College of Humanities and Social Sciences

George �鶹��Ƶ alum helped keep Team USA Safe at the Winter Olympics

Katarina Benson — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:25:08 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ alum helped keep Team USA Safe at the Winter Olympics Katarina Benson Mon, 03/23/2026 - 13:25

Near the Italian town of Bormio, visitors can ride a mountain cable car to take in a breathtaking panorama from a café perched near the peak. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Special Agent Mohamed Hassan, BA Religious Studies ’20, who was a field liaison officer during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, recounts taking a break from supporting Team USA to sip a cappuccino alongside Olympians: “Everyone was really interested in what everyone's there to do…. Everyone's motivating one another.”

Hassan is both a federal law enforcement officer and a member of the Foreign Service. Photo provided

As a DSS special agent, Hassan is both a federal law enforcement officer and a member of the Foreign Service. DSS is the U.S. State Department’s law enforcement and security branch, and it led security for the U.S. presence during Milan Cortina 2026. In Bormio, Hassan coordinated with the Italian police, military, and other organizations to help create a safe environment in which U.S. athletes could focus on their competitions.

When Hassan describes the community of that mountaintop café, it echoes his days at George �鶹��Ƶ, where he made friends with people from all over the world over potlucks and soccer games. Hassan, who grew up in Fairfax, developed his talents for bringing people together as a Patriot Leader and student advisor.

He says he eventually decided to major in religious studies because of religion’s impact on everything from how people relate to each other to how governments interact. He focused on the Middle East and said his George �鶹��Ƶ cohort “knew what I wanted to do and they helped me get there.” He also credits Nathaniel Greenberg, associate professor of Arabic, for pushing him to hone his existing Arabic language skills.

Hassan knew he wanted to be a part of something important and give back to the country that welcomed his family when they emigrated from Egypt. He took advantage of George �鶹��Ƶ’s proximity to Washington, D.C., and enrolled in an internship with the U.S. State Department through the federal Pathways Internship Program, which provides students paid work experience with the possibility of a job. After graduating, Hassan successfully joined the department, and about four years later, he became a DSS special agent.

Hassan with the Olympic rings. Photo provided

While working in Bormio, Hassan said he was able to immerse himself in Italian culture, witness ski mountaineering’s Olympic debut, and even hold an Olympic medal. His favorite local Bormio dish was pizzoccheri, which consists of hearty buckwheat pasta with potatoes, cabbage, and Valtellina Casera cheese topped with garlic and melted butter.

While an Olympics assignment is a rare opportunity, Hassan says every day is different working in DSS and “the world is your oyster.” And he means it quite literally. In his eight years with the department, Hassan has traveled to more than 30 countries and is eager to see more. With DSS operating at U.S. diplomatic facilities in more than 170 countries, that should be easy. Hassan is already looking forward to a new assignment where he can use his language and culture skills.

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Afghanistan was a crossroad of the ancient world

ckearney — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:18:35 +0000

Afghanistan was a crossroad of the ancient world ckearney Fri, 03/13/2026 - 14:18

Robert DeCaroli is quoted. Read more in Smithsonian Magazine.

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George �鶹��Ƶ collaborating with National Park Service to examine Revolutionary War from tribal nations' perspective

Katarina Benson — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:18:12 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ collaborating with National Park Service to examine Revolutionary War from tribal nations' perspective Katarina Benson Thu, 03/12/2026 - 17:18

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, �鶹��Ƶ is collaborating with the National Park Service (NPS) to make sure the contributions of all Americans are being recognized.

Gabrielle Tayac, an associate professor in the Department of History and Art History in the College of Humanities of Social Sciences, has received a grant from NPS to lead Phase Two of Tribal Nations and the Revolutionary War, a community-driven research project that will examine the Revolutionary War and its aftermath from the perspectives of tribal nations.

Tayac serves as the principal investigator and will assist the NPS in facilitating educational and interpretive strategies that will be implemented in sites around the Mid-Atlantic region and throughout the Northeast.

