The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) is proud to announce Haylie Bledsaw as the newest recipient of the Barbara Davis Goldman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research. The award recognizes exceptional undergraduate students whose research contributions demonstrate outstanding initiative, professionalism and impact.

Named for Barbara Davis Goldman, PhD—a former research professor in UNC’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and a former senior research scientist at FPG—the award honors her nearly 40 years of mentoring and supporting Carolina’s future investigators. Goldman helped expand undergraduate research opportunities by giving students greater autonomy and creativity as they learned to ask important questions and pursue answers.

As this year’s recipient of the Barbara Davis Goldman Award, Bledsaw is recognized for three years of work within FPG’s autism research team. During that time, she contributed to nearly every major project of the team, including Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM), AFIRM for Paraeducators, the Teacher Impression Scale, Project EXPRESS and IDEAL Partners. Her work supported the full research cycle from infrastructure development and data collection to content dissemination providing consistent, critical support to the team.

Her responsibilities have included website content migration using Articulate software, REDCap database design and management, data collection, entry and verification, and preparation of more than 1,000 assessment and consent packages. Colleagues say her steady attention to detail, readiness to learn new tools and willingness to step in wherever needed have strengthened day-to-day operations and helped projects move forward.

Upon learning of her receipt of the award, Bledsaw replied, "I am really honored to receive the Barbara Davis Goldman Award I have loved my time at FPG and working with the autism team—this means a lot."

In a statement supporting Bledsaw’s nomination, her supervisor, FPG Senior Research Scientist Ann Sam, PhD, described Bledsaw as the strongest undergraduate student her team has had in more than a decade of supervising work-study students, citing her work ethic, initiative, adaptability and professionalism. “No task is beneath her, and every task receives her full attention. She is always willing to go above and beyond, and she completes her work with a smile, strong initiative, and a genuine commitment to the team’s success. What sets Haylie apart most is her judgment and approach to problem-solving. When she encounters something unfamiliar, she does not stop at asking for help; she seeks guidance, explores possible solutions, and returns ready to contribute thoughtfully.”

Bledsaw said her time with the autism research team has been an amazing experience, especially the relationships she has built and the chance to contribute to work she describes as deeply important. She credits the mentorship and collaboration she experienced at FPG, including guidance from her supervisor, Ann Sam, and Program Coordinator Lisa Kristianson, MOT, with shaping how she will approach her future career. “They are incredibly caring,” said Bledsaw, “and I know I can always look to them as role models; they have truly made my experience at FPG a great one.”

Bledsaw graduated this month with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and will begin work in June as a nurse in the emergency department at WakeMed Raleigh. She said the experience at FPG helped her build many valuable organizational and teamwork skills. And she said that while she will miss working with the autism team, she is eager to carry these essential skills into her new nursing career and beyond.

About the Barbara Davis Goldman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research

The Barbara Davis Goldman Award recognizes undergraduate students whose research contributions demonstrate excellence, initiative and meaningful impact. Recipients are nominated by their supervising faculty or research teams.

If you would like to support future awards, you can make a secure gift online to the Barbara Davis Goldman Award Fund through the University Development website.

Previous Award Winners

Read articles about our previous award winners:

2025  |  Mia Alto, 2025 recipient of FPG's Barbara Davis Goldman Award
2023  |  Iris Kang, 2023 recipient of FPG's Barbara Davis Goldman Award
2022  |  Hannah Spitzer receives FPG's Barbara Davis Goldman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research
2021  |  Samantha Garcia Cruz receives FPG's Barbara Davis Goldman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research
2020  |  Student Researcher Anna Morgan Receives FPG's First Ever Barbara Davis Goldman Award