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PHOTO ESSAY: Stirring the Senses

goersab — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:02:37 +0000

PHOTO ESSAY: Stirring the Sensesgoersab February 14, 2024

Stout Students Do More on Day One in Psychology

Abbey Goers Zach Porter Rachel Hallgrimson

Walking up to the top floor of Harvey Hall, you feel the cold, smooth metal railing slide through the palm of your hand. Natural light floods the stairwell from several large windows.

It ��. a long climb up four flights, and you stop at a drinking fountain. The refreshing water passes through your lips, and you’re ready to continue down the hall.

The artificial lighting is brighter here, and more natural light streams in through skylights in the ceiling and passes through windows under your feet, sending sunshine to the floor below. A row of large paintings adorns the wall. Birch trees grow below rolling hills and three people peer out at you below an orange sun.

You enter a classroom and see tables lined with tape measures and calipers. But this is the wrong building for a metals or woodworking class. You also notice several blindfolds. Wait – blindfolds?

Welcome to Professor Desiree Budd ��. bachelor ��. in psychology class on Perceptions, where juniors and seniors are using the Method of Limits to measure the threshold for detection of a stimulus.

Remember the change in light from the stairwell to the hallway, the touch of the railing on your palm and water on your lips? You noticed these changes because of the touch-sensitive receptors on the surface of your skin, mapped onto a part of your brain known as the somatosensory cortex.

Students use the method to measure the two-point threshold on their fingertips, forehead and forearm. The two-point threshold is a measure of how far apart two points of contact on the skin have to be before you feel them as two separate points instead of one.

Students work in teams, taking turns wearing blindfolds and using calipers as a two-point touch device. They measure the circumference of each other ��. head, fingertip and forearm. Then, they measure tactile spatial acuity, or the ability of the somatosensory cortex to detect touch across spatial points.

“The idea being if you are born with all the touch receptors you are ever going to have, then people with smaller bodies will in general have a smaller two-point threshold than people with larger bodies,” Budd explained.

Psychology junior Allison Letcher is interested in learning human behaviors and how people respond to different stimuli. Her career goals include working with athletes in sports psychology. She plays guard for Blue Devil women ��. basketball.

“This experiment was just cool to see what areas of our body are most sensitive and easiest to detect a two-point stimulus,” said Letcher, of Windom, Minn. “I could see this being an activity I do with athletes in my career.”

Budd walks among her students. “Have you ever noticed that some parts of your face are a lot more sensitive to touch than other areas? For example, your lips are way more sensitive than your cheeks, ears or forehead.

“This is because the touch-sensitive receptors in your skin are denser in some areas than others. The more densely packed the receptors, the more sensitive the area is to touch, and the larger the size of that body region ��. map on the somatosensory cortex.”

Your fingertips, for example, have a lot of receptors packed into a small area and have a high-touch sensitivity. They’re mapped onto a relatively large region of your somatosensory cortex. And, so the two-point threshold for the fingertip is tiny compared to that of the forearm.

“If you drew an image of the human scaled to represent the density of touch receptors in the skin, it would have huge lips, tiny forehead, huge hands and tiny feet. This representation is referred to as the sensory homunculus,” Budd described.

“The two-point threshold test helps students better understand sensory processing in the brain, and determining a person's two-point threshold is a valuable skill for professionals across diverse fields,” she said.

In Letcher ��. case as a sports psychologist, she may use the test to help athletes enhance their tactile perception for better performance.

The test can also guide physical therapists in designing rehabilitation exercises to improve patients’ sensory perception and fine motor skills. It can help clinicians identify nerve damage and sensory disorders in patients and monitor their recovery from injuries or surgeries involving nerves or sensory pathways.

In product design, knowing a person's two-point threshold can aid in the development of more comfortable or user-friendly products, including touchscreens with the right level of sensitivity for optimal user experience.

A few doors down the hall, two graduate students in M.S. applied industrial/organizational psychology meet with Program Director Dana Linnell.

Cohort members Kate Sulzle and Khalid Alzahrani discuss Sulzle ��. research conducted with Manna Prescher. They presented “The Story of Research on Evaluation: Continuing a Thorough Investigation on Recent Trends,” co-authored by Linnell and Professor Alicia Stachowski at the 2023 American Evaluation Association conference, held in Indianapolis last fall.

Applied psychology students conduct multiple research projects, creating real-world solutions for on-campus and external clients through graduate assistant opportunities and on-campus research centers. With an understanding of human behavior in the workplace, they are preparing to help improve organizations’ productivity, efficiency, employee satisfaction, work environments and more.

“Evaluation is a new and upcoming field. By exploring Research on Evaluation, not only are we able to look at what we have done, but we also are able to determine the future directions of the field,” said Prescher, who has been a member of Linnell ��. ROE research team since 2022.

Prescher believes the master ��. program is preparing her in many ways for her future career, especially in the hands-on opportunities it offers.

