Stephen F. Austin State University psychology graduate student Stacey Kerr recently received the 2017 Marilyn M. Odom Graduate Student Award from SFA’s Alumni Association.
A native of Spring Creek, Nevada, Kerr said she is honored to receive this award. “There are a lot of talented and bright graduate students at SFA, and I am in awe to have been both nominated and chosen for such an award. I am grateful to the professors and my colleagues and family for their support in my desire to pursue higher education.”
Kerr completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at the College of Idaho in Caldwell. During her time there, she met Dr. Lauren Brewer, assistant professor of psychology at SFA. Brewer recruited Kerr for SFA’s master’s program and nominated her for the award.
Kerr credits Dr. Brewer and the rest of the Department of Psychology professors as guiding and encouraging her to complete her master’s degree. “They not only mentor their students in and out of the classroom, but also foster independent pursuit of research and knowledge,” Kerr said. “I was able to earn a master’s degree in a subject that provided me with invaluable research experience and the opportunity to further cultivate leadership skills, helping me prepare for a future in the field of medicine.”
The Marilyn Odom Graduate Student Award is granted to full-time students who have a 3.8 GPA or better for all graduate work at SFA, with at least 24 graduate hours of course work taken in residence at SFA.
By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist for Stephen F. Austin State University.
