Meet the Scholars

Emily Dailey

Hometown: Rockport, Massachusetts
Major: Environmental Science
Minor: Psychology & Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Studies
Career Goals: I'd like to work as an outdoor educator, either as an oceanographer or as a professional mariner.
Research_interests: Marine Debris and Ocean Plastics, Carbonate Chemistry and Interannual Variability in the South Pacific, Pro-Environmental Behavior and Social Norms
Community Involvement: Presidential Scholars Executive Board, Honors in the Major, Global Scholars, Honors Peer Mentors, Honors Legal Scholars, Sea Education Association Alumna S278, FSU Rowing Club
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Into the Raging Sea by Rachel Slade
Favorite Meal:  Dunks iced coffee in a reusable cup - hold the straw.

Taegan Dennis

Hometown: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Major: Anthropology, International Affairs, Spanish
Minor: Religion
Career Goals: Creating multimedia ethnography; applied anthropology
Research_interests: Visual anthropology; nationalism, migration, citizenship; US-Latin America relations and migration; urban anthropology
Community Involvement: Peace Jam, Amnesty International; Office of Digital Research and Scholarship
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle
Favorite Meal: Probably tacos

Mae Espinosa

Hometown: Miami Lakes, Florida
Major: Political Science, International Affairs, English
Minor: French, Communications
Career Goals: Lawyer  
Research_interests: Western European medieval literature; my thesis focuses on The Canterbury Tales and The Decameron
Community Involvement: Presidential Scholar Executive Board Cohort Representative
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Atonement by Ian McEwan
Favorite Meal: Grandma's rice and black beans

Ben Gibson

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Major: Physics
Minor: Mathematics
Career Goals: Physics professor
Research_interests: I am interested in resesarching theoretical astrophysics and grand unified theory.
Community Involvement: Marching Chiefs
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Favorite Meal: Steak, lobster or crab, baked potatoes, and salad

Jacob Goldstein-Greenwood

Hometown: Tallahassee, Florida
Major: Psychology
Minor: Statistics, Mathematics, and French
Career Goals: Academia
Research_interests: I study moral psychology: I'm interested in why we perceive certain actions and people as good or bad, and why we help some people and animals but hurt others. My recent research has examined moral dilemma judgments, person perception, and the connections between moral decision-making and regret.
Community Involvement: Moral and Social Processing Lab (2015-2019); Editor-in-Chief of The Owl (2018-2019); Assistant Director of SCURC (2018-2019); Chair, Presidential Scholars Program Executive Board (2016-2018); Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Colloquium Leader (2017-2019)
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Transit by Rachel Cusk
Favorite Meal: Coffee, home fries, and toast with jam

Sheridan Hager

Hometown: Sarasota, Florida
Major: Exercise Physiology
Minor:
Career Goals: Practice holistic, integrative medicine as a primary care physician & promote education and resources for healthy living through public-access platforms
Research_interests: Medical Sociology; Nutrition & Lifestyle-Based Interventions on Metabolic Processes & Disease Prevention; the Practice of Mindfulness; Effectiveness of Gender-Based Medicine
Community Involvement: Phi Mu & Panhellenic, Senior Class Council, Raw FSU, American Medical Student Association  
Last Book, Show, or Movie: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Favorite Meal: Mac & Cheese

Margaret Hollis

Hometown: Tallahassee, Florida
Major: Meteorology
Minor: Mathematics and Physics
Career Goals: Research or National Weather Service
Research_interests: My research interests include weather and space. 
Community Involvement: FSU Weather Show; Catholic Student Union; North Florida Chapter of the American Meteorological Society/National Weather Association
Last Book, Show, or Movie: A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin and The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien.
Favorite Meal: Whataburger

Katherine Kincaid

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Major: Vocal Performance
Minor: French
Career Goals: Professional singer/musician; involved in Broadway performances, recording, songwriting, composing, or directing musical performances
Research_interests: I would like to research how music affects the human brain and nervous system and how it can be used to help treat cases like Autism and Alzheimer's disease.
Community Involvement: FSU Opera and Opera Outreach productions, UKIRK worship leader, piano accompanying, Downtown Community Church member
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Davinci Code by Dan Brown
Favorite Meal: Ice cream!

Justin Krumper

Hometown: Weston, Florida
Major: Finance and International Affairs
Minor:
Career Goals: Lawyer or lobbyist
Research_interests: My current research interests include business, sustainability, and politics.
Community Involvement: Phi Sigma Kappa
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz
Favorite Meal: Lobster bisque, Chipotle bowl, and a molten lava cake

Samantha Kunin

Hometown: Lakeland, Florida
Major: Economics, International Affairs
Minor: Arabic Studies
Career Goals: JD/MBA Global Sustainable Finance Analyst; Focus on Private/Public Sector Partnerships for Refugees
Research_interests: Labor Market Outcomes for Refugees in Host Communities, Comparative Efficiencies of Global Immigration Detention Methodologies, Relationship of Impact Investing and Humanitarian Crises 
Community Involvement: FSU Rowing Team, Executive Governor's Office of Policy & Budget Intern, Academic Recruitment Organization (ARO), Honors Legal Scholars, FSU Center for Global Engagement Intercultural Programs, FSU Honors Colloquium Leader, Garnet & Gold Key
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Dan & Chip Heath
Favorite Meal: Jim's Philly Cheesesteak

