Three Regis students making an impact in the field of Neuroscience and Psychology

This spring, Regis University’s Psychology and Neuroscience departments highlighted the achievements of three talented senior students during the Nu Rho Psi and Psi Chi induction and award ceremony. These awards represent a facet of each discipline while embodying the histories of psychology and neuroscience at the university.

The graduates, Abby Martin, recipient of the Eugene R. Delay Excellence in Neuroscience Award, Ivy Holtzinger, recipient of the Excellence in Psychology award and Cayden Gevedon, recipient of the Ignacio Martín-Baró Thinking Heart Award, have displayed a dedication to service, application to justice and academic prowess that stands out from the crowd.

“It is a joy and a privilege for faculty to honor students with these awards,” said neuroscience professor Amanda Miller, Ph.D. “These awards enable us to celebrate things that are typically difficult to represent in an academic transcript, like students’ curiosity, passion, perseverance and the unique contributions they make to our classes and department community.”

Peering into Regis’ history, the Eugene R. Delay Excellence in Neuroscience Award was established nearly three decades ago to recognize a graduating student’s achievement in neuroscience. The award was named for professor Gene Delay, Ph.D., the founder of the neuroscience program at Regis upon his retirement. Abby Martin, the awardee, has exemplified a commitment to not just neuroscience, but to living out the Jesuit value of Magis, meaning “more.”

Martin maintained a 4.0 GPA for her entire Regis career, while balancing volunteer work with Neuability, a wellness gym for individuals with neurological disorders, and Craig Rehabilitation Hospital, where she worked with patients recovering from traumatic brain injuries.

Most notably, Martin dove headfirst into undergraduate research, working in two different labs at the University of Colorado Anschutz and attending four unique research conferences. Impressively, Martin is first author on a publication in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine, titled "Comparative electrophysiological study of neuroactive steroid-induced hypnosis in mice: sex and drug-specific differences.”

For Martin, this award has deepened her commitment to her work and the faculty who helped get her there: “Since it's the professors who gave me the award, it's nice to know that the people that you've been learning so much from see that you're doing good work and value the work that you're doing.”

After graduating from Regis, Martin plans to take the MCAT and apply for medical school. She will continue her various research outlets, finding new opportunities to thrive.

Ivy Holtzinger, recipient of the Excellence in Psychology award, has led a unique path through her education. At Regis, Holtzinger was the Lab Manager for professor Julie Sriken, Ph.D., contributing to a discourse analysis which was presented at the Western Society of Criminology. She also assisted Sriken in managing research teams for a study covering autism assessments for women, and a study surrounding acknowledgment of intimate partner violence among women and nonbinary individuals experiencing homelessness.

Holtzinger’s academic path has been far from linear. After dropping out of high school while struggling with her mental health, she worked as a barista. It wasn’t until she became involved with Shopworks Architecture’s “Dignified Design” research team that she found joy in learning once again. Dignified Design explores how to serve individuals through architecture and housing by conducting community research.

Reentering the academic world was far from easy, but Holtzinger described that the faculty and peer mentorship she received at Regis helped her overcome her self-doubt.

“When I first came to Regis, I struggled with imposter syndrome,” said Holtzinger. “Throughout my time in undergrad, I’ve proven to myself that I am capable. I don't think anyone's path is set in stone, no matter their background.”

As a graduate, Holtzinger will continue her work with Dignified Design, where she is contributing to a research paper titled “Insight paper on youth shelters and supportive housing.” For the foreseeable future, Holtzinger plans to break from academics and find a position teaching in Japan. Ultimately, she dreams of being a university professor – helping students just like herself.

The Ignacio Martín-Baró, Thinking Heart Award’s namesake is named for the Jesuit priest and social psychologist whose work centered on the liberation of the marginalized, through the lens of social psychology. He believed that through decolonizing identity, history and the societal structure, psychologists could address underlying mental health perpetuated by oppression.

Rev. Ignacio Martín-Baró, S.J., was among the six Jesuits and two women who were murdered on Nov. 16, 1989, on the campus of Central American University during the Salvadoran Civil War. In his memory, the award is dedicated to a student who shows the same determination, kindness and world-changing philosophy as Martín-Baró.

The awardee, Cayden Gevedon, continued in Martín-Baró's footsteps through his undergraduate career. As a peer mentor for Regis’ GLOBAL Inclusive Program, Gevedon supported Regis students with intellectual disabilities, fostering a community of inclusivity and accessibility on campus. During his internship, Gevedon conducted and presented research on inclusivity and accessibility for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Last fall, Gevedon partnered with the GLOBAL Inclusive research team to present research at The State of the Art on Inclusive Postsecondary Education and Individuals with Intellectual Disability conference. Together, they shared research that was conducted on Regis students, measuring the attitudes of general students towards students with intellectual disabilities when taking a class together. Gevedon also presented a poster he authored at the Pac-Rim International Conference on Disability in Honolulu, Hawaii, in May of 2026.

Whether in the classroom or in the field, these students have shown excellence from their first semester to graduation. As they continue into the world, they bring with them their education and the knowledge that they’ve gone above and beyond the call.

Learn more about the Neuroscience and Psychology departments at Regis.