We are thrilled to announce that the recipient of this year’s Ann Rankin Cowan Excellence Award for High Impact Research in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience is the esteemed Director of The Strengths, Assets, and Resilience (StAR) Lab, Shauna Cooper. This award aims to provide seed 
funding for innovative, preliminary research that is pivotal in securing external funding. This funding supports research endeavors that can potentially translate into clinical applications and therapeutic treatments, benefiting society at large.
The director’s influential research focuses on the positive development of African American adolescents and youth, examining the roles of families, schools, and communities. Their groundbreaking work has been particularly insightful in understanding the dynamics of youth in rural settings and has emphasized the often-overlooked impact of fathers in these communities. Through active collaboration with community partners, the director is paving the way for new strategies to enhance child health.
This award recognizes the director’s continued potential to make original and high impact contributions to the fields of psychology and neuroscience, particularly here in North Carolina. Please join us in congratulating the director on this well-deserved recognition. Her work not only advances academic research but also promises significant societal impact.