PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (March 22, 2023) — The Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) Program at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) provides undergraduates with the requisite knowledge, values, and competencies to support and empower their future clients. By developing essential problem-solving skills, students will be able to generate solutions to the complex challenges faced by a clientele that includes individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and populations-at-risk.
Saabiraa Robinson – a social work major graduating in 2025 – is already applying this innovative thinking to her career goals and in how she plans to expand access to therapy for potential clients. “I want to introduce people to an alternative, possibly easier, approach to therapy,” she said. Saabiraa plans to open a creative therapy center, which would focus on utilizing art-based activities, such as music, dance, or drawing, to treat patients’ various conditions.
But before Saabiraa embarks on her promising career, she’ll continue to enrich her analytical and critical thinking skills through her participation in PVAMU’s Faculty-Research and Innovation for Scholarly Excellence (Faculty-RISE) Program. This initiative enables faculty researchers to advance and sustain their vital research through external grants and contracts
Saabiraa Robinson, RISE undergraduate student
while simultaneously mentoring undergraduate students to become the next generation of experts.
Under the guidance of Jasmine Hamilton, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at PVAMU, Saabiraa is helping to conduct research focused on “Evaluating the Influence of Identity on Perceptions of Mental Health, Exercise, and Sport Among Collegiate Students.” As Dr. Hamilton explained, the project “seeks to explore mediating factors between identity [racial and gender] and behaviors regarding mental and physical health [e.g., anxiety regulation, exercise, and sport participation] among college students.”
Saabiraa “has taken the lead on the literature review and assisted with comparative analyses to determine opportunities and data trends. Currently, she is creating an outline for manuscript publication,” Dr. Hamilton said. And last spring, Saabiraa joined her mentor in Montreal, Canada to present at the annual North American Society for Sociology of Sport (NASSS) Conference.
“I was drawn to this specific project because it’s focused on the relationship between mental and physical health,” said Saabiraa. Additionally, as a college student preparing to enter the field of mental health, she finds this research to be of particular relevance.
Saabiraa’s interest in her field of research and her enthusiasm for learning, in general, have made a positive impact on those she’s worked with, including her mentor. “Saabiraa approaches research with a refreshing curiosity, that in turn keeps me motivated as well,” said Dr. Hamilton.
As the talented student advances her studies, Dr. Hamilton will continue to foster and encourage Saabiraa’s growth. “She has really done well with the interdisciplinary exploration of issues,” Dr. Hamilton said. “I am excited to share the results of our work and assist Saabiraa through this path of her educational journey.”
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By Jenna Badrigian