StFX students awarded prestigious Stewart and Lauder-Mulroney funding to pursue research

Seven StFX students spent their summer digging into important questions, from the post-release experiences of formerly incarcerated women in Canada to rethinking how central banks set policy.

Kate Byrne received the John B. Stewart Political Science Research Award, while Lucy Steffler-Minty, Malynn Ishmael, Macy McDonell, Madison Weston, Jaide Russell, and Kate Benning each received the Lauder-Mulroney Research Award, which is open to students in any discipline working in public policy and governance. The awards provide $9,250 in funding for 14 weeks of research work under the supervision of a StFX faculty member.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENS AFTER RELEASE

Lucy Steffler-Minty, a fourth year applied forensic psychology student from St. John's, NL, is working under the supervision of Dr. Elvira Prusaczyk to build an overview of post-release outcomes for formerly incarcerated women in Canada.

“What drew me most to this topic was the recognition that women involved in the justice system often face complex and intersecting challenges, yet their experiences are frequently underrepresented in research,” she says. “I wanted to better understand those experiences and contribute to evidence that could support meaningful change.”

She notes that no single comprehensive source currently exists that examines the post-release experiences of women across provinces, disciplines, demographics, and variables, a gap she hopes her project can help fill for educators, learners, and policymakers.

Her interest in supporting marginalized populations was shaped both by her studies and by her involvement with the Women and Gender Studies Society and the Elizabeth Fry Society Study Club.

For Ms. Steffler-Minty, the award has funded a summer of work and it’s helped clarify her path forward. “This experience helped me discover a passion for research that I didn't know I had, and I think that kind of insight can be incredibly valuable when making decisions about future education and career paths.”

RETHINKING EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY