis and Dorothy York Endowed Scholarship Fund

George F. Cohen, M.D. and Mrs. Inez E. Cohen

Ricarma Jean Baptiste

Hazel Royall Stephens O’Connor Dillmeier Endowed Fellowship in Sport Psychology

Angela Heinisch Tyler Greene

Irene Gerlack Scholarship/Fellowship Endowment Ms. Alyssa I. Gerlack

Blake Bridges

2017

Dr. Andrew P. Daire Endowed Dissertation Fellowship

Mrs. Darnetta S. Daire and Dr. Andrew P. Daire

Joycelyn Albury

Sabrina Quiroga

Jim & Jewel Scearce Endowed Scholarship

Mrs. Tazumi O. Scearce and Mr. Scott Scearce

Elizabeth Greiner

Pamela Cobb Green Endowed Scholarship

Ms. Sally B. Rhoden, Mrs. Pamela C. Green

Ciara Woodall

2018

Berniece Kirkland Grindle Endowed Scholarship Mr. Robert S. Grindle, Jr.

Alexandra NegrinPerea

Carlin Weinberg

Charlotte Edds

Justina Harsche

Sabina Lee

Serena Bujtor

Vanessa Clarke

Hardee Center George Young Fellowship in Higher Education

Laura Vaughn

Mary Harmony Harden Shewmake Scholarship Endowment

Chelsea Brown

Prudence Ronan Mabry Endowed Scholarship in Special Education

Mr. Charles E. Mabry

Naomi DeCarvalho

Susan and Marie Hipps Endowed Scholarship Mr. Jack M. Hipps

Madeleine Marion

2019

Dr. Imogene M. Mixson Endowed Scholarship in Educational Leadership

Imogene M. Mixson, Ph.D.

Kathryn Schell

Dr. Shridhar Sathe Graduate Scholarship and Research Fund

Ms. Sandhya S. Sathe

Nethraja Kandula

Scholarships

Hailey Marie Mullen Endowed Memorial Scholarship

Mr. Brian J. Mullen

Dawlyn Dieudonne

John E. and Mary L. Champion Human Sciences Endowed Undergraduate Honors Scholarship Award Fund

Mr. John E. Champion, Jr. and Mrs. Jane S. Champion, Ms. Sally C. Blackburn

Meredith Grimm

Rogaski Visual Disabilities Education

Endowment Mr. Stanley J. Rogaski and Ms. Margaret M. Rogaski

Ethelina Nissley Kymberli Alexander

Skepple Family Endowed Scholarship

Dr. Rose A. Skepple and Mr. St Claire D. Skepple

Alisha Francois

Su Wei So Scholarship Mr. Samuel S. So

Cho Rong Lee

Sue Nelson and Trish England

Endowed Fellowship Ms. Suzanne C. Nelson and Ms. Patricia L. England

Erika Chew

Trish England and Sue Nelson

Endowed Scholarship Ms. Suzanne C. Nelson and Ms. Patricia L. England

Lauren LeBlanc

2020

Delores “Dee” Shepherd Endowed Scholarship Mary Beth Seay, M.D.

Olivia Mason

Roger Kaufman Endowment for Excellence Mrs. Janice E. Kaufman

Hilal Ayan Karabatman

2021

Anthony S. Bray Memorial Endowed Scholarship Mr. Richard L. Wheeler and Mrs. Bonnie B. Wheeler

Cristina Kopels

Charles Haworth Awards for Student Veterans in Education Professor Charles T. Haworth and Mrs. Sylvia E. Haworth

Alexander Green Douglas Warnock Jr

Dr. Robert Lee “Bob” Vogt Math Scholarship Mr. Daniel T. Vogt

Azar Kamaldar

Dr. Toni Jo Mason Endowment for Excellence

Toni Jo Mason Private Foundation, Inc.

