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Alesia Dodson

1,465

Bold Points

3x

Finalist

Bio

My undergraduate education in psychology has narrowed down my interests to aspects of cognitive science and social psychology regarding perception, misconceptions, biases, and prejudice. I am a student of the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program and S4 program. Attendance of these programs has provided me with a year of research experience in student perceptions of new learning techniques and experience presenting at three conferences. I plan on continuing my education by getting my Ph.D. in psychology to become a professor. I graduated in May 2022 with my B.S in Psychology and a minor in Communications.

Education

Grand Canyon University

Master's degree program
2022 - Present
  • Majors:
    • Psychology, Other
  • GPA:
    3

Fayetteville State University

Bachelor's degree program
2018 - 2022
  • Majors:
    • Psychology, General
  • Minors:
    • Communication, General
  • GPA:
    3.8

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Higher Education

    • Dream career goals:

      Professor

      Research

      • Education, General

        McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program — Researcher
        2020 – 2021

      Public services

      • Volunteering

        Trevor — Lifeline Counselor
        2022 – Present

      Future Interests

      Politics

      Entrepreneurship

      Connie Konatsotis Scholarship
      A teacher should resemble a good pair of shoes. They should make you feel comfortable and confident. Not every teacher or pair of shoes will fit each student, but the best teachers will be able to fit many students. I want to inspire the next generation of counselors and psychologists as a professor. My undergrad education in psychology has narrowed down my interests to aspects of cognitive science and social psychology regarding perception, misconceptions, biases, and prejudice. After I obtain my Ph.D. in psychology, I plan to teach at an HBCU and do research to learn more about our community. Through understanding the cognitive implications on how we learn and how the social norms of our community have changed, we can use that data to create programs in education to enrich campus life and improve retention, and graduation rates. Through the McNair Scholars program, I have done research on student perceptions of new learning techniques and I have seen firsthand how it has improved retention. With the creation and implementation of more programs like this, we can give African American students the confidence to dream bigger and the tools to support those dreams. I am currently attending an HBCU and it is encouraging to see African American professors doing the profession that I am pursuing. Attendance has allowed me to get one on one mentorship to help me plan out my goals and provide me with the recommendations to ensure I reach them. I am resilient. Resilence comes from one's ability to face adversity and as African American women, we are the least represented in science-related fields. We have to work hard to be seen and taken seriously. The pandemic took a toll on everyone's mental state because of the remote nature of our courses but I did not let this stunt my growth. I was accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program where I conducted research and worked on my presentation skills by presenting at multiple conferences. The pandemic put life into perspective as we celebrated birthdays alone and communicated with loved ones via video chat. The virtual academic courses demanded time management skills and integrity. I began to focus on my mental health and took time to breathe when I felt overwhelmed. For some, this pandemic hit a pause in their lives. For me, it was the beginning of my journey into narrowing down my future.
      Lillian's & Ruby's Way Scholarship
      A teacher should resemble a good pair of shoes. They should make you feel comfortable and confident. Not every teacher or pair of shoes will fit each student, but the best teachers will be able to fit many students. I want to inspire the next generation of counselors and psychologists as a professor. My undergrad education in psychology has narrowed down my interests to aspects of cognitive science and social psychology regarding perception, misconceptions, biases, and prejudice. After I obtain my Ph.D. in psychology, I plan to teach at an HBCU and do research to learn more about our community. Through understanding the cognitive implications on how we learn and how the social norms of our community have changed, we can use that data to create programs in education to enrich campus life and improve retention, and graduation rates. Through the McNair Scholars program, I have done research on student perceptions of new learning techniques and I have seen firsthand how it has improved retention. With the creation and implementation of more programs like this, we can give African American students the confidence to dream bigger and the tools to support those dreams. I am currently attending an HBCU and it is encouraging to see African American professors doing the profession that I am pursuing. Attendance has allowed me to get one on one mentorship to help me plan out my goals and provide me with the recommendations to ensure I reach them. The pandemic took a toll on everyone's mental state because of the remote nature of our courses but I did not let this stunt my growth. I was accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program where I conducted research and worked on my presentation skills by presenting at multiple conferences. The pandemic put life into perspective as we celebrated birthdays alone and communicated with loved ones via video chat. The virtual academic courses demanded time management skills and integrity. My research experience coupled with the textbooks I read on social psychology and cognitive science has deeply shaped my future by providing me with insight into what field I believe I can study for the rest of my life. Those that choose to go to graduate school know that the field they choose must speak to their soul and be the center of their interests. After reading these books I found myself trying to read all of my other textbooks from a social and cognitive perspective. This new lens allowed me to realize that I want to read, write, research, and teach in this field to help future students and educators become aware of their social contributions and how our judgment may be clouded based on a number of biases, and misconceptions that shape our truth.
