'A Researcher at Heart'
Ohio Wesleyan Student Helps Design Project Focused on LGBTQ+ Family Socializations
Name: Teodora "Téa" Ilic '26
Hometown: Delaware, Ohio
High School: Hayes High School
Majors: Psychology and Sociology & Anthropology
Minor: Spanish
OWU Connection Experience: Participating in Ohio Wesleyan's annual Summer Scholarship and Research Program (SSRP)
Ilic spent 10 weeks researching "LGBTQ+ Family Socialization and Developmental Outcomes in Emerging Adulthood" under the mentorship of Krystal Cashen, Ph.D., assistant professor of Psychology.
More specifically, Ilic has "helped begin the development of a broad scope project on how LGBTQ+ family socializations impact various developmental outcomes in emerging adults, with a personal project focusing on body image development."
She also shared her findings as part of the university's Patricia Belt Conrades Summer Scholarship and Research Symposium.
A Purposeful Project
"I mainly wanted to figure out whether research is something I would be interested in pursuing professionally when the time comes, and this summer helped me realize that I am, indeed, a researcher at heart.
"Being able to work on a project that focuses on multiple points of interest for me (LGBTQ+ studies, developmental psychology, family dynamics, etc.), while also knowing I would discover new interests as well, was what guided me to pursue working with Dr. Cashen on this specifically."
My Favorite Moments
"I have greatly appreciated all of the one-on-one discussions I had with Dr. Cashen – sometimes including an additional lab member (Willow Bryn Rosser '25) who did SSRP last summer and has continued working in the lab – about professional development, articles, and other general matters of the world. They have given me an incredible amount of insight into the academic world that I hope to continue paving a path through, and have made what once were daunting future aspirations seem more possible than ever before."
I learned about myself first and foremost, and what path I want to pursue after OWU.
Lessons Learned
"I learned about myself first and foremost, and what path I want to pursue after OWU. Going into research for LGBTQ+ family studies through academia or other means is the goal now.
"I also found it interesting to interact with faculty at the mutual levels that we did throughout the program, which was a pleasant shift from the usual 'professor/student' dynamic that often has a bit of a hierarchical feel.
"Seeing what psych/social-based research entails was also quite eye-opening, as I could never properly imagine it in full beforehand."
My Mentor
"Dr. Krystal Cashen was my research mentor for the SSRP program, and while I was technically the one who was supposed to help her with research, the amount of help she provided for a multitude of factors was even more monumental. …
"I will continue to help Dr. Cashen with the large project and my own independent branch of it for the next years, through independent study and also just volunteer lab work."
My Campus Activities
"I help out with the international student club, Horizons, when possible, and am also an active member of YDSA (Young Democratic Socialists of America)."
My Plans After Graduation
"I plan on taking a gap year before applying to Developmental Psychology/HDFS (Human Development and Family Science) Ph.D. programs. OWU has provided many great connections through faculty and staff, which have provided ample opportunities for continuing with my academic goals."