“I have done an evaluation for a real client with a team, conducted occupational health psychology needs assessment for a real client, developed a survey, conducted a selection report, job analysis, worked as a research assistant and more,” said Prescher, who will graduate in fall 2024. She hopes to work in a research-focused area that makes her feel fulfilled, with a team where she can continue to grow.

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Discover what Psychology students do in our Perceptions class. Psychology students, Method of Limits test

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�� master ��. students in applied industrial, organizational psychology prepare to improve the workplace

goersab — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 15:32:57 +0000

�� master ��. students in applied industrial, organizational psychology prepare to improve the workplacegoersab February 8, 2024

Program Director Linnell receives national award for research, commitment to supporting next generation of evaluators

Abbey Goers

With an understanding of human behavior in the workplace, students in �� . M.S. applied industrial/organizational psychology program are preparing to help improve organizations’ productivity, efficiency and more.

Dana Linnell / ��

Industrial and organizational psychologists focus on applying psychology study in the workplace, as opposed to clinical psychologists who focus on mental health and well-being aspects through therapeutic lenses, explained Program Director Dana Linnell.

Students in the M.S. applied I/O psychology program seek to improve organizations across multiple professional lenses, including employee satisfaction, work environments, hiring and training practices, marketing strategies and workplace evaluations.

Graduates have careers in business, human resources, education, evaluation, nonprofits, health care, organizational consulting and development, research analysis and other fields.

They are 100% employed or continuing their education within six months, according to Career Services’ First Destination Report.

Linnell furthers the field of evaluation

Linnell received the Marcia Guttentag Promising New Evaluator Award from the American Evaluation Association for her research and special work in the field of evaluation over the past five years. She was recognized at the AEA annual conference, in Indianapolis.

“It is a true honor to receive this award from AEA and join the phenomenal group of previous recipients,” Linnell told AEA. “My research, blogging, podcasting and service to evaluation have all been an incredible joy, and I am so grateful for everyone who has been on this journey with me.”

Dana Linnell, second on the left, with members of the AEA nominating committee / Dana Linnell

Students from �� competed in the World Evaluation Case Competition as the U.S. representative team in 2020 and 2021, placing fourth in 2021.

Afterward, Linnell started the AEA Student Evaluation Case Competition to determine the U.S. team going to the World competition. The first AEA competition occurred in summer 2023, and the second is being planned.

Linnell hosts EvaluLand, a podcast that features discussions with experts in the field of evaluation, and serves as associate editor for the American Journal of Evaluation. Her article "What is Evaluation? Perspectives on How Evaluation Differs (or not) from Research” is one of the journal ��. top downloaded and cited articles in the past three years and is used in many evaluation courses.

For the article, Linnell surveyed 233 members of the American Evaluation Association and 499 members of the American Educational Research Association. “Most significantly, I found that evaluators think about evaluation differently from nonevaluators, which has important implications for how we communicate evaluation to people outside the profession,” she said.

Linnell is also coordinating a special issue for New Directions for Evaluation on Open Science in Evaluation, with Travis R. Moore, a postdoctoral scholar of systems science and community-based research at Tufts University. The issue will cover how evaluators might use open science practices, such as preprints and open data; and principles, such as transparency and replicability, in their evaluation work.

AEA values excellence in evaluation practice, utilization of evaluation findings, and inclusion and diversity in the evaluation community.

Real-world research prepares students for industry careers

Linnell has taken her expertise in the field into the classroom, with a commitment to supporting the next generation of evaluators in their research and career goals.

Students Manna Prescher and Kate Sulzle, both of Menomonie, researched “The Story of Research on Evaluation: Continuing a Thorough Investigation on Recent Trends,” co-authored by Linnell and Professor Alicia Stachowski. They were invited to present their poster at the AEA conference.

Manna Prescher and Kate Sulzle present their research at the AEA conference / Dana Linnell

With an interest in health-related courses, Prescher was able to take electives based on her interests, helping her land her current position as an adolescent health student worker with the Minnesota Department of Health.

She believes the program has prepared her in many ways, building her interpersonal communication skills and theoretical knowledge, as well as her technical skills in statistics software, such as Jamovi and SPSS; and psychometric software, using survey development to help with data analysis, reporting, research and program evaluation.

“The most important preparation for me is the hands-on work this program offers,” Prescher said. “I have done an evaluation for a real client with a team, conducted occupational health psychology needs assessment for a real client, developed a survey, conducted a selection report, job analysis, worked as a research assistant and more.”

Prescher will graduate in fall 2024 and hopes to work in a research-focused area that makes her feel fulfilled, with a team where she can continue to grow. She is a B.S psychology 2021 alum, with minors in human development and family studies, and women and gender studies.

Cohort members Kate Sulzle and Khalid Alzahrani discuss research with Linnell / ��

In another project, the program ��. second-year cohort collected data for an evaluation of �� . Stoutward Bound program, a living and learning community for first-year students. Their research focused on identifying potential areas of improvement. Survey results indicated the program met the majority of students’ expectations, and recommendations included maintaining the current program structure.

