The Graduate School at Florida State University and the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards have announced the winners of the annual Graduate Student Op-Ed Competition, an initiative designed to spotlight the written communication skills of graduate students across disciplines.
This year’s competition, funded by the Congress of Graduate Students, drew 51 submissions from students representing a wide range of academic programs. Five students were recognized with top awards in categories such as “Best Explanation of a Complicated Subject” and “Best Use of Evidence,” while five others received honorable mentions for their outstanding work.
“The Op-Ed Competition is about empowering graduate students to share their research and perspectives with a broader audience,” said Keith D. McCall, acting director of the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards. “It’s encouraging to see so many students step up to the challenge of translating complex ideas into accessible, persuasive writing. Their voices are vital to public discourse.”
2025 awardees:
Best Explanation of a Complicated Subject
Doctoral student in the Department of Psychology; Program in Neuroscience
“The Key to Solving Sex Differences in Obesity Lies in Women’s Brains — If We Choose to See It”
Joyner argues that understanding women’s brain biology could transform approaches to obesity research and treatment. The piece calls for a shift in scientific priorities to address sex-specific factors that influence weight and health outcomes.
A Raleigh, North Carolina native, Joyner chose Florida State University for its interdisciplinary training and strong mentorship culture. She works with Lisa Eckel, director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology, whose research on sex differences and ingestive behavior, estrogen signaling and obesity, aligns with Joyner’s interests in how estradiol shapes feeding circuits and metabolic outcomes.
“Science hasn’t always felt accessible to me — I grew up without scientists around me,” Joyner said. “Winning this award is not just recognition for an op-ed — it’s affirmation that taking a complicated scientific idea and making it clear, human, and accessible truly matters. It means I get to be the voice I wish I had growing up: breaking things down and showing that science is something anyone and everyone can understand and belong to. It validates that communication is just as essential as experimentation, and that making science accessible isn’t optional — it’s necessary.”
Best Use of Evidence
Doctoral student in the Department of Educational Psychology & Learning Systems; Counseling Psychology and School Psychology (Combined Ph.D.)
“Stop Treating Asian American Students as a Monolith”
Ji emphasizes that Asian American students are far from a single, uniform group. Drawing on research, the op-ed calls for educators and counselors to recognize cultural and individual differences to better support academic success and mental health.
Originally from Qidong City, Jiangsu Province, China, Ji chose Florida State University for its combined Counseling Psychology and School Psychology Ph.D. program, which offers research-driven and practice-focused training. She was especially drawn to working with advisers Lyndsay Jenkins and Elaine Luo, whose research interests align closely with her own.
“I’m grateful for the chance to share a perspective that often goes unheard — that Asian American students are not a monolith,” Ji said. “Many young people feel unseen behind stereotypes, and being able to use evidence to highlight our experiences felt deeply important to me. Writing this op-ed reminded me why I care so deeply about this work, and I hope it encourages others to think critically about how we support students.”
Best Call to Action
Master’s student at the College of Social Work; Social Work.
“The Hidden Curriculum of Care”
Lovins Bacani calls attention to the overlooked aspects of undergraduate student development viewed through the lens of social work, advocating for a stronger focus on empathy and human connection. The op-ed argues that these elements are essential for effective practice and should be embedded in professional preparation.
Originally from Chipley, Florida, Lovins Bacani chose Florida State University because of its strong commitment to student success and community engagement.
“FSU is home,” she said. “I earned my undergraduate degree and met my husband here. I also work for the Department of Undergraduate Studies and have been honored to dedicate a significant portion of my professional career to the success of our undergraduate students. Continuing my academic journey at FSU felt like a natural extension of that commitment.”
Best Organized Op-Ed
Doctoral student in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics; Spanish Linguistics.
“Research-Based Teaching Helps Students Get the Most from Language Requirement”
Flemming argues that evidence-based teaching methods transform language requirements from a checkbox into a meaningful learning experience. The op-ed highlights strategies that boost engagement and long-term proficiency.
A Tallahassee native, Flemming chose to attend FSU because of its commitment to excellence in research methodology. After graduation, she plans to pursue a teaching position to continue teaching Spanish and Linguistics and continue to research effective language teaching methods.
“Winning this award is an honor that reflects the efforts I have made to communicate clearly about my research,” she said. “Writing in this style was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but I value being able to help people understand why research on language teaching is needed. This was a rewarding experience that helped me to refine my communication skills, and I hope other graduate students will be inspired by this piece, and will try it in future years.”
Most Persuasive Op-Ed
Doctoral student in the Department of Psychology; Clinical Psychology.
“Social Media Isn’t Perfect—But It’s Not the Villain”
Thai challenges the narrative that social media is inherently harmful, pointing to its role in supporting relationships and community. The op-ed calls for a nuanced perspective that weighs its positive and negative impacts.
Thai, originally from Morris Plains, New Jersey, chose to attend Florida State University for its plethora of resources for research and mentorship from distinguished professors. After graduation, Thai aspires to become a tenure-track professor, achieving a balance between teaching, research and clinical practice.
“This experience has been really valuable to me because one of my goals as a researcher is to make our findings relevant and accessible to the public,” she said. “My hope is that people will increasingly rely on science to inform their stances on the issues that matter to them.”
Honorable Mentions
Best Use of Evidence
Doctoral student in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning; Urban and Regional Planning
Most Persuasive Op-Ed
Doctoral student in the Department of Biomedical Sciences; Biomedical Sciences.
Best Call to Action
Doctoral student in the School of Communication; Communication.
Best Explanation of Complicated Subject
Doctoral student in the Department of Biological Science; Neuroscience.
Best Organized Op-Ed
Doctoral student in the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy; Public Administration and Policy
“We hope this competition continues to grow and encourages more students to share their stories and solutions,” McCall said. “Congratulations to all who participated. Because of the research and perspectives shared in this competition, we are all better informed.”
For more information, contact the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards at ogfa.fsu.edu.