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The Department of Psychology
Alumni Newsletter - Fall 2017
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Psychology Graduate Students presenting their research at the Midwestern Psychological Association at Palmer House, Chicago in April 2017
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| The Department of Psychology has a multi-faceted mission to: - provide significantly to the education of undergraduate students, both majors and non-majors;
- offer high quality specialized doctoral programs in several areas of psychology;
- engage in diverse and contemporary research and scholarship that advances the problems; and
- contribute expertise in service of the department, college, university, discipline, and broader community.
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As of July 1 this year, I have taken on the role of the chair of the department of psychology, and I am pleased to welcome you to a new academic year.I thank Dr. Cecilia Shore for 36 years of service and wish her all the best on behalf of the department as she enjoys retirement.
In late spring, the department awarded E. F. Patten Prize to three outstanding psychology majors: Annie Bryan, Maddie Scott, and Bryan VonDerVellen. The Patten Prize is awarded to senior psychology majors who best typify excellence in general academics as well as devotion to and accomplishment within the field of psychology. Congratulations to the recipients! We are very proud of our graduate students who received two separate awards through Miami’s Grants to Support Research in Social Justice, Human Rights, Diversity, and Inclusion through a highly competative selection process.
The contributions of Dr. Jay Smart, psychology faculty member were recognized with the Jahnke-White Award. Multiple faculty colleagues nominated Dr. Smart and stated that his extraordinary leadership within and outside the department of psychology was unparalleled.
We were pleased to have alumni Stacey Jaffe (Miami 2003), Dr. Richard Mayer (Miami 1969), and Dr. Dustin Wygant (Miami 2001) return to campus to give talks and share their expertise. Ms. Jaffe discussed the opportunities and challenges of her work with Teach for America. Dr. Mayer, an educational psychologist, gave a research talk on how psychologists can use video games and multimedia for education. As an associate professor of psychology and Director of Clinical Training at Eastern Kentucky University, Dr. Wygant talked about careers in forensic psychology and gave a colloquium on psychopathy. If you are interested in coming to campus and sharing your research or your experiences about your career trajectory, please get in touch with me. I also hope that you will stay connected to the department through Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.
Each year Miami University organizes a fun, fast-paced fundraising event on move-in day. This year, the department actively participated in the #MoveInMiami fundraiser, and raised funds to support graduate student travel to professional conferences and undergraduate student participation in hands-on experiences in the behavioral neuroscience curriculum. We thank you for contributing to these funds, and hope that you will continue to support these important initiatives.
For the past 10 years, The College of Arts and Science annually hosts the Discover the Sciences event for prospective students. This was the first year when department of psychology participated along with 12 other departments. Three undergraduate students and their mentors showcased their research at this event, talked to prospective students interested in psychology and neuroscience and provided tours of psychology facilities.
In October, the Center for Teaching Excellence at Miami organized a full day Inclusion Symposium. Three psychology faculty members, along with a psychology alumni, Timothy Ovia (Miami 2013), presented talks and participated in panels.
We wish you all the best at the close of this calendar year, and look forward to staying connected. Joseph G. Johnson
Chair
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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Vrinda Kalia
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Vrinda Kalia in her new position as Assistant Professor in the department. Dr. Kalia was a visiting faculty member at Miami for the past three years.
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Alumni Spotlights: Richard Mayer, Stacey Jaffe, and Dustin Wygant
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Dr. Richard Mayer, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California - Santa Barbara, returned to campus this September to give a talk on multimedia learning.
Stacey Jaffe (BA, 2003), currently vice president for digital content and channels for Teach for America, returned to campus in late March to give a talk “Listening Is the Heartbeat of Innovation."
Dr. Dustin Wygant (BA, 2001) is Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training at Eastern Kentucky University. He returned in October to talk about careers in forensic psychology and give a colloquium on psychopathy.
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| Patten Prize Winners Click the photos for details
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| Dr. Jay Smart recognized with Jahnke-White Award
Dr. Jay Smart, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, was awarded the Jahnke-White Service Award, which recognizes exceptional service contributions by a faculty member to the Department of Psychology.
The Jahnke-White service award is named after two former Department Chairs and the recipient is selected by faculty vote. Dr. Smart feels the “recognition that his colleagues really appreciate what he is doing is so rewarding.”
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| College of Arts and Science at Miami University
90 North Patterson Avenue • Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-2400
psychology@MiamiOH.edu
©2017 Miami University.
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