Gabrielle Tayac has received a grant NPS to lead Phase Two of Tribal Nations and the Revolutionary War. Photo provided

“My hope is that it will help everyone get a sense of deep connection and relationship to the lands we live on now, to the people who are still here and maybe who are not here and wonder what happened to them,” Tayac said. “To be better caretakers of our communities and places.”

The NPS grant runs through 2027 and coincides with America’s semiquincentennial celebration. Tayac is working with fellow Department of History and Art History professors C. Joseph Genatin-Pilawa and George Oberle, BA History ’96, MA ’98, PhD ’16, who also serves as a history librarian and the director of the Center for �鶹��Ƶ Legacies (CML). Digital Humanities Librarian Alyssa Fahringer, who collaborates with Oberle in the CML, will also contribute to the project.

Tayac, who served as the inaugural curator historian at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and New York, will set up workshops in the Northeast region from the Chesapeake Bay up to Maine. These seminars will provide insight from historians, NPS park rangers, and Indigenous community scholars. Tayac and her George �鶹��Ƶ colleagues will then produce digital work for historic sites and visitor centers.

Tayac, who collaborated on the 400th anniversary of Jamestown in 2007, hopes the project and the 250th celebration will serve as a focal point to “deepen those histories so that people can see them for a long time.”

“It is really critical it is done in a way that Native communities want their stories to be told,” said Tayac, who is an enrolled citizen of the Piscataway Indian Nation. “We also know that it has to be done in a way where the American public can really understand it, relate to it, and find the information relevant and intriguing to open up those conversations.”

George �鶹��Ƶ alum and NPS regional cultural anthropologist Noel Lopez, PhD Cultural Studies ’18, serves as a tribal liaison officer for the National Capital Region. He said previous interactions with George �鶹��Ƶ, such as collaborations on ecological study units with tribal communities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, have made the transition into the project easier.

“A lot of the work all of us do, whether it is anthropology or tribal liaison, a lot of it is around connections with people and connections with networks,” Lopez said. “All of this work we’re doing on both sides is relationship building. It is building trust with people.”

George �鶹��Ƶ students will also play a role. Tayac will offer training and hands-on opportunities, including through an undergraduate course, History 397 Public History in Action, which she will teach in spring 2027. Students will pull from the tribal communities’ stories and transform those into projects for museums, historic sites, a cultural center, or a website.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity for this project to not only workshop in the relationships with Native tribal community representatives but also to bring it back into �鶹��Ƶ,” Tayac said. “In real-time, my students can also have a hand in it. I think that’s really important, and it tends to make them really excited about history work, too.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ graduate student advances theater research through yearlong workshop at Folger Shakespeare Library

Shayla Brown — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:10:10 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ graduate student advances theater research through yearlong workshop at Folger Shakespeare Library Shayla Brown Mon, 03/02/2026 - 10:10

This academic year, �鶹��Ƶ graduate student Samantha “Chevi” Chung has had a research opportunity that few have had by participating in a yearlong workshop at the Folger Shakespeare Library. The theme of Chung’s workshop is “Shakespeare and Black Performing Women,” which ties in perfectly with her thesis.   

George �鶹��Ƶ is a member of the Folger Institute’s Consortium, so students and faculty have access to its wealth of scholarly resources. Chung is capitalizing on this collaboration and conducting research for her thesis, “Black Sheroic Couplets in Shakespeare, Black Female Actors Playing Eponymous Male Roles in Shakespeare's Plays from 1821 to 2025.”

Chevi Chung presents her research at the 2026 Black Lives Next Door event. Photo by Jerome Boettcher/College of Humanities and Social Sciences

“My favorite aspect of the workshop is that our conversations are just loaded with a lot of expertise,” said Chung, who is working on a master of arts and interdisciplinary studies (MAIS) in social justice and human rights degree. There is so much to glean from the amazing women I'm working with.”  

Her cohort includes actors, directors, theater practitioners, as well as theater scholars and researchers, and dives into the adaptations of Shakespeare works, Black performing women, and how people are conducting their Shakespeare-focused research. Workshops sessions also include guest speakers from different backgrounds and professions.

