Current McNair Scholars

Hometown: Brownsville, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2025

"Exploring the Transformative Effects of Incarceration on Maternal Identity"

Research Directed by Dr. Lisa Holleran, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Currently, 58% of women in prison are mothers, many of whom struggle to maintain their maternal identity in a restrictive environment. Motherhood involves various practices that reinforce maternal identity, such as daily caregiving, emotional support, and involvement in children's education and routines. However, incarceration limits these opportunities, disrupting the mother-child bond and challenging the mothers' sense of maternal identity. This study explores the experiences of incarcerated mothers, focusing on how their maternal identities are affected and reformed during incarceration. Through a survey conducted with women across multiple facilities, this research aims to fill a gap in the literature that predominantly centers on the impact of maternal incarceration on children, rather than on the mothers themselves. By giving voice to these women and examining their self-reported data, this research seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities of maternal identity in the context of incarceration and to inform better practices and policies that support incarcerated mothers. Preliminary findings indicate that cognitive operations among incarcerated mothers vary based on race/ethnicity, suggesting that different groups may require tailored support to address their unique needs.
 

Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2025

"The Psychedelic Connection: Exploring Psychedelics’ Effects on Social Relationships"

Research Directed by Dr. Michael Disch, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

The revival of research on the effects of psychedelics in psychology has opened new methods for understanding human consciousness, creativity, and connections. This study focuses on connection, specifically interpersonal relationships. Prior research has discovered extreme changes in the mental states of single individuals who have had psychedelic experiences. However, the social aspects of psychedelic experiences are relatively unresearched. This investigation aims to examine psychedelic- linked relationships in an exploratory manner. 48 participants were recruited who have had a psychedelic experience within the past 12 months, had an interpersonal partner alongside them during the experience, and have used either psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or 3,4-Methyl enedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) to commence their experience. Participants shared their perspectives on their relationship that was psychedelically modified in their most recent psychedelic experience. Relationship quality was assessed via an anonymous online survey that addressed the quality of their relationship before their most recent psychedelic experience and the current quality of their relationship as well as other grouping variables that could contribute to psychedelically linked relationship quality changes. Relationship quality data was assessed with the Interpersonal Relationship Quality Scale (IRQS). A Wilcox Signed-Rank Test indicated that participants' relationship quality following a psychedelic experience (Md = 34) were significantly higher than before the psychedelic experience (Md = 32.5), W = 695, p = .020 with an effect size of .404. Further analysis with grouping variables has provided no possible explanations as to what specifically caused these changes.

Hometown: Flatonia, TX
Major: Global Studies
Graduation: Spring 2025

"Cultural Diplomacy: K-Pop Artists’ Role in South Korea's Global Strategy"

Research Directed by Dr. Jooyoun Lee, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

The country of South Korea has risen on the global stage due to its push of soft power. Soft power refers to a country's ability to persuade or attract others through its cultural and political values, rather than coercion or military power, which would be considered hard power. One aspect of South Korean soft power that has gained international recognition is South Korean popular music, also known as K-Pop. Since its rise in the early-2010’s, K-Pop has captured the hearts and minds of people world-wide, and it is because of this popularity that has led it to become a frequent subject of interest in the field of global studies and international relations. The globalization of K-Pop and its expansion of Korean culture to the entire world has had an impact on improvements in diplomatic relations between South Korea and other countries. The purpose of this study is to understand how K-Pop artists have contributed to helping South Korea create diplomatic relations with other countries by analyzing three case studies in which K-Pop artists have either performed in different countries to showcase their music and culture or have attended/spoken at international events to represent South Korea and speak on important issues. This study is important to the field of international relations because as K-Pop continues to gain international popularity, it showcases the ability of how South Korea uses their cultural power, such as K-Pop artists, as a means of building positive international perceptions and strengthening their diplomatic ties with other nations.

Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2025

"The Development and Outcomes of Childhood Trauma"

Research Directed by Dr. Moira Martin, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Childhood trauma is a significant issue linked to adverse mental, physical, and life outcomes, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its impact and effective intervention strategies. This study investigated the connection between childhood trauma and subsequent life outcomes by examining archival data from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), Texas Government Dataset, and Statista. These sources provided extensive information on child welfare, foster care, and prevention and early intervention (PEI) programs. This research also consisted of a thorough literature review of scholarly articles from various states, examining similar traits which were then integrated throughout this research paper. According to the Texas Government Dataset, 41,409 youth and 24,692 families served through various community youth development programs, healthy outcomes through prevention and early support, Texas home visiting, and nurse family partnership. Data gathering involved reviewing science records, program evaluation, and demographic information. The findings indicate that the children who experienced trauma and participated in PEI programs showed improved mental and physical health outcomes compared to those who did not receive such interventions.

