Southern Miss Student to Present Undergraduate Research Paper

Kristen Dupard, a senior biochemistry major at The University of Southern Mississippi, has been selected to present her research at the 30^th Annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) April 7-9 at the University of North Carolina Asheville.

Dupard, a native of New Orleans, La., has a strong passion for health policy and the well being of young adults and their access to proper healthcare. These interests led to the development of her research topic: “Teenagers Need Drugs Too: Attitudes on the Accessibility and Acceptability of the HPV Vaccine from Parents of Different Socioeconomic Statuses.”

The current study aims to determine if race and socioeconomic status interact to predict the attitudes of minority caregivers toward the HPV vaccination in terms of its acceptability and accessibility.

“This award is truly a blessing. I'm so thankful to have received it,” said Dupard. “I cannot wait to present my research at NCUR. This opportunity will allow me to network with hundreds of other students and faculty from around the country.

A member of the Honors College, Dupard is the reigning Miss University of Southern Mississippi. Upon graduation, she plans to attend medical school.