From First-Year Volunteer to National Award Winner

When Alyssa LaGrone ’26 arrived at Trinity University in fall 2022, she brought with her a longstanding curiosity about psychology. Raised by two psychologist parents, she was familiar with the field but unsure how she wanted to make it her own. 

That curiosity evolved into a psychology major and a deep commitment to student wellness, research, and campus impact, earning her the Outstanding Peer Educator Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) at its national conference this spring. She also presented three times at the conference, including one solo session.

Building a Program from the Start 

As a first-year student, LaGrone didn’t take a single psychology course. Instead, a growing interest in student well-being led her to apply for Trinity’s peer health education program during its inaugural year. As a member of the first cohort, she helped define the program’s direction and priorities.

“Alyssa has been a valued member of our peer health educator team,” said Marlaina Widmann, assistant director of Student Wellness Services.

Finding Her Voice 

As a peer health educator, LaGrone quickly discovered a love for public speaking. When Wellness Services began facilitating required workshops for new members of Fraternity and Sorority Life, covering bystander intervention, consent, and healthy relationships, she volunteered. At the beginning, a handful of students would attend these workshops. Soon, her presentations reached up to 50 students at a time. 

“At first, students wondered why they had to be there,” LaGrone said. “But once we started interacting, they realized there was a lot of nuanced information, especially about consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships.” 

Her ability to connect with peers led to her appointment as workshop coordinator, where she developed material and facilitated presentations across campus. As a team leader within the Peer Health Educators, organized around sexual respect, mental health, and alcohol and drug safety, LaGrone also helped launch educational campaigns, social media outreach, campus-wide events such as Wellness Wednesdays, health fairs, and harm-reduction programming. 

LaGrone emphasized research-based harm reduction strategies. “If you choose to drink, here are ways you can drink more safely,” she explained. “We want students to have accurate information so they can make informed decisions that align with their values.” 

Turning Research into Impact

While leading workshops, LaGrone expanded her interests into research. After Trinity administered the National College Health Assessment in spring 2023, data revealed significant wellness disparities among queer and gender non-conforming students. Working alongside Widmann, she became the primary student researcher on a qualitative study examining LGBTQ+ health disparities on campus. 

LaGrone helped design and conduct surveys, interviews, focus groups, and recorded sessions. She drew on two years of experience as a research assistant in Kevin McIntyre, Ph.D.’s psychology lab, where she worked with Institutional Review Board processes, ethical protocols, and data analysis. 

Her academic achievements were recognized when she was named the outstanding senior in psychology. LaGrone also received a 2025 Trinity Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Award.

Inspired by Mentorship 

Inspired by Widmann and by her psychology mentors, McIntyre, Carolyn Becker, Ph.D., and Carol Yoder, Ph.D., LaGrone plans to pursue a doctorate in psychology and become a professor at a university like Trinity, teaching small classes, mentoring students, and leading her own research lab.  “Alyssa’s experience in research and health promotion, skills in teamwork and public speaking, and dedication to creating high-quality, impactful work will serve her well in graduate school and beyond.” 

“My professors and Marlaina have been incredible mentors who helped me get to this place,” Lagrone said.