Dawlyn Dieudonne Erik Lopez Perez

Jason Evans Sports Medicine Scholarship Fund Mr. Rodney C. Evans and Mrs. Katherine K. Evans, Dr. Boyd R. Strain

Jason Reimer

Natalie Krebs

Jeffery Aguilar Endowed Internship in Special Education Ms. Margaret E. Pawlowski

Lillian Adelfio

Joey “Joey D” DiPascale Endowed Memorial Scholarship

The Joey D Foundation

Michael Moriarty

Shellie-Ann Marie Braswell Memorial Scholarship Mr. Allie L. Braswell, Jr.

Jacob Perez

2022

Dr. Jeong-Su Kim Graduate Scholarship and Research Fund Ms. Ji-Young Kim

Mostafa Sabouri Saiful Anuar Bin Singar

Terrence & Loyal S. Leas Endowed Scholarship in Higher Education

Terrence Leas, Ph.D. and Mrs. Loyal S. Leas

Bhushan Dahal Johnnie Allen Jr

Walter F. Hayes Family Endowment

Dr. Kevin M. Hayes and Mrs. Ashley W. Hayes

Zachary Cooper

2023

Fletcher Family Endowed Scholarship

Ann B. MCracken, M.D.

Rebecca Steidle

M. Jean Keller Endowed Scholarship

M. Jean Keller, Ph.D.

Bolumani Sondah

Ulshat Mussayeva Venus Skowronski

Robert K. Branson Endowed Internship in Instructional System Ms. Margaret D. Van Every, Ms. Malinda J. Branson

Jean Baptiste Mbanzabugabo

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FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

The following achievements underscore our faculty’s commitment to advancing knowledge and contributing to the broader academic and professional community. We’re proud to share how their wide-reaching impacts are felt on a global level and continue to broaden the impact of Anne’s College.

Dr. Motoko Akiba , professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, was selected as the editor-in-chief of the American Educational Research Journal (AERJ).

Dr. Damon Andrew , dean of Anne’s College, received the 2024 Garth Paton Distinguished Service Award from the North American Society for Sport Management. The award is among the most prestigious given by the leading sport management organization.

Dr. Timothy Baghurst , professor of Athletic Coaching and director of FSU COACH, was a co-recipient of the 2024 NAKHE (National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education) Engaged Scholar Program Award. As part of the program, Baghurst will be serving as a mentor to Dr. Simon Quick, a lecturer at the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences at the University of Essex in England.

Dr. Cameron Beatty, associate professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, was selected as a 2024-25 fellow of the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement.

Dr. Eileen Bischof , associate clinical professor in the School of Teacher Education, received a $545,592 grant from the Florida Department of Education for her project titled “Critical Initiatives in Visual Impairments (CIVI).”

Dr. Megan Buning , Athletic Coaching teaching faculty member, provided mental skills training to the Major League Baseball Elite Development teams in Vero

Beach, Florida, in summer 2024. The Elite Development Invitational is a multi-day, 18-under training camp that features intense on-field softball development and gameplay and various off-field development sessions covering college recruiting, mental health, and women in sports.

Dr. Sonia Cabell , associate professor in the School of Teacher Education, published a book titled “Strive-for-five Conversations: A Framework that Gets Kids Talking to Accelerate Their Language Comprehension and Literacy.” She also co-authored “Using strive-for-five Conversations to Strengthen Language Comprehension in Preschool Through Grade One,” published in The Reading Teacher

Dr. Vanessa Dennen , professor of Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies, was honored as one of two 2024 Fellows by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). Dennen also received a book award from the AECT Division of Distance Learning for her co-edited volume, “Global Perspectives on Education Innovations for Emergency Situations,” and collaborated with graduate students and alumni on numerous publications.

Dr. Kani Diop-Lo , assistant teaching professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science, authored the postface of a book, the 2024 edition of “La Parole aux Negresses” translated into English as “Speak Out, Black sisters: Black Women and Oppression in Black Africa.”

