STRIPE Lab Presents at the 2025 Midwestern Psychological Association Convention

April 23, 2025

Members of the STRIPE Lab (from left to right) Tong Wu, Audrey Ronan, Dr. Melissa Ertl, Mariam Onafowokan, Shilpa Maria Thomas, and LeShay Andrewin.

Members of Melissa Ertl’s STRIPE Lab presented their research at the Midwestern Psychological Association Convention 2025 in Chicago! Student travel awards supported LeShay Andrewin, Mariam Onafowokan, Audrey Ronan, Shilpa Thomas, and Tong Wu to present their work. Lab members also presented a co-authored poster, “Replicating Objectification Theory in a Diverse Sample of Women.” Mariam Onafowokan and Shilpa Thomas also presented their independent research from their psychology capstone and Undergraduate Research Scholarship projects conducted in the lab, respectively.

Audrey Ronan stated, "The STRIPE Lab is excited to present our research at the 2025 Midwest Psychological Association Conference. As a lab member since spring 2024, I have had the opportunity to contribute to our lab's discussions and investigations of Objectification Theory by exploring the existing literature and its applications for psychological practice, specifically relating to the theory's generalizability. I'm eager to share our findings and engage with the wider academic community of the region. By alleviating the financial barriers associated with travel, the Mortensen Award allows me to focus fully on presenting our research and engaging with fellow scholars. I am honored to use this support to foster meaningful discussions beyond our University, contribute to advancing the literature on Objectification Theory, and further my academic and professional development."

Shilpa Maria Thomas presenting her individual project "Disordered Eating and Body Shame in Relation to Racial and Ethnic Differences in a Diverse Sample of College Students" at MPA.