State Council of Higher Education for Virginia 2015 Outstanding Faculty Award
Wendy Kliewer
Michael Southam-Gerow
Department Chair
Director, Graduate Studies
Linda Zyzniewski
Dorothy Fillmore
Director, Undergraduate Studies
Associate Director for Academic Operations PROGRAM DIRECTORS Eric Benotsch Health Rosalie Corona Clinical Jeff Green Social Suzanne mazzeo Counseling Terri sullivan Developmental
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Feature Story
4-5 Al Farrell, Ph.D., State Council of Higher Education for Virginia 2015 Outstanding Faculty Award
6-7
18-19
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Class notes
Undergraduate news
Undergraduate student spotlight
8-9
20-21
Chelsea Goodman
Student scholarships and awards
Retirement celebrations
33
10-11
Stephen Auerbach, Ph.D., and Barbara Myers, Ph.D.
Faculty in the media
22-23
New grant funding
First graduates of the health psychology doctoral program Jasmine Abrams, Ph.D. Joshua Brevard, Ph.D. Michell Pope, Ph.D.
12-13 Student wins National Science Foundation fellowship Michael Trujillo
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Graduate student spotlight & news Thomas Moore
24-25 New research findings
26-29 CPSD celebrates 30 years Everett Worthington, Ph.D.
Community engagement award
30-31
Bruce Rybarczyk, Ph.D.
Research spotlight
16-17 Department news & updates
The dangers of hookah smoking Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D.
34-35 36-37 Student receives APA grant Tess Drazdowski
38-39 Alumna spotlight Erin Hiley-Sharp, Ph.D.
40-42 May graduates
43 Contact information
Courtesy of VCU News
that nominated me and am proud that VCU selected me as one of their nominees," Farrell said. "It is a The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia particularly meaningful award for me as it is based has named Albert Farrell, Ph.D., a Virginia Commonon the extent to which my work embodies the miswealth University psychology professor and director sion and values of the university. I have been here a of the VCU Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Delong time – 34 years – and closely identify with velopment, as a recipient of a 2015 Outstanding VCU." Faculty Award. Farrell was one of 13 professors from across Virginia The awards, which are the highest honor for faculty who received the award, which was administered at Virginia's public and private colleges and universiby SCHEV and sponsored by Dominion, at a ceremoties, recognize superior accomplishments in teachny in February. ing, research and public service. "Dr. Farrell is a beloved teacher and mentor, a pro"It means a great deal to me to receive this honor. I lific and nationally recognized researcher, and a greatly appreciated the support of my colleagues tireless advocate for youth in our community and
"Dr. Farrell is a beloved teacher and mentor, a around the naby psychologists, prolific and nationally recognized researcher, tion," said John as evidenced by and a tireless advocate for youth in our M. Wiencek, his publication Ph.D., VCU's forcommunity and around the nation.� and grant funding mer interim provrecord, and for the ost and vice president impact his work has for academic affairs. "We are both and intellectually stimulating envi- had on the lives of adolescents." proud and honored that he has ronment." Farrell joined VCU in 1980. It was chosen to spend his impressive The institute is one of only six Na- his first faculty position after recareer at Virginia Commonwealth tional Academic Centers of Excel- ceiving his Ph.D. and master's deUniversity. He is most deserving lence in Youth Violence Prevengree in psychological sciences of this prestigious award." tion, which are funded by the from Purdue University, as well as Farrell, a professor in the Department of Psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences, was the founder in 2005 of the VCU Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development, which brings together faculty from across VCU to collaborate on projects that promote the positive
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
development of young people – including projects focused on reducing bullying and boosting the academic performance of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Jim Coleman, Ph.D., dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, wrote as part of Farrell's nomination that he "exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding faculty member."
"This work is all done in collaboration with local public school systems and other community agencies," Farrell said. "It provides training opportunities for VCU undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. I find it an extremely rewarding
"He has excelled in every aspect of the faculty mission of research excellence, teaching and service," Coleman wrote. "His empirically supported model for youth violence prevention is considered the gold standard
In collaborating with his fellow Clark-Hill Institute faculty members, Farrell has contributed to several large research projects that have received national attention.
Governor Terry McAuliffe addressed the award recipients at the event held in February at the Jefferson Hotel. In attendance were Farrell’s wife, Lois Farrell, Chair of the Department of Psychology, Wendy Kliewer, Ph.D. and VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D.
an undergraduate degree in psychology from Michigan State University. At VCU, Farrell said he has taken pride in the success of the doctoral students he has worked with in the Department of Psychology. "It has been particularly reward-
ing to see them move on to take postdoctoral positions and faculty positions at other universities," he said. To see the full list of award recipients, read the SCHEV press release.
leadership has been consulting with Lisa Cuseo-Ott (M.S. ‘88, Ph.D. ‘91) Melissa Blank (M.S. '04, Ph.D. '07) is and Bruce Rybarczyk, Ph.D., on a an assistant professor of psychology plan to begin hiring psychologists for at West Virginia University and still their large primary care practices Anthony Spirito (M.S. ‘78, Ph.D. '82) collaborates with our department’s they have been acquiring to particiwas recently selected as the 2015 faculty on tobacco-related research pate in the Affordable Care Act acDistinguished Career Award winner from time to time. Her work was countable care organization reimby the board of directors of the Soci- featured in a recent Science Daily bursement systems on the horizon. ety of Clinical Child and Adolescent article. Upcoming Ph.D. graduate Benjamin Psychology (Division 53), American Lord (M.S. ‘10) was recently hired as Psychological Association. This a primary care psychologist at the award is given annually to longtime James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in members who have demonstrated After receiving several job offers, Tampa, Fl., joining Aaron Martin major research or theoretical contri- Ashley Dibble (M.S. ‘09, Ph.D. ‘13) (Ph.D. ‘13) who works in the pain butions or other contributions in accepted a position in the substance clinic and Daniel Baughn (M.S. ‘09, terms of public policy or scientific abuse program at the Salem VA Ph.D. ‘12), who also works in primapractice to the field of clinical child Medical Center in Roanoke. ry care. Lord was featured with and adolescent psychology. Spirito is Andrea Garroway (M.S. ’11, Ph.D. Bruce Rybarczyk, Ph.D., in a recent a professor of psychiatry and human ’15) will soon begin a two-year postAPA article on integrated care behavior at the Warren Alpert Medidoctoral fellowship in women’s settings. cal School of Brown University and health at the VA Connecticut Health was recognized for his treatment After finishing her postdoctoral felresearch with adolescents who have Care System in West Haven. lowship, Rush University Medical co-occurring conditions, including Congratulations to Leila Islam (Ph.D. Center in Chicago hired Laurin Mack depression, suicidality and sub‘13) who has been working for the (M.S. ‘09, Ph.D. ‘13) as a new faculty stance abuse. last six months as assistant profesmember in rehabilitation medicine. sor and director of behavioral sciHannah Lund (M.S. ‘11, Ph.D. ‘14) is ence for the Department of Family also at Rush completing a two-year and Community in the Department postdoctoral fellowship in sleep After an extensive national search, of Psychiatry at the University of medicine with a baby on the way! Joianne Smith (M.S. ‘93, Ph.D. '96) Maryland School of Medicine. Gina Pido (B.S. ’14) was chosen for a has been elected president of OakKaren Kersting (M.S. ‘12, Ph.D. ‘15) summer multicultural advertising ton Community College in Des Plaines, Ill. Read the press release. accepted a postdoctoral fellowship internship program by the American at the Dayton VA Medical Center in Association of Advertising Agencies. primary care integration, women’s Offered to students from diverse health and behavioral medicine. backgrounds, the program links its She has already taken a leadership interns to high-profile advertising position as a member of the steering agencies for a chance to gain realcommittee for the women’s primary world experience. care clinic. Elizabeth Sadock (M.S. ‘12, Ph.D. Andrea Konig (Ph.D. ‘11) has a great ‘15) accepted a postdoctoral fellownew job doing integrated primary ship in primary care at the VA Portcare at a Bon Secours clinic in Rich- land Health Care System. mond specializing in kids with disaLillian Flores Stevens (Ph.D. ‘10) bilities. She is the first psychologist transitioned out of the Mental Illthey have hired, but the health plan Smith ness Research, Education and Clini-
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cal Centers fellowship and into a staff psychologist position at the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RVAMC). In her new role as a research psychologist, Stevens will serve as the site-principal investigator and data specialist for the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) project. The TBIMS program was created in 1987 by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilita-
tion Research and is a prospective, longitudinal, multi-center study which examines TBI recovery and outcomes following coordinated acute medical care and inpatient rehabilitation. There are 16 public sector facilities that serve as TBIMS sites and the RVAMC is one of the five VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers that serve as TBIMS sites.
