Alyssa Croft

Alyssa Croft is a Florida State University student who takes her work beyond the classroom through research, volunteering and leadership opportunities.

As part of the Honors in the Major program, Croft is exploring scienceploitation, a phenomenon in which advertisers use misleading scientific claims with no backing to promote their product. She was awarded an IDEA Grant for her research, which she presented at the President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence.

Croft has presented with her mentor, Dr. Patrick Merle, at the International Public Relations Research Conference and has volunteered with organizations such as Champ’s Chance, a local animal shelter.

Why did you choose to attend Florida State University?

I originally did not want to attend college but one of my friends asked me to come visit her at FSU. I fell in love with it here. There were so many opportunities. The school was beautiful, and I liked how large it was. It seemed like there would be something for everyone, which encouraged me to attend.

How have your research opportunities shaped your FSU experience?

In Spring 2024, I attended the International Public Relations Research Conference with School of Communication director Patrick Merle. I was in his research methods class the previous fall, and he gave his students the opportunity to join in on outside research. I was a student that sat in the back of the class, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to take the opportunity I was being given. I applied and was accepted to the IPRRC. Attending this conference allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and interact with professionals in my topic of interest. I was able to practice public speaking and gained confidence while engaging with different projects.

After joining this research project, Merle, who is now my mentor, urged me to join Honors in the Major. I decided to give it a shot. My knowledge and confidence expanded in ways I never expected. Because of Honors in the Major, I applied and received an IDEA Grant to help fund my work in scienceploitation. I presented at the President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence and met President McCullough and joined the Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathways program. Since, I have joined other research projects and have applied to more conferences. Most importantly, I have learned to care about the quality of my work and have confidence that I can achieve success in my future.

How have you served the community while at FSU?

In one of my classes, we were given a real client to work with as part of an in class “agency.” My job involves helping to “manage” the agency, so I help students both inside and outside of the classroom. Some of my jobs include providing resources to classmates, communicating concerns to the professor, and being a resource to talk to if anyone is stressed. Most of this work happens outside of the classroom, and I have learned a lot about being a leader because of this.

When I was a part of the FSU Equestrian Club, we engaged in multiple volunteering experiences in the local community. One that I attended was called Champ’s Chance, a local dog and puppy rescue. I was able to work with dogs that had been homeless or abandoned, and while it was sad, I was happy I could make a difference. It was a humbling experience, and I am thankful to have been a part of it.

What impact do your academic pursuits have on the community?

My Honors in the Major project is about something called scienceploitation, an understudied but prevalent occurrence in society. It occurs when advertisers use misleading scientific claims with no backing to promote their products. My inspiration for researching scienceploitation stemmed from my desire to buy healthy products I could trust. This was harder to do than I thought, because I realized many products market themselves using false advertising. When Dr. Merle invited me onto his initial study on the topic, I joined to help people avoid the same problems I have had. The goal of my study is to help educate the public on this occurrence and hopefully help them make well-informed decisions when they are purchasing products.

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