Hometown: Manchester, MD
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2025

"The Likelihood of Collectivist Cultures Exhibiting Protective Factors Over Male Perpetrators of Sexual Violence"

Research Directed by Dr. Adam McCormick, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

After the rise of the #MeToo movement, support for survivors has entered mainstream media setting the tone that sexual violence (SV) will not be tolerated. Even so, the ways in which SV is handled in individualistic versus collectivist cultures vary greatly. This study investigated the likelihood that collectivist cultures will express protectiveness over male perpetrators of SV. Participants were composed of students in a small liberal arts university in Central Texas and from the general public who were asked to complete a survey that measures protective factors towards male perpetrators in four hypothetical scenarios. This mixed method study utilized qualitative measurements in order to explore whether protectiveness over perpetrators is being exhibited by participants. Then, quantitative measurements of demographics were collected in order to examine whether or not there is a correlation between collectivist cultures and exhibiting protectiveness over male perpetrators. The duration for this study was an eight-week period and with an expected 100 participants. It was predicted that participants from collectivist cultures will be more inclined to display protectiveness for the perpetrator in the hypothetical scenarios.

Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Global Studies
Graduation: Spring 2025

"Analyzing Austin’s HOME Act Through Richard Florida's Creative Class Theory"

Research Directed by Dr. David Thomason, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

This research critically examines Austin’s HOME Act through Richard Florida's Creative Class Theory and the concept of superstar cities, focusing on the necessity of affordable housing in urban centers. By applying Florida’s framework of the Three Ts—technology, talent, and tolerance—this study evaluates the economic impacts, social implications, and policy effectiveness of the HOME Act to uncover its strengths and weaknesses in addressing housing affordability and social equity. The research also explores public response to the HOME Act and emphasizes the importance of educating the public on the link between affordable housing and essential community role. For a direct comparison, this study examines the Minneapolis 2040 Plan, which controversially eliminated single-family zoning to promote housing affordability. This comparison provides insights into how different cities address similar challenges and highlights the potential benefits and public resistance to such policies. The findings suggest that while the HOME Act offers innovative solutions, integrating community involvement mechanisms and robust public education could improve policy acceptance and effectiveness, leading to a more inclusive, affordable, and resilient urban environment in Austin.

Hometown: Edinburg, TX
Major: Biology & Chemistry
Graduation: Spring 2026

"Assessing Urbanization's Influence on Subdigital Lamellae in Anolis Carolinensis"

Research Directed by Dr. Kristopher Row, School of Natural Sciences

Urbanization is rapidly growing, resulting in larger and more abundant urban areas that pose significant challenges to endemic species. These challenges result in selection forces that cause species to phenotypically change their morphological traits in these urban environments. A primary difference between urban and natural environments is the abundance of non-porous artificial substrates. To directly look at the effects of these substrates, Anolis carolinensis was used due to their subdigital lamellae being used to attach to a variety of surfaces and a similar study that used a different lizard species that suggested an increase in lamellae counts in response to urbanization. To investigate, samples of A. carolinensis were gathered from urban and natural habitats to count the subdigital lamellae (toe pads) on both the largest hind limb toe and forelimb finger. To compare toe-pad counts between populations, an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted in R, adjusting for variations in general lizard size and sex as potential confounding factors. Our analysis revealed a significant difference in forelimb toe-pad counts highlighting that A. carolinensis samples found in urban environments had on average more forelimb subdigital lamellae than those found in the natural population. These findings suggest that this species has potentially developed and improved climbing efficiency due to the relationship between lamellae counts and clinging ability.

Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2025

"“Is It Me?” : The Interplay of Medical Gaslighting and Pain Catastrophizing"

Research Directed by Dr. Jessica Boyette-Davis, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

This study investigates the relationship between medical gaslighting (MG) and pain catastrophizing (PC). MG is characterized by interactions with healthcare providers where patients feel invalidated, dismissed, or receive inadequate care, leading them to doubt their health perceptions (Merone et al., 2022). MG has been identified as both a psychological and sociological issue, rooted in social inequalities such as gender, race, and socioeconomic status, which exacerbate healthcare disparities (Au et al., 2022). PC involves an exaggerated fear of and preoccupation with pain, leading to a bidirectional relationship with pain perception: experiencing pain can induce catastrophic thinking, and such thinking can worsen pain outcomes (Boyette-Davis, 2023; Campbell et al., 2012; Kjogx et al., 2016; Racine et al., 2016). We hypothesized that individuals reporting higher instances of MG would also exhibit higher levels of PC. Data was collected from 10 participants (ages 19 to 52) through online surveys. Participants rated their experiences of MG and levels of PC using standardized scales. In line with our hypothesis, a statistically significant correlation was found between MG and PC. Possible contributing factors include the subjective nature of MG experiences, varying personal pain thresholds, and differing psychological resilience among individuals. These findings highlight the complexity of the relationship between MG and PC, suggesting that additional variables may influence this interaction. Further research is necessary to explore these factors and to examine the potential cultural and contextual variations in experiences of MG and PC.