Dr. James Du, associate professor in the Department of Sport Management, was named a North American Society for Sport Management Research Fellow. Du also received an Outstanding Reviewer Award from the International Journal of Sport Management for providing outstanding constructive, collegial, and timely reviews that helped maintain the journal’s high standards.

Dr. Frank Fincham, eminent scholar of Human Development and Family Science, was honored as a Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS, with his scholarly contributions placing him in the top 0.05% of all scholars worldwide and in the top five overall for the Human Development and Family Studies area. He and postdoctoral researcher Heather Maranges co-authored “Psychological Perspectives on Divine Forgiveness: Seeking Divine Forgiveness” and “Psychological Perspectives on Divine Forgiveness: 3. Trait Self-Control is Associated with Well-Being Through Seeking Diving Forgiveness,” each published in Frontiers in Psychology

Dr. Veronica Fleury , associate professor of Special Education, accepted a fiveyear term as a principal member of the Institute of Education Sciences’ (IES) Early Intervention and Early Childhood Education Research Peer Review Panel.

Dr. Erica Harbatkin , assistant professor of Education Policy and Evaluation, received the 2024 American Educational Research Association Innovative School Transformation and Reform Emerging Scholar Award.

Dr. Robert Hickner , Linda Grizzard Owens Professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, received a $271,607 grant from Louisiana State University and the National Institutes of Health for his project titled, “Effects of Daily Low Oxygen Exposure on Weight Status, Body Composition, and Metabolic Health.” His co-principal investigators include FSU College of Arts and Sciences, Medicine, and Law faculty.

Dr. Timothy Kellison, associate professor in the Department of Sport Management, edited a book titled “Sport Stadiums and Environmental Justice,” which was named by Routledge as one of its 12 must-read open access books.

Dr. Yeo-eun Kim , assistant professor of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, was invited to serve on the editorial board for two journals: the Journal of Educational Psychology, and the Journal of Experimental Education. She also authored “Situating Cost Perceptions: How General Cost and Motivational Regulation Predict Specific Momentary Cost Dimensions,” published in Educational Psychology. Additionally, Kim was the lead author of “An Interdisciplinary Review of Self-Regulation of Learning: Bridging Cognitive and Educational Psychology Perspectives,” published in Educational Psychology Review, in addition to numerous other publications.

Dr. Kadir Kozan, assistant professor of Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies, led a team of students including Chaewon Kim, Veronica Brewer, Alex Barrett, and Jaesung Hur, to a third-place finish at the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction’s (IBSTPI) inaugural competition for instructor resources.

Dr. Huan “Hailey” Kuang , assistant professor of Measurement and Statistics, received a $150,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support her project titled “Developing an AI4Food (Artificial Intelligence for Food Science) Research and Education Initiative.” The overall research goal is to develop an AI-enabled portable sensor to rapidly detect antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) in food supply chains.

Dr. Matthew Lenard, assistant professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and a team from the RAND Corpora-

tion received $67,199 from Blueprint Labs for their project titled “Non-cognitive and Long-term Effects of KIPP Charter Schools.” Researchers will partner with KIPP Atlanta to conduct a pilot study that evaluates long-term and behavioral student outcomes, including college enrollment and labor market outcomes.

Dr. Lenore McWey, professor of Marriage and Family Therapy, received a $154,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health - Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development for her project titled “Parents’ Safety Nets, Child Protective Services Involvement, and Child Outcomes.” This research project investigates the relationships between parents’ safety nets, involvement with Child Protective Services, and subsequent child outcomes.

Dr. McWey and Dr. Melissa Radey from the FSU College of Social Work received $320,710 from the Florida Institute for Child Welfare for their project “Understanding Safety Nets & Service Use Among Child Welfare System (CWS)-Involved Caregivers to Improve Service Provision: A Mixed Methods Examination.”

Dr. Ravinder Nagpal, assistant professor of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, received a $216,000 grant from The Peanut Institute Foundation for his project titled “Effect of Peanut Butter on Gut and Metabolic Health in School-Aged Children.” This study aims to investigate the impact of peanut butter consumption on the gut microbiome and metabolic health markers in school-aged children.