In memoriam Mary Louise Ayer (B.S. ’41), of Tucson, Ariz., March 15, 2015, at age 95. Jeannette Ford Baggs (B.S. ’68), of Williamsburg, Va., Jan. 9, 2015, at age 77. Claudette E. Limbrick (’69), of Richmond, Va., Dec. 25, 2014. Morgan L. Keller (B.S. ’09), of Herndon, Va., May 18, 2013.
Andrea Konig (Ph.D. ‘11), left, Rosalie Corona, Ph.D., associate professor and director of clinical training, and James Coleman, Ph.D., dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, enjoy the celebration of the Center for Psychological Services and Development’s 30th anniversary. See p. 26 for details on the event.
Scholarship Winners 2014-15 Elizabeth A. Fries Memorial Scholarship in Psychology Amma A. Agyemang
former Ph.D. candidate in the Department The Corazzini Award in Group Process Research of Psychology, this scholarship is awarded Jennifer Coleman to a graduate student in clinical psychology with preference given to students who The scholarship was established jointly by Dr. Elizabeth A. Fries (1963-2005) was a VCU associate professor of psychology, co- pursue research in psychology. the Department of Psychology and Univerdirector of cancer control at the VCU Mas- The John P. Hill Award for the Study of sity Counseling Services to honor John sey Cancer Center and a nationally reAdolescent Development (Jack) Corazzini, Ph.D., director of counselspected cancer control researcher. She Laura J. Caccavale ing services and a professor in the Departwas also the director of research for the This scholarship was established in 1989 in ment of Psychology. Corazzini was active VCU Institute for Women's Health, a Nain research on and theorizing about the honor of John P. Hill, Ph.D., former Detional Center of Excellence in Women's partment of Psychology chair and interna- dynamics of therapy groups. He was both Health. The focus of her work was on rea scientist and a practitioner. The purpose tionally acclaimed scholar in the field of ducing cancer-causing behaviors and inadolescence. The award is given each year of the award is to encourage and facilitate creasing adherence to health promoting to a graduate student in psychology who the work of graduate students who share behaviors, such as cancer screening, exer- exhibits high academic standards and evi- the late Dr. Jack Corazzini’s interest in cise, abstaining from tobacco and consum- dence of promise in research in adolesgroup processes, group dynamics and ing a healthy diet. group counseling therapy. cent or family development. This scholarship is awarded yearly to one female VCU graduate student presently enrolled in a doctoral degree program in psychology or another discipline, and who is involved in cancer control and prevention research areas. The successful candidate should be active in the field of cancer control and prevention and have the potential to serve as a leader and role model to others working in this area. This scholarship will be awarded to the student to further her professional development. The successful student must use the scholarship for cancer control and prevention activities including, but not limited to: (1) traveling to conferences and presenting cancer control and prevention-related research results; (2) attending specialized training in cancer control; (3) gathering data to further cancer control research; and/or (4) developing and implementing a cancer control and prevention community -based project. Deborah Braffman Schroeder Research Scholarship Melissa Dvorsky Established in memoriam in 1990 by the family of Deborah Braffman Schroeder, a
The Evelyn E. Gunst Scholarship Fund Michael Trujillo Established by an anonymous donor in 1998 in honor of Evelyn E. Gunst, this scholarship is awarded to a master’s-level graduate student based on need and/or merit. Melvin V. Lubman Scholarship Laura Liwen The Melvin V. Lubman Scholarship was established in his memory by his wife, Mrs. Golde Lubman Feldman. Lubman focused his teaching on industrial psychology in his career at VCU. He dedicated his professional life to improving public safety in highways and transportation, as well as accident prevention for public servants such as firefighters, police and waste collection employees. The scholarship honors Lubman’s dedication and service as a professor in the Department of Psychology and is available to undergraduates majoring in psychology. Preference is given to students with meritorious academic performance who have financial need, or who are employed either full- or part-time throughout their enrollment.
The award is given annually to a graduate student who has demonstrated interest in group processes, group dynamics, and/or group counseling and therapy (courses, experiences, supervised practice, research or scholarship) and who presents a proposal for a research project on one of these topics. Pierluigi A. Menna Scholarship in Psychology Jasmine Jaghab This scholarship is awarded to either an undergraduate or graduate student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Susan E. Kennedy Scholarship Michell Pope Named in honor of Dr. Susan E. Kennedy, former chair of the history department and dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, this scholarship is given to a graduate student who has advanced the presence of women in higher education, has completed at least one semester of graduate work and has attained at least a 3.5 GPA in his/her graduate work.
Award Winners 2014-15 Outstanding Psychology Senior
Outstanding Developmental Psychology Graduate Student
Brittany Noah
Sarah Doyle
Undergraduate Psychology Black History in the Making
Outstanding Health Psychology Graduate Student
Samya Dyer and Brian Joseph
Amy Jeffers
Outstanding Behavioral Medicine Track Graduate Student
Outstanding Social Psychology Graduate Student
Therese Cash
Jordan Quaglia
Outstanding Child Clinical Track Graduate Student
Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher
Adriana Rodriguez
Caroline Lavelock
Outstanding Counseling Graduate Student
Psychology Graduate Student LGBTQ Ally
Caroline Lavelock and Allison Palmberg
Daniel Snipes
First graduates of the her educational experience as she saw fit. Having recently been on the job market, Abrams feels prepared for what lies ahead. “I know there will be a learning curve but I believe this program and my experiences at VCU allowed me to gain the skills I need to be successful.” Abrams
Soon-to-be health psychology graduate, Jasmine Abrams, Ph.D., began her journey in psychology as an undergraduate at Virginia State University where she graduated magna cum laude. She entered the doctoral program in 2010 with Faye Belgrave, Ph.D., as her adviser and recently successfully defended her dissertation, “The Heart of Strength: The Strong Black Woman Schema and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.” Abrams describes graduate school as being more difficult than she expected with classes being the least of her worries. “In the program, there has been a heavy emphasis on making students competitive for the next stages. That was the most difficult part for me—becoming competitive and training to become a legitimate researcher,” said Abrams.
Abrams will start her new job as a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland– Baltimore County in August where she will focus on community interventions and prevention science. She will also be running her new business, Consumer and Community Connection, LLC, which she co-founded with fellow health psychology graduate, Michell Pope. This business offers research assistance, program evaluation and training services to academic professionals, nonprofits and government agencies.
Brevard
tutelage of Belgrave. In May he successfully defended his dissertation, “An Evaluation of the Raise 5 Project: Preventing HIV and Substance Abuse Among African American College Students.” Before being admitted to the program, he admits a bit of naiveté about the kind of workload he was taking on. “[Eventually] I learned to balance taking classes while working on research projects, trying to publish and mentoring undergraduate students,” said Brevard. “It took some time.”
Brevard described the impressive growth of the health program since its beginnings. “I can remember when the health program only had three students and now there are more than I can count! The program has become a very diverse group, full of talented students with a vast array of research interests. It has been Abrams is truly impressed at the Joshua Brevard, Ph.D., earned his really exciting to see the health shape the program has taken dur- bachelor’s in psychology at VCU program grow and begin to ing her time here. She is apprecia- and enrolled in the health doctorthrive.” tive of the great faculty in the al program in 2011, also under program and the freedom to craft the According to Abrams, it is an “unreal but humbling and exciting feeling” to be one of the first graduates of the health program. “I loved my experience at VCU. I feel blessed to have had such a phenomenal mentor, great program director, great department chair and awesome faculty.”
