Arturia Melson-Silimon has plenty of academic accolades along with involvement in student organizations, but she says her biggest accomplishment is becoming a mentor and role model.
Hometown:
Marietta, GA
High School:
South Cobb High School
Degree objective:
B.S. in psychology with English minor
Expected graduation:
May 2018
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
Academic honors and scholarships: I am an inductee of multiple honor societies including Phi Kappa Phi, Psi Chi and Abeneefoo Kuo. I have also been a presidential scholar since my freshman year and a member of the Honors Program.
University highlights: I am currently a research assistant through CURO. My research is in the field of industrial organizational psychology and I have presented at the CURO symposium and annual Psi Chi convention. I am currently in the process of completing an Honors capstone and CURO distinction. I am also a mentor through the Black Educational Support Team and a TA for the Honors Program.
Other achievements: I have interned with the City of Atlanta for two summers and have completed an NIH-funded research fellowship at the University of Missouri.
Family ties to UGA:
My paternal grandparents both attended UGA and met here. However, they did not complete their studies and decided to start a family instead. I will be the first in my family to graduate from the University of Georgia.
I chose to attend UGA because…
… of the school’s value. UGA offers amazing opportunities to its students and I was drawn to the Honors Program. My ultimate goal was to attend college to help change and inspire my community and family. Being a mentor and role model for my cousins and my siblings is one of my biggest accomplishments.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
I love finding relaxing, hidden areas on campus to study. I have also become an avid coffee drinker, so you can find me at Starbucks or Jittery Joe’s. I also enjoy participating in organizations on campus. I’m currently on a committee for Shop with a Bulldawg.
When I have free time, I like…
… to read or watch DIY videos on YouTube. I also enjoy thrifting for unique finds.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
… decide to be an Honors teaching assistant. As an introvert, I would never have imagined getting in front of students each week to teach them. I really have enjoyed the experience and it has inspired me to pursue a career as a professor.
My favorite place to study is…
… the science library and the computer lab in Moore College.
My favorite professor is…
… Dr. Nathan Carter. During my sophomore year, he asked if I would be interested in a student research position. Researching under Dr. Carter’s supervision has opened many doors for me and allowed me to explore my passions. Since then, I have changed my career goals entirely.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
… President Obama. I would like to just get to know him and learn more about what inspired him to change history.
If I knew I could not fail, I would…
… run for office. I believe it would be an amazing opportunity to serve my local community directly.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to…
… travel around the world for an entire year. My first stop would be Jamaica.
What is your passion and how are you committed to pursuing it?
Few researchers in the field of industrial organizational psychology specialize in Equal Employment Opportunity law. While research in effective selection measures is important, I am interested in bridging the gap between these measures and the potential legal implications surrounding discrimination. I am currently in the process of drafting a literature review that seeks to investigate future legal implications of personality tests through a mental health perspective, while also reviewing case law surrounding ADA violations of personality testing used in hiring decisions. Through this project, I have become even more inspired to pursue a Ph.D. in IO with a concentration in EEO law. As a future IO psychologist, I will seek to address issues within the field from both a methodological and legal standpoint.
After graduation, I plan to…
… pursue a Ph.D. in industrial organizational psychology.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
The one UGA experience I will always remember is Freshman Welcome. I can still remember how excited I was the night before my first official day. Standing on the field with my fellow classmates is something I will never forget.
