By EllieAnn McDonald

Sarah Milliron, a 2021 Lee graduate, was recently awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).

The GRFP is a competitive fellowship for graduate students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Winners of the GRFP receive three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000. For 2022, there were about 13,000 applications across the United States representing over 100 academic subfields. Only around 2,000 applicants were awarded with the GRFP.

“I was extremely grateful when I found out that I was one of only 25 winners in my field,” said Milliron. “This fellowship will fund me throughout my time at Cornell, as well as allow me to allocate more time and resources to conducting psychological research. I’m beyond excited for this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to pursuing my PhD with this in my back pocket.”

Milliron graduated summa cum laude from Lee with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. While attending Lee, she won the psychology award, was a finalist for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship in 2020, and conducted several extensive research studies. Additionally, she served as president of Alpha Chi Honor Society, president of Psi Chi Honor Society, and vice president of scholarship of Kairos Scholars Honors Program.

Through the GRFP, Milliron will pursue her Doctor of Philosophy at Cornell University, specializing in social psychology. She will do work in moral psychology, specifically focusing on examining moral values and moral judgements. She will also do work in experimental philosophy to investigate how normative ethical theories map onto human behavior.

“I am exceptionally proud of Sarah,” said Dr. Bryan Poole, Milliron’s research mentor and advisor during her time at Lee. “This award speaks highly of her skill, determination, and potential in research. Sarah’s accomplishments also illustrate that Lee provides exceptional opportunities for undergraduate students to conduct research and sharpen the skills they need to succeed in graduate school.”

The NSF is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense.”

For more information about NSF or GRFP, visit nsf.gov.