Health psychology doctoral program For Brevard, it feels “surreal” to be one of the first Ph.D.’s to graduate from the program. Thinking back to the journey he started as a freshman at VCU in 2007, it’s hard for him to fathom how far he’s come. He feels honored for the opportunity that was provided to him and is appreciative of everyone who has helped him reach this milestone.
Pope
tions and more access to faculty with a diverse set of research interests. This has helped contribute to an excellent learning experience and more exposure to collaborative research options. She also notes her appreciation for program faculty who have given students the opportunity contribute to and shape the development of the program.
her program, as well as faculty Last year, Pope co-founded a rewho have provided their unyield- search assistance firm (see ing support and guidance. Abrams entry) that helps acaThough her expectations around demic researchers and organizaworkload when she began were tions market their research prorealistic, it was initially challeng- jects, increase participant recruiting to balance competing priori- ment/retention, collect data and ties. However, she quickly conduct program evaluations. learned the importance of organ- She plans to continue her work Our third graduate, Michell Pope, izing and prioritizing goals, of not with the firm, saying, “I am curbeing afraid to ask for help and rently working to meet the needs Ph.D., is originally from Springof several of my clients and colfield, Mass. and graduated from the art of saying ‘no.’ laborating with VCU’s Innovation VCU with her bachelor’s degree “I was surprised by the level of Gateway to further develop this in 2009. Under the mentorship of support and encouragement I Rosalie Corona, Ph.D., Pope suc- received from my colleagues and business venture.” cessfully defended the dissertathe VCU community. Their willIn fact, her participation in the tion, “Let’s Talk Tobacco: An Ex- ingness to assist me when need- Innovation Gateway preamination of Urban African Amer- ed has contributed to my success accelerator program was a comican Parent-Adolescent Commu- in the program.” ponent of her acceptance into Go nication about Tobacco Use With- According to Pope, the program For It!, a program in the College in the Context of Parental Smok- has undergone a number of of Humanities and Sciences that ing.” changes since her arrival. For ex- aims to help student entrepreneurs develop business plans and For Pope, it is very exciting and ample, new courses have been rewarding to be in the first cohort added to the curriculum and the get their companies or products of health psychology students to program has successfully recruit- off the ground. Read more about graduate. She is happy to have ed several new faculty members. the Go For It! program. Brevard will be working as a research analyst at Headquarters Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. evaluating the effectiveness of several programs for Marines and their families. The results will be used to determine areas in which programs across Marine installations nationwide can improve.
had the opportunity to develop relationships with members of
These factors, she says, give current students more course op-
Michelle Stith is a second-year student in the counseling psychology doctoral program.
Psychology student receives National Science foundation fellowship to study effects of anti-gay harassment
Courtesy of VCU News
Trujillo plans to also investigate the role of "distress tolerance" — or a person's Health psychology doctoral student Miability to handle difficult times — in the chael Trujillo has received a prestigious National Science Foundation Gradu- relationship between distress and riskate Research Fellowship to study discrimi- taking behavior. nation faced by gays, lesbians and bisexu- Trujillo said he is "extremely excited and als, and to determine whether that dishumbled" to receive the fellowship, and crimination leads to greater risk taking. credited the support and guidance he has The fellowship is for three years and recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing researchbased master's and doctoral degrees. Trujillo's study is titled "Anti-Gay Harassment and Risk Taking: The Effects of Distress and Distress Tolerance." "The study I've proposed is looking at harassment and risk taking, specifically [among] sexual minorities," Trujillo said. "The idea is that sexual minorities — gay, lesbian, bisexual — experience a unique form of harassment. Anti-gay harassment. And that leads to distress — or making people feel anxious and stressed out — and that leads to greater risk taking more broadly." Several studies have already indicated that people who experience distress are more likely to engage in risky behavior, he said. Additionally, studies have shown that LGBT people who experience antigay discrimination are more likely to experience distress and engage in risky behavior such as substance abuse or sexual risk taking. "What we don't really know if it's this specific, anti-gay harassment [that is causing negative effects] or whether any harassment generally would lead to greater risk taking," he said.
received as a student and researcher. Paul Perrin, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Trujillo's adviser, said Trujillo is an exceptional student who has "a true passion for using his research and professional career to work against various forms of oppression." Perrin added that Trujillo's research project has great potential to shed light on some of the most important pathways through which discrimination affects the mental and physical health of members of the LGBT community. Trujillo plans to begin the institutional review board process over the summer and to begin the research project in the fall or following spring. As part of the project, he is hoping to bring on board a graduate student or undergraduate student to mentor. "This [fellowship] speaks to this collective support I've received," he said. "I'm happy to utilize this as a springboard to give back." "It's especially relevant for me," he added, "as someone who is both an ethnic minority and a sexual minority, because it serves as an opportunity to let other minorities know that you can succeed and do well. I just want to be a model for others, and give back in any way that I can."
Rybarczyk receives Community engagement award
Bruc sista
Courtesy of VCU News
VCU’s Council for Community Engagement celebrated the university’s commitment to community engagement during a May 5 ceremony on campus. “We are here today to celebrate university-community partnerships. We will award grants to encourage the development of new partnerships that will address critical needs in our community and we will recognize partnerships that are making an impact in our community through teaching, research and outreach,” said Cathy Howard, Ph.D., vice provost of the Division of Community Engagement.
The award for exemplary partnership in o Care Psychology Collaborative, a collabor Planet, the Department of Internal Medic the Ambulatory Care Center.
VCU Ambulatory Care Center, The Daily P to Bruce Rybarczyk, Ph.D., in the Departm help addressing unmet mental health nee age of patients (upwards of 50 percent of cerns were either not receiving care at all During the event, one-year grants of up to $20,000 were awarded to six university to a wide range of economic and other ba -community programs. The grants, funded jointly by the Office of the Provost and started embedding supervised doctoral tr the Vice President for Health Sciences, support interdisciplinary projects designed psychology doctoral programs in these th to enhance and increase university engagement with the Greater Richmond comthat time, trainees have delivered more t munity and to contribute to the research and teaching of VCU units. al care to underserved individuals in the G The Council for Community Engagement also recognized four outstanding univerThe Safety Net Primary Care Psychology C sity-community partnerships, including one that was designated this year’s of Change” award for overall excellence. “Currents of Change” award winner.
ce Rybarczyk, Ph.D., right, celebrates the accomplishments of the Safety Net Primary Care Psychology Collaborative with Department Chair, Wendy Kliewer, Ph.D., Asant Professor of Health Psychology, Paul Perrin, Ph.D., and other friends, colleagues and students.
outreach went to the Safety Net Primary ration of the Fan Free Clinic, The Daily cine, the Department of Psychology and
Rybarczyk received a framed limited-edition print of a watercolor by W. Baxter Perkinson, D.D.S., a School of Dentistry alumnus, who is the president of VCU Alumni and has served as rector and member of the Board of Visitors and vice president of the VCU Health System Authority Board of Directors.
Planet and the Fan Free Clinic reached out ment of Psychology a few years ago for eds among their patients. A high percentf all patients) with mental health conl or were obtaining substandard care due arriers. Beginning in 2008, Rybarczyk rainees from the clinical and counseling hree safety net primary care clinics. Since than 8,500 sessions of pro bono behaviorGreater Richmond area.
To see the full list of grant recipients and partnership awards, read the VCU News article.
Collaborative also received the “Currents
Officials from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget who oversee funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration have expressed interest in the psychology doctoral training collaborative and are expected to visit campus soon to learn more about it.
