Editors-in-Chief
Amy Buddie, Director of Undergraduate Research
Dr. Buddie earned her M.A. in 1998 and her Ph.D. in 2001 in social psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She completed two years of postdoctoral training at the Research Institute on Addictions at the University of Buffalo before joining the Department of Psychological Science at Kennesaw State University in 2003. In 2010, Dr. Buddie won the Kennesaw State University Distinguished Teaching Award. One year later, Dr. Buddie became the associate director for graduate student support and undergraduate research at the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). Then she was named director of the newly created Office of Undergraduate Research, a unit of the Office of Research, in 2016. Dr. Buddie is currently a Councilor in the Psychology Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research and served as the co-chair for the 2019 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), which was held at Kennesaw State University.
Current Editorial Board
Amelia Baker, Undergraduate Student Assistant
Amelia is currently a Junior at Kennesaw State University working towards a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering. She was previously in the First Year Scholars Program where she worked with Dr. Roneisha Worthy on “Exploring the Use of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase to Enhance Compost Nitrogen Content”, which was then shown at the Symposium of Student Scholars in the spring of 2022. She is also entering her second year of being a Peer Mentor. Since starting at Kennesaw State University, she has been able to gain undergraduate research experience and familiarize herself with the Office of Undergraduate Research. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and baking.
Victoria Grace Tucker, Undergraduate Student Assistant (2024) and Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research (KJUR) Intern (2023)
Victoria Grace Tucker will graduate in 2025 with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Emerging Media Interest and a minor in Professional Writing. She has been published in Abiding Love Charities, HG101, ThinkChristian, and more online publications and brings her experience with journalistic and creative writing to the Office of Undergraduate Research. She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and the KSU Journey Honors College. In her free time, she enjoys sculpting, cosplaying, drinking bubble tea, and hiking.
Previous Editorial Board
Christina Holm, Instruction Coordinator Librarian
Christina Holm earned her M.L.I.S. in 2013 from the University of California at Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California. In 2017, Ms. Holm was selected as the Association of College and Research Libraries, College Libraries Section, Featured Teaching Librarian. Ms. Holm has been a librarian with the KSU Library System for five years and is currently responsible for the Undergraduate Information Literacy Instruction Program. Ms. Holm also serves as a representative to the University System of Georgia Regents Academic Committee on Libraries Information Literacy Group. In this capacity she provides recommendations for incorporating information literacy learning opportunities into USG curriculum. Ms. Holm serves as one of the co-chairs for the KSU Library System Undergraduate Research Award, an annual scholarship opportunity that rewards students for excellence in research.
Jetta Whitehurst, Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research (KJUR) Intern
Jetta Whitehurst is a first semester senior double majoring in Journalism and Emerging Media and Theatre and Performance Studies. Jetta is on her third year of working at the KSU Writing Center as a writing assistant. In addition to serving as a tutor, Jetta leads a poetry club at the Writing Center. In the theatre department, Jetta has a concentration in acting and is currently writing a one-act play to be performed as a staged reading at the end of Spring 2024. She has also taught theatre as a summer camp teaching assistant at the Alliance Theatre. Jetta is interning at both the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research for editorial and marketing and the KSU's Musuem of History and Holocaust Education for social media marketing and digital communications. Jetta has presented at the Office of Undergraduate Research's Symposium of Student Scholars on multiple occasions and plans to continue developing her own research. In her spare time, Jetta can be caught reading, painting, dancing, or hiking.
Madeline Hipp, Student Editor
Madeline Hipp will graduate from Kennesaw State University in Fall of 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Emerging Media and a minor in Professional Writing. Madeline is currently interning for the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research. Previously, she interned for Fresh Take Georgia as a local news reporter. She also served as a peer mentor for the KSU Journey Honors College for the 2022-2023 school year. In her spare time Madeline enjoys reading, hiking with her dog, and spending time with friends and family. After graduation, Madeline hopes to work in the publishing industry as an editor.
Jaime Blei, Student Editor
Jaime was a graduate student at Kennesaw State University pursuing a master’s degree in professional writing with a focus on applied and creative writing. Jaime’s professional experience includes editing a special issue of the Geographic Bulletin and writing articles for the KSU Sentinel. She has also received writing credits for a coming-of-age film entitled When We Were.
Vernesha Brown, Undergraduate Student Intern
Vernesha Brown will graduate from Kennesaw State University in Fall 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations with a minor in Political Science. In addition to her internship with the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research in the Office of Undergraduate Research, she also serves as Vice President of Kennesaw’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter and a writer for Her Campus Kennesaw. In her spare time, Vernesha enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends. Following graduation, Vernesha hopes to pursue a career in public relations.