Dr. Nagpal also received a $95,044 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to explore how lentil and chickpea intake in healthy young adults modulates gut microbiome and metabolome function, leading to improved gut epithelial barrier function (permeability/ leakiness) and inflammation, reduced markers of cardiometabolic health, while improving gut transit time and reducing gastrointestinal symptoms.

The National Watermelon Promotion Board awarded Nagpal $73,645 for a project titled “Effect of Daily Fresh Watermelon Consumption on Gut and Cardiometabolic Health in Young Adults with Overweight and Obesity.”

Faculty Achievements

Dr. Michael Ormsbee, director of the Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine, and doctoral graduate Liliana Renteria-Laskin received a $15,000 grant from the National Strength and Conditioning Association for their project titled “Firefighter Thermoregulatory Responses in Active Fire with Betaine Supplementation.” Additionally, Ormsbee, master’s alumnus Kieran Paterson, and Elisa Angeles from FSU Athletics were awarded a $93,864 grant from Dairy Management Inc. for their project “The Effect of Pre-sleep Milk-derived Protein to Support Sleep Quality and Recovery in Elite Female Athletes.” The project aims to measure how pre-sleep, milk-derived protein consumption will influence sleep quality and recovery scores.

Ormsbee also co-authored “Cold Ambient Temperature Does Not Alter Subcutaneous Abdominal Adipose Tissue Lipolysis and Blood Flow in Endurance-Trained Cyclists” published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. HNFS alumni Patrick Saracino, Daniel Baur, and Brandon Willingham contributed. Additionally, Ormsbee co-authored “International society of sports nutrition position stand: ketogenic diets,” published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

Dr. Debra Osborne, professor and co-director of Psychological and Counseling Services, received the Presidential Award at the National Career Development Association (NCDA) annual conference.

Dr. Lara Perez-Felkner , professor in the Higher Education program, received a National Science Foundation grant to boost FSU initiatives to retain, recruit and develop talented STEM faculty. She also co-authored a groundbreaking new book, “Latin* Students in Engineering: An Intentional Focus on a Growing Population”, which explores the experiences and challenges of Latin* students in engineering. Ciera Fluker, a 2023 higher education Ph.D. alumna from FSU, and Sarah Rodriguez, associate professor of engineering education at Virginia Tech, are co-editors.

Perez-Felkner also co-authored “Computing Education Interventions to Increase Gender Equity from 2000 to 2020: A systematic Literature Review,” published in Review of Educational Research. The study offers a comprehensive analysis of strat-

egies aimed at promoting gender equity in computing education. The research team meticulously reviewed 168 studies, identifying 48 that met rigorous inclusion criteria.

Dr. David Pifer , assistant professor of Sport Management, received a $97,121 grant from a University of Florida subaward from the National Science Foundation to support his project titled “Is Unrealistic Optimism Good or Bad? Two Naturalistic Studies.” This longitudinal project will quantify unrealistic absolute optimism (UAO) in minor league baseball players and college applicants by comparing self-reported probabilities of future career success (e.g., making it to the Majors or being admitted to a top university) to the probabilities generated by machine learning algorithms trained on historical data.

Additionally, Pifer and his team received a grant from the Center for Research in Intercollegiate Athletics and the Atlantic Coast Conference for their project “An Analysis of Transfer Portal Movements and Their Effects on the Athletic Performances of ACC Revenue Sports and Student-Athletes.”

Dr. Qinchun Rao , professor of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, was awarded a three-year, $226,005 grant from Florida A&M University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a project titled “Food Safety and Quality Lab at the Florida State University.” Rao also received a $73,645 grant from the Almond Board of California to identify the potential allergenic protein(s) in almond hulls and assess the allergenicity risk of almond hulls as a novel food ingredient. Additionally, Rao received the Laboratorian of the Year Award from the Florida Association of Food Protection and was appointed President of the Chinese American Food Society for the 2024-25 term.