“Before my first semester at George �鶹��Ƶ, I really didn't understand how to conduct my own research, but then I took Professor Rachel Lewis’s [WMST 630] Feminist Theories course. It really opened my eyes and brought so many new resources and methodologies to my attention,” said Chung, who is a first-generation student. 

Chung said Lewis helped her develop her thesis topic on the theory of gender performativity in Black women actors.  

Chung also credits faculty members Jessica Otis, associate professor of history and associate director of the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, and MAIS Director Shayna Maskell for encouraging her to keep applying to the Folger workshop even after being rejected. 

“It was a good learning experience for me. I think failing forward is so important for growth and realizing that there will be rejections along the way,” Chung said.  

Chung (third from top left) with members of her cohort at Folger Shakespeare Library in D.C. Photo provided

During her graduate studies, Chung also had a summer internship with Maskell where she conducted qualitative research for Maskell’s book on the Riot Grrrl movement. Chung researched music, photography, and fan-made videos from the era, and coded what she found for Maskell’s use.  

Chung said her experience assisting Maskell helped prepare her for time in the Folger program.  

“Chevi played a key role in using the book’s theoretical framework in performance theory and feminist visual culture and applying it directly to the lived performances of Riot Grrrl bands,” said Maskell. “[She] analyzed archival footage and accounts of different performances and helped bridge the gap between abstract concepts and the reality of the stage. Essentially, Chevi helped turn raw data into a cohesive cultural narrative.”  

“[During this internship] I learned to challenge assumptions and not just accept the information given to me, but to validate it myself,” said Chung.   

The Folger workshop will conclude this April, Shakespeare’s birthday month, but Chung’s research into Black theater will continue.  

“Sadly, there are absences and silences in the Black theater archives, and we have to break through these and start asking questions,” said Chung, who is also conducting research within the Center for �鶹��Ƶ Legacies under the guidance of George �鶹��Ƶ faculty Wendi Manuel-Scott and George Oberle. “I’m determined to expand my knowledge beyond what it currently was, not just regarding Black theater archives, but Black history in general.”  

After graduating in May, Chung will pursue her PhD in theater and performance studies at the University of Maryland this fall.  

“It is an honor to be a part of this group. Beyond the wealth of knowledge I’m receiving, this is also an opportunity to build long-lasting connections and relationships,” she said. 

Explore Internships at George �鶹��Ƶ

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Profs and Pints lecture series expanding into Crystal City bar this month

ckearney — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:31:34 +0000

Profs and Pints lecture series expanding into Crystal City bar this month ckearney Mon, 02/23/2026 - 12:31

Benjamin Gatling is mentioned. Read more in ARL Now.

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Ilia Malinin closes Olympic chapter with an unforgettable gala performance

blongcha — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 17:13:12 +0000

Ilia Malinin closes Olympic chapter with an unforgettable gala performance blongcha Sun, 02/22/2026 - 12:13

When Ilia Malinin stepped onto the ice for the closing exhibition gala of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, Feb. 21, the �鶹��Ƶ student wasn't skating for a score. He was skating for something bigger. Turning heartbreak into a powerful statement on mental health, grit and resilience, he closed out his winter games appearance on his own terms.

Ilia Malinin performs during a Figure Skating Exhibition Gala of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Wearing a dark sweatshirt and distressed jeans, a moodier, loose-fitting ensemble compared with his competition outfits, �鶹��Ƶ student and figure skating champion Ilia Malinin performed to “Fear” by NF with choreography that showcased a bold young man facing immense pressure, constant criticism, and high expectations, and eventually buckling under the weight of it all, falling to his knees and drawing into his hoodie to hide.

In a post-performance interview, Malinin said his intent was to show the pressure he felt to compete and succeed at the Winter Games. “This message and this program or song really spoke to me and really represented how I’ve been feeling the last year heading up to these Olympics. There’s been so much pressure, so much doubt, and everything around me—the noise, the media, the people, the environment—it’s been so overwhelming.”

A week after not medaling in the men’s individual event, Malinin posted to his Instagram, "On the world's biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside. Even your happiest memories can end up tainted by the noise.” The video accompanying the post showed Malinin going through the highest highs and lowest lows with glitches indicating competing battles. It also hinted that he would be back on Feb. 21, setting the stage for Saturday’s performance.

