NSF Undergraduate Research Assistants
I have the opportunity to work with some outstanding students! Above are undergraduate research assistants funded through the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program. Through the program, they have all completed training in research ethics. They have learned about qualitative interview techniques, transcription processes, and document data collection. From top left to bottom right are:
Bryanna Green - Graduate 2016
Senior Sociology-criminology major, Political Science minor. Planning to pursue a career in the criminal justice and legal systems by attending law school. Update: Attending Law School in Florida starting Fall 2016!
Alicia Kleinpeter - Graduate 2016
Senior Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Prior to attending LSU, I worked as a certified police officer, with a specialty in communications, I aided in grant writing for special projects. I performed various tasks related to student services, senior citizen outreach, and community relations as a part of the agency’s community policing efforts. Planning to pursue graduate school. Update: Attending Graduate School at LSU!
Quentin Warner - Graduate 2016
Sociology major with an English minor from New Orleans. Though I'm currently unsure of what I would be studying, I still hope to attend graduate school after graduation.
Brian Anderson - Graduate 2017
Sociology major with a focus in criminology and a minor in History. After, graduation I plan to get a Masters Degree in Sociology and following that try to become an officer in the Marine Corps.
Zachary Williams - Graduate 2017
Hi, my name is Zachary Williams and I am from Mandeville, Louisiana. I am a senior Psychology and Sociology double major. After graduating, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in School Counseling and become a School Counselor/Licensed Professional Counselor. Update: Attending graduate school at Colorado State!
Elizabeth Weltman - Graduate 2017
Elizabeth Weltman is a senior, graduating in May 2017 with a dual degree in Sociology and Wildlife Ecology. She spent the past two and a half years engaging in sociological and criminological research. As a recipient of the President's Future Leaders in Research scholarship from LSU, she was paid to assist Dr. Sarah Becker with her research for two years (and she continues to assist Dr. Becker as a volunteer). Elizabeth also interned with LSU's CAPER (Crime and Policy Evaluation and Research) group during Summer 2015, and she interned with the Crime Strategies Unit at the EBR Parish District Attorney's Office the following summer. She plans to pursue graduate studies in sociology after graduation. Update: Attending graduate school at University of Colorado, Boulder!
Caitlin Charles - Graduate 2017
Caitlin Charles is an undergraduate student in the department of Sociology at Louisiana State University. Ms. Charles aspires to be both a qualitative and quantitative sociologist, whose broad interests include race and ethnicity, social/class inequality & their relationship with deviance. Her empirical research explores current social issues with the intention of contributing to the depth of existing social theories. She plans to pursue graduate school after graduating from LSU. Update: Attending graduate school at LSU!
Wesley Norton - Graduate 2017
Wesley Norton, a Senior degree candidate at Louisiana State University, is set to graduate May 2017 with degrees in History and Sociology with a focus in Criminology. He is also enrolled at Southern University in the U.S. Navy’s Reserve Officer Training Corps. Upon graduation from LSU, Mr. Norton will commission as an officer with assignment to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, FL.
Faith Munsell - Graduate 2017
Faith Munsell is a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology. She is planning to pursue graduate school to obtain a Master’s Degree, and then specialize in addiction for a rehab facility.
Amelia Juneau - Graduate 2018
Amelia Juneau is a senior majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Sociology. After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate work on Master’s and Doctoral levels and specialize in Forensic and Biological Anthropology.
Lilly Nguyen
I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana. I am currently an undergraduate student with a Kinesiology major and a Sociology minor. After graduation I hope to become a physical therapist assistant. As I plan on furthering my education into becoming a physical therapist, I hope my enjoyment of sociology research and studies continues/advances even after I pursue my physical therapy career.
Lilly Cambre
I am a junior Interdisciplinary Studies major with concentrations in Psychology, Sociology, and History. Upon graduation, I plan to attend law school where I will concentrate on criminal defense. My research interests vary, and I previously worked in a psychological research laboratory. My hobbies include fostering kittens with the Denham Springs Animal Shelter and reading books of all genres.
Hailey Teachout
Hailey Teachout is a senior biological sciences major with minors in sociology and leadership development. Upon graduation, she plans to attend medical school. As she continues into her career path, she hopes to incorporate the experience and insight she has gained as an undergraduate researcher to improve the healthcare field for all.
Jackson Pierce (2019-2021)
Urban Planning major, TAMU, interests in transportation. Continued to Graduate School in Urban Planning at Rutgers.
Arthur Chambers (2020)
Urban planning major, then Masters of Urban Planning student at TAMU, now working for Texas Target Communities as planning staff.
Romel Fernandez (2019-2021)
Urban planning major, then Masters of Land and Property Development student, graduated with Masters degree in 2021.
Ada Sofia Sierra (2020)
Haley Yelle (2019-current)
Landscape Architecture major, Started Masters of Landscape Architecture Fall 2021 at TAMU, collegiate swimmer
Jordan Vick (2021-current)
Political Science major, graduated in 2022 and working as data analyst for State Farm.