Dr. Jenny Root, associate professor of Special Education, was invited to join the editorial board of Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities as associate editor. Root, a team of FSU alumni, and doctoral candidate Deidre Gilley co-authored a publication titled “Peer-Delivered Modified Schema-based Instruction in Word Problem Solving for High-School Students with Intellectual

Disability” published in Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities Root also co-authored an article titled “Research should focus on improving mathematics proficiency for students with disabilities,” published in the Journal of Special Education

Dr. Prashant Singh, associate professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, received a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop novel digital PCR assay for the beef industry to measure the amount of salmonella contamination in samples. Singh was also awarded a $142,552 grant from Florida Sea Grant’s 2024-2025 Biennial Applied Science Competition for his project titled “PCR lateral flow assays for the rapid onsite authentication of economically impactful seafood species.”

Dr. Christopher Small of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies published a book chapter entitled “Creating Mirrors of Reflection and Doorways of Opportunity: Engaging and Supporting Elementary Black Males in Language Arts” in “Black Males in Secondary and Postsecondary Education.”

Dr. Christopher Solís, assistant professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, was awarded a $747,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health for his project titled “Post-translational mechanisms of cardiac adaptation during unloading.” Solís also earned the Caroline Palavicino-Maggio Early Career Award at the Second Brazilian Scientific Journey on Mitochondrial Deregulation. This recognition highlights his dedication and innovation in cardiac muscle adaptation to mechanical stress, paving the way for breakthroughs in understanding the link between intracellular changes and physical performance.

Solís was also selected for a year-long NIH grant writing training program. The program, Future Faculty of Cardiovascular Sciences (FOCUS), is hosted by the University of California at San Diego.

Dr. Bret Staudt Willet, assistant professor of Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies, and ISLT graduate students co-authored “The Design and Effects of Educational Data Science Workshops for

Early Career Researchers,” published in the Journal of Formative Design in Learning He also co-authored “Initial Discussions of ChatGPT in Education-Related Subreddits,” published in the Journal of Research on Technology in Education

Staudt Willet and ISLT doctoral graduate Dan He co-authored “Educators’ Invisible Labour: A Systematic Review,” published in Review of Education

Dr. Joseph Watso , assistant professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, and his team in the Cardiovascular and Applied Physiology Laboratory had their article “Acute Nasal Breathing Lowers Diastolic Blood Pressure and Increases Parasympathetic Contributions to Heart Rate Variability in Young Adults” selected for APSselect, a monthly collection from the American Physiological Society that showcases some of the best recently published articles in physiological research.

Watso also received a $15,400 subaward for a collaboration with the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory on a project titled, “Hyperbaria and Muscle Sympathetic Outflow.” He had a wealth of articles published in journals including Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, JCEM Case Reports, JAMA, Cell Physiology, the American Journal of Physiology – Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Journal of the American Heart Association, and others.

Dr. Annie Wofford, assistant professor of Higher Education, co-authored “Do I Even Belong? Internships as Gendered Career Socialization Experiences in Engineering,” published in the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Wofford was also named Associate Director for the Equity in Graduate Education (EGE) Consortium, a national research-practice partnership and learning community that cultivates sustainable models for equitable change in graduate-level admissions, mentoring, and selection systems.

Dr. Qiong (Joanna) Wu, associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science, authored “The Degree of Fluctuations Maternal Depressive Symptoms in Early Childhood is Associated with Children’s Depression Risk: Initial Evidence and Replication Between Two Independent Samples,” published in Research on Child and Adolescent Psycho-

pathology and “Fluctuations in maternal depressive symptoms, anxiety, and anger and children’s depression risk in middle childhood” published in Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology.

Dr. Svenja Wolf, assistant professor of Sport Psychology, co-authored a publication titled “Everything is Cool when You’re Part of a Team? The Effects of outcome interdependence on Appraisal, emotions, and Performance under Pressure,” published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise

Dr. Yanyun Yang, professor of Measurement and Statistics, received a $129,658 grant from the Florida Department of Education to support graduate interns at Florida State University.

