Elif Yazgan, a psychology major with a double minor in cognitive science and art history, has been named the 2026 Outstanding Psychology Senior. This honor recognizes her accomplishments as a student and researcher, her curiosity and determination, and her dedication to finding her community at MSU.
Originally from Turkey, Elif was eighteen years old when she started at MSU, her first time being in the United States.
"Being named the Outstanding Psychology Senior is especially meaningful for me because coming here was a big step,” said Elif. “All of my family are back in Turkey, so receiving this award gave me the sense that I’ve accomplished so much here and really found my place.”
After a hard first semester of being homesick and adjusting to a new culture, Elif began to find a community through the Turkish Student Association- where she now serves as Vice President-and getting involved in research.
“At first, I didn’t even know if I could just email or talk with my professors after class. But I’ve come to really appreciate how open and friendly people are here. I’ve found a lot of opportunities simply by emailing and reaching out to people,” said Elif.
After seeing a post about a research opportunity, Elif emailed Dr. Joe Cesario, interviewed for the position and ultimately joined his Social Cognition Lab.
“I love that research gives you the opportunity to explore so many things. You can even come up with a research question and then pursue it” said Elif. “It gives you an opportunity to actually contribute to people’s lives which is so meaningful and validating.”
To help her narrow down her psychology interests, Elif also worked in the MSU Autism Lab, researched abroad at the University of Bristol, and joined Dr. Aldo Barrita’s lab. She also led a Women’s Leadership Institute funded research project with Dr. Barrita and completed an independent study under the mentorship of Dr. Cesario.
An internship with the Family Therapy Clinic at MSU solidified her interest in therapy alongside her interest in social justice oriented research. By combining the two interests, Elif found the field of counseling psychology in which she’ll be going to graduate school after graduation. By opening herself up to so many experiences, Elif was able to find her path at MSU and beyond.
“I’d love to give a shoutout to Dr. Cesario for being so helpful to me over the years. He gave me my first research experience, mentored me with my independent research project, and helped me stay on track for applying to grad school. He made time whenever I needed something and was so understanding with everything,” said Elif. “I’m also very grateful to my advisor, Noël, for always being there and making time to support me with everything. And to all the professors I’ve had the opportunity to work with, thank you. I’ve learned so much from each of you, and I truly appreciate the opportunities you’ve given me.”
Elif also credits her family and friends for where she is at.
“I would like to thank my family and friends for everything,” said Elif. “I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for my family. My friends have been like a second family here, so I want to thank them for supporting me as well.”
Looking back at her time at MSU, Elif only wishes she hadn’t been so anxious during her first year.
“If I could go back and tell myself one thing, I would say that there really is no need to be anxious about anything. People are very welcoming and kind. Send the email because no one is going to overthink it,” said Elif. “And be open to opportunities. Trying out many things helped me figure out what I like and dislike, which helped me a lot in determining what I want for my future.”