Psychology Graduate Student Earns Award for Community Research

A UNC Charlotte psychology graduate student has found her community research efforts rewarded with the Outstanding Health Psychology Student Research award.

Kate Strater Hogan received the Outstanding Health Psychology Student Research award from the Department of Psychology in October. The award is given each year to an individual who goes above and beyond in terms of research. Advisors nominate students. Virginia Gil-Rivas, director of the health psychology program, presented Hogan with the award.

“I think that the university is starting to value more of the community outreach which is what this award really recognizes. That is what makes the award important to me,” Hogan said.

Most of Hogan’s research takes place with community partners and with nonprofits that are providing services mostly to children and families. Therefore, the majority of the research occurs outside of the university setting.

Hogan conducted program evaluations and looked at programs that were serving children receiving services from the Department of Social Services, with the focus on finding ways to enhance the services provided to the children. She held a leadership role in the community psychology research lab, working on the evaluation of the Bright Beginnings pre-kindergarten program in Mecklenburg County. She has worked with Teen Health Connection and has evaluated their Independent Psychological Assessment processes, and has presented her work at multiple national conferences.

“I appreciated winning this award because I know that there was a lot of competition from my peers,” Hogan said.

Words: Brittany Algiere, CLAS Communications Office Student Assistant
Image: Courtesy of Kate Strater Hogan (l. to r.: Hogan, Gil-Rivas)