DATA News: August 2018


Administrative Updates and Announcements

August 3rd was Terry Klosterman's last day with the Department of Psychology. She is retiring after 7 years in the department as our Accounting Supervisor. Terry was instrumental in shoring up our department's finances; she has been steadfast in providing expert guidance to departmental leadership and colleagues; and she has been a wonderful supervisor, colleague, and friend. She will be missed and we offer her our deepest thanks. In lieu of a gift, Terry has asked that colleagues donate to her daughter Kate's Walk to End Alzheimer's donation page, which can be found here.

Please join us in welcoming Sarah Jahn, Accounting Supervisor (Finance Professional 4), to the Department of Psychology. Sarah is replacing Terry Klosterman in accounting. Sarah has a bachelors degree in business and marketing and a masters degree in applied kinesiology, both from the University of MN. Sarah's first day was August 13th, and she can be reached at swen0432@umn.edu. Please stop by S256 and welcome her!

Please join us in also welcoming Lisa Keith, Executive Office and Administrative Specialist, to the Chair's Office in the Department of Psychology. Lisa's first day was July 17th, and she will be working in N210. Lisa has worked at the University since 2006 in a variety of Administrative Specialist roles; she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in that area. She is also working toward a B.A. in American Indian Studies here at the University.

Also joining us is Amy Landers, who will be our Communications and Outreach Specialist in the Department of Psychology starting August 13th. Amy is a graduate of our PhD program in Cognitive and Brain Sciences. For this one-year appointment, Amy has been charged with producing a strategic plan for communications and outreach for our Department, including suggestions for a sustainable infrastructure and who will do what over the long-term. She will also focus on how can Psychology best communicate the great work being done here to potential graduate students, alumni, and the public at large. In addition, Amy will teach PSY 3896, Internship in Psychology, in the fall and spring semester. Her email is kuriv002@umn.edu. Please stop by her office in Elliott S246 and say hello!


Awards and Accomplishments

Professor Mark Snyder and his research on the psychology of volunteerism were featured in a report on CNN.com. The article can be found here.

Samantha Abram, a 2018 CSPR graduate, along with Professors Angus MacDonald and Mark Thomas, co-authored a paper appearing in Science, entitled “Sensitivity to "Sunk Costs" in Mice, Rats, and Humans". First authored by Brian Sweiss, an MD/PhD student, this work represents a longterm collaboration between MacDonald’s and Thomas’ labs, along with that of David Redish from the AHC Neuroscience Department. These efforts have been focused on developing parallel foraging paradigms that can provide insights across all three species. The article can be found here.

Assistant Professor Nicola Grissom was recently featured in a "Beyond the Bench" interview in Spectrum, an autism news organization run by the Simons Foundation. The article can be found here.

Research Associate Ying-zi Xiong, who works in the Lab for Low Vision Research in our department, won the 2018 Envision-Atwell Award last month for research in low vision and low vision rehabilitation. Ying-zi received the award, which includes a $1,000 stipend and a trophy, at a gathering of the Low Vision Research Group at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Honolulu, Hawaii. The award is sponsored by the Gigi & Carl Allen Envision Research Institute in Wichita. Details on the award may be found here.

Upcoming Events

Psy & CPSY Undergraduate Advising Present

2018 Career Exploration and Alumni Connections Event

9/21 3:00-4:00pm

312 Bruininks Hall

RSVP at

z.umn.edu/PsyCareerRSVP for Psy Majors

z.umn.edu/CPsyCareerRSVP for CPSY Majors

Wondering what you can do with your major in Psychology or Child Psychology? You are not alone! Visit the Psy and CPsy Exploration & Alumni Connections Event to talk to alumni about various Psy/CPsy career pathways. Stop by as your schedule allows. Light refreshments provided!

 

Minnesota State Fair – August 23rd to September 3rd, 2018

If you’re heading to the Great Minnesota Get-together, The  College of Liberal Arts departments and researchers will be in the U of M Central (Crossroads) building at Dan Patch Avenue & Underwood Street or in the Driven to Discover building on Cosgrove Street. Stop by for a visit!

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