Doctoral Student Receives NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Ar’Reon Watson, a School Psychology doctoral student, has been selected to receive the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship award for 2023. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is designed to foster the development of a diverse, high-quality workforce that can contribute to the advancement of science and engineering in the United States. Ar’Reon’s selection for this award is a testament to his exceptional academic performance and research potential.

Watson’s proposed study focuses on the effects of interpersonal and neighborhood-based structural racism on parenting behaviors and young Black children’s behavioral functioning. The study will use individual-level and census-level geospatial data to examine these issues in depth.

Ar’Reon is a 2nd year School Psychology Ph.D. student on Dr. Anna Long's team. He received his B.A. with high honors in Psychology with a concentration in Legal Studies from Kenyon College in 2018. His research interests are situated in understanding how cultural and contextual factors (e.g., gender and racial socialization) shape risk and resilience among Black children and families across multiple ecological contexts (e.g., school, community, and home settings). He is also interested in equitable and culturally responsive approaches to the implementation and evaluation of preventive interventions.