Emily Jobe, Associate Editor
Emily is a 2019 graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a professional writing minor focused on creative writing and editing. She was an intern and then gravitated to a student editor for the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research (KJUR) during her time as an undergraduate. Emily now volunteers as the Associate Editor for the journal and is a full-time freelance editor. She has also pursued other areas that have included being a published academic in KJUR, and a published poet with her work featured in two issues of Waymark and one with Aberration Labyrinth.
Hannah Watson, Undergraduate Student Intern
Hannah is an undergraduate student at Kennesaw State University who will graduate in 2023. Currently, she is working toward obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Emerging Media with a minor in leadership studies. While focusing on news writing and editorial work, Hannah is interning for the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research. She also served as a staff writer for Her Campus Kennesaw and the editor of the bulletin for Cornerstone of Faith Christian Ministries Inc. Aside from being a full-time student, Hannah is also a creative writer, bookworm and lover of music. She enjoys writing on all topics.
Rachel Schrauben Yeates, Graduate Student Intern
Rachel Schrauben Yeates graduated from Berry College in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and creative writing. She is the Institutional Repository Specialist for the KSU Library System and is currently pursuing a professional writing master’s degree at KSU. Before transitioning to libraries, she worked in journalism and newspaper design. Her creative writing has been featured in Chicago Reader, Ramifications, and From Glasgow to Saturn, and recognized at the Southern Literary Festival.
Madison Kemp, Undergraduate Student Intern
Madison graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kennesaw State University in Fall 2021. Following graduation, Madison aspires to earn a master’s degree in social work due to her passions for mental healthcare, family systems, and culture. Madison’s work at the Zuckerman Museum of Art, the Department of Psychological Science, and Peacefully prepared her for interning at the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research. You can find Madison on campus practicing Korean in the Language Lab, reading fantasy books at the Sturgis Library, or indulging at the Commons.
Marielena (Mari) Zajac, Graduate Student Intern
Marielena (Mari) Zajac graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in communications – public relations. Currently, she is pursuing a master’s of professional writing degree with a dual concentration of rhetoric/composition and applied writing at KSU. In addition to serving as an intern for the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research, Mari also serves as a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of English, where she will be teaching ENGL 1101 and 1102 classes for the 2021-2022 academic year. Upon graduation in Spring 2022, Mari hopes to continue working in editing and publishing, particularly for children’s books.
Sarah Scott, Undergraduate Student Intern
Sarah Scott graduated from Kennesaw State University in the Spring of 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Media and Entertainment with a minor in International Affairs. Sarah served as a student intern with the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research as well as serving as a writer and editor of the blog Communication Investigation. While doing editorial work and school, Sarah also pursues other communication-related hobbies such as doing live event production work, learning foreign languages (Mandarin, Korean, and ASL), choreographing dances, and writing and producing her own original songs.
Landon Mion, Editorial Assistant
Landon will graduate from Kennesaw State University in the fall of 2020 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and emerging media and a minor in sociology. In addition to interning for the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research, he also serves as an intern for The Daily Caller, a student reporter for The College Fix, a campus correspondent for Campus Reform, a contributor for Lone Conservative, a journalism intern for Pulp Magazine, a student assistant for the Office of Research at KSU and a staff writer for The Sentinel. He has previously been a contributor at 71 Republic.
Tiffany Davis, Editorial Assistant
Tiffany Davis graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2018 with a Bachelor's Degree in English and a Minor in Professional Writing. During her pursuit of the Bachelor's degree, Tiffany worked on the Atlanta Student Movement Project, which focuses on turning the oral histories of the 1960's movement into a digital medium. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters in Professional Writing at Kennesaw State University with a concentration in applied writing, while also continuing to work on her creative writing. She is also currently interning at the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research as an editorial assistant.
Jackie Morgan, Editorial Intern
Jackie is an undergraduate student at Kennesaw State University and is currently working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in English as well as history and professional writing minors. With a focus on editorial work, Jackie expects to graduate in 2021 and is currently interning for the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research. While also working at a part-time job outside of school, Jackie pursues other interests such as creating art, poetry, and creative writing.
Kaelyn Ireland, Student Editor
Kaelyn is an undergraduate student at Kennesaw State University with a double major in psychology and modern language & culture (Spanish) and expects to graduate in 2020. Kaelyn’s work with the Office of Undergraduate Research included serving as a student editor of the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research (KJUR) and planning for research-related events on campus, including the Symposium of Student Scholars and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) hosted by KSU in spring 2019. Kaelyn also informed KSU undergraduate students across all disciplines about research opportunities through the university.
Emily Deibler, Graduate Student Editor
Emily is currently working towards a master's degree in professional writing at Kennesaw State University after earning a bachelor's degree in English at KSU in 2017. While working as a social media intern and coordinator for the KSU Writing Center, Emily began research on the health benefits of reflective writing in academia, presenting the findings at the Southeastern Writing Center Association Conference and the KSU Symposium of Student Scholars. Emily currently works as an editor for the English Department’s newsletter The English Broadside and has interned as an editor for the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research.