Tyler Eutsler (2021-current)
Urban Planning major, interested in continuing to graduate school in urban planning related to housing
Adrian Rodriguez (2021-current)
Urban Planning major, interested in land and property development, graduated in 2022 and enrolled in Masters of Construction Science at Texas A&M.
Wilinia Hamilton (2021-2022)
College of Architecture University Studies major, graduated in 2022 and enrolled in Masters of Urban Planning at Texas A&M.
Bryanna Green - Graduate 2016
Senior Sociology-criminology major, Political Science minor. Planning to pursue a career in the criminal justice and legal systems by attending law school. Update: Attending Law School in Florida starting Fall 2016!
Alicia Kleinpeter - Graduate 2016
Senior Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Prior to attending LSU, I worked as a certified police officer, with a specialty in communications, I aided in grant writing for special projects. I performed various tasks related to student services, senior citizen outreach, and community relations as a part of the agency’s community policing efforts. Planning to pursue graduate school. Update: Attending Graduate School at LSU!
Quentin Warner - Graduate 2016
Sociology major with an English minor from New Orleans. Though I'm currently unsure of what I would be studying, I still hope to attend graduate school after graduation.
Brian Anderson - Graduate 2017
Sociology major with a focus in criminology and a minor in History. After, graduation I plan to get a Masters Degree in Sociology and following that try to become an officer in the Marine Corps.
Zachary Williams - Graduate 2017
Hi, my name is Zachary Williams and I am from Mandeville, Louisiana. I am a senior Psychology and Sociology double major. After graduating, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in School Counseling and become a School Counselor/Licensed Professional Counselor. Update: Attending graduate school at Colorado State!
Elizabeth Weltman - Graduate 2017
Elizabeth Weltman is a senior, graduating in May 2017 with a dual degree in Sociology and Wildlife Ecology. She spent the past two and a half years engaging in sociological and criminological research. As a recipient of the President's Future Leaders in Research scholarship from LSU, she was paid to assist Dr. Sarah Becker with her research for two years (and she continues to assist Dr. Becker as a volunteer). Elizabeth also interned with LSU's CAPER (Crime and Policy Evaluation and Research) group during Summer 2015, and she interned with the Crime Strategies Unit at the EBR Parish District Attorney's Office the following summer. She plans to pursue graduate studies in sociology after graduation. Update: Attending graduate school at University of Colorado, Boulder!
Caitlin Charles - Graduate 2017
Caitlin Charles is an undergraduate student in the department of Sociology at Louisiana State University. Ms. Charles aspires to be both a qualitative and quantitative sociologist, whose broad interests include race and ethnicity, social/class inequality & their relationship with deviance. Her empirical research explores current social issues with the intention of contributing to the depth of existing social theories. She plans to pursue graduate school after graduating from LSU. Update: Attending graduate school at LSU!
Wesley Norton - Graduate 2017
Wesley Norton, a Senior degree candidate at Louisiana State University, is set to graduate May 2017 with degrees in History and Sociology with a focus in Criminology. He is also enrolled at Southern University in the U.S. Navy’s Reserve Officer Training Corps. Upon graduation from LSU, Mr. Norton will commission as an officer with assignment to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, FL.
Faith Munsell - Graduate 2017
Faith Munsell is a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology. She is planning to pursue graduate school to obtain a Master’s Degree, and then specialize in addiction for a rehab facility.
Amelia Juneau - Graduate 2018
Amelia Juneau is a senior majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Sociology. After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate work on Master’s and Doctoral levels and specialize in Forensic and Biological Anthropology.
Lilly Nguyen
I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana. I am currently an undergraduate student with a Kinesiology major and a Sociology minor. After graduation I hope to become a physical therapist assistant. As I plan on furthering my education into becoming a physical therapist, I hope my enjoyment of sociology research and studies continues/advances even after I pursue my physical therapy career.
Lilly Cambre
I am a junior Interdisciplinary Studies major with concentrations in Psychology, Sociology, and History. Upon graduation, I plan to attend law school where I will concentrate on criminal defense. My research interests vary, and I previously worked in a psychological research laboratory. My hobbies include fostering kittens with the Denham Springs Animal Shelter and reading books of all genres.
Hailey Teachout
Hailey Teachout is a senior biological sciences major with minors in sociology and leadership development. Upon graduation, she plans to attend medical school. As she continues into her career path, she hopes to incorporate the experience and insight she has gained as an undergraduate researcher to improve the healthcare field for all.
Jackson Pierce (2019-2021)
Urban Planning major, TAMU, interests in transportation. Continued to Graduate School in Urban Planning at Rutgers.
Arthur Chambers (2020)
Urban planning major, then Masters of Urban Planning student at TAMU, now working for Texas Target Communities as planning staff.
Romel Fernandez (2019-2021)
Urban planning major, then Masters of Land and Property Development student, graduated with Masters degree in 2021.
