Dr. Smalley Appears on Tavis Smiley
Dr. Bryant Smalley and Dr. Jacob Warren were invited to Los Angeles to discuss childhood obesity with Tavis Smiley (PBS). They discussed their new book, "Always the Fat Kid: The Truth About the Enduring Effects of Childhood Obesity", and explained that childhood obesity is the result of lifestyle choices, not disease.
The segment is available here (LINK).
Dr. Nielsen Lectures at University of Istanbul
Professor Nielsen gave an invited lecture, "American Religion, Islam and Mormonism," at the University of Istanbul December 27, 2012. His lecture provided an overview of religion's role in US society, and examined similarities and differences between Islam and Mormonism in that context.
(Dr. Nielsen and Dr. Gokkir, Moderator. Photo courtesy University of Istanbul)
Forrest Rackham, Psy.D.
Forrest Rackham became our first Doctor of Psychology graduate December 14, 2012. Forrest arrived at Georgia Southern University in the Fall 2007 semester as part of our first class of Psy.D. students. He completed four years of course work on topics that include basic psychology as well as clinical applications of psychology. Dr. Rackham also completed clinical practica at sites such as the Georgia Southern University Psychology Clinic, which provides low-cost services to the community, and at the Winn Army Medical Center on the base of Ft. Stewart. After his course work Dr. Rackham served as an intern at Stone Mountain Health Services, in rural Virginia. His studies culminated in his doctoral dissertation, "'...bless her little heart!': The Culture of Honor and Emotion Recognition," under the direction of Dr. Amy Hackney. Here, Pres. Brooks Keel congratulates Dr. Rackham and his wife, Sonya, at a reception held in their honor. Read more here.
UPDATE: Dr. Rackham is now licensed to practice psychology in the state of Virginia, making him our first licensed Psy.D. graduate. Congratulations, Dr. Rackham!
Employment Opportunities
We are searching to fill three faculty positions that have arisen as faculty have retired or taken positions elsewhere. These are: an assistant professor of experimental psychology (broadly defined); an assistant professor of clinical/counseling psychology; and assistant, associate, or full professor (rank open) of clinical/counseling psychology. We also are conducting a search for a clinical psychologist to be based at the RCLD.
Dr. Jan Kennedy Retiring
Following 28 years of teaching at Georgia Southern University, Dr. Jan Kennedy is retiring at the end of the Fall 2012 semester. Join us 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 4, for a reception in her honor at the Brannen Building lobby. Here, she receives flowers from Amber Sanders on behalf of the Psychology Coalition.
Fall 2012 News
Many good things are happening in the Psychology Department! Here are some highlights.
* Three new faculty join us: Ty Boyer, Ph.D., is teaching research methods and developmental courses as a new Assistant Professor; John Parsley, Psy.D., is teaching clinical courses as a Visiting Assistant Professor after having worked with the U.S. Army; Taunia Locker, M.S., is a Visiting Instructor teaching a variety of undergraduate courses. Welcome!
* Dr. Bryant Smalley is a joint principle investigator on a NIMH-funded grant of over $5 million to establish a national center for rural health at Georgia Southern.
* Dr. Janie Wilson has received a 2012 Faculty Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award.
* Dr. Karen Naufel is now a tenured associate professor.
* Dr. Amy Hackney received a CLASS Seed Grant to advance her social psychology research.
Congratulations, all!
Psychology Department Has Moved
The Psychology Department offices and labs have now moved to the newly remodeled Brannen Hall. This superb facility offers us greatly improved research labs, closer proximity to the Regents Center for Learning Disorders, better graduate assistant facilities, and a larger peer-mentoring center for students seeking help with Psychological Statistics, Research Methods, and other courses. It will be some time before all of our boxes are unpacked and files in place, but we are excited to be in our new space. Come see us at Brannen Hall on Sweetheart Circle, near the baseball stadium.
2012 Psychology McNair Scholars
Congratulations to our 2012 McNair Scholars: Cache Archer, Chari Chin-Young, and Toneshia England!
Dr. Bryant Smalley Discusses Rural Health at White House
Dr. Bryant Smalley, the Co-Executive Director of the Rural Health Research Institute and the Associate Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology,is pictured here with Kathleen Sebelius, US Secretary of Health and Human Services, at the White House Rural Council. Dr. Smalley was one of 26 people invited to the White House to discuss ways to enhance Federal programs serving rural communities. The Council is comprised of the US Secretaries, the White House Domestic Policy Council, the National Economic Council, and other leading federal officials. The event provided an unprecedented opportunity for participants to engage members of the President’s Administration, including HHS leadership, on rural health interests and challenges. The information shared at this meeting will help inform the ongoing work of the White House Rural Council and the Department of Health and Human Services.
