2024 Strumpf Scholar Award Recipient Announced

The Strumpf Scholar Award, provided by the Linda Brodsky Strumpf Liberal Arts Centennial Graduate Endowment, recognizes outstanding achievement and promise in areas of research supported by the Child Study Center. Students who receive the Strumpf Scholar Award show innovation and promise in their own research, often have multiple lines of research, and have begun the process of sharing this work with the child psychology research community via presentations and often publications. Selected graduate students are provided with two years of funding for summer support, as well as additional funds for research-related costs.

We are pleased to announce the 2024 Strumpf Scholar: Miglena (Megi) Ivanova, a Developmental Psychology graduate student.

Megi’s research focuses broadly on the etiology and prevention of adolescent psychopathology and substance use. Her primary mentor is Dr. Rina D. Eiden. Megi graduated from Montana State University with degrees in Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation and received the Golden Merit Award as top scholar of the graduating class. As a graduate student, she has examined socio-emotional development, especially the codevelopment of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Her master’s thesis centered on longitudinal internalizing and externalizing codevelopment in a high-risk population. A T-32 Prevention and Methodology Training fellow, Megi has presented her research findings at local, national, and international conferences. She is committed to mentoring others and is a strong supporter of neurodivergent and other diverse individuals in academia. The Strumpf Scholar Award will allow Megi the time and resources to complete her current projects, prepare for her dissertation work, and propel her into a career focused on fostering positive youth development.

Please join us in congratulating Megi!