Rachel Weaver
Fall 2023 SAFE Fund Recipient
Project: "HBC - Who?: Perceptions of Talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities"
Rachel Weaver, a junior psychology major from Greensboro, received a Fall 2023 Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) grant to present a poster at the River Cities I-O (RCIO) Psychology Conference in Chattanooga, TN, from October 21-22, 2023.
For their project, Weaver and her colleagues studied how Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students and graduates feel they are perceived by organizations in comparison to their Predominantly White Institution (PWI) counterparts. The team administered a survey through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), which included questions relating to racial code switching, perception of professionalism, perceived notability of educational institutions and attitudes toward organizations. The results of the study quantify how HBCU graduates feel they are viewed in comparison to their PWI counterparts and help organizations identify where to develop inclusive and equitable talent acquisition initiatives.
The study was co-authored by Department of Psychology professor Dr. Tim Huelsman, Department of Management faculty members Dr. Kristl Davison and Dr. Jessica Doll and three graduate students in the Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management program: Natalee Jamerson, Kwani Taylor and Cassidy Zekas.
The SAFE funding helped Weaver cover hotel accommodation and conference registration fees, enabling her to attend her first RCIO event and present her first research poster. "Being able to travel and present our poster allowed me to build confidence in speaking publicly," wrote Weaver. "I gained professional skills and it enhanced my learning."
To learn more about the project and view the poster, visit scholar.utc.edu/rcio/2023/posters/9.
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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 Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology
Appalachian State University’s Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology serves more than 1,400 undergraduate majors seeking the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, as well as 90 graduate students across four graduate programs: experimental psychology (MA), industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management (MA), school psychology (MA/SSP) and clinical psychology (PsyD). Learn more at psych.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs
November 12, 2024
BOONE, N.C.
Rachel Weaver is a junior psychology major from Greensboro. Photo submitted
Rachel Weaver is a junior psychology major from Greensboro. Photo submitted