Meet the Speakers - Gustavus Student ExclusiveWednesday, September 28 at 4 p.m.
Gustavus students have an exclusive opportunity to participate in conversations with the world expert Nobel Conference presenters on Wednesday, September 28 from 4-5 p.m. in Beck Hall (1st Floor).
Come with your own questions, or ask one of these: How did you become interested in your field? What are the questions you still haven’t been able to answer in your research? What are the particular challenges you have faced in achieving your success?Where do you think there is hope for the future? What was the path you took for your career and what advice do you have for college students?
Discussion #1: Priscilla Lui and Brendesha Tynes
Discussion led by Gustavus students: Madeline Campbell '23, Lily Torres Fernandez '23, Cara Gardner '23, and CJ Reece '24
Location: Beck Hall Room 111
Discussion may be of particular interest to students interested in:
Racism, microaggressions, social media, cyberbullying, video gaming
Majors or minors in Psychology, Education, Computer Science
Priscilla Lui studies racial and ethnic disparities in physical and mental health, investigating them as a function of ecological, cultural, and lived experiences. One strand of her research studies the incidence of alcohol use in communities (such as immigrants) doing the work of adapting to a different culture. This research informs her work to develop effective interventions for minority communities to strengthen mental health and develop effective strategies for alcohol use. She is currently developing an experimental method that uses virtual reality to identify adverse health outcomes caused by racism and discrimination.
Brendesha Tynes’ expertise lies at the intersection of adolescents’ experience with digital media, and academic, social, and emotional outcomes throughout development. Her research investigates online racial discrimination, digital interventions for coping, and educators’ use of digital devices to effectively support African American and Latino students in particular. She is developing a model for creating environments for optimal learning and development that draws on Afrofuturism and developmental science.
Discussion #2: G. Nic Rider and Joseph P. Gone
Discussion led by Gustavus students: Mary Enright '24, Maddie Hessian '23, Jay Michelizzi '23, and McCall Walker '23
Location: Beck Hall Room 101
Discussion may be of particular interest to students interested in:
Community psychology, Native American studies, settler-colonialism, indigenous ways of knowing, clinical psychology, transgender theory
Majors and minors in psychology, sociology/anthropology, pre-health fields, GWSS
Joseph P. Gone investigates facets of mental health in Indigenous communities and explores the interplay between culture, the self, and social relations. He has collaborated with American Indian and other Indigenous communities to rethink community based mental health services and to harness traditional culture and spirituality for advancing indigenous well-being.
G. Nic Rider’s scholarly work focuses on health disparities, minority stressors, and care utilization among LGBTQ individuals and documents the critical need for high-quality prevention and intervention strategies for this underserved community. Riser is Assistant Professor and Transgender Health Service Program Coordinator, Institute for Sexual and Gender Health; Director, National Center for Gender Spectrum Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Discussion #3: Meryl Alper and Manuela Barreto
Discussion led by Gustavus students: Abby Ludwig '23, Amanda Nyakwada '23, Ashley Sosa '23, and Michaela Woodward '23
Location: Beck Hall Room 117
Discuss may be of particular interest to students interested in:
Technology and accessibility, autism spectrum, loneliness, community psychology
Majors and minors in Communication Studies, Computer Science, Psychology, Education, Pre-Health fields
Meryl Alper’s research explores the social and cultural implications of communication technologies. She considers digital media as both an opportunity and a challenge for young people with disabilities and their families; her forthcoming book focuses on young people with autism. Her research lies at the intersection of communication, science and technology, and disability studies.
Manuela Barreto’s research focuses on the social determinants of health and well-being. She investigates the relationships between identity development, discrimination, culture, and outcomes related to mental health. Barreto explores these variables through the lens of social relationships and loneliness across the lifespan. She was one of the lead researchers in The Loneliness Experiment, the world’s largest study of loneliness, which found that young people reported the highest incidence of loneliness.
Discussion #4: Daniel Eisenberg
Discussion led by Gustavus students: Lisette Salgado '23 and Jenesis Tompkins '23
Location: Beck Hall Room 119
Discussion may be of particular interest to students interested in:
Population-level questions about mental health, college student mental health
Majors and minors in Economics, Public Health, Public Policy
Daniel Eisenberg’s research explores methods of investment in mental health services and uses research to create and disseminate equitable and inclusive mental health interventions and programs for youth. He serves as the director of the Healthy Minds Network for Research on Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health.