ACORN Center
Student Scholars & Research Opportunities
Interested in being a research assistant at the ACORN Center? Contact Cindy Corbett.
Undergraduate Students

Hannah Hardy, Senior
Duties at the ACORN Center: At the ACORN center, my primary role is to aid my research mentor Dr. Corbett with
the PACE Greenville study that is researching the effects that an Amazon Alexa device
may have on older individuals. My current role in this study is to enter the data
collected into a database, which I will soon analyze. Additionally, I am a part of
a scoping review researching the effects of digital technology and social connectedness
for individuals with one or more chronic condition. My primary role in this project
has been to conduct literature reviews and analyze the information collected with
the intent to write a manuscript on the topic.
Research Focus: My current research focus is on the PACE Greenville Study that involves using an
Alexa device in the homes of older individuals with one or more chronic condition.
The goal of this study is to research the effects that technology may have on this
population regarding their chronic conditions and quality of life overall. Although
my biggest concentration is on the PACE Greenville Study, my focus overall is on the
effects that technological devices may have on individuals, the older population specifically.
Why I have enjoyed working in the ACORN center: Working at the ACORN center has given me countless opportunities that have allowed
me to grow as not only a researcher but as a person. When I first started working
with the program, I had no idea what I wanted my focus to be on, only knowing that
I wanted to take part in research regardless. Today, I can say with a great amount
of confidence that my current concentration at the ACORN center, is what I would like
to pursue throughout the entirety of my college career. Additionally, during my time
with the ACORN center, I have made countless relationships with the most incredible
people that have allowed me to grow professionally and personally.

Ashley Jones
Duties at ACORN Center: I assist Dr. Vick in analyzing data, finding new data, and identifying information
that fits into scientific research models.
Research Focus: My research focus is the socioeconomic determinants of the impact of sickle disease
in African American communities in the state of South Carolina. Currently, my research
mentor and I are working writing a literature review on my findings. As we progress
forward in my research, we plan to conduct research that includes a survey at two
important sickle cell centers in Columbia, SC
What do you enjoy about working with the ACORN Research center? This year was my first time being a part of the ACORN community. It felt like home,
and everyone was extremely welcoming and comforting. I found the most comfort in Dr.
Vick who has interests in sickle cell disease as well, and she introduced me to this
amazing community. I enjoy the ACORN community because when I speak, everyone is fully
engaged and supportive of my ideas and what I am interested in. Have peers who are
interested in what you are doing and being so encouraging is such an amazing feeling
to have.

Tomo Ono
Duties at the ACORN Center: At the ACORN Center, my primary involvement is with the ACORN SEEDS research group,
where I work with other students and faculty advisors to explore a topic of interest
through student-led research and projects. I am also starting the process of working
on my honors thesis, so I will likely be working with the ACORN Center in that capacity
as well.
Research Focus: I am interested in the topics of stress and nursing burnout, and in my freshman year,
I explored stress and coping mechanisms in nursing students across the continuum of
their education through an independent project. Additionally, I collaborated with
the ACORN SEEDS group to investigate stress and substance use in the general undergraduate
population at USC. In terms of future research, especially for my honors thesis, I
am interested in building off of what I have already done and the domains of community
and public health.
Why I enjoy working for the ACORN Center: I enjoy working for the ACORN Center because of the research-oriented students and
faculty, who provide invaluable support and guidance for scholarly endeavors. The
research areas that the ACORN Center engages in have a real ability to positively
impact people's wellbeing, and that has been inspirational. Getting to work on projects
and engage with faculty who have extensive experience with research has been a great
learning experience, and I look forward to continuing my collaboration with this amazing
group!

Shegun Santos
Duties at the ACORN Center: My responsibilities in the ACORN center include collaborating with other ACORN undergraduate
students in group research projects and working on my own personal efforts.
Research Focus: My research focus is on the health of vulnerable and underserved populations, more
specifically in the field of mental health. Currently, my honors thesis focuses on
students from a rural background in college settings and mental health literacy.
Why I enjoy working for the ACORN center: Working for the ACORN center has provided a wonderful opportunity to work with passionate
individuals in research and has exposed me to various fields of research that I otherwise
would not have had the opportunity to explore. Not only that, the ACORN center hosts
an amazing environment for learning and communication and has helped me grow professionally.
Graduate Students