“These findings were valuable for the program, confirming its positive impact on students and their college transition. Additionally, the results offer insights for further considerations and enhancements to the program,” said Mai Khou Xiong, interim director of Multicultural Student Services.

Hallie Krueger, of River Falls, and her cohort researched workplace motivation during their Research Design and Analysis course. They were interested in which factors impact employee motivation, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Knowing what factors impact workplace motivation is important because it allows organizations to implement strategies that can help enhance productivity and employee satisfaction. The pandemic has changed a lot of things, including employees’ motivations,” Krueger said. “Conducting this research ensures that researchers like us and organizations stay up to date with the current trends and needs of employees.”

They presented at �� . annual Research Day last spring and have been accepted to present at the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology conference this April, in Chicago. Research Day at �� will be held on Monday, April 29, in conjunction with Stout ��. Spring Showcase.

Krueger will graduate this May. She has accepted a job with UnitedHealth Group ��. human resources team.

Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology

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PHOTO ESSAY: Stirring the Senses

Discover what Psychology students do in our Perceptions class.

February 14, 2024

�� master ��. students in applied industrial, organizational psychology prepare to improve the workplace

Program Director Linnell receives national award for research, commitment to supporting next generation of evaluators

February 8, 2024

Inspiring Graduate: Avery Deacon, M.S. Applied Psychology

‘The program gives its students real experience to provide us with necessary skills to work in a world of professionals.’

May 12, 2023

Program Director Linnell receives national award for research, commitment to supporting next generation of evaluators Dana Linnell with members of her nominating committee

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Dana Linnell

Dana Linnell, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of psychology in evaluation in the psychology department at ��. She teaches evaluation courses to students in the M.S. in Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology program, as well as statistics and intro psychology.

Her research focuses on the evaluation profession, including defining evaluation, data visualization practices in evaluation, the role of politics in evaluation, and more. Her research emphasizes open science practices and reproducibility, namely through the Open Science Framework and reproducible data analysis scripts in R. She is an associate editor for the American Journal of Evaluation.

She has been a member of the American Evaluation Association since 2014 and most recently began the AEA Student Evaluation Case Competition. She received the Marcia Guttentag Promising New Evaluator award in 2023.

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Area of Expertise: Evaluation Research on evaluation Teaching of Evaluation Youth education programs Applied Statistics Data visualization R and R Studio

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College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: Psychology Department

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Degree: Ph.D. Evaluation and Applied Research Methods

University: Claremont Graduate University

Degree: M.A. Positive Development Psychology

University: Claremont Graduate University

Degree: B.A. Psychology

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Inspiring Graduate: Avery Deacon, M.S. Applied Psychology

goersab — Fri, 12 May 2023 15:44:47 +0000

Inspiring Graduate: Avery Deacon, M.S. Applied Psychologygoersab May 12, 2023

‘The program gives its students real experience to provide us with necessary skills to work in a world of professionals.’

Inspiring Graduate: Avery Deacon (‘23)

Hometown: Minneapolis
Degree: M.S. Applied Psychology

Avery Deacon found a new sense of purpose at �� as he pursued his master ��. in applied psychology. Through the program and his extracurricular activities, as well as a strong support system, he was able to work through his mental health struggles and received his graduate degree on May 6.

“The two close friends of anxiety and depression were continuous factors,” he said. “I am blessed to have a wonderful and caring family, as well as a great bunch of teammates and friends. I didn’t get through this alone. I did it with the best support I could ask for. I was able to work my way out of the proverbial hole, and reach this achievement while repairing fractured relationships with my family and making lots of new friends.”

Avery Deacon receiving his master's hood / ��

Deacon is applying for applied psychology positions, as well as positions in human resources.

How well has �� prepared you to work in your field and why?

Stout has done a very effective job of preparing me to work in my field because the applied psychology program is essentially a simulation of the professional work environment.

The program gives its students real experience to provide us with the necessary skills to work in a world of professionals.

These skills include verbal, written and interpersonal communication; presentation and technological skills; the knowledge of research, evaluation and industrial-organizational psychology; and more.

What stands out about your �� experience?

The main thing that stands out to me about my Stout experience is the wonderful faculty in the applied psychology program.

Not only were they incredibly effective in providing us with important skills and knowledge, but they also were great about catering to the human side of students.

They were very understanding of any mental struggles that a student was experiencing and would gladly listen as well as provide support in any way they could. They have been fantastic about developing relationships with us, allowing for an effective social network.

How has your �� education and experience changed you?

My experience here at Stout has completely changed who I am as a human being. The university provided me with a purpose and a reason to get out of bed in the morning, something I did not have during the pandemic, and even before. The people I have met and the things I have been able to be a part of provided me with the college experience that I did not get during my undergraduate years.