Ilia Malinin performs a back flip during the Olympic Skating Exhibition Gala of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games. Photo by Steve Christo/Getty Images

After landing his signature backflip—a move that was banned from competition for nearly five decades before being reinstated in 2024—Malinin became visibly emotional as the gala crowd erupted. It was a fitting bookend to an Olympic journey marked by extraordinary highs and lows—and one that revealed a young athlete of exceptional depth, both on the ice and off.

Prepping for Gold and Prepping for More

Malinin grew up in Northern Virginia, the son of two former Olympic figure skaters who later became his coaches. He enrolled at George �鶹��Ƶ as an exploratory studies major and has spent the past several years balancing his studies with elite-level training as he prepared to eventually compete on the world’s biggest stage.

Malinin, 21, arrived at the 2026 Winter Olympics as one of the most decorated figure skaters in the world—a two-time world champion, four-time U.S. champion, and the only skater in history to land a fully rotated quadruple axel in competition. His strong team performance helped deliver Team USA a team figure skating gold medal, cementing his legacy as one of the sport's most technically audacious competitors. Watch a 60-second lecture on the physics behind Malinin's quad axel jump.

But after leading the short program in the men's individual event, Malinin endured a stunning reversal in the free skate—falling twice and slipping to 8th place overall in one of this Winter Games' most shocking upsets. In the immediate aftermath, he spoke openly about feeling overwhelmed in the moment, reflecting a vulnerability that resonated far beyond the rink. Speaking with the Today Show about the performance, Malinin said, “Of course it didn’t go the way I wanted it to, all I can do is learn from my mistakes. I can take a different approach leading up to the next Games, hopefully."

Rather than recede from the spotlight, Malinin chose to use the gala as an opportunity to process his journey publicly and purposefully. He's already focused on what comes next, including the World Championships in Prague in March.

"My next goal is to have a redemption skate at the World Championships and just enjoy the stress of the Olympic season, and it will be finally over," Malinin said after the Exhibition Gala. "For the future, there's so much planned, no matter how these Olympics went. I'm really looking forward to not only being the best skater I can be but also pushing the sport and changing the sport to have a completely different view on the world.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ’s Ilia Malinin claims team figure skating gold

“I was around 13 when I realized that I could skate for more than just fun.”

Ilia Malinin

Read an interview with George �鶹��Ƶ student Ilia Malinin

George �鶹��Ƶ alum wants coffee to create intentional moments of rest

Katarina Benson — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:15:08 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ alum wants coffee to create intentional moments of rest Katarina Benson Wed, 02/18/2026 - 15:15

Michael J. A. Davis, BA Integrative Studies ’09, roasts coffee using the time-honored pan-roasting tradition of beans tumbling in a pan as the smoke rises like incense. What once fueled his long workdays eventually became his antidote to corporate burnout. In fall of 2024, he brought that transformation back to �鶹��Ƶ in a bag labeled “Brave & Bold.”

After Davis graduated from George �鶹��Ƶ in 2009, he began working in corporate branding for government and public and private sectors. Over time, his work evolved to sit at the intersection of branding and inclusion, helping Fortune 500 companies think through equitable design.

Davis created a special flavor for George �鶹��Ƶ, called Brave & Bold. Photo provided

“Through all of those projects, coffee became like a battery pack to keep me awake, productive, and delivering on time,” said Davis. “That's how a lot of us in the Western hemisphere kind of relate to coffee.”

That relationship shifted in 2015, when Davis first encountered the pan-roasted coffee in the back kitchen of an Ethiopian café in Falls Church, Virginia. Watching the beans being roasted in small batches made coffee feel less like a commodity and more like an art. That visit sent Davis on a journey into coffee’s deeper history.

“Through research, conversations with friends of the Ethiopian and Somali communities in Virginia, and time spent learning from family members in the countryside of the Dominican Republic, I came to understand coffee’s long history of traditional roasting and brewing is very much alive,” said Davis. “These communities don’t treat coffee as something to rush through; it’s intentional, it’s communal.”

