College of Education (COE)
EDPR StudentReceives Distinguished Research Award
Thursday, 13 November 2025
EDPR StudentReceives Distinguished Research Award
MEMPHIS, Tenn. 鈥� Zaria J. Reed, a BA to PhD student in Educational Psychology and Research (EDPR), has received the Distinguished Research in Progress Award at the Mid-South Educational Research Association (MSERA) 2025 Conference in New Orleans.
Reed presented her manuscript, 鈥淏ridging Barriers and Building Identity: Understanding STEM Engagement Among Equity-Seeking Students Through an Ecological Lens.鈥� The project examines how students from equity-seeking groups experience and engage with STEM, and how environments can better support their identity development and success.
鈥淧resenting at MSERA and receiving the Distinguished Research in Progress Award was an incredible honor,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淎s a first-time conference presenter, I left feeling both inspired and affirmed in my research journey. I鈥檓 deeply grateful for the mentorship of Dr. Eli Jones and the opportunity to represent the University of 糖心Vlog传媒.鈥�
Jones, assistant professor in EDPR, shared his pride in Reed鈥檚 success.
鈥淶aria is one of our extremely talented bachelor-to-PhD students. Since joining our program, Zaria has jumped into research head on, and her success in this project suggests that she has a bright future as a researcher,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淭his award is a recognition not only of her motivation and initiative in developing her research skills, but also of the high-quality research that our EDPR program encourages in its students. I am proud of her accomplishment and look forward to watching as she continues to develop into a skilled and highly competent researcher.鈥�
Reed鈥檚 recognition underscores the College of Education鈥檚 (COE) commitment to fostering research excellence and preparing scholars who advance educational practice and opportunity through innovation and discovery. EDPR is a program within COE鈥檚 Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research (CEPR).