MSU Sociology PhD student selected for fellowship addressing the impact of adversity in childhood
March 12, 2026 - Karessa Weir
MSU Sociology PhD student Stephanie Winston has been selected for the 2026 Hiram E. Fitzgerald Engaged Scholar Fellowship.
This fellowship from the Graduate School supports students who are practitioners or researchers who will use the funding to learn more about a subject that will make them more effective in the area of preventing or addressing the impact of adversity in childhood.
Stephanie intends to use the funds to earn her certificate in Trauma Informed Care from the School of Social Work and will use that training for future dissertation research with Venezuelan displaced youth.
“This fellowship is meaningful to me on many levels. Working with vulnerable populations necessitates intentional methodological design and trauma-informed engagement grounded in ethics and care. I believe this work is critical as we adapt to societal changes and derive solutions that generate positive impact. The financial support provided will be fundamental in strengthening my professional training and broader understanding of the reverberating impacts of adverse childhood experiences,” Stephanie said.
The fund was established by Dr. Hiram Fitzgerald, University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology who studied the development of infants and very young children.
Dr. Eric Torng, head of the selection committee, said the committee noted Stephanie’s commitment and found her proposal “deeply thoughtful.” Torng is Associate Chair for Research and Faculty Development in the College of Engineering.
“Stephanie Winston stood out to the fellowship selection committee for her commitment to earning a certificate in Trauma-Informed Care to strengthen her research on the challenges faced by asylum-seeking families, equipping her to design approaches that are both rigorous and deeply thoughtful,” Torng wrote.
Stephanie has a bachelor of arts degree from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Her research interests center on inequality, stratification, and power imbalances impacting underserved communities.
Carla A. Pfeffer, Chair of the Department of Sociology, said: “It is so wonderful to continue to see MSU Sociology doctoral students recognized for their community-engaged scholarship and work to create more just and equitable conditions for marginalized communities. Our sociology community is very proud of the work that Stephanie is doing and excited to see her next steps as she uses this opportunity to further broaden her knowledge and research on best practices for supporting displaced youth. "