Lyla Keizer grew up eating and cooking in her family’s kitchen where enthusiasm about nutritious food ran deep. Her father is a psychologist, so Lyla was exposed to the mental health field early on. It is the combination of these experiences that motivate Lyla in her everyday life.

“I really wanted to be able to help others around me with their mental health,” Lyla said.

Lyla currently serves as the Vice President for the Psychology Association and has been working on her Honors Capstone project revolving around the psychological benefits college students experience from antioxidants in vegetables. This passion project is a combination of Lyla’s interests of nutrition and mental health.

When Lyla is not conducting research or cooking up healthy cuisine, she runs a small business, KeizerKreations, where she crochets earrings. With each sale, she donates a portion of the proceeds to food banks in the San Antonio and San Marcos areas.

“I have a heart to give back and to help everyone get the nutrition that they need,” Lyla said.

One of Lyla’s greatest achievements while at Texas State was receiving the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in the College of Liberal Arts Award for 2023-2024. There is no doubt this achievement will be a testament to her work in psychology when she applies for doctoral programs in clinical psychology next year.

Student Spotlight: Lyla Keizer