Georgia Regents University Psychology Department PSYCH INSIGHT Spring/Summer 2014 In This Issue: Student Awards 2013-2014 Outstanding Graduate Student Award Psi Chi Advising Research SEPA Deans List The 2013-2014 Outstanding Graduate Student Award was presented to Kenneth Brock Lamm and Hana Perkey. The recipients of this award are chosen based on various accomplishments, which include: exceptional academic performance, involvement in research, taking an active role in the program, and potential for future success. Calendar Riddle Time! What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away? Before coming to Georgia Regents University in the Fall of 2012, Brock completed his BS in Psychology and a Graduate Certificate Program in Family Studies at Boise State University. Brock was actively engaged in the BSU Psi Chi Chapter and served as the Secretary for the 2011-2012 academic year. During his time at Boise State, he worked closely with Dr. Teresa Taylor examining experiences contributing to police officer tacit knowledge and contributed to the creation of the Police Office Tacit Knowledge Inventory and the publication of the first phase of the research in Police Practice and Research. Brock selected Georgia Regents University (then Augusta State University) to further his research mentorship in the General Experimental Psychology Program. He has worked in the Human Aggression Lab under the direction of Drs. Georgina Hammock and Deborah Richardson examining psychological and physical aggression and is completing his thesis within the same area of research. Brock served as a graduate assistant for the Center for Teaching and Learning for the 2012-2013 academic year and continues to assist with the center's program of research. Currently, Brock works closely with Dr. Ric Topolski in the Department of Psychology as a graduate assistant and a teaching assistant. Brock is actively engaged in presenting his research and has presented at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, the Southeastern Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Society of Southeastern Social Psychologists. Brock will be continuing his graduate education at Georgia State University in their Clinical Psychology Program (where he will continue to examine human aggression). All of this would not be possible without the support of his amazing family in Idaho and Utah. Hana began her undergraduate education at Masarykova University in the Czech Republic and completed her BA in Psychology with a minor in art at Augusta State University. Hana began the Clinical Psychology Master's Program in the Fall of 2012 and has worked as a graduate assistant, teaching assistant, and a research assistant for a number of faculty members. Her research includes examining individual characteristics predictive of therapeutic success in graduate students and a study examining the validity of the Symptom Assessment 45 (a psychiatric symptom measure) with Dr. Jenelle Slavin-Mulford in the department of Psychology, investigating gender differences in humor and studying the effectiveness of student-produced videos in classroom instruction with Dr. Ric Topolski in the department of Psychology, and continues to gather data for case studies for mindfulness-based behavioral interventions in preschoolers and kindergartners with Dr. Stephanie Northington at Neurobehavioral Associates, LLC. Hana is working towards her LAPC licensure and hopes to continue her education by obtaining a PhD in psychology in the near future. Hana is a member of the GRU Psi Chi Chapter and is actively engaged in presenting research at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association. Hana has two wonderful children; Kayla, age 5 and Krystof, age 10 and a loving husband, David.
Outstanding Undergraduate Students Brooke Hutto and Thomas M. Toomey are the recipients of the 2013-2014 Outstanding Undergraduate Senior Psychology Award. To receive this award, students need at least a 3.0 GPA, to be actively involved in research, and to participate in an extracurricular activity. I am so very honored to receive this award from the psychology department here at GRU. The experiences I have had here over the past two years have been unmatched and incomparable to any other of my educational experiences. I am thankful to all of the professors I have had in the psychology department; it is because of their expertise in psychology, as well as their willingness to engage students like myself on a personal level and that I am heading in the direction of psychology. I am also especially grateful to Dr. Hartmann for allowing me to work with her and always making herself available to my all of questions and concerns. I am excited for the future and am extremely thankful to have been a part of the fantastic psychology program at GRU. Brooke Hutto It really is a humbling experience to even be considered for an award such as this. To be recognized by the incredible faculty of the department makes me realize how far I have come since I declared my psychology major in Spring 2011 after taking intro to psychology with Dr. Janit. However, I must give credit to my research team, including Dr. Hammock and Dr. Richardson, Becca Montgomery, Brock Lamm, Liz Taylor, Amy Elmor, and Rebecca Griffith for their cooperation on the numerous research projects going on at any one time. Doing research with this group has made for an incredibly hectic, albeit exciting academic year, and it will definitely make for memories that I will take with me in my future academic endeavors. Thomas M. Toomey The award winners will be honored at the Honors Recognition Ceremony, College of Science and Mathematics on April 1st. Each award winner has selected a faculty member to present their awards to them. Congratulations to all of our award winners. Your hard work has paid off and we wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors. 2