Avery Deacon, second row, third from left, with the �� rugby team / Avery Deacon

With this renewed sense of purpose arose a new identity, that of someone who is grateful for what they have. I have been blessed to be able to repair my relationship with my family that I had previously broken while making lots of new long-term friendships. My Stout experience turned me into a far better son, brother, friend and human being, and for that I am forever grateful.

What are you most proud of as you finish your degree?

I am most proud of the fact that I did not quit during my tenure here. This was by no means an easy degree to achieve, nor was it easy to be living in Menomonie while my family is in Minneapolis. There were times when I considered dropping out, but I knew I would regret that decision for the rest of my life. My story is not a highlight reel of success, but rather a journey of unsuccessful trials that eventually led to this degree and this experience, through perseverance and never giving up.

How did your involvement at �� impact your experience?

I was on the rugby team. This club is what made my experience at Stout so memorable. I have been able to make long-term friendships with this incredible group of men, bonding through field play, off-field activities and traveling the country.

Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology

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PHOTO ESSAY: Stirring the Senses

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February 14, 2024

�� master ��. students in applied industrial, organizational psychology prepare to improve the workplace

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Inspiring Graduate: Avery Deacon, M.S. Applied Psychology

‘The program gives its students real experience to provide us with necessary skills to work in a world of professionals.’

May 12, 2023

‘The program gives its students real experience to provide us with necessary skills to work in a world of professionals.’ Avery Deacon, 1

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Inspiring Graduate: Casey Holmes, M.S. Applied Psychology

goersab — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 19:07:29 +0000

Inspiring Graduate: Casey Holmes, M.S. Applied Psychologygoersab December 22, 2022

'Projects in my courses involved conducting research and evaluations with real world clients.'

Inspiring Graduate: Casey Holmes (‘22)

Hometown: Hudson
Degree: M.S. Applied Psychology
Emphases: evaluation; health promotion and disease prevention; and I/O psychology

With several hands-on experiences researching for and working with real world clients, Casey Holmes accepted a job offer before graduation as a data analyst with Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services in southern Minnesota.

Her campus employment at Catalyst in �� . Applied Research Center, group projects in the MSAP program and working as a teaching assistant for two statistics courses prepared her for the workforce.

MS applied psychology graduate Casey Holmes / Photo contributed by Casey Holmes

“I appreciate the hands-on, polytechnic focus at Stout,” Holmes said. “Client projects shift the focus of education from completing assignments to get a grade, to learning and developing your skills, which is what school should be about.”

Holmes earned her master ��. in applied psychology on Dec. 17, graduating early in a year and a half. Even as a commuter student, she felt a “tremendous sense of belonging here. Stout has been my home, and I will always cherish the memories that I made here.

“Someone once told me that graduate school is not about how intelligent you are but rather how hard you work. I have found that to be true,” she added.

“If anyone is considering attending graduate school, I would wholeheartedly encourage them to apply. Graduate school is challenging but equally rewarding. We are all equals here, and Stout fosters collaboration rather than competition between students. It is an incredibly uplifting space where we can all succeed, and my success does not dampen another's.”

How has your Stout education and experience changed you?

Stout has helped me to become more confident and resilient. It has provided many resources and opportunities for me to grow professionally, through seminar classes and Career Services. It has also better equipped me to relate and work with others effectively and strengthened my interpersonal skills. My Stout experience has taught me that I deserve to be here and that no dream is too big. My teachers and peers have instilled in me the belief that any goal is within reach, a mindset that I hope will take me far in life.

How did you overcome the challenges you faced in earning your degree?

During my time at Stout, I navigated challenges of the pandemic, balancing school and multiple jobs, and working with others on group projects. Dr. Dana Wanzer helped me create a plan to maximize my efficiency and help me manage my time more effectively, contributing to better time management skills.

In the evaluation group project, our group was tasked with many challenges, including people being sick with COVID, missing client interviews due to inclement weather and dealing with changing methodologies midway through the semester. We handled what was thrown at us with grace and took the necessary time to craft a quality product for our client.

How has Stout prepared you to work in your field?

The applied focus at Stout and in my program of study has contributed to an increased sense of preparedness as I enter the workforce.

Projects in my courses involved conducting research and evaluations with real world clients, an experience which has been both more exciting and more applicable than theoretical classroom lessons.

My work at Catalyst in the Applied Research Center has further solidified my understanding of research standards and best practices. I was a part of numerous research and evaluation projects in various stages.

My work supplemented what I learned in the classroom and provided me with ample opportunities to advance my proficiency in research and analysis.

Casey Holmes receiving her master's hood / ��

What stands out about your Stout experience?

The thing that stands out the most to me about my Stout experience is the helpful nature of the Stout community. I was lucky enough to have a wonderful mentor in Dr. Wanzer, whom I could message on Teams anytime to talk about school and work, as well as send research memes. Dr. Wanzer is so committed to the program and her students, and her positive outlook on life helped me get through the toughest of days. She was always more than willing to give me advice or lend a listening ear.

