Hayley Simpson
Title of Program: Conservation and Ecopsychology
E-mail Address: hayjsimp@vols.utk.edu
Hometown:Memphis, TN
Year: Sophomore
Anticipated Graduation Date:Spring 2024
Description of Program: Conservation psychology, a relatively new division of the American Psychological Association, is formally referred to as “the scientific study of the reciprocal relationships between humans and the rest of nature, with the goal of encouraging conservation of the natural world.” This emerging field is inherently interdisciplinary, a synthesis of natural and social sciences that entails an understanding of both the ecological processes occurring in the natural world and the psychological processes that dictate human interaction with the natural world. Within this field, I hope to pursue research regarding the formation of environmental attitudes in early childhood and how those processes can be positively influenced to encourage sustainable behavior within community groups.
Departmental Emphases:Psychology, Geography, Sociology, Philosophy, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Nikki Luke, Jeff Larsen
Plans after graduation (career, graduate/professional school, etc.):I plan to pursue a Master’s degree in psychology, specifically environmental psychology, potentially at one of the few international institutions that offers an environmentally-oriented program such as the University Groningen in the Netherlands. I hope to obtain a P.h.D. in social psychology and eventually work as a professor and principal investigator conducting environmental psychology research at an accredited institution of higher education. As stated, the research interests I hope to pursue include early cognitive development of conservation-oriented attitudes, specifically the development of environmental stewardship behaviors in children and young adults.
Other Academic Interests: Political Science, Statistics, Art History, Film Studies Study Abroad: I am scheduled to participate in a farm labor share through WWOOF in France this summer and I plan to pursue research abroad after graduation, potentially through the Fulbright program.
Research Experiences or Internships: I am currently an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Sarah Lamer’s Social Perception and Cognition (SPAC) lab and I completed a fall internship with Beardsley Community Farm. Part-time Employment; Hobbies; Campus Clubs/Activities: Organizations I am involved with on campus include Women’s Coordinating Council, Students Promoting Environmental Action Knoxville (SPEAK), Progressive Student Alliance (PSA), FYS Peer Mentors, Thornton Center Tutors, UTK Psychology Social Media Ambassadors, Honors Leadership Program, Psi Chi, and Phi Beta Kappa. In my free time, I love hiking, practicing yoga, reading, and doing crossword puzzles.
