As I am about to complete my first year as the chair, I am excited about the various accomplishments of students and faculty and the activities that they have participated in this year.
Alumna Jennifer Thomas (Miami 2013), a marketing automation analyst at General Electric, came to campus in late fall, and engaged psychology majors in a discussion about careers in the industry. Dr. Ginger Wickline, faculty member at the Middletown campus, also organized an informative panel for students interested in careers related to human resources, marketing, and business.
This spring, with the help of the alumni office, we began the process of forming an alumni advisory board for psychology. Beginning this fall, the board will meet annually in fall over two days on campus, and will provide input on our curriculum so that it stays relevant to the field and the job market, assist current students in networking with fellow alumni in seeking internship and employment opportunities, and assist us with our alumni engagement efforts. We look forward to having the board meet on campus in early September.
We had an enriching series of colloquia this spring, including one by Dr. Jennifer Richeson from Yale University where she discussed psychology in changing racial dynamics in the US. The annual Stephen Hinkle memorial poster session displayed 54 posters (more than we have ever had) that were presented by undergraduate and graduate students and their faculty mentors.
Our faculty have been engaged in a number of initiatives. In the Winter term, several members of our clinical area faculty visited Christ University in Bangalore, India as a part of an ongoing project to develop cultural competence in mental health, and later this spring, the department hosted four psychology faculty members from Christ University. This spring, for the first time, the department hosted two graduate students in clinical psychology from Christ University, who completed a one month internship in the psychology clinic under the supervision of Dr. Julie Rubin. This is the beginning of an ongoing partnership with the department of psychology at Christ University, which has afforded many meaningful opportunities for faculty and students alike. Two of our faculty members, Dr. April Smith and Dr. Elise Clerkin, received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor, and Dr. Vaishali Raval was promoted to Professor earlier this spring. We are excited about their accomplishments and congratulate them on their respective promotions.
As we wrap up this academic year, we look forward to staying connected with you. Be on the lookout for the next alumni newsletter in late fall. You can also follow the department on linkedin, facebook, and twitter, and please get in touch if you plan to be in the Oxford area.
Joseph G. Johnson
Chair
