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Lindsey Wilson College Student Kendall Hacker '26 of London Named Appalachian College Association Ledford Scholar

Biology major to study the personality traits of the golden mouse and the white-footed mouse on Metcalfe County farm.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (05/02/2025) — Lindsey Wilson College student Kendall Hacker '26 of London, Kentucky, plans to spend a lot of time in the fields this summer.

That's because the biology major will be studying the golden mouse and the white-footed mouse. Hacker will work on her summer research thanks to being named a Ledford Scholar by the Appalachian College Association.

Hacker is one of 49 undergraduate students from 16 Appalachian College Association member institutions who have received funding for research projects as a Ledford Scholar. The Appalachian College Association is a consortium of 35 private four-year liberal arts institutions spread across the central Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Hacker will conduct her research with Lindsey Wilson biology professor Sara Ash. Hacker's work will include field measurements of the personality traits of the golden mouse and the white-footed mouse, who are two common competitors. Hacker will test the rodents for docility, boldness and exploration, and she plans to study the mammals on Ash's farm in Metcalfe County, Kentucky.

"There is not a lot of research on small mammal personalities," said Hacker, who is also minoring in sustainability and environmental studies.

Ash said she hopes the research will answer some questions that scientists have about mammals.

"In the last 20 years there's been more interest in understanding how personality affects the ecology of a species," said Ash. "These two mammals definitely compete with each other, so perhaps personality has something to do with the ways they separate from each other."

When Hacker came to Lindsey Wilson, she at first wanted to become a veterinarian. But those career plans changed after she experienced a study-abroad trip to Believe, which got her interested in research on small animals.

"I came back and started exploring other careers," said Hacker.

Lindsey Wilson College is a vibrant liberal arts college in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson -- which will become Lindsey Wilson University on July 1 -- has an enrollment of more than 4,000 students, and the college offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The college's 28 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.

Media Attachments

Lindsey Wilson College student Kendall Hacker ’26 of London, Kentucky, has been named a Ledford Scholar by the Appalachian College Association. Hacker, a biology major, will conduct her research with Lindsey Wilson biology professor Sara Ash and study the personality traits of the golden mouse and the white-footed mouse.

Lindsey Wilson College student Kendall Hacker ’26 of London, Kentucky, has been named a Ledford Scholar by the Appalachian College Association. Hacker, a biology major, will conduct her research with Lindsey Wilson biology professor Sara Ash and study the personality traits of the golden mouse and the white-footed mouse.

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