Samantha (she/her) is a senior in the Honors Program, double majoring in History/Social Studies Secondary Education and History. Her research at UConn has centered around exploring and understanding neurodivergent (e.g., Autistic, ADHD, OCD, bipolar) students’ experiences in higher education. Through this work, she aims to provide valuable information for educators and administrators that can help make higher education more accessible for all learners.
Samantha’s passion for research stems from a longtime interest in psychology and understanding how people’s unique experiences and environments shape how they think, behave, and ultimately, learn. For the past year, this interest has developed into an independent research project mentored by Dr. Del Seigle, where she examines how changes in supports and services from secondary to higher education affect neurodivergent students’ perceptions of motivation, self-efficacy, and success. This upcoming year, she will finish collecting and analyzing data before preparing to write, present, and publish her findings.
Previously, she has also participated in the SHARE Summer Apprenticeship Program, where she worked with Dr. Liam McDermott and Dr. Erin Scanlon from the UConn Physics Department. In this role, she conducted thematic analysis to code interview data and used her findings to develop a preliminary grounded theory describing neurodivergent students’ experiences and recommendations in higher education physics environments.
On campus, Samantha juggles student teaching, participating in educational organizations such as UConn Future Educators and Leaders in Diversity, and working at the UConn Dairy Bar. Looking ahead, she will continue on to earn her master’s degree in Curriculum Design and Instruction, and in the future, (maybe) pursue a Ph.D.
Samantha knows how intimidating it can be to begin research as an undergraduate, but she also recognizes how rewarding it can be to fuel your curiosity, explore your passions, and shape the next steps in your career. She encourages all students, regardless of major, to learn about the research opportunities available to them and is always happy to answer a question, help direct next steps, or just chat about research!