Ada Sofia Sierra (2020)
Haley Yelle (2019-current)
Landscape Architecture major, Started Masters of Landscape Architecture Fall 2021 at TAMU, collegiate swimmer
Jordan Vick (2021-current)
Political Science major, graduated in 2022 and working as data analyst for State Farm.
Tyler Eutsler (2021-current)
Urban Planning major, interested in continuing to graduate school in urban planning related to housing
Adrian Rodriguez (2021-current)
Urban Planning major, interested in land and property development, graduated in 2022 and enrolled in Masters of Construction Science at Texas A&M.
Wilinia Hamilton (2021-2022)
College of Architecture University Studies major, graduated in 2022 and enrolled in Masters of Urban Planning at Texas A&M.
Former and Current Graduate Students
J. Carlee Purdum, PhD, Postdoc
Carlee Purdum is a Postdoc at the Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center at Texas A&M. She completed a PhD at Louisiana State University in the Department of Sociology. She graduated from Baylor University with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Her research interests include vulnerable populations in disasters, criminal justice in disaster, institutional processes for emergency response, response and recovery networks in emergency management, emergency management policy, and social vulnerability in exposure to environmental hazards. She has worked on research projects on public health in communities of the Gulf of Mexico after the BP oil spill of 2010, disaster risk perception, long term recovery after a disaster, and social media in disaster resilience. She currently manages a project of civilian disaster rescue and conducts independent research on prison systems hazard mitigation activities. Kyle Breen, PhD, Former Graduate Research Assistant
Kyle has a PhD in Sociology and a graduate minor in environmental Science from LSU. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. His research interests include environmental sociology, environmental justice, sociology of disaster, stratification, education- both policy implications and inequality, and the connections between all of those topics. He is working on a NSF-funded grant that is using ethnographic and virtual ethnographic methods aimed at examingin organization development and social media use of civilian volunteer search and rescue organizations. Joy Semien, M.A., Graduate Research Assistant Joy Semien is a Doctoral Candidate at Texas A & M University, studying Urban and Regional Science with a focus on Hazard Reduction and Recovery. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Dillard University (2015) in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. Joy also holds a Masters's Degree from Texas Southern University (2017) in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy, where she published the K.A.P.S. framework to train High-Risk Communities. Her research interest focuses on uniquely bridging the gaps across disciplines while exploring the intersectionality of hazards, race, and social justice. Her work is centered around developing methodologies that turn research into action to increase marginalized multi-hazard communities' ability to prepare, respond, and recover from disasters. Michelle Stanley, MS, Graduate Research Assistant Michelle Stanley is originally from southern California and is currently a third-year PhD student studying Urban and Regional Science at Texas A&M. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Miami (FL) in Environmental Engineering (2017, 2018). Michelle then worked as a Water Engineer in Richmond, Virginia with the design and consulting company Arcadis. In practice, Michelle was involved with numerous projects that strived to increase the resilience of communities through planning and structural interventions. Currently, her research interests include equitable flood mitigation and recovery policies and practices. Mason Alexander-Hawk, MPA, Graduate Research Assistant Mason Alexander-Hawk is a second year PhD student in the Urban and Regional Science program. In 2020 she received a Master in Public Service and Administration degree from the Bush School of Government and Public Service. Her area of interest is Nonprofit Management with a focus in Urban Development and Sustainability, particularly how to build capacity within marginalized communities through equitable planning practices. She worked at a local nonprofit in Portland, OR that used mentorship to build relationships with youth facing barriers. Mason has served as a Hatfield Fellow at Metro, Portland’s Regional Government Agency where she worked with a team of content strategists, editors, and community engagement experts to create a style guide for inclusive content. Mason's current research focus is on nonprofits' role in long-term disaster recovery and how they can better serve marginalized communities who are disproportionately impacted by disasters. After completing the PhD program, Mason hopes to work as a consultant for both government agencies and nonprofits to promote more equitable disaster recovery policies and programs. Seonju Jang, Graduate Advisee Seonju Jang is studying for her Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Science at Texas A&M University. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from Pusan National University in South Korea. After completing her Master’s degree, she worked for Korea Environment Institute for several years. Her dissertation focuses on how social capital contributes to hazard mitigation across different planning contexts. Judanne Lennox-Morrison, Graduate Advisee Judanne Lennox-Morrison is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Urban & Regional Science. She holds a Masters of Urban Planning Degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and a Bachelors degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Technology, Jamaica. She has extensive experience in planning and hazard mitigation, disaster risk management, utilization of Geographic Information systems, training and module development, simulation design and project management. Lennox-Morrison's interests include disaster reduction and recovery, climate change adaptation, community development, and neighborhood revitalisation as well as historic preservation. She is especially interested in the use of community emergency response teams (CERTs) and other citizen led groups, as an entry point for building community resilience and spurring economic revitalisation in underserved and disenfranchised communities. |