February 2024
Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education Brings Black Joy to STEM
Michelle Frierson, assistant professor of mathematics education in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership in the College of Education and Human Services (CEHS), has been incorporating Black Joy principles in her research to help Black and other BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color) youth overcome the anxiety they feel toward science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) coursework at school.
Black Joy is a relatively recent movement, dating to 2015, that focuses on celebrating positive Black experiences. The term itself is credited to Black Joy Project founder Kleaver Cruz, who defined the movement as “a digital and real-world effort to center Black Joy as a form of resistance.” It is an internal response in which Black people shift their view of past or present adversity toward a focus, either publicly or privately, on uplifting and life- affirming experiences instead. The hashtag #blackjoy was later popularized on social media platforms.
Research & News
ADRC Director Partners with Small Business to Develop Early Dementia Screening Test
Elizabeth Fauth, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Research Center (ADRC) at USU, and partners improve early dementia detection with a simple, non-invasive motor test. The test has already been shown to detect neuropathology and neurodegeneration in older adults who exhibit little to no symptoms of dementia.
Psychology Undergrads Present at Research on Capitol Hill Event
Undergraduate students from USU and University of Utah visited the Utah State Capitol on January 18 to present their research projects to legislators during the 2024 Legislative Session. Among these students were three Psychology undergrads from CEHS who were given the opportunity by the USU Office of Research.
Educating Children Through Play at the Adele and Dale Young Child Development Lab
The Adele and Dale Young Child Development Laboratory in CEHS is arguably among the most coveted early childhood programs for Cache Valley families. Since it began in the 1940s, the lab has educated over 10,000 local children. The lab’s undergirding philosophy has always been an emphasis on open-ended, child-directed play.
Psychology Undergrad Program Ranked #18 by US News
It’s no secret that the Psychology Department, housed in CEHS, has been a trailblazer when it comes to producing a top-notch online bachelor’s degree program. On February 7, U.S. News & World Report released the U.S. News 2024 Best Online Programs rankings. USU’s online psychology bachelor’s degree program was ranked #18 in the country, which is an improvement of ten spots from last year.
HDFS Undergrad Kelsey Kaufusi Drafted to the National Women’s Soccer League
Kelsey Kaufusi, a Human Development and Family Studies undergraduate in CEHS, became the first-ever Utah State Aggie to be selected in the National Women’s Soccer League draft in January 2024. Kaufusi will play for the Portland Thorns as a defender in the upcoming season, which begins in March.