Michelina Gliozzi (’25)

Michelina Gliozzi is a Penn State senior majoring in Psychology. Michelina’s research examines the personality development and identity formation of adolescents. She is particularly interested in how culture and socialization impact these developmental processes during adolescence, as it is a pivotal time in which individuals learn about their identity and the different factors that contribute to their sense of self. Michelina’s research interests stem from her first developmental psychology course, which pushed her to join a developmental psychology lab to further understand the various factors influencing the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Michelina works as an undergraduate research assistant in the Context and Development Lab (CDL) with Dr. Dawn P. Witherspoon. The CDL broadly examines how different contexts such as family, neighborhood, and school impact the well-being of adolescents. In the lab, Michelina analyzes data and transcribes focus group transcripts. Recently, she has been entering data for a project that took place during her first semester with the lab. She finds working on a research project from beginning to end an invaluable part of her research experience with the lab. Additionally, she feels participating in the lab has expanded her knowledge of socialization and how it relates to identity development. After completing her undergraduate degree, Michelina plans to pursue a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.

Outside of research, Michelina can be found reading a book or sewing clothes. She loves to up-cycle pre-owned, thrifted clothing into something completely different to give it a new life.

The CSC wishes Michelina all the best in her future academic pursuits!