The Office of Student Research is proud to feature Leah Richardson in this week’s “Scholar Story”.

Leah Richardson, a senior at Longwood University, is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. She is also a member of the Cormier Honors College for Citizen Scholars. While at Longwood, Leah has participated in multiple independent research projects. In summer 2022, she worked with her faculty mentor, Dr. Timothy Ritzert, as part of Longwood’s PRISM summer research program. Her PRISM research explored relationships between mental health stigma and help-seeking behaviors on college campuses. Currently, Leah is working on her Longwood Senior Thesis project sponsored by Dr. Charles Repp in the Philosophy department. This research investigates the methodological differences and effects of philosophical versus psychological therapy. Leah chose to participate in multiple research projects while at Longwood because she “wanted to gain both knowledge and experience by engaging in multiple projects as an undergraduate.”

Leah shared that through these research experiences, she has “gained a lot of insight into processes I had previously taken for granted such as publication, data analysis, detailed and specific proof-reading and re-writing, as well as learning to work on a research team.”

Participating in independent research has taught Leah many valuable skills including learning how to “make detailed and often discipline specific information available and accessible to a wide audience.”

Leah has submitted an article for publication that summarizes her PRISM research and she also intends to submit her Longwood Senior Thesis paper for publication.

After graduation, Leah plans to attend graduate school to earn her PhD focused on interpersonal family and child trauma. After that, she would like to have a career as a child trauma therapist.

Congratulations to Leah on her successful research!

If you would like to have your research featured in a “Scholar Story”, or if you would like to learn more about getting involved in research at Longwood University, please visit Longwood’s Office of Student Research website http://www.longwood.edu/office-of-student-research/

or contact Amorette Barber, Director of the Office of Student Research (osr@longwood.edu or barberar@longwood.edu)