      Jacob Daniel Dumas Memorial Scholarship
      A teacher should resemble a good pair of shoes. They should make you feel comfortable and confident. Not every teacher or pair of shoes will fit each student, but the best teachers will be able to fit many students. I want to inspire the next generation of counselors and psychologists as a professor. My undergrad education in psychology has narrowed down my interests to aspects of cognitive science and social psychology regarding perception, misconceptions, biases, and prejudice. After I obtain my Ph.D. in psychology, I plan to teach at an HBCU and research to learn more about our community. Through understanding the cognitive implications on how we learn and how the social norms of our community have changed, we can use that data to create programs in education to enrich campus life and improve retention, and graduation rates. This is why I decided to study in a STEM related field. To help African American students with programs catered to us. Through the McNair Scholars program, I have researched student perceptions of new learning techniques and I have seen firsthand how it has improved retention. With the creation and implementation of more programs like this, we can give African American students the confidence to dream bigger and the tools to support those dreams. I am currently attending an HBCU and it is encouraging to see African American professors doing the profession that I am pursuing. Attendance has allowed me to get one on one mentorship to help me plan out my goals and provide me with the recommendations to ensure I reach them. I am resilient. Resilence comes from one's ability to face adversity and as African American women, we are the least represented in science-related fields. We have to work hard to be seen and taken seriously. We are always trying to prove our intelligence to justify being in predominantly white male professions. I want to design programs to help African Americans in STEM related fields stand out and increase our presence in STEM fields. These programs will help us adapt to the times. For example, programs to help students master and navigate virtual platforms now that the pandemic has shifted how work is conducted. Innovative programs are essential to ensure minority groups stay informed, and up to date on company operating systems. Giving these tools to freshly graduated STEM students will give them the experience to look more desirable to employers.
      Finesse Your Education's "The College Burnout" Scholarship
      Christina Aquilera- Fighter Beyonce - Grown Woman Beyonce - I Was Here Beyonce - Run the World (Girls) Ariana Grande - thank u, next Playlist Name: Two Steps Foward
      Undergraduate Minorities in STEM Scholarship
      A teacher should resemble a good pair of shoes. They should make you feel comfortable and confident. Not every teacher or pair of shoes will fit each student, but the best teachers will be able to fit many students. I want to inspire the next generation of counselors and psychologists as a professor. My undergrad education in psychology has narrowed down my interests to aspects of cognitive science and social psychology regarding perception, misconceptions, biases, and prejudice. After I obtain my Ph.D. in psychology, I plan to teach at an HBCU and do research to learn more about our community. Through understanding the cognitive implications on how we learn and how the social norms of our community have changed, we can use that data to create programs in education to enrich campus life and improve retention, and graduation rates. Through the McNair Scholars program, I have done research on student perceptions of new learning techniques and I have seen firsthand how it has improved retention. With the creation and implementation of more programs like this, we can give African American students the confidence to dream bigger and the tools to support those dreams. I am currently attending an HBCU and it is encouraging to see African American professors doing the profession that I am pursuing. Attendance has allowed me to get one on one mentorship to help me plan out my goals and provide me with the recommendations to ensure I reach them.
      CareerVillage.org Scholarship
      A teacher should resemble a good pair of shoes. They should make you feel comfortable and confident. Not every teacher or pair of shoes will fit each student, but the best teachers will be able to fit many students. I want to inspire the next generation of counselors and psychologists as a professor. My undergrad education in psychology has narrowed down my interests to aspects of cognitive science and social psychology regarding perception, misconceptions, biases, and prejudice. After I obtain my Ph.D. in psychology, I plan to teach at an HBCU and do research to learn more about our community. Through understanding the cognitive implications on how we learn and how the social norms of our community have changed, we can use that data to create programs in education to enrich campus life and improve retention, and graduation rates. Through the McNair Scholars program, I have done research on student perceptions of new learning techniques and I have seen firsthand how it has improved retention. With the creation and implementation of more programs like this, we can give African American students the confidence to dream bigger and the tools to support those dreams. I am currently attending an HBCU and it is encouraging to see African American professors doing the profession that I am pursuing. Attendance has allowed me to get one on one mentorship to help me plan out my goals and provide me with the recommendations to ensure I reach them. I am resilient. Resilence comes from one's ability to face adversity and as African American women, we are the least represented in science-related fields. We have to work hard to be seen and taken seriously. We are always trying to prove our intelligence to justify being in predominantly white male professions. The pandemic took a toll on everyone's mental state because of the remote nature of our courses but I did not let this stunt my growth. I was accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program where I conducted research and worked on my presentation skills by presenting at multiple conferences. The pandemic put life into perspective as we celebrated birthdays alone and communicated with loved ones via video chat. The virtual academic courses demanded time management skills and integrity. I began to focus on my mental health and took time to breathe when I felt overwhelmed. For some, this pandemic hit a pause in their lives. For me, it was the beginning of my journey into narrowing down my future. Online resources have aided my career because it connects me to an abundance of scholarly works to reference for my research and my undergraduate courses. The pandemic pushed for everyone to move to an online platform and it opened doors for me to be able to attend conferences in other states and an international conference from the comfort of my home. Now that the world is not only comfortable but familiar with virtual conferences, I can have Zoom meetings with professors in various graduate programs across the country to increase my chances of getting into these prestigious programs.
