Congratulations to psychology students Seraphina Solders and Shannon DeJesus!
WEBER HONORS COLLEGE
Seraphina Kay Solders, 22, B.A. psychology and B.S. biology with an honors minor in interdisciplinary studies
“Solders is a first-generation college student who grew up in a low-income family, but her socioeconomic circumstances did not hold her back. Once she arrived at SDSU, Solders joined the SDSU Brain Development Imaging Laboratory under the supervision of Ralph-Axel Mueller and Ruth Carper, where she has been studying anatomical connectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorders. She has presented her research at conferences around the country and co-authored three journal articles, including one first-authored publication.
Solders is involved in numerous organizations on campus, including the Psi Chi Honors Society in psychology and the Andrea O’Donnell Womyn’s Outreach Association. She has acted as president for both the Weber Honors College and Mortar Board. Solders received several scholarships including the Mortar Board Scholarship and the Henry L. Janssen Honors Council Award.
“My years at SDSU have been the best of my life,” said Solders. “They have truly shaped me as a scientist, activist, and a participant in my various communities.”
Solders is headed to University of California, San Diego in the fall where she will enroll in the Ph.D. program in neuroscience and conduct neuroimaging research on brain development.”
COLLEGE OF SCIENCES
Shannon Yandall DeJesus, 30, B.A. psychology with a minor in honors interdisciplinary studies
“From a young age, Yandall DeJesus was fascinated with the interaction between brain and behavior. After transferring to SDSU from Mesa College, she was accepted into the Weber Honors College and worked with two psychology department researcher professors—Paul Gilbert and Axel Mueller. Her undergraduate research deals with how cognition changes as people age, research she will continue as a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Arizona’s clinical psychology program.
Among her many awards and honors are a Mortar Board San Diego Alumni Chapter Scholarship, the 2016 Quest for the Best Award and a Conrad Prebys Biomedical Scholarship. She was accepted into the National Institutes of Health’s Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity and the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program. She has also served as the College of Sciences Associated Students representative and a psychology department undergraduate peer adviser.”