Congratulations to Faye Belgrave, Ph.D., who has been named corecipient of the Belgrave American Psychological Association's Charles and Shirley Thomas Award. The award is given by APA's Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race, and recognizes significant contributions in the areas of student mentoring and development, as well as contributions toward making psychology responsive and relevant to the needs of the African American community. Rosalie Corona, Ph.D., received two major awards this spring. First, she was awarded the 2015 APA MiCorona nority Fellowship Program Dalmas Taylor Award
for her outstanding contributions towards the development of ethnic minority psychologists. Second, VCU awarded Corona a Presidential Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment (PACME). The PACME award and ceremony was created to recognize members of the University and Health System communities who have contributed to promoting civility, building community, establishing effective crosscultural initiatives, advocating equity and nurturing tolerance and inclusive excellence throughout the University. Read the VCU News story. Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D., professor of health psychology and director of the Center for the Study of Tobacco Eissenberg Products, was a major contributor to the recently published World Health Organi-
zation Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation’s second edition of the advisory note “Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: Health Effects, Research Needs and Recommended Actions for Regulators.” The advisory note addresses growing concern about the increasing prevalence and potential health effects of tobacco smoking with waterpipes. The study group, which includes leading scientists in the field, carries out research and drafts recommendations for WHO's Member States on the issue of establishing regulatory frameworks for the design and manufacture of tobacco products. Congratulations to Robin Everhart, Ph.D., for her selection as a VCU Service-Learning Faculty Fellow for a secEverhart ond year in a row. This program is designed to cultivate faculty leadership for the civic engagement aspect of the university mission by increasing
PACME award winners join university leaders in a celebration of inclusive excellence. First row from the left: Wanda Mitchell, Ed.D., vice president for inclusive excellence; Ashley F. Akers, coordinator of event and meeting services at the University Student Commons; Rosalie A. Corona, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences; VCU Provost Gail Hackett, Ph.D.; and Jonathan C. Zur, president and chief executive officer of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. Second row from the left: Ali Salman, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering; Rosalyn Hobson Hargraves, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Education and associate professor in the School of Engineering; and Beverly A. Walker, associate director of the University Student Commons and Activities.
Department News and updates understanding of current servicelearning research literature; support faculty development by advancing community-engaged research and the scholarship of teaching and learning; and increase departmental and campus support for service-learning and community engagement by developing a cadre of master teachers in service-learning.
VCU welcomed new provost and vice president for academic affairs, Gail Hackett, Ph.D., to campus Hackett this spring. Hackett is a counseling psychologist and has an academic appointment in our department as professor of psychology. She previously served as provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, a position she held since 2008. Read Provost Hackett’s full bio.
relations. A key goal within this area is to address the distinct constructs of relational and physical aggression and victimization Treven Pickett, Psy.D., affiliate in the context of peer and dating assistant professor of psycholorelations. Another aspect of her gy, was recently elected presiresearch focuses on the evaluadent of the Virginia Academy of tion of school-based violence Clinical Psychology to a two-year prevention efforts, especially for term. students with disabilities. Commonwealth J. Randy Koch, Professor of CounPh.D., and colseling Psychology leagues in the Everett WorthingCenter for the ton, Ph.D., recentStudy of Tobacco ly delivered the Products hosted Worthington Koch commencement “The Future of address for Ashland Theological Tobacco Control: Implications for Seminary on the campus of Ash- the Prevention of Youth Tobacco land University in Ohio. Use in Virginia” conference on
ties can provide better support for students with ADHD. (See story on p. 34.)
Terri Sullivan, Ph.D., was the 2014-15 recipient of the College of Humanities and SciencSullivan es’ Excellence in Scholarship Award. Sullivan’s research program focuses on unAssociate profesderstanding the impact of aggressor of clinical psysion and exposure to violence on chology and dichildren's healthy psychosocial rector of the and emotional development. This ADHD clinic, Joshresearch includes examination of ua Langberg, the relations between aggression Langberg Ph.D., recently and exposure to violence spoke to WCVE News about his (including witnessing violence new $3.2M grant from the Insti- and victimization) and psychosotute of Education Sciences in the cial maladjustment, and identifyU.S. Department of Education to ing risk and protective factors study how colleges and universi- that may magnify or buffer these
youth tobacco consumption. A grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth provided to the CSTP requires a presentation on this topic every three years. Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D., delivered the keynote address “Electronic Cigarettes: What Are They and What Do They Do?” on the first day of the two-day conference. Alison Breland, Ph.D., served as moderator for a panel discussion on regBreland ulation and media campaigns in the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products.
undergraduate news Research symposium
ative Scholarship Summer Fellows. At the annual VCU Symposium for The fellowship provides the opUndergraduate Research and Cre- portunity for faculty and students to partner on a funded research ativity this spring sponsored by the Undergraduate Research Op- project of their choice. The fellowportunities Program (UROP), psy- ship is designed to provide outstanding undergraduates the chology majors really shined! Of 200 posters presented, 14% were chance to make significant progress on a formal, structured refrom psychology majors with a search endeavor during the sumtotal of 53 student participants. mer in collaboration with a faculty Freshman Usha Raman’s poster mentor. titled “Psychology: Body by Avatar” was featured in a VCU News These projects are focused on story about the event. Raman global learning and research, isstudied the impact of video game sues of diversity, communityavatars on body image in adoles- engaged research and clinical recent boys. search into advancing human health. Fellowship winners Department of Psychology winUROP has announced the 2015 Undergraduate Research and Cre- ners included Ashley Grant who
will be working with Joseph Porter, Ph.D., on the project “Assessing the antidepressant-like properties of (R)-Amisulpride in C57BL/6 mice;” Jerry Mize, who will work with Wendy Kliewer, Ph.D., on the project “Evaluating the relationships between parental competence, parentadolescent relationships, and religiosity and parent messages about substance use and abuse;” Natalie Robles who will work with Zewelanji Serpell, Ph.D., on the project “Exploring the Natalie Robles sports activities participation of children with disa-
Undergraduates Sara Prieto Rodriguez, left, Tori Reed, Katherine Levine, Sara Sirak and Elana Miller, front, pose in front of the poster they presented at UROP’s annual VCU Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creativity . The poster title was “A Review of Teen Dating Violence and its Relationship with Gender and Ethnicity.” The students presented their work as part of a research internship led by Elizabeth Goncy, Ph.D. Not pictured: Mary Battiata.
Neha Jadhav, left, and Rosalie Corona, Ph.D.
bilities, and possible associations with cognitive and academic outcomes: A secondary data analysis;” and Cydni Gordon, who will work with Rosalie Corona, Ph.D., on the project “Left behind: Exploring the impact of migration on individuals, families, and the village community of Teotitlán del Valle.” Scholarship awarded
undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints. Spencer, a senior from Yorktown who majored in psychology and gender, sexuality and women’s studies, will participate in the VCU Global Scholars/Activist Spaces program in Chiapas, Mexico. On TV
Senior Brian Joseph was not only Congratulations to Shauna Leigh one of this year’s Black History in the Spencer who has received a BenjaMaking awardees (see p. 9), but was min A. Gilman International Scholar- also interviewed by Richmond’s ship for study abroad this summer. NBC12 about his background and The Gilman Scholarship Program summer trip to help earthquake vicaims to diversify the kinds of stutims in Nepal. Watch the interview. dents who study and intern abroad In the community and the countries and regions where Out of the comfort zone and into the they go by offering awards to U.S.
community! Undergraduate Neha Jadhav is featured in a VCU News story on her work with mentor Rosalie Corona, Ph.D., on the Possible Selves project. The project aims to find a correlation between what Latino adolescents hope to become and what they’re afraid of becoming in the future, and how those outcomes can be improved. Read about some of the project’s findings. Full circle Read VCU News’ recent article spotlighting seniors reminiscing about the wishes they made as freshmen and how the college experience has changed them. Kimberly Barrett and Brittany Noah are two psychology students featured in the article.
retirement celebrations We congratulate two of our cherished colleagues on their combined 77 years of service to our department and wish them well as they take on new adventures in retirement. Stephen Auerbach, Ph.D., professor of clinical psychology and oral and maxillofacial surgery, has been a dedicated faculty memStephen Auerbach, Ph.D. ber of the clini41 years of service cal psychology program since January 1974. He came to the university during the birth of the program. At the time, the clinical program was one of the first Ph.D. programs on campus. In fact, the excitement around this budding program is why he made the decision to leave New Mexico State University to come to VCU.
and dissertations. He says the clinical director at the time, Donald Kiesler, Ph.D., gave faculty a great amount of latitude in developing into an area of their choosing.