      SkipSchool Scholarship
      I am inspired by the life and work of John Watson the American psychologist who introduced behaviorism to the scientific community and how he applied this to advertising. My undergrad education in psychology has narrowed down my interests to aspects of cognitive science and social psychology where I will learn more about basic human drives and how that applies to our purchasing habits. John Watson used his insight into human basic drives to create new and compelling ways to sell the public the idea of an enhanced life because we purchased the product. I hope to do the same when I marry my interest in advertising with my educational background in psychology.
      Cliff T. Wofford STEM Scholarship
      A teacher should resemble a good pair of shoes. They should make you feel comfortable and confident. Not every teacher or pair of shoes will fit each student, but the best teachers will be able to fit many students. I want to inspire the next generation of counselors and psychologists as a professor. My undergrad education in psychology has narrowed down my interests to aspects of cognitive science and social psychology regarding perception, misconceptions, biases, and prejudice. After I obtain my Ph.D. in psychology, I plan to teach at an HBCU and do research to learn more about our community. Through understanding the cognitive implications on how we learn and how the social norms of our community have changed, we can use that data to create programs in education to enrich campus life and improve retention, and graduation rates. Through the McNair Scholars program, I have done research on student perceptions of new learning techniques and I have seen firsthand how it has improved retention. With the creation and implementation of more programs like this, we can give African American students the confidence to dream bigger and the tools to support those dreams. I am currently attending an HBCU and it is encouraging to see African American professors doing the profession that I am pursuing. Attendance has allowed me to get one on one mentorship to help me plan out my goals and provide me with the recommendations to ensure I reach them. I am resilient. Resilence comes from one's ability to face adversity and as African American women, we are the least represented in science-related fields. We have to work hard to be seen and taken seriously. We are always trying to prove our intelligence to justify being in predominantly white male professions. The pandemic took a toll on everyone's mental state because of the remote nature of our courses but I did not let this stunt my growth. I was accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program where I conducted research and worked on my presentation skills by presenting at multiple conferences. The pandemic put life into perspective as we celebrated birthdays alone and communicated with loved ones via video chat. The virtual academic courses demanded time management skills and integrity. I began to focus on my mental health and took time to breathe when I felt overwhelmed. For some, this pandemic hit a pause in their lives. For me, it was the beginning of my journey into narrowing down my future.
      Jillian Ellis Pathway Scholarship
      A teacher should resemble a good pair of shoes. They should make you feel comfortable and confident. Not every teacher or pair of shoes will fit each student, but the best teachers will be able to fit many students. I want to inspire the next generation of counselors and psychologists as a professor. My undergrad education in psychology has narrowed down my interests to aspects of cognitive science and social psychology regarding perception, misconceptions, biases, and prejudice. After I obtain my Ph.D. in psychology, I plan to teach at an HBCU and do research to learn more about our community. Through understanding the cognitive implications on how we learn and how the social norms of our community have changed, we can use that data to create programs in education to enrich campus life and improve retention, and graduation rates. Through the McNair Scholars program, I have done research on student perceptions of new learning techniques and I have seen firsthand how it has improved retention. With the creation and implementation of more programs like this, we can give African American students the confidence to dream bigger and the tools to support those dreams. I am currently attending an HBCU and it is encouraging to see African American professors doing the profession that I am pursuing. Attendance has allowed me to get one on one mentorship to help me plan out my goals and provide me with the recommendations to ensure I reach them. Resilence comes from one's ability to face adversity and as African American women, we are the least represented in science-related fields. We have to work hard to be seen and taken seriously. We are always trying to prove our intelligence to justify being in predominantly white male professions. The pandemic took a toll on everyone's mental state because of the remote nature of our courses but I did not let this stunt my growth. I was accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program where I conducted research and worked on my presentation skills by presenting at multiple conferences. The pandemic put life into perspective as we celebrated birthdays alone and communicated with loved ones via video chat. The virtual academic courses demanded time management skills and integrity. I began to focus on my mental health and took time to breathe when I felt overwhelmed. For some, this pandemic hit a pause in their lives. For me, it was the beginning of my journey into narrowing down my future.