My bosses at Catalyst, Justin Sullivan and Cori Beskow, who are alumni of the program, also stand out as wonderful mentors. They helped me build up my data analysis skills, confidence and professional communication. They challenged me to go outside of my comfort zone in multiple ways, including presenting findings in a client meeting. One of the most incredible things my bosses did for me was that they believed in me. They gave me a lot of independence and autonomy in my work and trusted me to handle large datasets. When I made mistakes, they were understanding and helped me learn from them.

I have done a lot of networking with alumni on LinkedIn, and I have been blown away by the amount of support they are willing to provide to a current Stout student.

I feel grateful to enter the community of alumni who have given me so much, and I am committed to passing on the support that I received to future MSAP students.

How has your networking with alumni impacted your experience?

I joined a networking group in the Twin Cities, founded by MSAP alumni. The group is geared toward women in data fields and has been a wonderful way to network and learn from the experiences of strong, intelligent women in my field.

I also recently joined the Minnesota Evaluation Association, and I look forward to learning more from the professionals there.

What are you most proud of as you finish your degree?

I am proud of myself for taking the initiative to further my education and pursue a graduate degree. I chose to attend graduate school to foster my love of learning and to gain experience that will be advantageous to my future career. I am extremely proud of myself for putting in the hard work and graduating early, despite challenges along the way. I graduated with a master ��. degree at the age of 23, and I am excited to move toward accomplishing my next goal.

I owe an enormous thank you to all those who have believed in me and encouraged me along the way. I would not be here today without my tremendous support systems both in and outside of Stout. My classmates, professors, family, boyfriend, friends and bosses have all contributed to my success in graduate school. I feel so grateful for this opportunity.

Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology

All Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology News

PHOTO ESSAY: Stirring the Senses

Discover what Psychology students do in our Perceptions class.

February 14, 2024

�� master ��. students in applied industrial, organizational psychology prepare to improve the workplace

Program Director Linnell receives national award for research, commitment to supporting next generation of evaluators

February 8, 2024

Inspiring Graduate: Avery Deacon, M.S. Applied Psychology

‘The program gives its students real experience to provide us with necessary skills to work in a world of professionals.’

May 12, 2023

'Projects in my courses involved conducting research and evaluations with real world clients.' Casey Holmes, inspiring grad, fall 2022, 2

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‘Stout Proud’ day: Commencement celebrates dedication, courage, success by 594 graduates

Two commencement ceremonies on Dec. 17 at �� celebrated a special “Stout Proud” day in the lives of 594 graduates.

Inspiring Graduate Q&As

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First-generation McNair Scholars present research at national conference

goersab — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 14:30:59 +0000

First-generation McNair Scholars present research at national conferencegoersab October 12, 2022

U.S. Department of Education grant, totaling $1.31 million, allows students more opportunities

Abbey Goers

A group of McNair Scholars pursued a wide range of funded research this past summer and had the opportunity to present their work at a national conference.

The McNair Scholars program supports first-generation, limited income and underrepresented undergraduate students who plan to earn their graduate degrees.

The program also provides scholars with a $2,800 stipend along with its research opportunities.

McNair Scholars Maddie Olson, Michael Wilson and Heather Dickrell / Heather Dickrell

The four scholars who completed research were:

Heather Dickrell: “Linking Family Dynamics to Foster College Aged Youth Mental Health and Well-being.” Dickrell is a human development and family studies senior from Marengo.
Jordan Kunze: “Impact on Hair of Common Components of Shampoo.” Kunze is an applied science senior from Merrill.
Maddie Olson: “Long-Term Effect of Sports-Related Concussions on Balance.” Olson is a third-year psychology student from Strum.
Michael Wilson: “The Interplay of Resilience, Grit and Self Efficacy on Academic Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Wilson is a psychology senior from Menomonie.

They were supported by McNair staff and faculty mentors. Kristen Leer, associate adviser with Trio Student Support Services, worked closely with the students, serving as a “writing specialist, helping demystify what research looks like, helping them develop a research paper and personal statements and to design PowerPoint presentations of their research,” she said.

Dickrell, Olson and Wilson presented at the MKN Heartland McNair Research Conference, Sept. 23-25, in Kansas City, Mo.

McNair Scholar Heather Dickrell presents her research / Heather Dickrell

Dickrell and her mentor, Associate Professor Candice Maier, researched former foster youth's experiences regarding their mental health, well-being, family dynamics and family relationships. Their study participants are attending or have attended a form of post-secondary education, ranging from technical school to graduate school.

“We found our sample, overall, reported mild mental health symptoms, complicated family dynamics and an array of emotions and feelings towards their foster families,” Dickrell said.

For Olson ��. research, she recruited �� students who had a history of concussions, along with a control group with no history of concussions. She obtained 175 participants, with the help of Professor Desiree Budd.

“The results suggested there was a significant negative correlation between concussions and balance,” Olson said.

