Dual-degree ASU student advances child development research with military families
Sarah Nesbit is graduating this spring with two degrees: psychology and family and human development. Photo by Meghan Finnerty/ASU
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2025 graduates.
Sarah Nesbit’s academic path was shaped by her unique upbringing as the daughter of two U.S. Army service members. Growing up, she spent long stretches with her grandmother while her parents were deployed or working extended hours.
These early experiences sparked her interest in how children grow and thrive, particularly in families impacted by military service, eventually leading her to focus on child development and mental health.
Nesbit, who will graduate this spring from Arizona State University, is earning a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the Department of Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in family and human development from the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, both part of The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
At ASU, Nesbit immersed herself in research and hands-on learning. As a Barrett, The Honors College student, she completed multiple psychology internships, worked in the Child Development Lab and joined three research labs.
In Assistant Professor Kelsey Lucca’s Emerging Minds Lab, Nesbit worked under the mentorship of PhD student Nayen Lee and played a leading role in the lab’s “Living Lab” partnership at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, dedicating many weekends to data collection with families. Nesbit also contributed to Assistant Professor Joanna Kim’s Engaging Families Lab and Foundation Professor Abigail Gewirtz’s After Deployment, Adaptive Parenting Tools (ADAPT) Lab, exploring topics ranging from parenting interventions to family dynamics in military households.
Her honors thesis, under the mentorship of Professor Gewirtz and PhD student Syndi Basha, explored the impact of siblings on the mental health of children with a deployed parent and yielded complex results. Her analysis suggested that children with more than three siblings were more likely to show externalizing behaviors, such as aggression or hyperactivity, compared to those without siblings. No significant associations were found for internalizing symptoms.
In May, Nesbit is slated to present her research at the Society for Research in Child Development conference in Minnesota, a rare opportunity for an undergraduate student.
In addition to her research, Nesbit has also received numerous recognitions, including the Zita M. Johnson Child Study Award, the Community Builder Award — part of the Gold Standard Awards presented by Barrett — and “Best Poster” honors at the Department of Psychology’s Cialdini student poster symposium.
Looking ahead, Nesbit plans to continue working in research at ASU while publishing her thesis and applying to graduate programs in psychology. She is dedicated to improving mental health outcomes for children and families.
Let’s get to know her:
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
Answer: I originally chose ASU because it allowed me to stay close to my family — I was born and raised in Arizona. I’ve really had the most wonderful undergraduate experience here. If I had to do college all over again, I'd pick ASU again in a heartbeat.
I was really intimidated by the size of ASU my freshman year, but I quickly realized how amazing it is going to such a big school. I met so many incredible people and learned from so many unique perspectives. ASU’s size also means there are tons of opportunities available, from clubs to research labs to internships.
Overall, ASU has given me a great academic journey. I’ve loved it so much, and I really believe there’s a place for everyone here!
Q: Would you recommend other students pursue multiple degrees?
A: Pursuing multiple degrees is something I’d encourage for other students. Although dual-majoring meant taking more classes each semester, I still found the workload manageable. The two degrees I pursued were closely connected and complemented each other, so I often learned about similar concepts across my classes. That helped me explore topics more deeply and from different perspectives.
I’d recommend that students considering dual-majoring think about how the two degrees intersect and how that could benefit them long term. I also suggest using tools like the Major Map and “What If?” DARS reports to see if the required classes interest you. These tools are helpful for planning out future semesters and understanding the potential workload, which can make it easier to decide if double-majoring is the right path.
Q: What experience changed your perspective most at ASU?
A: As an undergraduate researcher in the Emerging Minds Lab, I worked on a developmental psychology project about social curiosity in children and its effects on behaviors like sharing. I was eventually promoted to Undergraduate Lead, and the experience opened the door to some incredible opportunities, including presenting at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston! Dr. Kelsey Lucca, the lab’s director, became one of my most influential mentors. Her support and honest feedback taught me the value of perseverance and helped shape my approach to research and learning.
The experience in the Emerging Minds Lab inspired me to join two clinical psychology labs — the ADAPT Lab and the Engaging Families Lab — where I explored research-based interventions that support children and families.
If you told me at the start of college that I’d end up working in three research labs, I wouldn’t have believed it. These experiences completely transformed how I think about research and its real-world impact.
Q: What was it like working in the Child Development Lab?
A: The community at the Child Development Lab is so special, and I genuinely look forward to going to work every day. I’ve been lucky to learn from the incredible staff for nearly three years. They’ve shaped my college experience, built my confidence and helped me grow.
Working with the children has been life-changing. Their creativity teaches me something new each day and reminds me to embrace joy and playfulness. It’s also reinforced concepts from my classes, especially the importance of play in children’s learning and development.
Overall, my time at the CDL has been the highlight of my college career.
Q: What’s the best advice you’d give to other students?
A: Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to get involved. When I started college, I often felt like I wasn’t “good enough” to join certain activities, but I really pushed myself out of my comfort zone and tried to get involved as much as possible. Every club or program I joined welcomed me and gave me incredible opportunities. If I hadn’t taken those chances, I wouldn’t have had so many amazing experiences in college.
Q: If given $40 million to solve one global problem, what would you tackle and why?
A: I would focus on supporting people experiencing suicidal thoughts. During college, I interned at La Frontera EMPACT Suicide Prevention Center in the children’s center, and their mission deeply moved me. I would want to fund organizations like EMPACT that provide compassionate, meaningful support to people during their most difficult moments.
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