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Two graduate students from Florida State University have received scholarships from a global organization for women that acknowledges academic excellence among outstanding doctoral candidates.
Clinical psychology Ph.D. candidate Morgan Robison and history doctoral candidate Danielle Wirsansky, both affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences, have been honored with 2025-2026 Scholar Awards from the Philanthropic Educational Organization, or P.E.O., a nonprofit committed to empowering women through education.
“The accomplishments of Morgan and Danielle exemplify the quality of their efforts as well as the strength of FSU’s graduate programs,” stated Adrienne Stephenson, director of FSU’s Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards. “Investing in these scholars not only fosters individual achievements but also propels significant advancement in research, leadership, and innovation across various fields.”
Established in 1869 by seven female university scholars, P.E.O. has assisted over 125,000 women globally in achieving their aspirations by offering more than $435 million in educational support. First granted in 1991, P.E.O. Scholar Awards are extremely competitive merit-based scholarships providing as much as $25,000 for one year of studies and research by women poised to make substantial impacts in their respective areas. Of the 776 women nominated by local P.E.O. chapters this year, Robison and Wirsansky are among only 100 awardees nationwide.
Robison, a dedicated fifth-year doctoral student in the Department of Psychology, focuses her research on suicide risk, intervention, and prevention at the Laboratory for the Study and Prevention of Suicide-Related Conditions and Behaviors under the guidance of Thomas Joiner, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of Psychology and head of FSU’s Psychology Clinic.
“Receiving this award brings essential recognition to our efforts, an important step in enhancing suicide prevention research,” Robison stated. “This generous scholarship is both humbling and exhilarating. It will directly facilitate my research and lessen the financial burden as I transition into my clinical internship year.”
Robison’s research indicates that an individual’s self-perception — shaped by how they psychologically and neurobiologically interpret external, interpersonal experiences such as social exclusion — affects mental health outcomes more significantly than the interactions themselves.
Research on suicide prevention and pinpointing those most vulnerable is increasingly vital as suicide rates have surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among minorities, with 2024 marking the highest suicide rate in the U.S. since 1941, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“This research is significantly informed by philosophy, social psychology, history, and neuroscience, with each discipline providing a unique perspective on how we define and express our humanity, as well as how that humanity can be overshadowed or disregarded,” Robison remarked. “I integrate these viewpoints in clinical psychology to improve our understanding of how we can cultivate belonging through our shared human experience, ultimately preventing severe mental health crises.”
“Investing in these female scholars enables P.E.O. to foster individual success while propelling meaningful advancements in research, leadership, and innovation across various fields.”
– Adrienne Stephenson, director of FSU’s Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards
Wirsansky, also entering her fifth year, is a doctoral student in the Department of History working under the mentorship of Nathan Stoltzfus, an emeritus professor of history at FSU.
Wirsansky’s dissertation investigates the experiences of spies during World War II, particularly focusing on women who were part of the British Special Operations Executive and were captured by Nazi forces. By analyzing how gender influenced their recruitment, training, treatment in captivity, and post-war narratives, Wirsansky’s research sheds light on how female spies navigated and challenged the gender norms of their era.
“Every time I discover a letter, photograph, or personal narrative, it feels like I am reviving a piece of their legacy,” Wirsansky shared. “I want the public to acknowledge and honor the bravery and contributions of these often-overlooked women, many of whom risked everything in the service of freedom and resistance.”
Wirsansky has also earned a 2024 Fulbright Study/Research Award from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, funding her current archival research on female World War II spies at the Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem, Israel. This research not only enhances existing historical knowledge but also informs contemporary and future understandings of how gender influences wartime dynamics.
“I was ecstatic and honestly a bit taken aback when I learned I received the P.E.O. Scholar Award,” Wirsansky expressed. “Graduate school can be both financially and emotionally challenging, especially in the latter stages of dissertation writing. This scholarship assists me in starting my career on a solid foundation with fewer challenges and greater momentum.”
For additional information regarding graduate fellowship and award opportunities, visit the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards at ogfa.fsu.edu.
The article Two FSU doctoral students selected for competitive Philanthropic Educational Organization scholarships first appeared on Florida State University News.
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