Psychological Science Scholars Shine at the Annual Symposium of Student Scholars

KENNESAW, Ga. (Apr 17, 2020) — The 24th annual Symposium of Student Scholars, hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research, highlighted the impactful research of the Department of Psychological Science scholars.

Jennifer Willard, associate chair of the Department of Psychological Science and professor of psychology, was honored with the inaugural Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award. Since she joined the CHSS faculty in 2008, Willard has mentored more than 50 undergraduate researchers. She also has coordinated the annual Georgia Undergraduate Research in Psychology conference for the last nine years, which has grown tremendously under her leadership.

As three of Willard’s students wrote in the nominating application: “Whether it be by being a student in her class, her teaching assistant, or a research assistant in her lab, it is not a stretch to say that she has been the most influential mentor we have had during our entire education.”

Also in the Department of Psychological Science, graduate students Alex Goldstein and Amber Goden, undergraduate student Dana Bowen and research mentor Dr. Jennifer Willard received the award for second runner-up in the graduate category for their research entitled “Wrongful Convictions and False Confessions: An Analysis of Exoneration Cases.”

The 24th annual Symposium of Student Scholars is held each year to give undergraduate and graduate researchers from all disciplines at Kennesaw State University the opportunity to present their work to a wider audience. This year, it was held virtually for the first time as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that students would not miss out on valuable experiential learning opportunities.