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Commonwealth University-Mansfield research shows how small moments of learning can reshape how students understand autism

MANSFIELD, Pa. (08/26/2026) — McKenna Miller sees psychology as more than just a college major. It's a lens for understanding people, relationships, and the quiet ways knowledge can change attitudes.

The recent Commonwealth University-Mansfield graduate from Rock Stream, New York, turned that curiosity into meaningful research. Last fall, she was among a Commonwealth University contingent at the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity Conference in New Hampshire, where she presented findings from a study examining college students' perceptions of autism spectrum disorder.

The project, conducted alongside fellow Mansfield psychology majors Melanie Mecca and Max Gordon, explored how education can shape understanding. Rather than studying individuals with autism directly - a challenge given time and participant constraints - the trio shifted their focus to how college students perceive a peer with autism.

For Miller, the topic was personal.

"I have a family member who's diagnosed with it and know many others with it," Miller said. "I was interested in researching something related to autism because of how prevalent it is in the lives of people close to me."

That personal connection fueled a research question with broader implications. Can even a brief educational intervention improve attitudes toward individuals with autism?

To find out, Miller and her team designed a simple but intentional approach. Participants were given a short, one-page overview of facts about autism, followed by a quiz to ensure comprehension. The goal was to measure whether even minimal exposure to accurate information could influence perceptions.

The results were striking.

"What surprised me was that our short intervention was sufficient enough to improve attitudes," Miller said. "We saw significant positive changes in how participants viewed an autistic peer in group settings."

While previous research suggested that increased knowledge leads to more positive attitudes, Miller did not expect such a concise intervention to have a measurable impact. The findings reinforced a powerful idea that even small efforts to educate can create meaningful change.

Just as impactful as the research itself, was the opportunity to share it. Presenting at COPLAC challenged Miller to distill a semester's worth of work into a clear, accessible message - an essential skill for any aspiring researcher.

"One of the biggest things I learned was how to condense a semester-long study into a few sentences that were easily digestible for any audience," Miller said. "It was also really good practice with public speaking, which isn't always my strong suit."

Beyond her own presentation, the conference broadened her perspective on what undergraduate scholarship can look like. From scientific studies to creative works, including a powerful presentation by a student writing about his experience as a transgender man, Miller saw firsthand the depth and diversity of student research at public liberal arts institutions.

"Many people think private colleges are the only ones that produce unique work," Miller said. "This experience proved otherwise."

In her final semester, Miller built on that momentum. She conducted a literature review for an independent research project focused on barriers college students face when seeking mental health care.

Together, these experiences have helped clarify her future.

Once unsure of her path, Miller now has a clear goal of a career in psychological research, with plans to pursue both a master's and doctoral degree. She's particularly drawn to social and abnormal psychology, fields that explore how individuals think, behave, and navigate mental health challenges.

Mansfield's psychology program, she says, played a pivotal role in that transformation.

"I didn't know that research psychology was even a path I could follow until I came here," Miller said. "My professors helped guide me toward that decision."

Equally important are the practical skills she's developed along the way, especially the ability to break down complex ideas into accessible language. It's a skill she once found challenging but now sees as essential.

That ability mirrors the very essence of her research in making understanding more accessible, one idea at a time. In studying how knowledge shapes perception, Miller is not only discovering her future - she's helping others see the world a little more clearly.

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