Mia Barron, PhD Student
Duties at ACORN Center: My duties at the ACORN Center are to aid my mentor and principal investigators with
coding, data abstraction, and literature review of their proposed research studies
and to further develop my own research.
Research Focus: My topic area of interest is patient-provider communication among African American
individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus and other chronic autoimmune conditions.
I am particularly interested in strategies and/or tools used to enhance and improve
communication among patient and providers.
What do you enjoy working with ACORN Center research? The most enjoyable aspect of working with the ACORN Center is having the ability to
work alongside effective, knowledgeable, friendly, and respectedprofessionals who
are always willing to share their expertise. During my short time here, I have learned
so much. The ACORN Center has provides opportunities beyond the classroom. The experience
to work hands on with specific projects enhances my learning and is helping to prepare
me for the next level as a nurse scientist.
Theresa Ekenedo, PhD Student
Duties at the ACORN Center: Principal investigator on my proposed research project with the help of my research
mentors. Assist my research mentors in other research projects in participants enrollment
and data collections. Ensuring research activities comply with ethical standards and
guidelines, including but not limited to obtaining informed consent from participants
and protecting their privacy and confidentiality. Staying abreast of advancements
in research field through attending conferences, workshops, webinars, and engaging
with the scientific community through networking and collaboration.
Research focus: My research will focus on exploring the ethical dilemmas faced by caregivers of adults
to gain insights into the complexities of the caregiving dynamics. Qualitative research
to identify common ethical dilemmas experienced by people of color, especially African
Americans and the impacts on them will be undertaken. Existing guidelines and support
services will also be evaluated.
Why I enjoy working with ACORN: Acorn provides an opportunity to work with a diverse and multitalented team which
is personally rewarding as it challenges one to grow professionally. The center is
beneficial for achieving collective goals as it creates an environment where everyone's
talents and contributions are valued and respected.

Bridget Hamilton, PhD Student
Duties at the ACORN Center: Assisting with qualitative and quantitative analyses and drafting manuscripts for
professional publications.
Research Focus: Conducting small area analyses of health disparities throughout metro-Atlanta to understand
barriers and facilitators of reproductive health outcomes in the context of structural
racism.
Why I enjoy working for the ACORN Center: The mentoring and resources available within the ACORN Center are available nowhere
else. Working at the ACORN Center has connected me with the best of the best in using
nursing science to research health disparities. My work with the ACORN Center has
assisted me in my journey to be an independent nurse scientist.

April Hutto, PhD Student
Duties at ACORN Center: My duties at the ACORN center include serving as principal investigator on my own
projects with the help of my research mentors!
Research Focus: My research focus is on the military population, specifically military children with
TRICARE coverage. My research is mostly qualitative and examines the experiences patients
have. I also focus on continuity of care and how it affects health outcomes for those
with chronic disease.
What do you enjoy working with ACORN Center research? I love working at the ACORN center because it allows me to feel that I am making
a tangible contribution to the field of research in an area that I am truly passionate
about. I am able to take my personal passions and experiences and use them to guide
my research. I also enjoy being able to make connections with such educated and respected
faculty. It is truly a privilege!

Rebecca Kemp, PhD Student
Activities with ACORN Center: Participation in PACE research with Dr. Cindy Corbett for research internship.
Research and Scholarship Focus: Medication adherence in African Americans with Type 2 diabetes to oral antidiabetic
medications
What do you enjoy about being a member of the ACORN Center?: Being able to gain experience and knowledge about different research methods and
software that are used to analyze the data.
Recent Graduates

Christina Bhola
Duties at ACORN Center: Assisting Dr. Corbett in projects and participating as a research subject when necessary,
contributing to data collection and discussion of projects.
Research Focus: Projects involving geriatric populations and nursing technology that may aide in
higher quality of life.
What do you enjoy working with ACORN Center research? The ACORN center is full of talented people to learn from, great ongoing projects,
and passionate teams of people ready to change lives. It makes me excited to be part
of that team.

Charlotte Burts
Duties at ACORN Center: My role within the ACORN center is to aid my research mentor Dr. Wright with duties
such as conducting literature reviews and performing data analysis, as well as becoming
a researcher on my own personal projects.
Research Focus: My research focus is on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and the experiences and struggles
of those affected. Currently, my research mentor and I are conducting research to
aid in the development of a digital platform for care and support for this chronic
condition on multiple different levels such as exercise, social support, and symptom
management. I personally am focusing on the link between PCOS, mental health issues,
and physical activity, and how it impacts the lives of women who suffer from this
condition.
What do you enjoy working with ACORN Center research? I have loved working at the ACORN center, as it allows me to feel like I am supporting
women with a common yet underrepresented chronic condition and getting to learn many
fundamental aspects of scientific research all at the same time. This opportunity
has allowed me to take my personal interests and turn it into something that I can
further explore in my research and learning pursuits. I have also greatly enjoyed
getting to establish new relationships with faculty and learn more about all of the
opportunities for research and exploration within the College of Nursing. I am so
grateful for the opportunity to develop my abilities overcoming challenges and constant
learning, all while continuing to foster my passions in research!

Melissa Danilov
Duties at ACORN Center: My role within the ACORN center is to collaborate with my mentors Dr. Raynor and Dr.
Vick to write a manuscript about my personal project which is conducting a survey
on registered nurses of all education levels in the South Carolina region to explore
knowledge gaps and perceptions of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). I’m also here to support
other undergraduate students conducting research at this center.
Research Focus: My research is currently focused on nursing knowledge of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
and its treatment. With a minor in neuroscience, I also am exploring how neurotechnology
can play a role in treating OUD. As a future psychiatric mental health nurse, I plan
to continue working with and researching substance use disorders including OUD.
What do you enjoy working with ACORNS Center Research? I like working with ACORNS because I get to share my academic passions and discover
the passions of other students and faculty. I’m also happy that I can make connections
with a very educated, ambitious, and supportive faculty. Because stress is a well-known
risk factor for developing a chronic illness, undergraduate students are collaborating
as a group to explore stress prevalence at our university. I’m very excited that we
can coordinate such a project here at the center.