2012 Honors Research Banquet
Over 100 people attended the 2012 Honors Research Banquet, held May 1, 2012. Students (including Lindsey O'Donnell, pictured in photo) presented their research and enjoyed a keynote address by Dr. James Shepperd, the R. David Thomas Endowed Professor of Psychology at the University of Florida. In addition, awards were presented to outstanding undergraduates, and graduate students about to complete their degrees were recognized for their accomplishments. Thanks go to Drs. Amy Hackney, Larry Locker, and all who helped with the event. More photos are found at our Facebook page.
Johnathan Martin Receives Averitt Award for Teaching
Dean Charles Patterson announced that Johnathan Craig Martin receives the 2012 Averitt Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Averitt Award is given to one graduate teaching assistant each year in recognition for outstanding teaching. Mr. Martin teaches Introduction to Psychology, and receives rave reviews from his students.
Psi Chi Spring 2012 Induction
We welcome our Spring 2012 Psi Chi inductees, our largest group ever inducted into the national academic honor society for psychology students. Students inducted this semester include: Preston Anderson, Courtney Collins, Rachel Conner, Lydia Cremer, Alexis Flen, Kylie Hall, Olivia Hunte, Felton Jackson, Melissa Jones, Jeffrey King, Allison Little, Kinsley Mallard, Rachel Miller, Rainey Oliff, Daniel O'Shea, Jessica Partridge, Victoria Rauch, Kelli Rushing, Elisabeth Scott, Ashley Sheldon, Rachel Sohnen, Katherine Sydnor, Katharine Van Dyke, Amanda Walker, and Brittany Woods. (Not all inductees were able to appear in the photo.) Well done, Psi Chi!
Dr. Smalley & RHRI Awarded Grant
Congratulations to Dr. Bryant Smalley (Department of Psychology) and Dr. Jacob Warren (JPHCOPH), the co-Executive Directors of the Rural Health Research Institute, who have been awarded a $450,000 federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to fund Project ADEPT (Applied Diabetes Education Program using Telehealth). Project ADEPT will establish and determine the effectiveness of a new telehealth network that connects a diabetes educator housed within the Rural Health Research Institute to four clinic locations of East Georgia Healthcare Center. In doing so, Project ADEPT will help under-served diabetics in Candler, Emanuel, Tattnall, and Toombs counties learn how to better manage their condition.
Spring 2012 Psychology Banquet & Research Conference
Professor James Shepperd, the R. David Thomas Endowed Professor of Psychology at the University of Florida, will be the keynote speaker at the Spring 2012 Psychology Banquet and Research Conference. Join us for an evening of psychological research, good food, and a fascinating glimpse into Dr. Shepperd's research. Information about tickets is coming soon.
Dr. Shepperd received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Missouri in 1988 and spent four years at Holy Cross College before joining the faculty at Florida in 1992. He was an invited professor at the Université de Savoie and the Université Paris X and held a Fulbright fellowship at Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven, Belgium. He is a former associate editor for Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin and serves on the editorial board of Personality & Social Psychology, Basic & Applied Social Psychology, Group Dynamics, and the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. He has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, and the Templeton Foundation. He also has received several teaching and mentoring awards from the University of Florida. Dr. Shepperd’s research expertise is in the area of Self and its implications for health and addresses how people manage threatening information, which includes topics such as optimism, fluctuations in future outlooks, and maintaining desired self-views.
Recent Highlights
Ten psychology graduate students presented their research at the 2012 Graduate Research Symposium, held March 29th. They included: Nikki Barefoot, Connie Clements, Martha Forloines, Natalie Hooks, Schell Hufstetler, Zach Kilday, Erin Lawson, Stephanie Lohr, Laura Miller, and Vanessa Miller.
More psychology students have been accepted into graduate programs: Kayley Fleming (Auburn - Clinical Mental Health Counseling); Ari White (Georgia Southern - School Psychology); Joy Losee (Georgia Southern - Experimental Psychology); Lauren Patterson (Georgia Southern - Clinical Psychology); Joseph Garcia (Georgia Southern - Clinical Psychology); Jacque-Corey Cormier (Georgia State - Community Psychology); Lauren McCoy (UNLV - Marriage & Family Therapy).
Drs Brad Sturz & Kent Bodily published "On discriminating between geometric strategies of surface-based orientation" in the journal, Frontiers in Comparative Psychology.
The month of March saw conference presentations by faculty and students at The Comparative Cognition Society (Drs Bodily and Sturz, and students Martha Forloines and Ariel White); the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology (Drs Sturz and Bodily); the Georgia Psychological Society (Natalie Hooks); and the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (Dr Nielsen).