Over the years, he says, there has been greater cooperation between programs, especially between the clinical and counseling programs. “The department is going great. There are a lot of Auerbach’s workload shifted a bit terrific faculty with solid research when he became clinical director; programs.” for example, he had a reduction Auerbach says he is very glad to in courses and was more involved have been able to work with so with the admissions process. many graduate students and to While the clinical faculty were have been involved with 25-27 trying to build the program, they dissertations and about as many admitted about 13 students for master’s theses. “I think I work seven years in a row to study un- well with students; I feel good der eight faculty members. He about contributing to [their] reremembers admissions being less search training.” systematic his first 20 years When asked about his plans after whereas now the faculty as a retirement, Auerbach says he is whole are much more involved. not quite sure but may write an-
Auerbach’s research work focused on stress, coping and control with particular emphasis on the role of perceived control and manipulations designed to influence perceived control on adjustment to stress associated with medical and surgical treatment and chronic disease. His interest in behavioral medicine helped him establish a connection with Some of the expectations of fac- the VCU Medical Center. He gives ulty at that time centered on de- credit to his former student and veloping a successful doctoral current clinical psychology proprogram, which included course- fessor, Bruce Rybarczyk, Ph.D., work, research and clinical confor developing the relationship siderations. Auerbach describes with the Primary Care clinic. himself as always being research- Through the clinic, students are oriented, so it was exciting for able to get first-rate clinical trainhim to immediately have gradu- ing working directly with medical ate students and direct theses residents.
other book. Aside from that, he may continue to be involved with research; in fact, he has been contacted by a radiation oncologist on the medical campus about work concerning the emotional reactions and stress levels during the course of prostate cancer. Barbara Myers, Ph.D., associate professor of developmental psychology, has been a valued faculty member of the department since 1979. When Myers first came to VCU, her interests were in infancy research. She studied infant-mother interaction, infants at high medical risk, the development of preterm infants and infants exposed to drugs. As time went by, she began to
focus on two new areas of research—families with a child in the autism spectrum and families affected by incarceration. Myers started working with a camp for children of incarcerated mothers run by the United Methodist Church (VCU has a role in the camp, as well). She was also involved in the development of a parenting class for incarcerated parents.
“We work across the boundaries of disciplines and departments in our education efforts and we are very purposeful in our efforts to be interdisciplinary.”
Barbara Myers, Ph.D. 36 years of service
Myers also notes that there was no advising office during her early years. Faculty members had at least 25-30 advisees with whom they were required to meet at least once each semester to During her career, she has had make sure they were enrolling in the opportunity to see a number the correct courses and were on of changes in the department. track to graduate on time. When she arrived at VCU, the In the graduate program, there expectation for faculty was to were fewer students. Each docteach approximately three clastoral program worked together ses per semester, and sometimes as one group and would accept four—”a tough task considering three to four students a year there were no computers.” Myacross programs. This meant, of ers remembers cutting stencils course, that faculty members did for printing and having to write a not always have graduate stulot of material out by hand for dents. the secretary to type on the typewriter. Today, she says, Since Myers first came to VCU, things are much more automatic. the developmental psychology Professors are able to get test program, of which she has questions from the test bank of served as director for a number the publisher and are able to get of years, has experienced a sigcopies printed much more quick- nificant increase in resources and ly. in interdisciplinary connections. Myers has served as chair on the Board of Juvenile Justice, as well as a number of other positions. “That is my service to the commonwealth.”
Myers speaks highly of the academic performance of her students saying, “I have never asked so much of my undergrads as I do now and they are producing. The students continue to rise to meet expectations.” Myers sees the department going in many positive directions in the future due to the strong faculty and students. “I’ve loved working here and to this day I love working here. I’m going to miss it a lot. I’m going to miss the students a lot.” She is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with wonderful colleagues, undergraduate students and doctoral students saying, “I’m really proud of my students who are out in the world doing good things. I’ve got a lot of them and they are really contributing.” When asked about her plans after retirement, she noted that while she does not want to fill up her calendar, she is looking forward to having more time for her artwork and continuing to make a positive contribution to the world.
Michelle Stith is a second-year student in the counseling psychology doctoral program.
Graduate student news Thomas Moore, a clinical psychology student from Arlington, Va., has had various opportunities at VCU that fostered personal growth and contributed to the expansion of his research interests.
Spotlight on Thomas moore by Michelle Stith
“I came to VCU focused mostly on motivational approaches for assessing and treating substance use, but as I have expanded my clinical interests into primary care and chronic pain, the more diverse research opportunities have followed.” Moore has enjoyed the opportunities to teach through mentor-
ship. He served as an undergraduate mentor for several years and has worked with James McCullough, Ph.D., doing peer supervision with his Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy team for treating chronic depression.
Moore says the primary care team is a group of very special and dedicated professionals; he feels lucky to have such a rich opportunity to learn from his colleagues.
“I have taken part in a variety of research projects, but this is the first one where I was so intimately involved in designing the study, recruiting participants, preparing the data and managing the day to day activities.”
Moore is currently in the process of moving to New Jersey to begin his internship at the VA New Jersey Health Care System. After his internship, he hopes to work in a clinical role, ideally within a primary care setting in a VA system.
When asked what he likes to do when he is not busy with the deMoore says his dissertation, “The mands of the program, Moore Role of N-acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) says, “Most days I am happy to as an Adjuvant to Opioid Treatpick up my son from daycare and ment in Patients with Inadethen head to the park or head quately Controlled Chronic Neu- home to walk the dog.” He says ropathic Pain,” has been an inhis son Avery is a “goofy little kid credible challenge but has moti- with a sense of humor that just vated him toward progress on a cracks me up.” daily basis. Under the mentorship He and his wife love trying out of Dace Svikis, Ph.D., his work new restaurants and going to see examines an alternative medica- live concerts at The National or tion to help patients with inade- down on Browns Island “when quately controlled neuropathic we can get a baby sitter,” he pain. says.
Moore also reports great satisfaction with the work he has done with Bruce Rybarczyk, Ph.D., in primary care psychology. “It has been a really interesting experience to work with some of the most complex medical cases in the primary care setting.”
Michelle Stith is a secondyear student in the counseling psychology doctoral program.
jor federal policy initiatives of importance to psychology in the public interest. For one year, she will participate in legislative and advocacy work impacting vulnerable populations, such as assisting in the preparation of briefing papers, testimony and other documents, and attending Braun congressional hearings and coaliClinical psychology doctoral stu- tion meetings. Javier’s research dent Sarah Braun received a interests are focused in the areas 2015 Student Interprofessional of health disparities and culturalRecognition Award from the VCU ly-tailored prevention. Center for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care. This new award recognizes students who have demonstrated significant involvement and interest in promoting interprofessional activities.
for their poster "Weight Loss Motives and Relationship to Outcomes in a Lifestyle Intervention: Younger vs. Older Dean of the Graduate School F. Douglas Adults." Boudinot, Ph.D., congratulates Autumn Lanoye on her award-winning poster.
Nonterrah
Jeffers
Javier
Congratulations to Sarah Javier, a doctoral student in the health psychology program, who was recently selected for the 20152016 Public Interest Policy Internship in the American Psychological Association's Public Interest Government Relations Office. The office helps to formulate and implement APA positions on ma-
Amy Jeffers, a doctoral student in our health psychology program, received a Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31) from the National Institutes of Health for the project “Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants for Weight Loss in Adolescents." Clinical psychology graduate student Autumn Lanoye and coauthors Andrea Grenga, Tricia M. Leahey and Jessica Gokee Larose, Ph.D., took second place at the 18th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium and Exhibit
Camilla Nonterah, counseling psychology doctoral student, won an APA Student Travel Award for her abstract "Collective Self-Esteem as a Predictor of Psychological WellBeing in a Sample of Ghanaian College Students." The purpose of this award program is to help psychology graduate students travel to the annual APA convention to present their research. Rebecca Hubbard (M.S. ‘10, Ph.D. ‘13), Nathasha Hahn and Shawn Utsey, Ph.D., collaborated with Nonterrah on the poster.
