This year the UC Davis Department of Psychology announced graduate student awards to its brightest young scholars who are publishing in peer-reviewed journals, inspiring as teachers, mentoring undergraduate students in research and leading innovative service efforts within UC Davis and beyond.
“Each year we recognize graduate students who stand out even among the very talented group of Ph.D. students who come to study with us at UC Davis,” said Kristin Lagattuta, professor and chair of the Department of Psychology. “We are very proud to celebrate their successes and significant contributions to UC Davis and the broader community on their way to outstanding careers in academia and industry.”
Dana Hartman is among three honored with this year’s Outstanding Research Award. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, and her three most recent publications were as lead author. As a doctoral student in Professor Gail Goodman's lab, she studies how to improve child welfare agencies and children’s interactions with the broader legal systems.
Many of this year’s award recipients were recognized for their work on inclusivity. Rose Bern, who received one of the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Awards, took the initiative to deliver multiple guest lectures on critical, understudied topics in relationship science, including queer sexuality, gender diversity and nonmonogamy. Bern also guest lectured on equity-centered research methods.
Joseph Boyle, recognized with one of the Outstanding Leadership/Service Awards, has been instrumental in creating safe, empowering spaces for neurodivergent students, fostering a sense of belonging and enhancing accessibility within academic and social settings. His research at the MIND Institute prioritizes community-based practices and centers the needs of the neurodivergent community.
This year’s award recipients in Outstanding Mentorship have made transformative contributions to undergraduate students at UC Davis. Among them, Tommi Mayers has encouraged many undergraduate research assistants to submit their posters to conferences. Mayers also assisted several mentees with their graduate school applications which resulted in successful admission to prestigious programs.
Full list of the 2024 Psychology Graduate Student Award honorees
Outstanding Research Award
Jenna DiStefano
Dana Hartman
Katie Sendek
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Awards
Rose Bern
Zoe Yang
Outstanding Mentorship Awards
Rachel Foster
Tommi Mayers
Lindsey Mooney
Sydney Wood
Outstanding Leadership/Service Awards
Joseph Boyle
Joanna Guan
Jace Kuske
Maria Calderon Leon
Nathalie Moriarity