Hometown: Round Rock, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2025

“The Issue of Diversity and Multiculturalism in Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum”

Research directed by Dr. Brittney Johnson, Munday Library

A continued lack of diversity in psychology curriculum perpetuates the marginalization of minority groups in society and conveys that the field of psychology places secondary importance on diverse perspectives of psychological issues. There has been consensus regarding increased inclusion of diversity in psychology (Boysen, 2011; Dingel & Sage, 2020; Simoni et al., 1999), but efforts to improve psychology curriculum has remained at the graduate level, despite recommendations and support from the APA to feature diversity in undergraduate curriculum (APA, 2022). Effective methods for how to incorporate these elements remain obscure, and there is a lack of studies outlining empirically tested teaching practices and assignments that have resulted in increased multicultural awareness among students. The objective of this study was to explore the current inclusion of minority sociodemographic factors within undergraduate psychology curriculum at a small, private, liberal arts university and how students and faculty perceive their integration. A mixed-methods survey approach was used to gather data from faculty and student participants in order to identify gaps in diversity and reveal how minority sociodemographic factors were discussed. Visibility and intersectionality theories were used as frameworks to analyze the survey data collected from participants, as well as syllabi collected from faculty, to reveal where minority sociodemographic factors are salient and where there might be gaps. Differences between student and faculty perceptions in undergraduate psychology curriculum revealed the need for effective strategies for teaching diversity that will guide the field towards best practices for educating future psychologists on the important issues of intersectional diversity.

Hometown: Dripping Springs, TX
Major: International Business and Marketing
Graduation: Spring 2025

"Germany Versus the United States: Comparative Analysis of the Allocation Strategies and Leveraging of Foreign Financial Assistance"

Research directed by Dr. Angela Ju, The Bill Munday School of Business

This study analyzes how donor governments, such as the United States and Germany, have historically leveraged foreign financial assistance by strategically allocating foreign aid. Foreign aid has a track record of having been praised for lending a helping hand to underdeveloped countries and their citizens. However, various international aid case studies demonstrate how, historically and currently, foreign aid has been detrimental to the development and growth of foreign governments. Notably, this research focused directly on a case study comparison between how military aid and developmental aid are leveraged and/or allocated in the United States and Germany. Using a cross-analysis strategy between academic literature and quantitative data from NATO, the Organization of Economic Cooperation Development (OECD), and Foreign Assistance.gov, this research analyzed the underlying intentions of foreign aid donations. As a result, it was concluded that the United States allocates aid with national security interests in mind; however, Germany does not. In fact, the United States in 2022 solely accounted for almost 70% of the total NATO fund, funding more than NATO Europe and Canada combined, while Germany only made up 5.27%. Germany has traditionally only allocated development aid due to its collectivist culture and has typically restrained from donating military aid. Nevertheless, given the current Russian attack, Germany has recently made history by reversing an old foreign aid policy and granting military aid to Ukraine.

Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Environmental Science & Policy
Graduation: Spring 2025

"The Efficacy of Environmental Recreation Programs on the Well-Being and Development of Foster Care Children"

Research directed by Dr. Teri Varner, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

This meta-analysis examines the efficacy of recreation programs within foster care systems. Foster care youth face various challenges that can adversely impact their overall well-being, including mental health issues, instability, or a lack of supportive relationships. The literature indicates that foster children often experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems compared totheir peers (Turney & Wildeman, 2016; Burns et al., 2004). It is expected to find that outdoor recreation facilities may have lacked sufficient funds to highlight testimonials or surveys. A total of 25 environmental recreation programs were evaluated and screened for key design elements such as visual aesthetics, evaluations of post-camp experience, positive interactions, enhanced feelings of qualities that make up well-being such as self-worth, independence, confidence, and self-esteem. The meta-analysis included the examination of outdoor recreation program websites and testimonials, participant surveys, and key elements to gauge perceived benefits and efficacy of the recreation programs. Findings will be compiled into a comprehensive report that highlight the impact of outdoor recreation programs on the wellbeing of foster care youth and offer recommendations for future program development. Although research findings are not complete, it is expected that the gap in the literature will be addressed by providing a detailed examination of the specific benefits and potential limitations of outdoor recreation programs for foster care youth. It is hoped that the findings will underscore the importance of investing in nature-based interventions and outdoor recreation programs as a vital component of therapeutic and developmental support for foster care youth.