New research Findings of California-San Diego then used machine learning to analyze these data and develop and test an automated engagement detector. The practical application of this work has enormous potential to transform education. “Imagine classrooms in which students’ engagement levels are moniZewelanji Serpell, Ph.D. tored, and when levels dip, realtime changes are made to instructional materials or methods that re-invigorate the learning Many educational institutions are process,” Serpell says. Read more capitalizing on technological adabout the specific results of the vancements and using distance, study. online and computer-modulated methodologies to provide instruction to learners. Researchers increasingly recognize that adaptive features are critical to the success of such technologies to foster effective learning. In fact, facial recognition software is currently being used to enable technologies to do just this. Zewelanji Serpell, Ph.D., and colleagues explored the possibility of deSuzanne Mazzeo, Ph.D. tecting an important learning state—engagement—from students' facial expressions. They studied whether humans can reliably judge a student’s engageCourtesy of VCU News ment level by looking at the stuUnder new federal school lunch dent’s face, and tried to identify regulations championed by what characteristics of the face Michelle Obama, school cafetethey use to make these judgrias across the country must now ments. Colleagues at University offer more whole grains, vegeta-
Instructional technology
School nutrition
bles and fruits, and less fat and sodium. But the new guidelines also sparked widespread criticism that children hated the healthier lunches and were choosing to simply toss out the fruits and vegetables. As it turns out, that is likely not the case. A forthcoming study led by Suzanne Mazzeo, Ph.D., professor of counseling psychology, found that the majority of school children are choosing to eat the school lunches' fruits and vegetables. "Most kids are eating the fruits and vegetables is the bottom line," said Mazzeo, a leading expert in healthy eating and exercise, particularly for children and families. The study, which was conducted at two Title I elementary schools in Chesterfield County, is funded by a two-year $100,000 grant by the National Institutes of Health. The study's results are among the first empirical evidence to show that the overhaul of the National School Lunch Program is working and that school children are actually eating the healthier school lunches. Mazzeo recently discussed her team's findings and offered a preview of the forthcoming study. Read the interview.
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this time of looking back and looking forward for the CPSD basically because I’m old and have a (fading) memory of the way things were. Cue the Beatles’ “Yesterday,” when “...all my troubles seemed so far away; but now it looks as though they’re here to stay.”
don’t have those tensions between Clinical and Counseling. Now, some of my best friends are in Clinical.
To make the times even more interesting back then, shortly after that Counseling-Clinical tension, tensions between the applied programs and the experiWhen people get old, they some- mental program flared. And, in times do four of things. First, the time-tested tradition of the Alumni, friends and faculty joined they tend to forget things. Secin celebration of VCU Psychology ond, they reminisce. Third, on Wednesday, March 25. Desometimes, they talk to thempartment Chair Wendy Kliewer, selves. Fourth, I forgot. Ph.D., Director of the Center for Psychological Services and Devel- So I apologize, but I’m going to, well, reminisce for a moment, opment (CPSD), Beth Heller, Ph.D., and Commonwealth Pro- and then I’m going to talk a little to myself. And for people who fessor Everett Worthington, Ph.D., welcomed guests, shared have heard me before—like perhaps at a graduation talk I gave a updates from the department and celebrated the 30th anniver- few years back—I’m NOT going to mention Frodo and the great sary of the CPSD. Worthington quest we are all on—to destroy, was the keynote speaker and regaled attendees with his usual out of love and through great self-sacrifice, the One Ring of mix of wit, perspective and inPower. Oops. Too late. sight. The talk was particularly well-received, so we thought we’d share it with our readers. Enjoy!
Reminiscence
First, reminiscence. I actually directed one of the two forerunMarch 25, 2015 ners of the CPSD from June 1981 through June 1984—the MidLife Welcome. It is so great to see Counseling Service. It was an inwonderful alums and people teresting time. You remember whom I haven’t seen for years. This is, for me, a warm and won- the Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times.” derful feeling. Thank you for coming and being part of this At that interesting time, there celebration. was a bit of tension, shall we say, It is my great honor to welcome between the clinical and counselyou to this celebration of the 30 ing programs. Counseling had years of service that the Center just, in 1982, gotten provisional APA accreditation. Right before for Psychological Services and Counseling applied to the APA, Development—the CPSD—has provided to the Richmond com- one of the clinical faculty members, no longer with us, objected munity and to our wonderful strenuously to the president. But graduate students. I’ve been asked to make a few remarks at that worked out. And today we Everett Worthington, Ph.D.
CPSD and “recapturing our first love” old South, the experimental program threatened to secede from the union. An outside consultant had to be brought in to quell the rebellion. But that eventually worked itself out also. Some of my best friends are in the experimental program. It was an interesting time in which resources—like numbers of graduate student admissions per program, new faculty lines, prime office space, bad office space and pay raises (I think we used to have those, but I definitely have forgotten what they are like)—were like “raw meat on the table” for us sophisticated academicians to fight over. And thankfully we no longer do that either. (But those limited resources sometimes still look, well, tasty, don’t they? Even though we are now on diets.) Amid that set of political intrigues and power struggles, we had two departmental clinics. There was the Center for Psychological Services, which was run by Clinical, and MidLife Counseling Services, which was run by Counseling. Two community clinics in the same department were a tad wasteful. At that time, as a department, we trained (for the most part) massive numbers of Ph.D. practitioners. Counseling admitted about 10 or 11 students each year, mostly post-master’s, for only seven faculty. We taught a course load of 3-and-3 at first, and later that was reduced to 3and-2 if we advised a lot of theses and dissertations. Occasionally, back then, we actually pub-
lished articles. When I was hired, I was told, “Publish one article a year and you’ll be in the top 10% of the department.” Grants—well, we thought of grants as involving prostituting ourselves away from “true science.” Things are different today. Today, we have our millions and
by Everett Worthington, Ph.D.
and community mission and to fostering access to many great undergraduate and graduate students. We have come a LONG way from the late 1970’s when I arrived at VCU. People like Big Jim McCullough, Steve Auerbach and Joe Porter can probably remember those
Ginell Ampey (B.S. '96, M.P.H. ’99/PH ), left, Stacey Maples, CPSD director of operations, and Heidi Villanueva (M.S. '86, Ph.D. '88)
millions of dollars of grant funding annually, top-rated programs and faculty and relative harmony among the clinical, counseling, health and experimental programs. (Some of my best friends are also health psychologists.) Also, we probably can accurately claim to be one of the most vibrant psychology departments in the country, and perhaps one of the very top departments focused on health. And we contribute directly to VCU’s health
old days. Like me, probably remember. And I’m sure the youngsters, like Al Farrell and Barbara Myers, who is retiring very young, can remember them. And now those years look so quaint. Having two community psychological clinics in 1984 was wasteful, and the chair, John Hill, decided in 1984 to combine the MidLife Center, which I was directing, and the Psychological (Continued on page 28)
Probably like you, whether you are in clinical, counseling, experiServices Center into the awkmental or health, I began in psywardly named Center for Psycho- chology because I saw the glint logical Services and Developof that Golden String. I wanted to ment. The CPSD was conceived follow it and wind it in by trying in compromise and dedicated to to help people heal and flourish service within the community through teaching, research and and to our education and train- psychotherapy. I’m sure you shared many of those values in ing mission. your calling to psychology. We Later, during my reign of terror wanted to free people from the as chair, then-dean Steve plagues of lack of education, lack Gottfredson and I found the of scientific innovation and lack abandoned Richmond Ballet building and Steve (more than I) of positive mental health, all of Mary Wells (B.S. ’80) and Beth Heller was able to see it as the new lo- which keep people down in the hope people will mud and muck. cation for the CPSD. Steve had great vision. And, renovation was We wanted to do significant, life- mention when we die. The résumé virtues are great for trying to completed under Scott Vrana’s and world-changing research benevolent reign as chair. Today, that uncovered new truths. We overcome external obstacles and the CPSD is an energetic commu- wanted to discover new things. solve problems and make a reputation for competence as teachnity clinic serving Richmond and Yes, to change the world. ers, researchers and therapists. our training programs. I am so And I still want to do that over But as we age, we often find proud that I could have been the next 30 or more years of my that, instead of doing research, part of its history. career. I wanted my life and ca- teaching or clinical work to help Having a reer—in helping, in teaching, in others, which is our noble end Conversation of One, researching, in administering and goal, we focus too much on the or, My ID Manifests Itself in serving the community and means to get to those ends. I Reminiscence now done, let me university—to matter. And I know that has been too often my hope some of the things I’ve talk a bit to myself. story, to my own disappointment done have mattered. at times. As you see from this ever-soBut I’ve noticed, too, that at slightly-jaded history, we have I start focusing on the number of not always been a pristine, moral times, my Golden String that I publications, the impact factors have tried to wind into a ball has of journals, the number of and socially motivated department. Human ego concerns have sometimes been pulled down in grants, the number of zeroes and the slough of daily cares or lost in commas and that all-important sometimes reared their heads. (Hey, we are faculty members.) the forest of egos (mostly my first number in the grant award, ego) or shrouded in the fog of British romantic poet, William the number of students I can pay unwanted conflict. I have some- to do research that will make Blake, penned this brief poem: times even lost sight of the GoldI give to you the end of a Golden en String. As David Brooks says, them (oh, yeah, and me) famous. String. I start focusing on the number of when we are young, we pursue Only wind it into a ball. courses taught, the number of “résumé virtues”—that entail And it will lead you in students I teach, the number of competency and influence. As To Heaven’s Gate set in Jerucredit hours generated so I can we age, we seek “eulogy virsalem’s Wall. make a case to Wendy and the tues,” those nice qualities we dean that will let me have relief (Continued from page 27)
