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For Mount Allison psychology and volleyball student-athlete Mya Artibello, undergraduate research has become an opportunity to look closely at a subject she already knows very well — university athletics — while helping to make that environment stronger for the people working within it.

A member of the Class of 2027 from Antigonish, NS, Artibello is completing an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. This summer, as an Independent Student Research Grant (ISRG) student, she has been building on an independent study completed last year and laying the groundwork for her honours thesis.

Her research focuses on the experiences of student athletic trainers and the challenges they may encounter within university athletics.

“Because I am a part of athletics myself, doing this research has been valuable to me,” she says. “It has allowed me to see the role of student athletic trainers from a new perspective.”

Earlier this summer, Artibello examined student athletic training programs at universities across Canada, looking at differences in areas such as training, responsibilities, and compensation and considering how Mount Allison’s program compares.

That work has already produced practical results.

Working with her supervisor, Psychology Professor Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, Artibello created a report for Mount Allison Athletics outlining some of the challenges student athletic trainers may experience and offering recommendations for strengthening the program. She also contributed to a section of the athletic training handbook. 

“The goal is to help ensure that student athletic trainers are treated with respect and that their experiences within athletics are as positive and supportive as possible,” she says.

The research brings together her interests in psychology, sociology, workplace environments, and athletics.

Her summer schedule combines independent work and weekly meetings with Hamilton to review progress and set goals. Early in the summer, much of her time was spent reviewing academic literature and previous studies. More recently, the focus has shifted to connecting with universities and developing a pool of potential participants for the next phase of the research.

That independence has been an important part of the experience.

“I have learned how to find academic literature, develop research questions, create surveys, conduct focus groups, and analyze information,” she says. “Most importantly, I have learned how to take research findings and think about how they can be applied to improve a workplace or organization.”

For Artibello, that ability to connect academic research with real-world change is one of the greatest benefits of undergraduate research at Mount Allison.

“Doing any research at the undergraduate level is incredibly valuable,” she says. “It gives students the opportunity to explore topics they care about and learn things they might not have been able to in the classroom.”

The experience has also helped shape what she hopes to do after graduation. Through her research, she has developed a growing interest in workplace experiences, employee well-being, and the role organizations can play in creating healthier environments.

She now plans to pursue a career in human resource management.

Her studies in psychology and sociology — together with courses from across the liberal arts and sciences and her hands-on research experience — have helped prepare her for that path.

“I have learned how to think critically, communicate effectively, and look at problems from different perspectives,” she says. “I believe that my coursework and research experience will allow me to put many of these skills into practice in my career.”

Her work will progress with an honours thesis that she hopes will provide an even clearer picture of the experiences of student athletic trainers — and additional recommendations for ensuring university athletics continues to be safe and supportive.

“This research has made my experience at Mount Allison a lot more meaningful,” she says. “It has given me the opportunity to work closely with professors, connect with people at other universities, and see how research can be used to create real change.”