As his corporate career intensified, coffee became a grounding ritual. Working as a consultant, Davis spent his days in what he recalled were emotionally draining conversations with executives while advocating for marginalized communities.

“Those conversations really beat me up and really took a toll on my mental health and my emotional health,” said Davis. “But during those years, roasting coffee was a ritual of rest for me.”

After leaving the corporate world in 2023, Davis founded Tinycup Coffee to share the idea that coffee is much more than fuel for productivity.

"Tinycup preserves this long history of coffee in Black and Brown communities in the global south by teaching Western coffee drinkers to change their relationship with coffee,” said Davis. “Our mission is to help coffee lovers to experience coffee, not as fuel to power through the Monday morning grind, but as a ritual of rest and restoration.”

In summer of 2024, Davis partnered with George �鶹��Ƶ to create a co-branded coffee. He tested his flagship Tinycup roast with members of the George �鶹��Ƶ community, refining the flavors to reflect the university’s character. From there, he turned to branding, naming it “Brave & Bold: The Patriot Roast” in collaboration with David Atkins, executive director of brand development and licensing at George �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of University Branding, who initially introduced the co-branding opportunity to Tinycup.

TinyCup coffee is pan-roasted, a specific technique. Photo provided

For Davis, the name nods to George �鶹��Ƶ’s history while centering on the community who carries that legacy forward, and he hopes Tinycup becomes a reminder that being “Brave & Bold” can also mean choosing rest.

For students considering becoming an entrepreneur, Davis shares some advice he wishes someone had told him: “Don’t let hustle culture convince you that rest is ‘lazy’—protect your energy like it’s the most important asset you have. You have more time than you think, so give yourself permission to step back, breathe, restore—those quiet moments are what keep your creativity, joy, and heart alive and well for the long term.”

Brave & Bold: The Patriot Roast coffee blend can be found online and at on-campus convenience stores. A percentage of sales is returned to the university.

Power the Possible

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�鶹��Ƶ alumna leads legislative affairs in the Governor’s Office

Katarina Benson — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 20:43:40 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ alumna leads legislative affairs in the Governor’s Office Katarina Benson Mon, 02/16/2026 - 15:43

The latest session of the Virginia General Assembly is well underway, coinciding with the start of Governor Abigail Spanberger’s first year in office. A new administration brings new staff and cabinet members who will help lead the commonwealth. Among them is �鶹��Ƶ alumna Gerica Goodman, BA Psychology ’12, MPA ’15, who now serves as the governor’s director of legislative affairs

As director Goodman, along with her team, oversees the review and tracking of each measure introduced during the 60-day session, tracking it as it moves through committees and onto the floor for votes. She also works closely with cabinet members, legislators, and executive-branch agencies to advance the governor’s legislative agenda.

Goodman is one of Spanberger's cabinet members. Photo provided

“I’m in constant communication with the governor, legislators, and cabinet-level leaders,” Goodman said. “We have a ‘no surprises’ approach. If legislators have questions for the governor, or the governor has questions for them, my team and I serve as intermediaries in the legislative process.”

Goodman also collaborates with agency leads to ensure they are prepared to implement new programs or adjust existing ones once legislation is signed into law.

Goodman began her career as an admissions counselor and recruiter in �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of Admissions. She traveled across the country—primarily in the Southeast—meeting students at high schools and college fairs, introducing them to George �鶹��Ƶ, and helping others discover it for the first time.

Her interest in helping others was shaped early. “My father’s a pastor, my mom works in health care, and I have teachers, nurses, and all types of folks in my family who work to improve the lives of others,” she said. That background initially led her to study psychology with the goal of becoming a counselor.

Working in admissions after her undergraduate years opened a new path, with travel exposing her to stark differences in educational access. “I talked to people and saw how different each school was,” she said. “Students could be in the same city, but their ability to matriculate to �鶹��Ƶ was determined by socioeconomic factors. That made me interested in education policy.”

Those experiences inspired her to take public policy courses, ultimately leading her to pursue a master of public administration at the Schar School of Policy and Government. During graduate school, she transitioned to George �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of Alumni Relations, where she connected with fellow Patriots, supported alumni engagement, and helped plan events such as Homecoming and the annual Alumni Legislative Reception in Richmond.

