Ariana Espinosa Grimaldo was selected by a committee of A&M–Central Texas faculty to represent the university at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Day at the Texas Capitol. Ariana’s research, “Bridging the Gap: The Relationship between Student-faculty Interactions, Motivation, Self-confidence, and Stress” highlighted that students’ positive interactions with faculty, such as when faculty express a caring attitude toward their students, is associated with students’ academic self-confidence. This is a particularly interesting finding for the students at A&M–Central Texas because while many are taking online degree programs, including Ariana herself, the connection with faculty seems to be important in the online setting, similar to what has been documented for in-person coursework. A total of 58 students and their faculty mentors representing universities across the state of Texas gathered for a day of panel discussions, networking, and sharing their research with others. Undergraduate Research Day at the Texas Capitol is hosted biennially during each Texas Legislative Session.
In Ariana’s words, “One of the highlights of this event was connecting with other undergraduate researchers from across the state. It was inspiring to hear about what sparked their curiosity and motivated them to pursue their unique research topics. Attending the research panel sessions was also one of my favorite parts of the day. Listening to the researchers share their personal academic and professional journeys was both motivating and reassuring. Many of them described how their paths were not linear, they explored different fields, careers, and research topics, which eventually led them to where they are today. This experience reminded me that growth comes from exploring different opportunities and that every step, even the unexpected ones, can be valuable.”
Ariana, along with Dr. Malin Lilley, Assistant Professor of Psychology, and Dr. Walter Murphy, Assistant Vice President in the Division of Research and Innovation, were able to connect with Harold Stone, Chief of Staff for Senator Pete Flores, who represents Senate District 24, which includes the A&M–Central Texas campus. Ariana shared her research with Mr. Stone, who expressed congratulations for her accomplishments. Legislators were in session during the event, so attendees were able to observe Senate Committee hearings and tour the Capitol on the day of the event.
For more information on the Psychology and Counseling programs at A&M-Central Texas, visit https://www.tamuct.edu/coe/counseling-psychology.html.