Support to continue research and the pursuit of higher education

�� . McNair program, which began in 2009, supports about 30 students each year. The program received a new five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education for $261,888 annually, totaling $1.31 million. The grant will allow the program to continue offering opportunities to scholars to lessen the equity gap in graduate education and to provide support as they pursue their future careers.

McNair Scholar Maddie Olson presents her research / Maddie Olson

Olson feels the McNair staff has helped her grow tremendously.

“Without them, I would have not even known about graduate school, let alone be pursuing it now. I am forever grateful for their hard work and dedication to my academic journey,” she said.

Dickrell thinks the program was a vital support system throughout her research process, providing resources to ensure her success.

“The McNair staff and our mentors guided us throughout the overwhelming process by taking it step by step. We were able to go into the office to get support from their writing specialist and other staff with writing edits and research guidance. With their help, I was able to complete my research by the end of the summer with full confidence and learned a lot,” Dickrell said.

In the past decade, 97% of the university's McNair scholars have completed a research or scholarly activity, and 63% have gone on to graduate school immediately after earning their bachelor ��. degree.

Students may fill out a simple form to see if they are eligible to be a McNair Scholar and apply to join the program.

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U.S. Department of Education grant, totaling $1.31 million, allows students more opportunities McNair Scholars Maddie Olson, Michael Wilson and Heather Dickrell

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Alumni Admissions counselors bring compassion, perspective to their careers

goersab — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 14:22:39 +0000

Alumni Admissions counselors bring compassion, perspective to their careersgoersab July 6, 2022

First-generation graduates share tips, advice with first-year students

Abbey Goers

When it comes to helping precollege students decide on a university or degree program that best fits their interests, career goals and learning styles, the first-year admissions counselors at �� have students’ interests at heart.

And three of the counselors know firsthand what �� offers – hands-on lab and studio opportunities, career exploration with co-ops and internships, collaboration on projects across disciplines and more.

Jeanie Albricht, Nou Lor and Lacey Seefeldt are �� alumni who returned to their alma mater and joined the Admissions Office team to encourage others to become Blue Devils.

With diverse backgrounds and degrees, they bring compassion to their careers and believe that connecting with students and student supporters is the best part of their day. And as first-generation college graduates, they bring a unique perspective to their counseling.

First-Year Registration and Orientation resource fair / ��

First-Year Registration and Orientation is underway for first-year students attending �� this fall. During FYRO, students work with their adviser, select their classes, pick up their �� laptop and BlueCard, and learn ways to get involved at the university.

Enrollment is still open. In-person and virtual FYRO dates are available in July and August:

On-campus orientation dates: Friday, July 8; or Friday, Aug. 5
Virtual orientation dates: Wednesday, July 27; Friday, July 29, or Wednesday, Aug. 3.

Students and student supporters may contact orientation@uwstout.edu or 715-232-1465 for assistance.

A first-generation perspective

Albricht grew up in Colfax and graduated with her degree in hotel, restaurant and tourism management in 2003, knowing that she wanted to work in restaurants. But COVID-19 changed her career path and led her to find a better life-balance for family time working with Admissions. Albricht has been with Admissions for nine months.

“�� had my program. And it was the best in the state and at that time, number four in the country,” she said. She still helps a friend with a catering business now and then to continue part of her passion.

Seefeldt, from Spencer, graduated in 2008 with her degree in psychology. She has been with Admissions for three years. As a high school student, when she was first looking at colleges, she chose �� because of the campus size, calling it the best of both worlds.

“It is such a wonderful, supportive community,” Seefeldt said. “I was a first-generation student and at times didn’t think I could do it – or didn’t think I was worthy of a college education. So, it is incredibly fulfilling in my career to help someone pursue their passion and start that huge, life-changing step of higher education.”

Admissions team members Jeanie Albricht, Joan Ebnet, Lacey Seefeldt and Nou Lor. / ��

She is thankful for the faculty and staff who were there for her as a student, who advocated for her to receive scholarships, invited her to participate in research and supported her goals beyond college.

“Thank you to those professors that took interest in personally getting to know me and whom I considered friends,” Seefeldt said. “I cannot express how much you changed my life.”

Lor grew up in Wausau and transferred to �� for the human development and family studies program after hearing positive feedback from students and alumni.

She interned with �� Human Resources and later graduated that summer of 2021. She continued to work in HR as a limited-term assistant through the fall and began her career as an Admissions counselor last November.

“I took a shot,” Lor said. “I wanted to stay in higher education. I value education and can relate to high school students.

“Starting college, I had a lack of knowledge about higher education,” Lor said. “As an admissions counselor, I enjoy talking about my own learning experiences and sharing tips and advice with students about higher education. I encourage students to do their research about each institution that they are interested in or, best of all, visit the campus if you can.”

Admissions Director Joan Ebnet / ��

Admissions Director Joan Ebnet was also a first-generation student and knows how important it is to meet students where they are and to create an open and inclusive environment.

