Last month, seven Oglethorpe students and six alumni traveled to New Orleans to present research at the 2026 meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), one of the largest academic associations in the country. Members of the association hail from across the country, convening annually to collaborate, share new insights and lead the development of the field of psychology.

By attending this conference and presenting their own research, Oglethorpe students are helping lead that development. The research these students presented was completed as part of required coursework for pursuing a degree in psychology.

The conference also allowed students to network with top professionals and learn about how psychology is developing as a science and as a means of promoting well-being.

“It was such a supportive environment,” recalls Oliver Slappy ’26, whose research explores psychology skepticism and how it affects sexual assault nurse examiners. “What touched me most was when professionals I had never met went out of their way to tell me how interesting they found my research, even sharing their own personal experiences with the topic.”

In addition to Slappy, this year’s student attendees included Faria Chowdhury ’27, Mergenie Fleurimond ’26, Ava Foster ’26, Darmaris Ceron ’26, Sophia Savage ’28 and Isabella Rich ’26.

Tulio Allan Zea ’25, an MBA student, also presented research.

Oglethorpe alumni who attended this year’s conference were Abi Wilson ’24, Claudia Rosell ’24, Stephanie Pedroza ’24, Madison Williams ’25 and Sloane Strauss ’25.

Throughout their research, Oglethorpe students receive one-on-one mentorship, advising and encouragement from faculty members, including Drs. Leah Zinner, Justin Wise, Lisa Hayes, Brooke Bays and Emily Bailey.

Many of the students attending the conference received assistance from the Student Research Development Fund. Administered annually by the Philip Weltner Library, this special fund helps defray the cost of research and can be used for attending conferences, research-related equipment and projects, and logistical expenses.

A wide range of research subjects were explored in the poster and paper presentations:

• “Which Type of Voices do Audiences Favor in Audio Advertisements?” — Faria Chowdhury, Mergenie Fleurimond, Ava Foster, Lisa Hayes, Emily Bailey, and Leah Zinner, Oglethorpe University
• “Effects of Taboo vs. Swear Words on Pain Levels” — Sloane Strauss and Leah Zinner, Oglethorpe University
• “Skepticism of Psychology as a Science and its Effect on SANE” — Oliver Slappy and Brooke Bays, Oglethorpe University
• “The Restorative Soundscape: Examining the Cognitive Effects of Nature Acoustic Variation and Exposure Duration” — Darmaris Ceron, Tulio Zea Hernandez, and Brooke Bays, Oglethorpe University
• “False Information on Display: Investigating the Impact of Social Truth Queries and Images on Audience Trust” —Darmaris Ceron and Brooke Bays, Oglethorpe University
• “Sleep Quality, Sex Drive, and Stress as Predictors of Academic Performance” — Justin Wise and Claudia Rosell, Oglethorpe University
• “The Role of Dialect and Race in Southern Social Perceptions” — Justin Wise, Alex Nukpi and Zennon Wright, Oglethorpe University
• “Attitudes Toward the Role of AI in Mental Health Practices” — Adriana Canas Escobar and Leah Zinner, Oglethorpe University
• “How Autistic Phenotype and Gender Identity Impact Perceptions of ASD” — Abi Wilson and Leah Zinner, Oglethorpe University
• “Relationships Between Social Media Use and Mental Health Indicators” — Cynthia Tinschmidt Leal, Sophia Savage, Madison Williams, Emily Bailey, Brooke Bays and Lisa Hayes, Oglethorpe University
• “Possible Predictors of Academic Performance and Self-Efficacy: The Role of Parental Pressure, Perfectionism, and Test Anxiety” — Isabella Rich and Brooke Bays, Oglethorpe University
• “Attitudes Toward ABA Therapy Use for Treating ARFID vs. ASD” — Stephanie Pedroza and Leah Zinner, Oglethorpe University
• “How Media Exposure and Personality Shape Crime Perceptions” — Tulio Zea Hernandez and Lisa Hayes, Oglethorpe University

For all the students who presented their high-level research at SEPA, this experience has built their confidence as scientists and will certainly set them apart as they continue their studies in graduate school and beyond.