For Natalia Felicelli, “home” is not easily pinned to one location. Born in Massachusetts, raised in Mississippi and now a long-time Akron resident, Felicelli’s life has always been shaped by movement and culture. That journey, which took her from a quietly curious student to a confident scholar, leader and soon-to-be Ph.D. student, found its anchor at The University of Akron (UA).
“The only university I applied to was UA,” said Felicelli, a senior psychology major with a minor in applied statistics and a certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “My parents work at the University, so I’ve been around campus since we moved to Akron about 10 years ago. My sister is also a UA graduate. I just knew it was where I wanted to be.”
Her family’s roots extend beyond Akron. Felicelli holds multiple citizenships in the U.S., Italy and Argentina, where her family is originally from. “We’ve moved a lot and traveled back and forth to Argentina for family. So, ‘where are you from?’ is always kind of a funny question for me.”
Despite that fluidity, one thing has remained constant: her interest in psychology.
It started in high school, when an AP Psychology class sparked her fascination with how people think and behave. That spark became a flame during her first year at UA when she took Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology with Dr. Paul Levy. “I realized that was it for me. I was totally hooked.”
Since then, Felicelli has immersed herself in the field and on campus. She's a member of Women in Psychology, UA Latinos, Psi Chi - the International Honor Society in Psychology, a student representative on the Alumni Advisory Council, participated in research labs and held an internship at The Timken Company.She also serves as a Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences ambassador — originally selected for the role by faculty before it became an application-based program.
“Women in Psychology was the first club I joined,” she said. “That’s where I made a lot of my closest friends and learned about research and opportunities in the department. Being part of UA Latinos gave me a sense of home and helped me connect with other cultural orgs across campus. And the alumni council — that gave me mentors like Ariel Roberts, who has followed the same I/O psych path I’m pursuing.”
Leadership came naturally, though not loudly.
“I’ve always had a soft voice,” she said. “But Akron never made me feel small for that. They helped me grow without trying to change who I am. I’ve learned that leadership doesn’t have to be loud. It can be empathetic and thoughtful too.”
That quiet confidence has served her well, especially when it came time to apply to Ph.D. programs. Felicelli will head to George Mason University this fall to begin her doctoral studies in industrial-organizational psychology.
Felicelli names Psychology of Hate with Dr. Toni Bisconti as one of the most transformative courses she took. “It created such a safe space for hard conversations. You leave that class knowing yourself better and understanding others more.”
“What draws me to I/O psychology is understanding how underrepresented groups — especially immigrants — experience the workplace. Watching my family and friends navigate that transition made me realize how much of that story is missing in research,” said Felicelli. “My goal is to help create more inclusive, equitable environments where everyone’s identity and experience is respected.”
Throughout her academic journey, Felicelli has consistently used her platform to connect with others, advocate for inclusion and grow into her soft-spoken, but purposeful voice.
“Psychology has helped me see the world in a more complex and compassionate way,” she said. “It’s made me aware of how much I don’t know — and how important it is to listen, stay open and keep learning.”