Dr. Qian (Jackie) Zhang , associate professor of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, received the American Psychological Association Division 5’s Anne Anastasi Distinguished Early Career Contributions Award.

GROUP PROJECTS, AWARDS, AND RECOGNITION

Dr. Timothy Baghurst and Dr. Megan Buning of FSU COACH hosted a coaching clinic at the University of West Florida. Buning spoke on leveraging mindfulness to improve performance, while Baghurst spoke on how to make athletes, coaches, and sports administrators more creative.

Dr. Sonia Cabell, associate professor in the School of Teacher Education, Dr. Beth Phillips, professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning systems, doctoral students Rhonda Raines and Brielle Babcock, and research faculty Stephanie Brown from the Florica Center for Reading Research were awarded a $59,358 grant from Great Minds for their project “Teacher Report of Implementation of Wit and Wisdom in Kindergarten Classrooms.” The project aims to better understand how kindergarten teachers implement a widely-used content-rich literacy curriculum.

Dr. Leqi Cui, Dr. Ravinder Nagpal, and Dr. Prashant Singh from the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences,

received a two-year $147,900 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for their project titled “Impact of Structural Modification Techniques on Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Protein’s Ability to Modulate Human Gut Microbiota.”

Dr. Veronica Fleury, associate professor of Special Education, and Dr. Beth Phillips, professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, and colleagues from other universities received a nearly $2 million grant from the Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Special Education Research for their project, titled “Enhancing Early Literacy for Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” This four-year project aims to develop and evaluate a caregiver-delivered adaptive shared reading intervention to enhance early literacy for preschool children with autism spectrum disorder.

Dr. Amal Ibourk, Dr. Shengli Dong, Dr. Yanyun Yang, and Dr. Stephanie Zuilkowski were selected as associate editors for the 21-member editorial team of the American Educational Research Journal (AERJ).

Dr. Justin La Favor, Dr. Anand “Sunny” Narayanan, and Dr. Michael Delp of the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences co-authored an article published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology journal. Outlets like The Guardian, Newsweek, and the BBC have picked up the team’s research, which assessed the impact of galactic radiation and weightlessness on male sexual health. They found that galactic cosmic rays and microgravity can impair the function of erectile tissues, with effects potentially lasting for decades.

Dr. Michael Ormsbee, Dr. Joseph Watso, Dr. Kyle Smith, and doctoral student Brett Cross from HNFS were awarded a grant of $77,588 from Compound Solutions for their project titled “Tributyrin Supplementation: Time Course and Efficacy to Improve Health and Performance.”

Dr. Jenny Root and Dr. Addie McConomy co-authored an article titled “’For Whom’ and ‘Under What Conditions’ is MSBI Effective? A Conceptual Replication with High School Students with Autism,” published in Exceptional Children, the flagship research journal of the Council for

Faculty Achievements

Exceptional Children. Co-authors include special education program alumni Sarah Cox and Kathryn Davis.

Dr. Myriam Rudaz, Dr. Frank Fincham, and Dr. Thomas Ledermann of the Department of Human Development and Family Science co-authored “Presence of Meaning in Life Mediates the Effects of Gratitude and Caring for Bliss on Flourishing in College Students: a three-wave Longitudinal study,” published in the Journal of Positive Psychology.

Dr. Gloria Salazar and Dr. Ravinder Nagpal from HNFS, and Pradeep Bhide from the FSU College of Medicine received a $600,000 grant from the Florida Department of Health for their project, “Modulation of the gut-vascular axis by E-cigarette and menthol.”

Dr. Qiong (Joanna) Wu, Dr. Ming Cui, and Dr. Penny Ralston from the Department of Human Development and Family Science were awarded a $120,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for their project titled, “Understanding race-related health disparities among rural, Low-SES mothers and children.” The project investigates mothers and their young children in rural, low-income areas who disproportionately face health disparities.