“We need to think in our day-to-day work of how we can provide services and support to those students, and all students, in ways that weren’t available when we were in college,” she said.

Ask questions and get involved

The number one piece of advice that Albricht, Lor and Seefeldt give to students is to ask questions and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

“College is an investment in time and money – so don't be afraid to ask questions,” Lor said. “It is okay to not know what you want to do for the rest of your life. You are not alone. Surround yourself in a community where you feel you belong and are safe and welcomed.”

They also like to remind students to get involved in and outside of the classroom.

“The hands-on approach is huge, and there are so many networking opportunities on campus that it ��. easy to find a job within your passion,” Albricht said. “Yes, it ��. college. But you are supposed to enjoy it too.”

First-year students meeting with Adviser James Arenz and registering for classes at FYRO. / ��

Lor agreed. She likes to ask students, “Do you learn better by doing? Stout is a polytechnic institution with three times more labs than classrooms.

"You will get that hands-on experience through activities, being in labs, studios, and using similar machines and equipment like what industries are using.”

Seefeldt thinks that first-year students who get involved can maximize their college experience by taking every opportunity that comes their way – from the performing arts to studying abroad, collaborating on faculty research to joining student organizations.

“Step outside of your comfort zone and do things you’ve never done before, because in 10 years from now those are the things you’re going to remember most,” she said.

Other alumni in the Admissions Office include Associate Director Linda Young, and specialists Sarah Klick and Samantha Secraw.

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January 12, 2026

First-generation graduates share tips, advice with first-year students admissions_counselors_2.jpg

University Marketing

First-Year Registration and Orientation

Hero Caption: First-year admissions counselors and alumni Jeanie Albricht, Lacey Seefeldt and Nou Lor.

Admissions Office

A little bit about the �� Admissions team and what we do.

Those of us in the Admissions Office are happy to be your first point of contact as you're considering ��.

We provide formal tours to prospective students and their families. We coordinate with other offices on campus for undergraduate recruitment events on and off campus. We are also responsible for processing undergraduate applications and undergraduate transfer credits.

If you're thinking about choosing �� for your college experience, we would love to hear from you! Get started by requesting personalized information, or contact us any time with your questions.

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Sixteen students awarded Potential for Excellence Scholarships

powersp — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 15:07:03 +0000

Sixteen students awarded Potential for Excellence Scholarshipspowersp July 8, 2019

CEHHHS awards $1,000 to each student

Sixteen University of Wisconsin-Stout students were awarded College of Educational, Hospitality, Health and Human Sciences Potential for Excellence Scholarships for the 2019-20 academic year.

Each of the students were awarded $1,000 toward their fall tuition. Ten undergraduate students and six graduate students received the scholarships.

Undergraduate students, year in school, majors and hometowns include:

Nicole Tellock, junior, dietetics, Freedom
Peyton Hellmann, junior, human development and family studies, Boyceville
Jennifer Flanery, junior, food science and technology, Minneapolis
William Dixson, first-year, rehabilitation services, Menomonie
Tiffany Johnson, sophomore, criminal justice and rehabilitation, Suring
Danielle Fairchild, junior, dietetics, Burnsville, Minn.
Paige Weiner, junior, dietetics, Sparta
Nicole Nelson, junior, health, wellness and fitness, Frederic
Alyson Wilcox, senior, family and consumer sciences education, Bangor
Choua Xiong, senior, dietetics, Milwaukee

Graduate students, major and hometowns include:

Ashley Kuprin, clinical mental health counseling, Medford
Geraldine Krause, clinical mental health counseling, Elk Mound
Leisa A. Sunier, applied psychology, Milwaukee
Rachel Jean Davis, clinical mental health counseling, Wausau
Binu Acharya, food and nutritional sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Greer Gust, clinical mental health counseling, Glenwood City

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Alyson Wilcox

Sixteen University of Wisconsin-Stout students were awarded College of Educational, Hospitality, Health and Human Sciences Potential for Excellence Scholarships alyson_wilcox.jpg

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On-farm food businesses have new resource, thanks to student ��. research

powersp — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 13:00:19 +0000

On-farm food businesses have new resource, thanks to student ��. researchpowersp July 1, 2019

Graduate School psychology major enjoyed meeting Wis., Minn., farmers

Recent University of Wisconsin-Stout graduate Elena Carroll loved traveling the countryside of Wisconsin and Minnesota and getting a taste of the rural Midwest while conducting research for a farm food publication.

Carroll, of Dallas, Texas, who graduated May 4 with a master ��. degree in applied psychology, interviewed diners at seven on-farm businesses.

She created the survey for Renewing the Countryside, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that provides educational resources for farmers and rural entrepreneurs. Her findings are part of a new, free publication Come and Get It: What You Need to Know to Serve Food on Your Farm.

The publication guides farmers who are interested in understanding regulations and provides information from businesses that are profiting from the growing on-farm food trend. Along with farmer interviews, it ��. the first time customers were interviewed about their experiences.

