Psychology major and Biology minor Savanna Tierney was one of ten students at SDSU who received the Quest for the Best award. Quest for the Best recognizes students and mentors who are committed to more than grades and a degree, but also to community and making an impact in their fields. The “Top Ten” students and their mentors are awarded Quest for the Best based on excellence in 4 areas: Academics, Student Involvement, Community Service and Leadership.
After graduating high school in Michigan, Ms. Tierney enlisted in the Navy. Following her service she returned to school at Mesa College and took a Physiological Psychology course with Jaye Van Kirk and discovered an interest in Neuropsychology. She was accepted to the Bridges to Baccalaureate Program, which allowed her to become involved in research before transferring to SDSU. She was fortunate to be given the opportunity to work with SDSU psychology professor Dr. Paul Gilbert at the Center for Healthy Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease. This lab focuses on the cognitive aspects of neurodegenerative diseases including, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease. She has worked with Dr. Gilbert for about 2 years and is currently working on an Honor’s Thesis – “Evaluating Equations Used to Predict the Age of Onset in Huntington’s Disease.” In the Fall she will be applying to Doctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology with the goal of one day working with the V.A. and continuing research in neurodegenerative disease.
Congratulations Savanna!