Psychology Students Present Research at Conference
FRISCO, Texas — Students, alumni and faculty from Texas A&M University–Central Texas presented research and earned recognition at the 2026 Southwestern Psychological Association Conference.
Seven students, three alumni and four faculty members attended the three-day event, which featured workshops, research presentations and teaching demonstrations. Among them, applied psychology graduate student Stacie Gilyard received a Poster Showcase Award for her presentation on how faculty introductions influence student engagement and academic success.
Gilyard described the conference as both energizing and affirming, noting the value of networking and exposure to new research ideas. She also emphasized the importance of representation, particularly seeing other black students presenting work related to issues affecting their communities.
Several other students presented research spanning a range of psychological topics. Undergraduate student Mariah Barrett examined the relationship between perceived stress and social support among military-affiliated college students. Graduate student Melissa Davis explored how attachment styles influence emotional outcomes in mindfulness interventions, while Mitchell Vires presented research on age-related attitudes toward artificial intelligence. Alexandra Penrose discussed how attribution theory can be applied to improve academic success.
Alumni presenters included Amanda McHugh, Taylor Petro and Jasmine Mason, who shared research on feedback motivation, social media’s impact on conservation perceptions and instructional methods in research education, respectively.
Two students, Abigail Howell and Kimberly James, attended with plans to present at future conferences. Howell said the experience reinforced her commitment to the field and provided opportunities to connect with faculty and peers while exploring potential research collaborations.
Faculty members also contributed to the conference. Dr. Kendal Smith and Dr. Madelynn Shell presented on teaching students to use artificial intelligence as a writing tool in psychology. Dr. Malin Lilley shared findings on the Psychology Research Experience Preparation Program, and Dr. Daniel Clark presented research on online exam habits, academic performance, and learning modalities in collaboration with alumna Gabrielle Frazier.
The conference included networking opportunities such as graduate school panels and discussions with regional programs. Attendees also participated in sessions covering diverse areas of psychology, from neonatal care to Alzheimer’s disease and animal research.
Petro, who presented at the conference while living out of state, said the event helped build confidence in public speaking and provided valuable experience presenting research in person.
University officials encourage students interested in research to connect with faculty about opportunities, noting that some projects allow for remote participation.
More information about the university’s Counseling and Psychology programs is available at tamuct.edu.