After leaving George �鶹��Ƶ, Goodman moved to Richmond to work in higher education policy. Before joining the Spanberger administration, she served as legislative and policy director for the Speaker of the House in Virginia and later worked in the transportation sector.

Goodman encourages students to take advantage of George �鶹��Ƶ’s growing alumni network.

“As a relatively young institution, it’s easier for students to connect with alumni,” she said. “Alumni are at really exciting points in their careers, and we’re happy to talk with students and offer advice.”

She notes that university’s alumni body has expanded significantly in recent decades. “Over the past 10 to 20 years, the number of people graduating from �鶹��Ƶ has grown tremendously. The Alumni Relations team is a great resource to help students make those connections. We’re always excited to share our experiences and lessons learned.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ’s Ilia Malinin claims Olympic gold

Katarina Benson — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:07:39 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ’s Ilia Malinin claims Olympic gold Katarina Benson Mon, 02/09/2026 - 14:07

On Saturday, February 7, �鶹��Ƶ student and reigning world figure skating champion Ilia Malinin helped power the United States to a team figure skating gold medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.

“This is your moment—it’s either do or die,” Malinin told reporters following his performance. “You have to go into this 100% and really know that it’s all up to you. I went in there with that mindset and really just let everything take its course.”

In his Olympic debut, Malinin, a 21-year-old exploratory studies major in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, became the first George �鶹��Ƶ student or alumni to ever claim a Winter Olympics gold medal. He’ll be a heavy favorite to add to his medal haul when the men’s singles competition gets underway on Tuesday, February 10, starting at 12:30 p.m.

Malinin and Team USA won the teams' figure skating gold medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Games. Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images

To support Malinin, large TV screens have been set up in the Johnson Center atrium on the Fairfax Campus and in the lobby of Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square, giving the �鶹��Ƶ Nation the opportunity to gather and cheer one of their own.

A Vienna native and 2023 graduate of George C. Marshall High School, Malinin—nicknamed the “Quad God”—has been one of the most recognizable figures of the Olympics, known for both his charisma and his ability to push the sport forward through the extreme difficulty of his jumps. He’s the only figure skater to have successfully landed a quad axel in competition, a jump requiring four and a half revolutions.

After a solid performance in Saturday’s initial skate, Malinin upped his game in spectacular fashion the following day, executing five quad jumps to help Team USA surpass Japan for Olympic gold.

Speaking to the press afterwards, Malinin reflected on the pressure of competing as the overwhelming favorite.

“That’s something that everyone has to go through. They have to find a way to motivate themselves and keep it together during that pressure,” he said. “A lot of the times, I’m able to use that pressure and embrace it and tell myself, ‘You have all the attention, now it’s your time to go out there and do what you know how to do, and put your trust in everything you’ve worked to up to this moment.’”

“I was around 13 when I realized that I could skate for more than just fun.”

Ilia Malinin

Read an interview with George �鶹��Ƶ student Ilia Malinin

�鶹��Ƶ Nation will come together to cheer on Ilia Malinin as he competes on the Olympic stage. Watch party details and locations.

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PhD student’s research addresses how adolescent social media use predicts in-person friendship networks

Shayla Brown — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:03:18 +0000

PhD student’s research addresses how adolescent social media use predicts in-person friendship networks Shayla Brown Wed, 02/04/2026 - 13:03

�鶹��Ƶ doctoral student Caroline Toth looks at how adolescents’ social media use is associated with the structure of their in-person friendship networks. Her research shows that friendships were more likely among youth with similar levels of problematic social media use and digital status seeking.

Photo by Getty Images

“This reflects a social network mechanism known as homophily, which is essentially love of the same, meaning that youth select friends who are similar to themselves in problematic social media use and digital status seeking. By doing this study, we're showing that friendships aren't forming at random, but being shaped in part by digital habits and values that are shared among friendship networks,” said Toth, a graduate research assistant in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Applied Developmental Psychology Program in the Department of Psychology.

