From the president
Catherine Samer, a senior student double majoring in psychology and special education, is an exceptional individual dedicated to community service and social justice. As a student affiliate of a university center focused on public scholarship and social change, Catherine conducts community-based research for community partner organizations serving vulnerable populations. During a STEM summer program, she implemented a science curriculum at a school serving low-income families. Additionally, as an intern, she designed a curriculum for a community supported agricultural program to be taught to individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.
Catherine serves as a mentor for middle and high school students and as a support coach for students with intellectual disabilities. Her activities demonstrate her commitment to supporting the most vulnerable among us. As a Dean’s List honoree, a research fellow, a leadership society member, and a university honors college member, Catherine possesses the intellect, motivation, and potential to develop innovative and collaborative strategies to address public problems.
Personal Statement
As a Psychology and University Honors student studying Special Education and Psychology, I engage in research, leadership, and service, supporting a child's right to experience the innocence and joy of childhood. My passion is to address inequality by advocating for the protection and well-being of children in marginalized communities, locally and globally. To achieve this goal, I work to provide children with the resources necessary to be children and create opportunities for myself and my community to learn through my research endeavors. I am a student leader with Ambassadors for Hope, an organization that supports children with incarcerated parents. Additionally, I conduct research through the McNairy Library Research Fellowship and my psychology honors thesis, which explores the relationship between childhood experiences and emerging-adult emotions. I engage in collaborative research with the Center for Public Scholarship and Social Change, where we collect, code, and present data addressing the needs of the surrounding community, promoting long-term social change. Furthermore, I serve as a Color-of-Teaching Mentor, showing all students that they, too, can make a difference in children’s lives by becoming an educator. Within the program, I’ve presented at several conferences, including the Poverty and Education Conference, where I presented on Refugee Education.