Chair Communications
There has been a lot of good news since my last Chair’s update.
First, we will be welcoming two new faculty members this fall—Richard Douglass, who will join the Counseling program, and Katerina Marcoulides, who will join Quantitative/Psychometrics program. This caps off a successful search process, which was led by the Chair of the Appointments Committee, Professor Andrew Oxenham.
Second, I am delighted to recognize two of our faculty members who have received major teaching awards! Professor Monica Luciana is the recipient of a 2018-19 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education. This honor is awarded to exceptional candidates nominated by colleges in their quest to identify excellence in graduate and professional education. In addition, Associate Professor Cheryl Olman is the recipient of a 2018-19 Horace T. Morse - University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education. This honor is awarded to exceptional candidates nominated by colleges in their quest to identify excellence in undergraduate education. Please join me in congratulating both Cheryl and Monica for these major accomplishments!
In other news, Dr. Jennifer Berdahl, a leading expert on sexual harassment from the University of British Columbia, visited our department in January to speak on this topic. To view the video of her lecture, click here.
Dr. Berdahl also met with various student, faculty, and staff groups to offer suggestions for ways in which we can continue to improve the climate within the department and university. The current administrative team, along with Monica Luciana, are working with the Graduate Student Liaison Committee to adopt some of the suggestions that were discussed. We will continue to monitor their implementation, as well as their impact on our departmental climate, in the coming years.
Jeff
Administrative Updates and Announcements
After 27 years, Liz Gates is retiring! Her last day is Friday, April 1st! Stop by and wish her well! Pictures taken at her party on February 26th are located at this here.
Awards and Accomplishments
Professor Rich Lee and a team of other University of Minnesota researchers are featured in MN Daily for piloting a new text messaging system that aims to promote child and maternal wellness in the Cedar-Riverside community.
The Grand Challenge-funded project, Reminders for Readiness (R4R), sends text messages to parents reminding them about child and maternal wellness and to take their children to check-ups. The reminders are short audio packages — in English and Somali — that integrate Somali culture and tradition into their content. The text messaging system aims to erase barriers to health care that many Somalis experience.The article and more information on the study can be found here
Chloe Huelsnitz from our Social Area has received $2500 as a runner-up at the Inside the Grant Panel Small Grants Competition at the 2019 Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) Conference. Inside the Grant Panel provides small grants to individuals (or a team of two) that is intended to support a relatively inexpensive, well-powered study that may be submitted for publication and for presentation at a future SPSP convention. She will use the grant to fund her dissertation studies.
Upcoming Events
Research in Psychology Fair
Thurs. April 11th 1-3pm
Elliott Hall 6th Floor - (N647 and N639)
Psychology Undergraduate Advising is hosting the Annual Research in Psychology Fair.
The goal is to connect Psychology Department and Related Area Labs to our Psychology Undergraduates. Some labs have used this as an RA recruitment opportunity, while others are simply sharing out information about research happening in the lab. All are encouraged to participate. Faculty/Lab invitations and registration information have been sent out already via email. Please contact Mike Houlahan (mhoulah@umn.edu) with any questions.
Psychology Undergraduate Celebration
Friday, May 3rd, 2019 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Campus Club - Coffman Memorial Union
Official RSVP invitations will be sent at a future date!