Honors psychology grad bridges research, cultures and Indigenous engagement
Lainey Tsosie. Photo by ShootsbySierra
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2026 graduates.
Lainey Tsosie has always been curious about people.
“When I was young, I used to wonder, ‘Why do people think the way that they do? What makes somebody who they are?’ I think there are a lot of reasons as to why we become who we are, due to our environment and genetics, and that's why I wanted to study psychology,” Tsosie said.
Tsosie (Diné), who grew up in Surprise, Arizona, and has family in Ganado on the Navajo Nation, will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a minor in Spanish, from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University.
Understanding how people become who they are propelled Tsosie to her field of study.
Last summer, she was selected to conduct research with the Banner-Arizona State University Neuroscience Scholars Program, and she joined the Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City to help study the complex factors in healthy aging and cognitive health.
Through conversations with participants, Tsosie gained insight into how they remain mentally sharp into their 80s and 90s. “It was an impactful experience to understand how we can influence people in our lives to be healthier, present and cognitively aware,” Tsosie said.
She added a Spanish minor after taking classes in high school.
“I wanted to learn Spanish because there are people in Arizona who only speak Spanish, and I want to be able to communicate with them in my future career,” Tsosie said.
To strengthen her Spanish, Tsosie studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, which inspired her honors thesis project with Barrett, The Honors College. Working with her advisor, Valerie Flores, Tsosie interviewed fellow Barrett students to examine the study-abroad experience.
Tsosie is a recipient of the Chief Manuelito Scholarship, Cobell Scholarship, Freeport-McMoRan Education Forward Arizona Native American Scholarship, Krause Family Scholarship, New American University Provost's scholarship and the American Indian Services Scholarship.
On a whim, Tsosie submitted her photography portfolio to The Angelo and Zelma Basha Salmeri Honors Art Scholarship Endowment from Barrett. An avid photographer since high school, the scholarship she received recognizes honors students who show high artistic achievement.
Tsosie plans to continue her education in psychology by preparing to apply to graduate school to earn her PhD.
Note: Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
Answer: I chose ASU because I grew up in the West Valley, and I wanted to have a new experience in Tempe. It was important for me to live with my friends in the dorms, but I also wanted to be very close to my family, so I could see them on weekends.
ASU has an almost infinite number of resources, internships and research opportunities that I wanted to pursue. I knew that if I went to ASU, I was going to have a plethora of research options to choose from.
Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?
A: The Labriola National American Indian Data Center at Hayden Library. When I started spending time there, we were on the third floor, and it was small, but we made a lot of great memories. When I became a student worker, we moved down to the second-floor space, which is much bigger with a lot more room to do events.
It has been cool to watch the center absolutely flourish. We've hosted so many events with writers and poets. We help students and faculty search for American Indian Studies and Indigenous resources. It's important to continue to invest in our students and give them a safe cultural space with the resources they need to succeed in their classes and in their personal lives.
At Labriola, we’re about building community. It has been enriching for me to learn how to build community through an Indigenous lens, and I’m excited to apply it in my personal life and in my career.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?
A: When I took my psychological disorders class, PSY366, with Madeline Meier, that class absolutely blew my mind. I loved the way she integrated personal stories from the real-life accounts, diagnoses and treatment plans with the course material.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: Always look for resources like scholarships, internships, volunteer opportunities or teaching assistantships. ASU has so many opportunities for whatever you're looking for, so definitely take the time to do the research and invest in yourself.
More Sun Devil community
Outstanding Graduate Grace McCurdy finds her degree path under the hood of a car
Some engineers are shaped in classrooms. Others are shaped in garages, under the hood of a car. For Grace McCurdy, it started with hands-on experiences early on and was influenced by time spent…
ASU graduate proves the best science happens outside
Victoria Concepcion didn't come to Arizona State University just to earn a degree. She came tracking a Mars rover.Concepcion, from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, is graduating this May from the…
ASU Local graduate turns passion for history into a path toward reimagining education
By Maira HernandezFor Lily Chalais, earning a college degree required balancing ambition with responsibility. As a first-generation college student, she worked two jobs while attending school full-…