Professor Emeritus Edward Smith has published Embodied Gestalt Practice: Selected Papers of Edward W. L. Smith. The book, published by Gestalt Journal Press, includes 44 of his earlier published works, and two new essays.
The Georgia Southern University Center for Teaching, Learning & Scholarship has named Dr. Janie Wilson as one of two recipients of its annual Scholarship of Teaching and Learning awards. The award recognizes the accomplishments of an individual over the past three years. Congratulations, Dr. Wilson!
Dr. Janie Wilson, Georgia Southern Alum Angela Legg, and Legg's new collaborator at University of California - Riverside, completed a study, RateMyProfessors.com Offers Biased Evaluations, that is discussed in Times Higher Ed.
Dr. Michael Nielsen and coauthors published, "On the receiving end: Discrimination toward the non-religious in the U.S." in the current issue of Journal of Contemporary Religion.
Dr. Jeff Klibert took 10 students to the Southeastern Psychological Association meeting in New Orleans to present their research. The students who represented Georgia Southern include: Nikki Barefoot; Danielle Vrbka; Erin Lawson; Lisa Watson-Johnson; Laura Miller; Stephanie Chastang; Stephanie Lohr; Tori Allen; Joseph Todd; Angela Platt; and Natalie Benton.
Gwenith Blount-Nuss (M.S., 2011) was accepted into doctoral study at the University of Nebraska's Experimental Social Psychology. Kim Blitch (B.S. 2009) was accepted into doctoral study in the Univeristy of Nebraska's Child and Family Development program.
Drs. Rebecca Ryan, Karen Naufel and Janie Wilson presented at the Southeastern Conference on the Teaching of Psychology, in Atlanta February 24-25. Dr. Ryan conducted a workshop on helping students become better writers. Drs. Naufel and Wilson presented on teaching statistics and research methods. Dr. Wilson also was on a panel to help faculty members balance teaching, research and service.
Dr. Karen Naufel received word that she is being tenured, and promoted to Associate Professor.
At their January board meeting the Society for Teaching Psychology named Dr. Janie Wilson one of 15 Master Teachers, and has asked her to mentor new teachers as well as be a featured speaker at upcoming conferences. Dr. Wilson also was appointed to a 3-year term as a college faculty representative for Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools, and she began a 3-year term as Vice President of Programming for Division 2 of the American Psychological Association.
Drs. Kent Bodily and Brad Sturz published four articles in the month of January. Georgia Southern student researchers included Alex. Daniel (B.S.), Martha Forloines (M.S.), and Zach Kilday (M.S.). Also collaborating with them were Katherine Gaskin and Dr. Debbie Kelly, affiliated with other institutions. The research is published in the current issues of: Behavioral Processes; Learning and Motivation; Psychological Research; and Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. Dr. Sturz also accepted a position on the editorial board of Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews.
The Psychology Department had excellent representation at the 2012 Society for Personality and Social Psychology meeting in San Diego, led by Drs. Amy Hackney and Karen Naufel, where they presented their research. Accompanying them were student researchers Walt Collins (M.S.), Jeremy Gay (Psy.D.), Joy Losee (B.S.), Haley Mann (B.S.), and Steven Smith (B.S.). Former graduate student Gwenith Bount-Nuss also attended, and presented her master's thesis research. B.S. honors students Christine Foxwell and Nadim Khatib also attended.
Rural Health Research Institute grants were awarded to Psy.D. candidates Jeremy Gay, Heather Lambros, and Amanda Pellegrino.
Fall 2011 Psi Chi Induction
Congratulations to our Fall, 2011 Psi Chi inductees! Psi Chi members maintain a high GPA and demonstrate a commitment to psychology. (Details on Psi Chi selection criteria are here. Congratulations to our new members! They include: Angela Platt; Catherine Tillitski; Chris O'Brien; Dakota Socha; Delacy Carpenter; Emily Hale; Jasmine Akinsipe; Kassaundra Phillips; Lauren McCoy; Leslie Fouraker; Lindsey O'Donnell; Mackenzi Merck; Monica Powell; Rebecca Bury; Richar Seigler; Samuel Police; Sarah Hill; Shaquille Bolden; Tiffany Wayne; Toneisha England; Yasmin Woodson. Congratulations!
Dr. Bryant Smalley Wins CLASS Award of Excellence
The College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences awarded Dr. Bryant Smalley the CLASS Award of Excellence. This ward is given annually to one individual who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishment while in his or her first 10 years of teaching. Among the many accomplishments noted by the selection committee, were Dr. Smalley's excellent teaching, his federal grant, and his leadership in establishing the university's first successful "cluster hire" proposal for the Rural Health Research Institute. Congratulations, Dr. Smalley!