Vanessa Oviedo

Name:  Vanessa Oviedo

College:  Graduate

Department:  Psychology

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive?  The Federico and Rena Perlino Memorial Scholarship

What year do you expect to graduate?  I expect to complete my doctoral degree in 2024.

Where do you call home?  Long Beach, California

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out?  What made UC Santa Cruz stand out was the campus and the program. The UC Santa Cruz campus is so beautiful and peaceful which I find very conducive to learning! Plus, the program itself and being able to work with my advisor, Dr. Jean E Fox Tree, really made UC Santa Cruz the best choice for me.

What is your field of focus?  My field of focus is Cognitive Psychology. My research interests lie in how people communicate using mediated means, such as text messaging, phone calls, and video calls, and how switching between different communication media effects our interpersonal relationships.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz?  I’m unsure whether I would like to teach or work in industry at this time.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here?  One memorable moment that stands out for me as a student here has been walking around the campus and enjoying the views of the ocean, as well as the trees!

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz?  My piece of advice would be to talk to other students in your department and outside of your department. Graduate school can feel very intimidating and isolating, but there’s so many great, supportive communities on campus and wonderful people who can provide guidance and support!

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research?  This scholarship will give me the opportunity to focus a bit more on my research. This summer, I plan to run two research studies simultaneously, so the award will allow me to better focus on both!