Back to News 
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (May 3, 2012) — Milligan College senior Mandy Oaks of Elizabethton, Tenn., presented her research on the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) in Washington, D.C., at the Council On Undergraduate Research’s April 24 “Posters on the Hill” event.
Oaks represented Tennessee at the forum, as she was the only participant from the state chosen to display her work at the Capitol. The purpose of the research forum in Washington, D.C., is to provide undergraduate researchers with the opportunity to present their work to members of Congress. Oaks, a psychology major at Milligan, was one of 74 undergraduates chosen out of the 850 students who applied.
In addition to presenting her own research, Oaks gave a speech and presented an award to the former Congressman Bart Gordon on behalf of the Council On Undergraduate Research. While in D.C., she also toured the National Institute of Health.
Oaks’ project is titled “Does ‘Warmer and Dryer’ = ‘Happier and Healthier’?: Effects Of A Home Repair Ministry On Appalachian Residents.” Her study was intended to determine whether the ASP home repair ministry improves quality of life for residents. ASP is a nonprofit, ministry-based organization that provides home repairs to low income families living in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
“I am proud of Mandy Oaks,” said Dr. Joy Drinnon, associate professor of psychology at Milligan. “The chance to present at Posters on the Hill was a well-earned recognition for a lot of hard work on her part. Her effort to interview over 100 residents for this research is a major contribution to our ongoing research with ASP. Mandy and I had the opportunity to meet with Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker to impart to them the importance of home repair ministry to our region.”
In the first part of her research, Oaks compared the residents’ physical and mental levels of comfort. Next, she compared the psychological and physical comfort levels of the residents whose homes had been repaired with the comfort levels of those awaiting repair. The last part of her research examined the relationship between quality of life and depression.
During her research process, Oaks was mentored by Drinnon and Dr. Bert Allen, professor of psychology at Milligan. Drinnon and Allen have their own share of experience with ASP. Their joint research, “Warmer, Safer, Drier: The Results of Ministry by Appalachia Service Project,” was presented in the spring as part of Milligan’s Faculty Lecture Series.
“Dr. Drinnon encouraged me to work with the research that was currently being conducted for Appalachia Service Project,” Oaks said. “Both Dr. Allen and Dr. Drinnon’s passion for helping low-income families is infectious.”