and visible in front of me instead of it disappearing into the mud. I The Golden String we academiwant to recapture and hold onto cians, students, administrators and staff wind into a ball has too the Golden String that brought often been drug into the mud of me into counseling and to psymeans-to-ends, instead of clear- chology—blessing others. eyed end goals. Sometimes I The CPSD is, and always has even feel that I have lost sight— been, one of the best vehicles in again!—of the Golden String that the department for directly I am trying to reel in. The eulogy blessing others. I am so glad I virtues at which I aim get obhad some small part in its shape today. I long to see the students scured. bless the needy folks who come What’s the to them for help. And I long to Struggle Here? see the faculty continue—as we It’s this. Basically love and power do usually today—to aid that r, Ph.D., current director of the CPSD from some of my often conflict with each other. learning by graduate students teaching so I can do more great The ends, the goals of helping and undergraduates and personthings to make me famous. others heal and flourish, tend to ally to help clients, students and I start focusing on the number of be about love. But we can too frequently get graduate courses I might teach lost in the and how they are pulling me "The ends, the goals of helping others heal and away from the really meaningful means-to-the -ends of activity of getting grants, racking flourish, tend to be about love. But we can too up numbers of publications and seeking power. An infrequently get lost in the means-to-the-ends of increasing my numbers of citascription on tions, which will contribute to seeking power.” meaningful science… and make a Middle Eastern archeologime famous. cal find says this: I did private counseling of coueach other. Yes, I long to see all I, the Captain of a Legion of ples back in the first 10 to 15 of us elevate our eyes from the years of my time at VCU because Rome, serving in the desert of Libya, have learnt and pondered gooiness of ego and, chin up, I wanted to help couples who eyes on the goal, follow our this truth: “There are in life but were hurting recover their joy Golden Strings to where we and love of each other. But then two things to be sought, Love it became more about getting on and Power, and no one has both. want, need and yearn to end up. That is what I want for you and numbers of insurance panels. Recapturing the for me: To be the people we Golden String I supervised until 1999, and I were meant to be. found that to be one of my more The nice thing about being old is Everett Worthington, Ph.D., is a comgratifying activities because I that I am no longer in a position monwealth professor of counseling psycould help young professionals where I have to count publicachology and world-renowned expert on the science of forgiveness. learn better how to help other tions, grants, student credit people. But in recent years, hours or direct client hours. I can View more pictures from the training counselors has become a try to recover the Golden String event. lot like helping them count face- of loving others and follow it— to-face clinical hours and accuhopefully with it stretched taut mulate direct supervision hours.
Research spotlight VCU experts, colleagues explain dangers of hookah smoking Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D. Courtesy of VCU News
A special journal supplement on waterpipe tobacco smoking was released to coincide with the world's largest conference on tobacco research. In a special supplement to the journal Tobacco Control, researchers from around the world explained the past decade of research on waterpipe tobacco smoking — or what is commonly known as hookah, narghile or arghile smoking. The supplement is sponsored jointly by the Center for the Study of Tobacco Products in the Department of Psychology, VCU's Massey Cancer Center, New York University Abu Dhabi Institute and the American University of Beirut.
searchers have looked at it over the last 10 or 11 years," said Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D., professor of health psychology and co-director of the Center for the Study of Tobacco Products.
smoking has spread so much and that we know enough now to say, yes, it's dangerous," he said. "And yet governments aren't doing enough, we believe, to stop it."
The articles delve into an array of topics related to hookahs, which are typically filled with sweetened, flavored tobacco known as mu'assel.
The researchers believe there is an urgent need for further policies and regulations to reduce waterpipe tobacco smoking, said Rima Nakkash, Dr.P.H., associate professor and coordinator of the American University of Beirut’s Tobacco Control Research Group.
"We look into the epidemiology of the waterpipe — who's using it now? Why have so many people started using it? What have we learned about what's in the smoke of the waterpipe? What are the health effects of using it? Does it cause dependence? Is the secondhand smoke dangerous?" said Scott Sherman, M.D., associate professor of population health at New York University School of Medicine and codirector of the NYU/Abu Dhabi Public Health Research Center. "And what have governments done about it? What legislation or policies address waterpipe tobacco smoking?"
It was released to coincide with the World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Abu Dhabi on March 17–21, and featured sev- In the Arab world, waterpipe en articles by leading experts on tobacco smoking is very common, Eissenberg said. the health impacts of tobacco. "What we're trying to do is summarize the existing literature about waterpipe smoking from all the different angles that re-
"We wanted to get this supplement out to draw attention during the World Conference to the fact that waterpipe tobacco
"We have this longstanding interest, we've been doing this research, and what we really want to do is to start getting the word out about the research that we and other folks are doing on tobacco use globally," Nakkash said. One of the articles, co-authored by Eissenberg and VCU researcher Eiman Aboaziza, weighs the evidence that waterpipe smoking supports nicotine or tobacco dependence. The researchers specifically look at two common claims about waterpipe tobacco smoking — that the water filters the smoke, making it less dangerous, and that many users smoke hookahs so infrequently that they are unlikely to become addicted. In
“...waterpipe tobacco smoking has spread so much and ...we know enough now to say, yes, it's dangerous. And yet governments aren't doing enough, we believe, to stop it." both cases, the researchers concluded those claims are myths. For the first claim, the research has repeatedly found that the water does not filter out anything. "There have been plenty of toxicants — poisons — in waterpipe smoke when it emerges from the mouthpiece after it has traveled through the water," Eissenberg said. On the second claim, it is true that many people use waterpipes only occasionally, but they still deliver the dependenceproducing drug nicotine, and at least some people escalate their use from a social activity to daily use, and even begin smoking alone. Additionally, researchers have found that when waterpipe tobacco smokers are not using it, they feel anxious, impatient, restless and crave using a waterpipe. "These are exactly the same kind of symptoms you would expect a cigarette user to report when they're not allowed to smoke cigarettes," Eissenberg said. "So we really looked at the literature around dependence, and the conclusion of our paper is that [the research] absolutely supports the fact that waterpipe tobacco smoking causes dependence, at least in some people."
Download the content from the supplement.
undergraduate student spotlight Chelsea Goodman, Class of ‘15 We recently caught up with Chelsea Goodman just ahead of her graduation and talked about her experiences as a psychology major at VCU. Why did you choose psychology as your major? I made the decision to switch majors from biology to psychology after attending a PSYUGRAD advising fair. I remember being captivated by the various subfields and possibilities that made up this interesting discipline. Since becoming a psychology major, I have had the opportunity to take amazing courses such as minority studies, learning and cognition, and child development and the lifespan. Each course has deepened my desire for learning and my passion for children. Becoming a psychology major has definitely enhanced my college experience and was one of the best choices I’ve made.
Describe your research internship experience.
“Each course has deepened my desire for learning and my passion for children.”
I have been a research assistant in the Treatment Integrity Measurement Study lab since May 2013 under the direction of Bryce McLeod, Ph.D., and Michael Southam-Gerow, Ph.D. The lab investigates and evaluates the treatment integrity of youth anxiety therapy. As a part of the large, multidisciplinary adherence team, I have participated in activities like data entry and analyzing and evaluating data. I have also assisted graduate student supervisors with developing skills in an apprentice-mentor model. What has been your favorite psych course at VCU?