Shelby Lester
Duties at the ACORN Center: My responsibilities within the ACORN center are to conduct my own research for my
honors thesis with the help of my thesis mentor, Dr. Vick, and engage in a group research
project with other ACORN undergraduate students.
Research Focus: My research is centered around the curriculum for USC undergraduate (UG) students
in the College of Nursing. Specifically, I am evaluating the preparedness of nursing
students to cope with the grief experienced from patient loss. My research includes
a systematic review of literature on the best practices in teaching coping methods,
a curriculum review of the UG nursing curriculum, and semi-structured interviews with
students and faculty.
Why I have enjoyed working in the ACORN center: I am new to working in the ACORN center this semester, but have been working closely
with Dr. Vick the past year. I have already enjoyed engaging with Dr. Vick on a weekly
basis and forming a good connection with a faculty member. I am looking forward to
working closely with and learning from more faculty! Additionally, I am eager to collaborate
with other undergraduate students who have a passion for research. I see a bright
future ahead working in the ACORN center!

Elle Naylor
Duties at ACORN Center: My duties at the ACORN center include conducting research for my Honors College thesis
with the help of Dr. Raynor, my thesis director, and engaging in group research projects.
Research Focus: My current research focus is on adults that have parents with alcohol use disorder
(AUD), specifically exploring the quality of their sibling relationships, internal
resilience, and perceived mental health. I am interested in preventative approaches
to alcohol use disorders in families.
Why I have enjoyed working with ACORN Center research: I have loved the opportunity to work with the ACORN Center because the faculty have
welcomed and supported me from the start, providing me with a team-oriented space
to learn and grow. I have been encouraged to step out of my comfort zone and accomplish
more than I ever expected. As a public health student, it has been beneficial to have
an interdisciplinary perspective of both nursing and public health students, faculty,
and researchers.

Chrisogonas Odhiambo
Duties at ACORN Center: Development and customization of data collection and processing software tools, training
of new users on the tools, user support, data analysis, neural network training, process
documentation, manuscript preparation.
Research Focus: AI, Machine Learning Applications of wearable sensors.
What do you enjoy working with ACORN Center research? I enjoy working with a diverse talented self-driven team, bringing on board a wide
knowledge-base. Importantly, our study seeks to address a major common challenge of
poor medication adherence.

Khushi Patel
Duties at ACORN Center: At the ACORN center, I work on inputting data, writing papers and abstracts, transcribing
interviews and coding different aspects of the projects I work on. Project topics:
medication adherence, patient-provider communication, medicine-focused AI research,
perceptions of COVID-19 among uninsured populations.
Research Focus: My research focus is on patient-provider relationships, specifically what factors
impact trust and how this varies across income levels.
What do you enjoy working with ACORN Center research? I've learned more than I could have ever imagined working at the ACORN center, finding
interests and passions I didn't even know I had! All the faculty at the ACORN Center
is extremely friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. It is not only a great work environment
but also an amazing learning environment.

Sydney Reichardt
Duties at the ACORN Center: My duties at the ACORN Center include assisting with data collection, contributing
to academic journal publication, and conducting research for my Honors College thesis
with the help of Dr. Cindy Corbett, my thesis director and the director of the ACORN
Center.
Research Focus: My research focuses on chronic conditions; one specific focus is Postural Orthostatic
Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
Why I enjoy working for the ACORN center: As a person living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, helping others
with chronic conditions, as well as improving our understanding of these conditions,
is important to me. I love working at the ACORN Center because it allows me to conduct
research that will better the lives of people and truly make a difference.

Isabel Stringfellow
Duties at the ACORN Center: Assisting Dr. Corbett and Lizzy Combs, the project coordinator, in enrolling patients
in studies, doing data analysis and data entry, working to help PhD students with
any research they need done and literature reviews to help with grant writing.
Research Focus: So far most of the focus has been with smart technology and aging populations, though
we also helped with some work focused on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
Why I enjoy working for the ACORN center: The ACORN Center provided me with my first research experience and showed me how much
of an impact I can make in the community. I'm interested in the intersection of research
and hands-on patient and/or participant experience which I get both of at ACORN. My
clinical interests can be matched with innovative ideas about taking care of others
through research opportunities at ACORN.

Natalie Trimble
Duties at the ACORN Center: My duties at the ACORN center include serving as principal investigator on my own
projects with the help of my research mentors!
Research Focus: My research focus in on the military population, specifically military children with
TRICARE coverage. My research is mostly qualitative and examines the experiences patients
have. I also focus on continuity of care and how it affects health outcomes for those
with chronic disease.
Why I enjoy working for the ACORN center: I love working at the ACORN center because it allows me to feel that I am making a
tangible contribution to the field of research in an area that I am truly passionate about.
I am able to take my personal passions and experiences and use them to guide my research.
I also enjoy being able to make connections with such educated and respected faculty.
It is truly a privilege!