Psychology Names Eight Steele Scholars
Thanks to the generous support provided by the James Steele Endowed Scholarship fund, the Department of Psychology awards scholarships to selected students who have a demonstrated interest in the field of clinical psychology. Eligible students must be current psychology majors at the University of Washington, Seattle campus. This year, eight James Steele Scholars were selected during winter quarter. Let’s meet the James Steele Scholars!
Psychology first-year honors student Laila AlMansour is pursuing a BA and plans to graduate next year. “I am so honored to have been awarded the Steele Scholarship and be featured alongside my peers creating such impactful work in the world of psychology,” says Laila. Her honors research is centered around exploring the factors impacting the well-being and motivation of women in male-dominated fields to pursue their professional goals and to better inform our understanding of how we make others feel seen and understood. Of her own goals, Laila says, “my broader professional goals are to facilitate the representation of Arab and Muslim communities as both scientists and populations of interest in psychological research.”
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Samuel Burke transferred to UW last fall from Edmonds Community College and is pursuing a BA in psychology with a minor in business administration. “Receiving this scholarship is an incredible honor that will allow me to further my studies in psychology,” says Samuel. “As a passionate psychology student, this support brings me closer to achieving my goal of becoming a licensed mental health professional in my career path while helping others along the way.”
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Maryam Goudarzi is pursuing a BS in psychology and a degree in finance. She plans to graduate this December. “As a double major of these two particular fields, I deeply understand how scholarships and donations to the university such as the Steele Scholarship are so integral to higher education,” says Maryam. She continues, “they impact the educational experience of so many, remove financial barriers for students, and provide for the community through the generosity of donors.” As she moves forward in her education, Maryam hopes to similarly be able to contribute back to the UW in a positive manner.
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Senior Amaris Ilar graduates this June with a BS in psychology and BA in education, communities and organizations. Amaris encourages fellow students to “engage with student organizations, research projects, and volunteer opportunities to build connections with like-minded mentors and peers.” She notes that her experience as a Peer Health Educator at UW LiveWell allowed her to facilitate workshops on mental health and wellness, while her role as President of the Asian Alliance for Mental Health enabled her to advocate for mental health awareness and support within the Asian community.
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Psychology BS student Olivia Leland says, “I feel unbelievably grateful to have been awarded the James Steele Scholarship and to be recognized alongside such incredible and inspiring fellow psychology students.” Olivia notes that the scholarship has allowed for flexibility with her job, making it possible for her to better prepare for graduate school. “It is truly such an honor to be given this opportunity, and I could not be more appreciative of this support as I work toward a career in clinical psychology. This summer, I am looking forward to beginning my journey with fieldwork and am enthusiastic to continue my learning beyond the classroom!”
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Morgan Opdahl is a junior pursuing BS degrees in psychology and neuroscience. His preeminent goal lies in using neuroscience tools to better understand and help treat individuals facing mental health challenges. As a member of the Psychology Honors Program, he is developing a research project centered around understanding how the menstrual cycle influences fear extinction at a neural level. Upon graduation, Morgan hopes to continue his research and pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, where he can work toward his goal of becoming both a clinician and a researcher.
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Graduating this June with a BS in psychology and a minor in drama, Rosa Peterson used the funds she received toward an important professional development opportunity. “This scholarship allowed me to travel to my first professional research conference, where I was able to gain experience giving a symposium presentation at the APA Division 45 Research Conference in San Diego.” She adds that, “being able to have this experience is part of the reason I plan to apply to clinical psychology Ph.D. programs in the fall.”
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While he graduates this June with a BS in psychology and BA in law, societies and justice, Edgar Quiroz Sanchez will still be a Husky as he begins the Master of Arts in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology program. Edgar notes that the scholarship is a huge honor both in terms of recognition and financial support. Being a recipient of the James Steele Scholarship is a huge honor for both recognition and financial support. “As students,” says Edgar, “often times our contributions to research, our communities, and campus culture go unnoticed, and it can become difficult to stay motivated. While I have never seen the work I do as a means for recognition, being celebrated through this scholarship was a refreshing and empowering feeling.” He explains that as an undocumented student, he has limited amounts of financial aid resources available to him compared to his peers who are U.S. citizens. “The generous contributions of this scholarship not only support my dreams and aspirations,” shares Edgar, “but also mitigate some of the effects oppressive systems impose on undocumented students like me who are seeking to pursue higher education and give back to their communities.”