2023/2024
Scholarship Recipients
Achraf Abouras
Achraf Abouras is an Arab American veteran majoring in psychology and minoring in philosophy. Using a psychodynamic lens, Achraf plans to investigate the different defense mechanisms of immigrant adolescents. His research will also analyze their acculturation to the host country and how well they have found identity continuity. Furthermore his research will analyze the merging of immigrant ethnic culture with the host country culture, and decreasing mental health issues.
Daven Asafo-Agyei
Daven Asafo-Agyei is a first generation student and a current senior pursuing a CUNY BA degree in Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies. His research focuses on providing lawmakers with
informal techniques that are easy and accessible to ordinary individuals
to ensure a just transition to sustainable development for environmental justice communities of concern. He will do
this by analyzing the barriers and environmental injustices experienced by Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC) in urban communities such as NYC.
Eliza Popa
Eliza Popa is a Graduate Student in the Forensic Mental Health Counseling program. Eliza completed her first-year project in the OSRC scholarship on fetal programming and romantic dominance behaviors. By continuing working to analyze dominance behavior subtypes’ (Authoritativeness, Restrictiveness, Disparagement) current relevance to sex roles and sexual dimorphism, she will be refining her original study as a second year OSRC scholar.
Emma Collie
Emma Collie is an international student from Canada who received her Bachelor of Arts (Honors) Degree in Psychology from Queen’s University. Currently, she is completing the dual thesis-externship track. Under Dr. Jeglic’s supervision, Emma seeks to describe the nature and prevalence of noncontact offenses by examining prior and current charges.
Imani Thomas
Imani Thomas is a first-generation undergraduate junior majoring in forensic psychology with a minor in Africana studies. Imani aspires to obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. As an OSRC scholar she will be conducting research that examines the characteristics of LGBTQIA+ individuals who have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA).
Kaylee Rodriguez
Kaylee Rodriguez s a senior majoring in Forensic Science with a concentration in Molecular Biology. After graduation, Kaylee plans to attend medical school in pursuit of a career in Forensic Pathology. Kaylee hopes that this project will expand the research on mercury concentrations and the dangers associated with the rise of these concentrations in the atmosphere.
Lisa Haye
Lisa Haye is a senior at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, majoring in economics with a minor in computer science. Lisa’s research will investigate how the economics of eugenic measures was determined during the eugenics movement. Furthermore, her research will analyze how the ethics behind applying economic rationalizations on poorer classes were formed.
Melitta Oppenheim
Melitta is a current BA/MA student in her junior year majoring in Forensic Psychology, while dual-minoring in Biology and Chemistry. As an OSRC Scholar her research will focus on highlighting the complex diversity of mental health populations. Furthermore, Melitta aims to elevate the discussions around the taboo subjects of depression and suicide, particularly in the immigrant population.
Ngayin Cheng
Ngayin Cheng is a first-generation student pursuing a master’s degree in Forensic Mental Health Counseling. She received her BA in Psychology from Baruch College in 2019. Ngayin's research focuses on how defense mechanisms moderate the relationship between stress and dark triad traits. Furthermore she aims to examine the contributing factors that lead individuals to develop dark triad personality traits, maladaptive coping strategies, and resilience against stress.
Oscar Zielinski
Oscar Zielinski is currently a senior at John Jay majoring in Forensic Psychology. He plans to complete his Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) certificate shortly after graduation and pursue a career in social services and education. In his second year as an OSRC scholar, Oscar will continue his research, shedding light on the lack of financial literacy, specifically among young college students in NYC.
Parsva Shah
Parsva Shah is a junior at John Jay pursuing a bachelor’s degree dual majoring in Law & Society and Economics. He is incredibly passionate about making America a more equitable place, while protecting the constitutional rights of all. Parsva’s research project, will focus on Measure 110, which was passed in Oregon in 2020. This Measure, which was popular among voters and politicians at the time, decriminalizes hard drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine.
Patricia St. Fleur
Patricia St. Fleur is a junior at John Jay in the Honors program majoring in Cellular & Molecular Biology. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to go to medical school and pursue her career as a physician. Her research will shed light on patient’s perceptions of themselves by their caretakers and how sharing similar identity traits shapes their decision on whether to meet with a particular doctor.
Tiffany A. Rodriguez
Tiffany Rodriguez is a junior in the Macaulay Honors College at John Jay double majoring in Political Science and Philosophy. After graduation, she aspires to become a lawyer and work towards advancement of the communities that have helped raise her. Tiffany will be exploring the issue of self-identity within the Latino community in the United States. By reading literary works of Latino authors on immigration, her research will address the balancing act immigrants and their children partake in to stay true to their roots but also assimilate into American culture.
Yan Shan Yu
Yan Shan Yu is a second-year MA student in the Forensic Mental Health Counseling program. She obtained her BA degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice majoring in Forensic Psychology and minoring in Criminology. Yan has also been working as a Senior Research and Administrative Assistant in the OSRC since February 2021. As a second-year scholar, Yan will continue working on her thesis by collecting and analyzing educator misconduct cases from
the Department of Education websites of various states.
Yanira Rivera
Yanira Rivera is currently an undergraduate sophomore majoring in Forensic Psychology and minoring in Cybercrime. Yanira aims to identify how stereotypes about police officers in the modern day affects their interaction with people, as well as, how certain appearances influence the way officers treat civilians. She hopes to discover what can be done to prevent negative interactions between law enforcement and citizens.
