Sarah Ulrich '24
Fall 2023 SAFE Fund Recipient
Project: "Disparities in Spatial Clustering of Perinatal Mental Health Conditions During the COVID-19 Pandemic"
Sarah Ulrich '24, an alumna of Appalachian State's Master of Arts in Geography program from Jamestown, received a Fall 2023 Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) grant to attend the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting (SEDAAG) in Norfolk, VA, from November 18-20, 2023.
Ulrich's study—advised by Department of Geography and Planning associate professor Dr. Maggie Sugg—compares spatial patterns in perinatal mental health conditions in North Carolina before and during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Results from this research provide essential contextual and spatial information concerning at-risk populations with a high burden of perinatal mental health disorders during the onset of a global pandemic," explained Ulrich.
The SAFE funding helped cover Ulrich's registration, transportation, accommodation and meal costs. "Without this funding, I would not have been able to attend SEDAAG," wrote Ulrich. "Attending this conference allowed me to network with other students and geographers who conduct research in the southeastern region of the U.S. As a geographer who specializes in research in North Carolina, this was a valuable collaborative environment that is not replicated at the national level."
Ulrich, who is continuing her research as she pursues a Ph.D. in Geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, shared the impact that the conference had on her post-graduate plans. "The process of finalizing my research, presenting it at SEDAAG and networking with other students and professors finalized my decision to pursue my Ph.D. in Geography at UNC-Chapel Hill."
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About the SAFE Fund
Initially endowed by Hughlene and Bill Frank, the College of Arts and Sciences Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund provides resources that can be used to support undergraduate, graduate and faculty experiences. The SAFE Fund provides funding for college priorities and opportunities that arise throughout the year. These unrestricted funds support student and faculty travel, publication support for faculty and student research opportunities. Learn more at cas.appstate.edu/students/student-and-faculty-excellence-safe-fund.
About the Department of Geography and Planning
The Department of Geography and Planning promotes the understanding of the spatial dimensions of human behavior within the physical and cultural systems of the earth, and the role of planning in achieving improvement in those systems. The department offers degrees in geography and in community and regional planning. Learn more at geo.appstate.edu.
About Graduate Education at App State
Appalachian State University’s Williams School of Graduate Studies helps individuals reach the next level in their career advancement and preparedness. The school offers 80 graduate degree and certificate programs — both in person and online — in a range of disciplines, including doctoral programs in education (Ed.D.) and psychology (Psy.D.). The graduate school enrolls nearly 2,000 students. Learn more at graduate.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs
November 1, 2024
BOONE, N.C.
Sarah Ulrich '24 is an alumna of Appalachian State's Master of Arts in Geography program from Jamestown. Photo submitted
Sarah Ulrich '24 is an alumna of Appalachian State's Master of Arts in Geography program from Jamestown. Photo submitted