The 120-page publication is available for free at www.renewingthecountryside.org/on_farm_food_service.

The project was funded under a North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Partnership grant, a funding opportunity to foster cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers to catalyze sustainable agriculture education.

Carroll, an associate institutional planner for the Planning, Assessment, Research and Quality office at ��, found out about the internship opportunity from Libby Smith, program director for the Master of Science in applied psychology. Smith had been contacted by Lisa Kivirist, coordinator of the Come and Get It project and a national advocate for women in sustainable agriculture.

Smith was impressed by Carroll ��. research. “Elena went above and beyond,” Smith said. “She used it as an opportunity to shine.”

Carroll was attracted to the project because it was the first of its kind. “It gave me a chance to see Wisconsin and Minnesota, to be on these farms and working with customers and learning more about their initiatives,” Carroll said.

“I loved the site visits. I loved meeting the owners of the establishments and hearing from them how they got started. They followed their dreams. It made it a memorable experience for me seeing people doing what they love and being able to use it in ways to enrich the community and the state,” Carroll added.

Carroll collected the data during the fall and summer of 2018. Of the farms surveyed in Wisconsin and Minnesota a total of 151 participants answered. All of the customers enjoyed their overall experience, and 96% said they would recommend it to someone else. She also collected direct quotes from customers. A total of 98% expressed satisfaction with their customer service and 99.2% with the quality of the food.

Kivirist, who lives near Monroe, said Carroll ��. research gives farmers more information on customers’ attitudes about on-farm food and helps farmers decide if it is a good business for them.

“It had never been done before,” Kivirist said of the research. “We know people are attending the events, but what does it mean? Thanks to her research we are able to say there are opportunities for farmers to get into this, and it identifies those opportunities.”

One opportunity, in particular, is offering family-friendly activities, Kivirist said. “There are so many places that are not family-friendly, where kids can be kids and families can have a good meal.”

Also, being on a farm will help educate children about where their food comes from, part of the move toward a more local food market, Kivirist said. “Elena was such a professional and so independent,” Kivirist said. “She left a great impression with all the farm partners.”

Farms that were part of Renewing the Countryside included:

Stoney Acres Farm, owner Tony Schultz, Athens, pizza
Borner Farm Project, owners Diane and Baard Weber, Prescott, pizza
Campo di Bella, owner Mary Ann and Marc Bellazzini, Mt. Horeb, varying menu
Dream Acres Farm, owners Eva Barr and Todd Juzwiak, Wykoff, Minn., pizza
Squash Blossom Farm, owners Susan Waughtal and Roger Nelson, Oronoco, Minn., pizza
Suncrest Gardens Farm, owner Heather Secrist, Cochrane, pizza
Together Farms, owners Stephanie and Andy Schneider, Mondovi, burgers
Moonstone Farm, owners Audrey Arner and Richard Handeen, Montevideo, Minn., hot dog food stand

Together Farms started in 2017 and had its first full-year schedule in 2018 serving grass-fed beef burgers on Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturdays. “I think what I enjoy the most is having people able to interact with the animals and see what a working farm is like,” Stephanie Schneider said.

Many people who visit the farm are from Eau Claire or La Crosse, traveling 30 to 45 minutes one way. Locals also visit for the food because there are few restaurants in the area, Schneider noted.

Having information available for farmers thinking about an on-farm food service is important, she noted. Issues include finding staff, startup costs and operating a business that relies on the weather, she added.

Carroll ��. data included:

How customers discovered the farms: word of mouth 68% and paid advertising 18%. She noted that customers probably learned about the farm through several avenues; word of mouth is important but should be supported by advertising and social media.
Top three things customers would like to be offered: accommodations for hot days such as shaded areas or water activities; tables and chairs; and seeing, petting and feeding animals
Types of customers: families 50%, groups of friends 25%, couples 22%, singles 3%

Carroll enjoys research. “I love to learn, and research is a way to do that,” she noted. “I like that research has an approach I can follow. For this project in particular, I felt confident and prepared going in because of the research and evaluation courses I took at Stout. I got to put my education to work and had fun doing it.”

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Elena Carroll

Libby Smith

Pizza night at Stoney Acres Farm in Athens /photo by John D. Ivanko Photography

Dream Acres Farm in Wykoff, Minn.

Recent University of Wisconsin-Stout graduate Elena Carroll loved traveling the countryside of Wisconsin and Minnesota and getting a taste of the rural Midwest stoneyacresfarm.jpg

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Hero Caption: On-farm food businesses have a new resource in Renewing the Countryside, which �� graduate student Elena Carroll helped research./ photo by John D. Ivanko Photography

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Sixteen students awarded Potential for Excellence Scholarships

On-farm food businesses have new resource, thanks to student ��������. research

�� master ��. students in applied industrial, organizational psychology prepare to improve the workplace

On-farm food businesses have new resource, thanks to student ��. research