Olivia McConnell

Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota
Major: International Affairs, Economics, French
Minor: Political Science
Career Goals: To work with international policy makers to implement social and economic development policies that address the root causes of human trafficking.
Research_interests: I am pursuing an honors in the major thesis on the impact of prostitution models on human trafficking in Europe. I hope to continue researching the root causes of human trafficking through my postgraduate studies and career.
Community Involvement: Cofounder and president of the student-led organization Migrant and Refugee Educational Alliance
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Favorite Meal: Everything. If it's the last time I will be eating I want it all, I don't feel like I would be picky

Kimberlee McMillin

Hometown: Bartow, Florida
Major: Political Science and Sociology
Minor: Political Philosophy, Statistics, English
Career Goals: Provide legal council to a non-profit in either Washington D.C. or here in Tallahassee
Research_interests: My research interest is primarily in social issues, such as women's rights.
Community Involvement: Presidential Scholars Program Secretary; Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Colloquium Leader; Phi Beta Kappa    
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Favorite Meal: An egg, ham, and cheese sandwich on a bagel with cheese grits and sausage, along with a side of my mom's macaroni and cheese

Spencer Owen

Hometown: Kennesaw, Georgia
Major: Exploratory
Minor:
Career Goals: Move to L.A. and hopefully get involved with film/TV
Research_interests: My research interests include virtual reality, liberal arts, and the humanities.
Community Involvement: Pride Union; Intramural Sports
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Myselfie by Shane Dawson
Favorite Meal: Grilled salmon with a can of coca-cola

John Powell

Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Major: Physics and Business
Minor: Mathematics
Career Goals: Business consultant
Research_interests: My research interests include general business interactions and astrophysics.
Community Involvement: Academic Recruitment Organization member and Intramural Sports
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Complexity and the Arrow of Time, edited by Charles H. Lineweaver, Paul C. W. Davies, and Michael Ru
Favorite Meal: Mac and cheese

Jill Rankin

Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry
Career Goals: Doctor or environmental engineer
Research_interests: My research interests include microbiology, medicine, and environmental engineering.
Community Involvement: Academic Recruitment Organization
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Stand by Stephen King
Favorite Meal: A giant plate of every fruit imaginable

Brian Ransom

Hometown: Coral Gables, Florida
Major: Mathematics
Minor: Philosophy
Career Goals: Research Mathematician and Professor in addition to work in primary and secondary mathematics education reform.
Research_interests: Logic and Math Foundations, Discrete Math and Combinatorics, Theoretical Computer Science, Topology, Knot Theory, Geometry.
Community Involvement:
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Favorite Meal: Ice cream and birthday cake

Taylor Shelby

Hometown: Dunedin, Florida
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Mathematics
Career Goals: Mechanical engineer
Research_interests: My research interests include science, computer science, psychology, and robotics.
Community Involvement:
Last Book, Show, or Movie: A Dance of Dragons by Kaitlyn Davis
Favorite Meal: Roast, as Mom makes it, with vegetables, soy sauce, mashed potatoes, and homemade chocolate pudding

Curtis Turner

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Major: Business
Minor: Mathematics and Spanish
Career Goals: Businessman at a Fortune 500 company
Research_interests: I am interested in behavioral studies.
Community Involvement: Academic Recruitment Organization Member; IM Soccer; Table Tennis Club
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Grain Brain by David Perlmutter and Kristin Loberg
Favorite Meal: Mom's spaghetti with garlic bread

Erin Wadhams

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Major: Biology and Creative Writing
Minor: Chemistry
Career Goals: Ecologist or wildlife biologist for the National Park Service or the equivalent in a foreign country; successful novelist
Research_interests: My research interests include biology -- especially ecology, evolution, and animal behavior -- English, creative writing, and art.
Community Involvement: Swim Club; Habitat for Humanity
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Favorite Meal: Chicken and rice with Turkish delight and sweet tea

Audrey Wheeler

Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
Major: International Affairs; Editing, Writing, and Media
Minor: Concentration in Italian
Career Goals: Political Correspondent for The New York Times
Research_interests: Caroline Crane Marsh, women's positions in the 19th century
Community Involvement: FSView & Florida Flambeau, Phi Sigma Pi, National Italian Honors Society
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Dark Side by Jane Mayer
Favorite Meal: Taco Bell

Austin Yap

Hometown: Canton, Georgia
Major: Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Minor:
Career Goals: Specialized pediatrician or a specialized dentist
Research_interests: I love doing research in a hands-on biochemistry lab. In the future, I hope to complete research on cancer-related topics.
Community Involvement: Treasurer of the Broward-Landis-Gilchrist Hall Council; member of the FSU Gymnastics Club Team
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
Favorite Meal: Stuffed shells with lots of freshly shaved parmesan cheese and Alfredo sauce