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Biography

Expected Graduation: May 2026
Major: Psychology
Research Topic(s): LGBTQ Youth's Experience with Crime
Faculty Mentor Name and Department: Dr. Toya Like, Criminal Justice & Criminology

I first learned about undergraduate research by hearing my professor talk about it in class. It sounded interesting so I came up to him in class and asked about how to get started with research. He told me to first look up a topic that I am interested in and to go from there. I did that and found out through another professor that I need a faculty mentor. They referred me to Dr. Toya Like who is an Associate Dean for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. When I chose my research topic, I looked up articles and a documentary on YouTube to see what topic I would like to engage with. I also had a meeting with my mentor. She would guide me through the planning process.

My research project consists of me finding how LGBTQ youth can be vulnerable and susceptible to victimization and to engage in crime. I wanted to see how it may correlate with their daily life. To find out, I looked up articles on this topic as well as conducted interviews. I found that the people that I interviewed did not engage in crime but still faced barriers regarding their sexuality. The daily life of research looks like finding ethical evidence for your topic, using critical thinking skills, and always wanting to find out more about the world. You do not have to be a professor or have a Ph.D. You can research a topic you want to know more about at home or in the library. You may collaborate with others to learn about your topic. When I first started being a researcher, I thought it was the most tricky thing. But with help from my mentor and peers, I was able to complete my research project.

Undergraduate research is important to me because I have always been a person that loved learning. Even as a kid, I would be the one to ask lots of questions about everything I see. When conducting research, you can find the answer to anything you want to know. From my experience conducting research, I have gained knowledge, connections, and experience.