Outstanding Minority Student Award The Outstanding Minority Achievement Award in recognition of excellent academic standing and potential to make a contribution to the field of psychology was presented to Lyllian Cain. Lyllian met all the criteria for this award, including a minimum of three courses in psychology and a GPA of 3.2 or higher. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for having received the Outstanding Ethnic Minority Student Achievement Award. Having grown up in a bi-cultural environment and being cognizant of the cultural differences in my lifestyle, I recognize that most ethnic minorities are highly underrepresented in academia. The Minority Pipeline is an excellent resource for students who wish to further their post-secondary schooling and gain exposure to graduate-level psychology. Lyllain Cain McCrary Award Winner Psychology Congratulations to Dayle Mathis for being the selected winner of the McCrary Award for psychology. This award is being presented to the graduating seniors in each department under the College of Science and Mathematics who have earned the highest grade point average in science courses. The McCrary Award was established as a memorial to Charles A. McCrary by his family. 3
Psi Chi News and Announcements Psi Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Psychological Society (APS). Psi Chi functions as a federation of chapters located at more than 900 senior colleges and universities. Psi Chi serves two major goals: (1) to provide academic recognition to its inductees by the mere fact of membership and (2) to offer a climate congenial to its creative development for the promotion of psychology. Upcoming Events April 1st: Psi Chi Membership You may apply online at psichi.org and membership is a one time payment of $55.00. April 1st: Psi Chi Bake Sale!!! A bake sale will be held at the entrance of the Science Hall from 11 to 1. Please join us! April 22nd: Spring Induction Come celebrate members being inducted into your GRU Psi Chi Chapter and meet the new officers taking the lead! 2014-2015 Psi Chi Officers Top: Joseph Fowler (Secretary), Mark Taylor (Historian) & Dylan Wall (Treasurer) Bottom: Celestine Bartell (Vice President), John Shallcross (Public Relations), & Emily Stone (President) 4
Summer/Fall 2014 Advising It s that time of year again! Advising for Summer/Fall 2014 semester will take place on March 31 April 4 Please stop by the psychology wing to see your advisors and collect your PIN for registration. You are required to meet with your advisor to collect your PIN. Most faculty have sign up sheets located outside their office doors for your convenience. Registration week begins April 14 and will last until April 28. Psychology Department Advisors: A-B Topolski E1027 rtopolsk@gru.edu C-D Headrick E1009 jwright1@gru.edu E-G Hartmann E1017 jqhartmann@gru.edu H-I Best E1015 cabest@gru.edu J-L Widner E1019 swidner@gru.edu M Patton E1035 tpatton@gru.edu N-P Reeves E1013 rreeves@gru.edu Q-R Smith E 1007 msmit148@gru.edu S Slavin-Mulford E1021 jslavinm@gru.edu T-Z West E1025 liwest@gru.edu SONA Research System Many professors offer extra credit to those who participate in research studies. There are currently 5 studies looking for participants. You may sign up for these studies at http://gru.sona-systems.com/ If you have any questions regarding the SONA system please contact khasson@gru.edu 5
Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) 2014 convention: Nashville, TN March 5-8 Georgia Regents University Psychology Department professors, undergraduate and graduate students at the 60th annual SEPA convention held at the Omni Nashville hotel in Nashville, TN. Third-Party Perceptions of Relationship Longevity Based on Education Level. Elizabeth Taylor, Kelsey Hewitt, Caitlin Peisel, Sandra Kazlauskaite-Knapp & Dr. Georgina Hammock. 6
Is Exercise for Everyone? A Preliminary Exploration of The Barriers and Facilitators to Exercise Among Black American Women. Dr. Lindsey West, Brittney Summerville, & Evonna Richardson Impacts of Research Experiences on Knowledge of Psychology as a Science. Thomas M. Toomey, Dr. Deborah S. Richardson & Dr. Georgina S. Hammock. The Impact of Infertility: Does Culpability Influence Decision-Making? Mark Taylor SEPA's Annual Convention is an opportunity for people with the same interests to gather to share their experiences and newfound knowledge of various psychological topics, all while relaxing and enjoying good food and good company. Membership is open to students and professionals who share interests and goals in psychology and would like to join in the mission. 2015 SEPA meeting: 61st Annual Meeting Hilton Head, South Carolina March 18-21, 2015 at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa For further information regarding SEPA please visit: www.sepaonline.com 7
Deans List Fall 2013 Acosta, Joshua S Haywood, Catherine T Reid, Jennifer L Allen, Tiara D Hernton, Asia N Rodriguez, Taylor R Booker, Ryan T Hickson, Angela S Sevigny, Jenna Victoria Bostic, Marquita C Hoffman, Zachary T Shaw, Valerie J Cain, Lylliam A Hutto, Brooke N Simpson, Caasi M Carlie, Kevin L Jenkins, Jessica R Stocker, Jodi Chauvin, Brandy L Kelley, Johnna L Thompson, Alyssa E Chestnut, Selathia M Logan, Kurtis J Tolbert, Ashlee R Clark, Haley N Clayton, Richard J Clontz, Nadya S Dowdy, Bethany J Elie, Caitlin M Lozano, Angela M Marriott, Jacob M Mathis, Dayle A Moore, Sherryl E Pallone, Amber R Toomey, Thomas M Weathers, Brittany F Zachariah, Krupa S Riddle Answer: Coal Goetz, Austin Taylor Parker, Megan E Griffith, Bobbi J Pierson, Austin D 3/31-4/4: Psychology Undergraduate Advising Period 4/1: SU/FA 14 Fin. Aid Deadline 4/7-4/11: Spring Break - ENJOY!!! 4/14-4/18: SU/FA 14 Registration Week 4/28: Last Day to Register/SP 14 Classes End 4/29: Reading Day 4/30-5/6: Exams 5/9: Graduation Important Dates 5/10-5/11: SU14 Schedule Adjustment Online Only 5/16: SU14 Add/Drop 5/26: Holiday/Campus Closed 6/16-6/20: Eligible Students Register/Adjust FA 14 Classes 7/4: Holiday/Campus Closed 8/8: SU14 Graduation 8/12-8/15: FA 14 Registration 8/18: FA 14 Classes Start 9/1: Holiday/Campus Closed Summer Class Schedule Session I: May 19 to July 28 Session II: May 19 to June 23 Session III: June 26 to July 31 Session IV: May 19 to July 15 8