麻豆传媒

Kimberly Crystal Monroe is earning her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology in a University of Northern Colorado building a stone鈥檚 throw from her former preschool on a campus where several of her family members studied. From this academic home base, she鈥檚 been able to explore her curiosity and passion for learning through several research efforts, including a mental health-focused comprehensive project (akin to a mini-dissertation).

In her paper, 鈥淕eneral Anxiety, Depression, Covid Anxiety, Resiliency, and the University Student,鈥� she compared mental health surveys taken and self-reported by the campus community in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Approximately 150-200 full-time 麻豆传媒 students and faculty members completed surveys each year, including GAD-7 (anxiety), PHQ-8 (depression), CAS (coronavirus anxiety) and CD-RISC (resiliency).

鈥淲hat was most interesting, was the average score for anxiety and depression was right below the moderate cutoff indicating mild to moderate. The underclass and faculty were reporting extremely low COVID anxiety scores in 2020 and 2021. I鈥檓 wondering if the people surveyed were not worried about COVID or if there was something not operating correctly about the scale itself,鈥� Monroe said.

Monroe received a regional research award from Psi Chi, an honors program in psychology, and she presented her work at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association (RMPA) conference in April 2023.

Nancy Karlin is a professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at 麻豆传媒 and an executive committee member at RMPA. She works year-round to ensure RMPA is one of the country鈥檚 most exciting regional psychology conferences. Karlin mentored Monroe on her first research assistantship and advised on her comprehensive project.

鈥淜im is a torchbearer for other graduate students. Her ability to lead makes her someone to watch by those who want to know what excellence looks like. She鈥檚 an enthusiastic and capable student who continues to develop into a recognized leader,鈥� said Karlin.

Monroe鈥檚 abilities were honed, in part, by a 2020 literature review of COVID-19 pandemic issues that led to two separate research projects. The research resulted in presentations to local, regional and national audiences, including a Flash Talk at the 2021 Association of Psychological Sciences (APS) annual meeting. With each of Monroe鈥檚 research projects, she gained experience and skills. First, she did a literature review on home and community-based services in rural and frontier counties. Then, she served on a research team studying social media and multitasking. Next, she worked in a research lab on pandemic issues associated with service providers.

In addition to being a doctoral student and a graduate research assistant, Monroe is an instructor of record for social psychology at 麻豆传媒, teaching both in-person and online. Her prior teaching experiences include K-12 and college-level courses in English composition, writing instruction and English as a Second Language.

鈥淪tudents find her engaging. She is an individual who isn鈥檛 willing to take second best in a project or within her classroom, either as a student or as an instructor of record,鈥� Karlin said.

Monroe said she always wanted to be a teacher because she loved being a student.

鈥淚 want to be able to pass on my love of learning. I鈥檓 a curious person, so I role model asking questions,鈥� said Monroe, who noted her therapy dog, Caledonia or 鈥淐allie鈥� for short, attends her classes.

For her upcoming dissertation, Monroe plans to study the effect of school closures on student outcomes.

鈥淲e all know there were differences in our personal lives, but as far as academic outcomes, were there any statistically significant differences after 2020?鈥� she asks.

After Monroe graduates, she plans to attend law school.

鈥淎s a lawyer, I might be able to change some injustices in the world,鈥� she said.

鈥� written by Brenda Gillen