The Interconnection of Community and Research

As a senior in high school, I decided to apply to the BS/MS program (an accelerated degree program) to obtain a BS in Psychology and an MS in Psychological Research. The program application required me to write an essay about potential faculty research I would be interested in, to which I identified Dr. Goldstein and Dr. DeMatteo.

I entered Drexel in the fall of 2022 as a first-year Liberty Scholar with provisional acceptance to the BS/MS program. Living on campus gave me a newfound freedom in my young adulthood. The winter quarter of my first year, I applied to the STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) Scholars program with a push from my psychology faculty mentor, Dr. Morrison, cutting it extremely close to the deadline. 

Upon admission to the program, I had to contact a lab I wanted to work with for 10 weeks during the summer, leading me back to Dr. Naomi Goldstein's Juvenile Justice Research and Reform Lab. This opportunity allowed me to work very closely with Amanda NeMoyer and introduced me to numerous projects and the interdisciplinary network of the justice system.

It also demonstrates the impact of my community. Without Dr. Morrison's nudge, I likely would not have applied for the STAR Scholars program. If not for Amanda's advocacy and Naomi's willingness to let me into the lab, I would have missed countless opportunities.

I remained at the lab as a research assistant, where I've spent hours on data entry. I also continued attending various project meetings when my schedule permitted. Throughout my time at Drexel, I have gone on a ride-along with the 24th/25th District of the Philadelphia Police Department, attended pro bono recording clearing clinics across Philadelphia, and been on tours of the Juvenile Justice Assessment Center and Philly Youth Basketball.

Recently, I transitioned into my role as a master's student in the lab. This story conveys my journey in research, but it also highlights opportunities aligning and falling into place (through hard work, of course). After I had been provisionally accepted into the BS/MS program, I completely forgot about the essay I had written. I did not expect, as a rising sophomore, to be in one of the labs I was interested in. It also demonstrates the impact of my community. Without Dr. Morrison's nudge, I likely would not have applied for the STAR Scholars program. If not for Amanda's advocacy and Naomi's willingness to let me into the lab, I would have missed countless opportunities.