Ellie Sabel
Oberlin College Class of 2025
B.A. Psychology,
B.A. Creative Writing
About Me
Hi! My name is Ellie Sabel, and I'm a fourth year student at Oberlin College, where I am double majoring in psychology and creative writing. I was born in Montgomery, Alabama and moved to Birmingham as a teenager. Growing up in the Deep South, I was able to witness many political and social perspectives that differed from my own. Being raised in that environment is part of the reason I became interested in studying psychology, especially educational censorship through a psychological lens.
During my time at Oberlin, I have been able to take part in a diverse array of research experiences, both inside and outside the classroom. While my primary interest is in psychological research, I am also interested in how other types of research, such as sociological or legal studies, can relate to psychology. In the future, I want to pursue research at the intersection between social and developmental psychology, specifically how social and systemic barriers to education can affect child development over time.
I am also passionate about teaching, and have experience acting as a T.A./camp counselor/tutor in various settings, including while studying abroad in Spain. I'm particularly interested in the pedagogies of teaching English as a second language, as well as teaching creative writing.
Outside of the classroom, some of my favorite activities include reading, playing softball and pickleball, baking, and going on long walks with my dog.
Below, please find a more detailed look at my research, teaching, and writing experiences. I've also attached my resume, CV, and several projects and writing samples.
Research Experience
a more detailed look at the research that has shaped my current interests
Honors Thesis, November 2023 - ongoing
Oberlin College
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My research investigates educational censorship as a backlash response to instances of social progress. While my research focuses specifically on Critical Race Theory, it also acknowledges that the current attacks on educational curricula are not isolated events in U.S. history. I have completed a literature review, designed a study using Qualtrics, analyzed my data using SPSS, and am currently in the process of writing the discussion and conclusion sections of my paper.
Emotion, Health, and Psychophysiology Lab, June - August 2023
University of California, San Fransisco
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The EHP lab studies how the mind influences the body, as well as how the body can influence different mental and emotional states. During my internship here, I acted as an experimenter, an operator of psychophysiological data, and a confederate for various studies, including sleep studies. I was also part of several groups that workshopped and helped implement new studies to the lab. My other tasks included coding behavioral data, cleaning physiological data, and flyering around the area.
Frank M. Johnson U.S. Courthouse, January 2023
Montgomery, Alabama
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I interned part-time with a federal district judge, and part time with The Johnson Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to educating about the legacy of Judge Johnson. My research for the courthouse consisted of investigating and compiling a list of inmates on death row in Alabama, which has one of the highest capital sentencing rates in the U.S. My research for the Johnson Institute consisted of combing through old archival footage about Judge Johnson to be used for a future documentary.
NewSouth Books, June - August 2021
Montgomery, Alabama
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My research at this internship consisted of combing through current news about bans against Critical Race Theory, as well as consulting local archival materials about the Lost Cause. The publisher was interested in the relation between the two events as potential information for an upcoming book.
Teaching and Writing Experience
Oberlin Creative Writing Capstone Project, February 2025 - ongoing
Oberlin, Ohio
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This semester, I am working on a capstone project that will consist of 25-30 pages of short fiction pieces, in addition to several assorted poems. This is my first experience undertaking a creative project this long, and I am excited to finalize it into a cohesive collection.
Oberlin Writers in the Schools Program, August - December 2024
Oberlin, Ohio
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This past fall, I took a "Teaching Imaginative Writing" class that allowed me to learn the pedagogies of teaching creative writing to younger students. I developed two poetry lessons, one on odes and one on protest poems, both of which I taught in Oberlin Middle School. I also acted as an assistant for other creative lessons, providing advice and feedback when needed. At the end of the semester, I anthologized the students' selected poems, which were then printed and distributed to the class.
Liceo Francés de Sevilla, January - May 2024
Seville, Spain
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During my time in Spain, I completed an internship as an English Teaching Assistant at a French international private school. I worked with 4th graders, 6th graders, and 10th graders, all of whom had varying levels of English proficiency. Some of my tasks included leading small group discussions, directing creative projects, giving grammar lessons, and assisting with classroom activities.
Ninde Tutoring Program, November 2022 - December 2023
Oberlin, Ohio
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The Ninde program is a partnership between Oberlin College and the Oberlin Public Schools, where college students meet to individually tutor students from grades 7-12. I tutored a student from 9th to 10th grade, who primarily needed help with history and math classes. We also focused on college preparation.
