Graduate Student Achievements
Diversity Scholars
The Psychology Department is proud to acknowledge our graduate students who have been recognized as Diversity Scholars throughout the years.
2017 Bouchet Society Inductee
Amanda Halliburton is a sixth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Psychology, with a concentration in clinical science. Her research focuses on adapting cognitive-behavioral interventions for developmentally appropriate use with youth, as well as investigating key mechanisms of change in these programs.
She is a founding Fellow in the Virginia Tech Academy for Graduate Teaching and serves as a student representative on her departmental committee of diversity and inclusion and clinical science subcommittee for recruitment and diversity. Ultimately, she aspires to build a career that combines her love of teaching with her passion for community-based clinical work.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Mary Washington and a master’s degree in psychology at Virginia Tech.
Rebecca Elias (2016)
Rebecca Elias is a third year Ph.D. candidate in the department of Clinical Psychology. She received her Masters of Science from Virginia Tech in 2015 and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2012. Her doctoral research focuses on the assessment of challenges, needs, and strengths of postsecondary students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Diversity Scholars Project: Rebecca is co-implementing her diversity scholars project with Amber Turner. Online content will be developed to educate the campus community about disabilities in postsecondary students. Additionally, didactics will be offered to help campus educators deliver content to a diverse student body with different learning styles.
Amber Turner (2016)
For their Diversity Scholar Project, Rebecca and Amber created the following video for inclusive classroom design.
Jonathan Waldron (2015)
Jonathan Waldron is currently a Ph.D. student in the Clinical Science area in the Psychology Department. His research examines the social psychophysiological factors associated with victimization and violence perpetration. He is currently investigating associations between physiology, empathy, and psychopathy. Jonathan previously served as a graduate student representative on the Psychology Department’s Diversity and Recruitment Committee.
Diversity Scholar Project: (collaboration with Cynthia’s project) To enhance the climate of diversity and inclusion within the classroom. This project will look at departmentally driven programs that provide examples of classroom materials to facilitate an ongoing conversation on inclusion and diversity. Further, the project will develop a mentor-mentee program (senior level professor working with junior faculty members) for students to have a person they can address inclusion efforts within their departments.
Nina Lauharatanahirun (2014)
Nina Lauharatanahirun is a doctoral student studying decision neuroscience in the Biological Psychology program at Virginia Tech. She received her M.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech in 2013 for her thesis work examining the behavioral and neural mechanisms of social and non-social risky decision-making.
Diversity Project: For her diversity project, Nina proposes to promote science education to young learners interested in neuroscience by creating a registry of Virginia Tech mentors comprised of graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and faculty members. These mentors would supervise and work with students aged 8-15 while they serve as reviewers for the Frontier for Young Minds journal. In addition, Nina proposes to share information regarding this interactive science education opportunity to local schools in the area, and to pass on registry information to educators and administrators.
Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
The Bouchet Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and the promotion of diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. These scholars are distinguished examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy.
More Information
For more information on the Bouchet Society and how to nominate an individual for induction, please visit the Virginia Tech Graduate School webpage on the society .