Psychology Student Awarded Ford Fellowship

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Victoria O’Keefe, a first-year clinical graduate student in the Oklahoma State University Department of Psychology, has been awarded a Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship to conduct research on American Indian/Alaska Native suicide risk and resiliency.

“Ms. O’Keefe is determined to bridge the tremendous gap in suicide research among American Indian and Alaska Native populations,” assistant psychology professor LaRicka R. Wingate said. “Suicide continues to devastate these communities throughout the United States and her research will aid in understanding why this health disparity persists and how it can be minimized.”

O’Keefe, a native of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, and Cherokee and Seminole Tribal Member, will receive a $20,000 annual stipend that may be used for up to three years of graduate study. For 2012, the program awarded 60 predoctoral fellowships out of about 1,300 applications to individuals engaged in graduate study leading to a doctor of philosophy or doctor of science degree.

Awards are given to individuals who have demonstrated superior academic achievement, committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

The OSU Department of Psychology is one of 24 departments in the College of Arts and Sciences.