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Shaquana Simpson, a Chaiken Scholar and fourth-year student double-majoring in psychology and criminology, said she found the transition from high school to Penn State to be anything but easy. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, the first-generation student chose Penn State in search of opportunities and an environment that encouraged growth. But when she arrived on campus, she said, she faced a host of challenges.
Milan Dukes, a fourth-year psychology major with minors in sports studies and media studies, has maximized her status as a first-generation college student at Penn State.
Dukes arrived at Penn State with an understanding of what it meant to be first-gen, but that understanding has evolved over the past four years through her personal experience. What began as a personal milestone is now a part of her identity.
Michelle Newman, professor of psychology and psychiatry, received the 2026 Faculty Scholar Medal for Outstanding Achievement for her research focused on the nature and treatment of anxiety disorders and depression.
Growing up in Qatar, within a close-knit and vibrant Indian community, Jui Baliga developed a deep appreciation for family culture, where traditions and shared values played an important role in shaping her. That contrast sparked her interest in working with children and families and shaped her curiosity about how relationships influence development.
Baliga’s interests eventually led her to Penn State, where the now fourth-year Schreyer Scholar will graduate this spring with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the College of the Liberal Arts and a minor in human development and family studies from the College of Health and Human Development.
The Penn State College of the Liberal Arts has named Cherish Graham, a psychology student and mental health advocate, as the 2026 Schwartz Fellow. This prestigious fellowship recognizes outstanding undergraduates for their academic achievements and contributions to the humanities.
“Being named the Schwartz Fellow is a privilege I didn’t know I needed,” Graham said. “I’m grateful to Professor Eric Silver, whose class and mentorship made me more thoughtful and more curious, and to Amelia Dodoo, whose own 2023 Schwartz Fellowship first opened my eyes to this possibility.”
Mayuri Purani was first introduced to psychology in high school, and since then has been determined to understand how and why people think the way they do to better serve others.
That commitment has served her well at Penn State, where Purani will graduate this spring with a degree in psychology with a business option and certificates in business fundamentals and diversity studies.
Erin Gnall, psychology student, recently served as the supply logistics director for THON 2026.
Alivia Peterson has ably navigated Penn State’s big-campus environment by taking advantage of numerous opportunities that have allowed her to refine her professional skills and forge close-knit personal bonds.
Originally intending to major in kinesiology and pursue athletic training, the Rahway, New Jersey, native and first-generation college student soon discovered her passion extended beyond physical performance to the mental and emotional challenges athletes often face behind the scenes. This led her to change her major to psychology.
Camren Boyogueno, Chaiken Scholar and first-gen student, found “a mentor who felt like family,” and a community in the Liberal Arts Chaiken Center for Student Success that shaped her Penn State journey. Now, in her fourth year, Boyogueno mentors students who visit the Chaiken Center, transforming her early challenges into opportunities to uplift others.
Psychology student Miguel Morazan found a meaningful way to connect his academic interests with real-world research after joining the Department of Psychology’s Cognition, Affect, and Temperament (CAT) Lab, working with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG) while contributing to a project on parent-to-child anxiety.
Psychology student, Simone Warren is bridging her research, leadership skills and advocacy in pursuit of more inclusive mental health care for historically underrepresented communities.
“Throughout my time here, I have applied to various types of positions, jobs, internships and other out-of-classroom opportunities. There were so many times I got denied or told that I was not fit for the position or role, but persistence and patience are key to growth.”
Dr. Suzy Scherf recently published a study showing how face processing changes as adolescents take on new social roles.
http://www.ssri.psu.edu/news/1369/what%E2%80%99s-face-study-shows-puberty-changes-facial-recognition