Her first paper on the topic was recently published at the Journal of Children and Media.

“Adolescence is a very sensitive time for social processing. Teens are very sensitive to social cues,” said Toth, who earned her master’s degree from the same George �鶹��Ƶ program in 2021.

Caroline Toth. Photo provided.

Toth’s paper, “Problematic social media use, availability distress, and digital status seeking: Links to friendship network structure among U.S. adolescents,” explores how adolescents use social media to feel connected to others and gain social standing.

“Previous research has mainly examined links between social media use and disrupted sleep, anxiety, and depression. However, as a social networks scholar, I'm really interested in how adolescents’ online behaviors and emotional reactions to social media affect the structure of their friendship network,” Toth said.

This research is especially relevant to Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and 2024. When adolescents select friends who engage in similar problematic online behaviors, the resulting shared emotional thoughts, reactions, and behaviors can start to feel expected and encouraged within these friendship groups, said Toth.

This can be especially harmful because teens use social media to gain popularity and approval. The normalization of problematic online behaviors within friend groups makes them appear necessary for social success, explained Toth.

An example of problematic social media use is excessive use of social media to the point that it impacts your ability to focus on school or work. Within friend groups, adolescents are likely to reinforce this problematic usage because it’s what they see their friends doing. Toth emphasizes that algorithms are becoming more sophisticated and increasing adolescents’ exposure to highly engaging, emotionally charged content, keeping them constantly active online.

“It's critical that we continue to examine the constant feedback loop between the demands of the peer group and adolescents’ own emotional reactions to their online activities, so that we can help adolescents develop better coping mechanisms and survival skills for online life,” she said.

Toth states that interventions focused on improving self-regulation of social media use and emotional regulation show promise in helping young people resist algorithmic content manipulation, and take back control of their social media usage.

Olga Kornienko. Photo provided.

Toth and her mentor Olga Kornienko, an associate professor of applied developmental psychology, are collaborating with a public school district in Arizona to understand sources the role of social relationships as sources of risk and resilience in the lives of contemporary youth.

Working out of George �鶹��Ƶ’s Peer Networks and Development Lab, Toth and Kornienko are collecting data from ninth-grade students through a series of questions about their social media use, culture, and psychological well-being.

They are collaborating with scholars from University of California, Davis, and Arizona State University, where Kornienko earned her PhD in 2010.

“Our study is not specific to any one social media platform. We were able to capture the broader digital experience that adolescents have online that reflects their everyday life. We hope it will remain relevant to Gen Alpha and beyond because even as individual platforms go in and out of use or new ones pop up, they're still going to have those core aspects of promoting constant engagement and peer feedback,” said Toth.

Toth said that while she didn’t have much experience with academic publishing before coming to graduate school at George �鶹��Ƶ, she hit the ground running. “We started [this research project] in my very first semester, so it was a very important part of my professional development working with Dr. Kornienko,” Toth said. “[She taught me about] so many different aspects of peer interaction and networks, social media, and how they're all interconnected.”

“It’s been such a pleasure seeing Caro grow as a researcher and academic,” said Kornienko. “She is addressing a very complex topic and contributing to more positive adolescent experiences.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ alum helped keep Team USA Safe at the Winter Olympics

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George �鶹��Ƶ collaborating with National Park Service to examine Revolutionary War from tribal nations' perspective

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George �鶹��Ƶ graduate student advances theater research through yearlong workshop at Folger Shakespeare Library

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Afghanistan was a crossroad of the ancient world

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George �鶹��Ƶ graduate student advances theater research through yearlong workshop at Folger Shakespeare Library

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Profs and Pints lecture series expanding into Crystal City bar this month

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Ilia Malinin closes Olympic chapter with an unforgettable gala performance

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George �鶹��Ƶ alum wants coffee to create intentional moments​ of rest​

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�鶹��Ƶ alumna leads legislative affairs in the Governor’s Office

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George �鶹��Ƶ’s Ilia Malinin claims Olympic gold

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PhD student’s research addresses how adolescent social media use predicts in-person friendship networks

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George �鶹��Ƶ alum wants coffee to create intentional moments of rest