SXU Senior Earns Outstanding Psychology and Outstanding Undergraduate Student Awards
Saint Xavier University (SXU) senior Hailey Ruehle has received SXU's Outstanding Psychology Student Award and the Overall Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award.
"I feel extremely grateful. My time at Saint Xavier has been so memorable. I put a ton of effort and care into all that I do without expecting that effort to be recognized, so it feels incredibly rewarding," said Ruehle.
As a transfer student, Ruehle spent her two years at SXU fully immersing herself in her psychology studies and taking advantage of every opportunity to grow as a student and researcher.
"I began a work-study position as a psychology student worker and spent my time making the Psychology wing a welcoming, organized and supportive space for students and faculty. That same semester, I secured a spot in Dr. Gia Macias's CAPS Lab studying the relationship between emotion and cognition. In fall 2025, we presented our project at a national conference, the Psychonomic Society in Denver, which was made possible by SXU's Student-Faculty Research and Creative Productions Grant," said Ruehle.
During her senior year, Ruehle conducted two independent research projects that examined coping self-efficacy, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and resilience, presenting at both the Midwestern Psychological Association conference and the SXU Research Expo. She also was a learning assistant for research methods.
"As a learning assistant, I had not only the privilege of helping students succeed in their course materials but also the opportunity to watch their confidence grow. As a first-generation college student, I know what it feels like to walk a path that has not already been mapped out for you. Because of that, I made it a personal goal to help make education, research, and our University spaces feel more accessible and achievable to others, as amazing SXU students and staff have done for me!" said Ruehle.
Ruehle has been interested in psychology since she was a child, when her curiosity about the human brain and the cognitive mechanisms behind it began. In college, she developed a strong passion for conducting research on how humans cope with stressors and what makes people more or less resilient, with a specific focus on trauma, PTSD, and CPTSD in underserved populations.
"What makes this work especially meaningful is that the topics I care about are not only personal but also important. These areas affect so many people across the globe, yet many communities remain underserved, and that is what continues to motivate me. I want my work to contribute to knowledge that can be translated into support for communities too often left to navigate hardship on their own," said Ruehle.
Ruehle is grateful for the high-impact learning opportunities she experienced at SXU, especially the ones that challenged her before she felt fully ready for them.
"Working in Dr. Macias's research lab, presenting research at conferences, working with students as a learning assistant, and conducting my own independent research taught me so much about what I am capable of and how to remain confident and troubleshoot in times of uncertainty. Through all of this, I learned that to grow, you need to place yourself in spaces that feel intimidating before they feel familiar. This has helped me realize I can succeed far beyond what I feel is possible," said Ruehle.
As she graduates, Ruehle takes with her many memories from her time at SXU, including her time in Denver, where she and two other lab members spent four days exploring the Psychonomic conference space and attending various cognitive psychology talks and workshops.
"This experience was beyond rewarding, as I was extremely passionate about sharing our findings and connecting with other scholars in the field. The trip was filled with amazing accomplishments and a ton of fun, well-deserved after the long hours we spent bringing our project to fruition. I am immensely thankful to SXU and proud to represent our amazing University!" said Ruehle.
In the fall, Ruehle will attend the University of Denver and begin a master's program in research methods and statistics. After, she hopes to continue pursing research focused on coping, resilience, trauma, PTSD and CPTSD, especially in underserved populations.
"My long-term goal is to contribute to research that can be translated into accessible support for communities in need. As I move forward, I plan to carry SXU's mission alongside me."