I have genuinely enjoyed just about every psychology course I have taken at VCU, but I would have to say one of my favorites is definitely Stress and its Management with Sandra Gramling, Ph.D. Though three years have gone by since I took the course, I still use a lot of the methods and breathing techniques she taught!
the newly developing field of pediatric psychology. As an integrated field of science and practice where the principles of psychology are applied to pediatric health, I believe it’s the perfect combination of my passion and scholarly efforts. I also have dreams of opening my very own chain of child development centers one day. What do you do in your spare time? In my spare time, I enjoy hanging with friends, traveling and babysitting. Spending quality time with my family is also important to me. Anything else you’d like to tell our readers that wasn’t covered above?
I would like to encourage all VCU students to continue the journey. Although challenging, I urge them to work hard, continue to pursue their educational goals and be willing to push forward no matter what. I am a What are your plans for the fu- firm believer that hard work alture? ways pays off! I look forward to Like I mentioned earlier, I have a the great opportunities that await me on the other side of passion for children. I hope to graduation! eventually go on to graduate school and become involved in
faculty in the media Chelsea Goodman, Class of ‘15
Kirk Warren Brown, Ph.D.
“Why Smokers Should Kick the “Stuck? Mindfulness Meditation Habit Without Electronic CigaMight Be What You Need” read rettes“ read J. Randy Koch, Ph.D. Caroline Cobb, Ph.D. “A Lot of Smoke: Study Examines Cigarillo Modification Health Claims” read
“CSTP at VCU Will Present on Youth Tobacco, Electronic Cigarette Consumption” read
Steven Danish, Ph.D.
James McCullough, Ph.D.
“Staying Fit and in Touch: Team RWB Takes on Mission to Help Recent War Veterans Ease Back Into Civilian Life” read
“Limits of our Current Reactive Mental Health Care System” read
Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D.
“VCU Study Concluded on Whether Children Eat Their Veggies“ listen
“A Lot of Smoke: Study Examines Cigarillo Modification Health Claims” read “As FDA Readies Plan on ECigarettes, Experts and Vapers Debate Best Approach” read “As the Federal Government Considers Regulation for ECigarettes, a Debate Wages “ read “CSTP at VCU Will Present on Youth Tobacco, Electronic Cigarette Consumption” read “FDA Advisers Split on Claim That Snus is Lower-Risk“ read “‘Vaping’ is an ‘Unknown’ Risk“ read
Everett Worthington, Ph.D. “17 Things We Know About Forgiveness” read “Forgiveness is Harder in Practice Than in Theory” read “Mother of KC Girl Struck by Stray Bullet, Owner of Gun Finds the Power to Carry On” read
Suzanne Mazzeo, Ph.D.
“VCU Study in Chesterfield Schools Finds Kids Do Eat Their Vegetables“ read Michael SouthamGerow, Ph.D. “Hey – We’re All Emos! Five Parenting Strategies for Dealing With Feelings” read Shawn Utsey, Ph.D.
“Second Community Discussion on Human Remains Found on VCU Medical Center Campus” read
Michael Southam-Gerow, Ph.D., gives parenting tips to readers of Richmond Family Magazine.
Funding for new research Study seeks to improve support of college students with ADHD Langberg, Ph.D., an associate professor of clinical psychology and co-director of the ADHD Clinic at the Center for Psychological Services and Development. “But unfortunately many college students with ADHD struggle academically and dropout rates are quite high.”
Joshua Langberg, Ph.D. Courtesy of VCU News
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Virginia Commonwealth University have received a nearly $3.2 million federal grant to study how colleges and universities can better support students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Colleges and universities across the country are seeking to assist students with ADHD, yet little research has been done to show whether or not the support services are working. “The unfortunate thing is that there has not been a single large randomized trial of any intervention for college students with ADHD – which really means that we have no idea what works,” Langberg said. “And every college and university is pretty much doing a different thing.”
time-management and planning skills – the areas in which college students with ADHD tend to struggle the most. “In the studies Dr. Anastopoulos and his team completed leading up to this grant, they found that you can’t just teach students these skills,” Langberg said. “Many students with ADHD have tried to use similar skills in the past and have experienced repeated failure so they have low self-efficacy about their ability to succeed academically and negative thoughts about themselves and their academic potential.”
“That’s what the group intervention is about, addressing negative cognitions so that students begin to feel that they can be successful in college,” he added. “Otherwise we find that they don’t impleThe four-year study, “Improving The study – led by Arthur Anasto- ment the skills because they don’t the Educational and Socialbelieve they are going to work.” Emotional Functioning of College poulos, Ph.D., professor and diThe researchers will begin reStudents with ADHD,” will provide rector of the ADHD Clinic in the services – such as group sessions Department of Human Develop- cruiting student participants at VCU and UNCG over the summer and mentoring services – to a ran- ment and Family Studies at domized sample of 120 students UNCG, and Langberg – will be the so they can begin receiving interfirst large randomized trial of any ventions in the fall. at VCU and 120 students at nonmedication intervention for UNCG. The grant was awarded by the college students with ADHD. Institute of Education Sciences in “More and more students diagAs part of the study, college stu- the U.S. Department of Educanosed with ADHD are attending dents with ADHD will learn to im- tion. college, which is great,” said coplement effective organization, principal investigator Joshua
Breland
Koch
Cobb
Barnes
Corona
Grants boost researchers seeking to curb youth tobacco use in Virginia Courtesy of VCU News
The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth has awarded three grants of up to $450,000 each to researchers in the Departments of Psychology and Healthcare Policy and Research to conduct two studies and support a research coalition focused on preventing tobacco use among young people.
investigators conducting research on the causes and prevention of youth tobacco use, conduct a small grants program to encourage innovative research, disseminate the latest research on preventing youth tobacco use, and more.
Caroline Cobb, Ph.D., assistant professor of health psychology, and Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Health Care Policy and Research, will explore the impact The foundation, which was established in 1999 of electronic cigarette advertising on young peoby the Virginia General Assembly, seeks to empower Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices ple in the project “Categorization and Effects of E by promoting active, nutritious and tobacco-free -Cigarette Ads on Attitudes, Intentions and Abuse Liability in Youth.” living. The coalition grant, directed by J. Randy Koch, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, and Alison Breland, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, will support the Virginia Youth Tobacco Projects Research Coalition, established in 2002 to advance the prevention of youth tobacco use and nicotine dependence through an integrated program of basic and applied research, research translation and dissemination.
The project led by Rosalie Corona, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical psychology, and Joshua Langberg, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical psychology, is called “Integrating Tobacco Prevention Strategies into Behavioral Parent Training for Adolescents with ADHD” and will investigate strategies to curb tobacco use among young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The award will help the coalition maintain and facilitate the growth of its statewide network of
Read the full VCU News article for more information.
Langberg
Student aims to learn what motivates people t
Courtesy of VCU News
well as what motivates them to c
Tess Drazdowski, a doctoral student in the developmental and clinical psychology programs, received a prestigious seed grant from the Association for Psychological Science to study why people take prescription drugs — notably including prescription stimulants, painkillers and anti-anxiety medication — for nonmedical purposes. The APS grant provides funding to help support research in its initial development stages.
"Ideally, this research will eventu and prevention programs that co use prescription drugs by targetin
Drazdowski became interested in prescription drug abuse while teaching parenting classes in Virginia's prison system as part of a graduate assistantship over the past three years at VCU. "[While teaching the parenting classes] I've heard a lot of peoples' stories and have become interested in diversions from the criminal justice system — ways to prevent incarceration," she said. "A lot of their stories revolve around drug use, and many of their stories involve prescription drug use." As part of her research project, Drazdowski is hoping to understand what motivates people to start using prescription drugs, as
Drazdowski plans to conduct a se Monitoring the Future data set, w survey of the behaviors, attitudes ary school students, college stude ly, she hopes to access the data s provides more detailed informati dents to follow over time.
"I'll be able to ask such questions use? What leads to it? How do th she said.
Drazdowski's adviser, Wendy Klie of the Department of Psychology go-getter" who takes initiative to interesting and important to soci
to abuse prescription Drugs
continue using them.
"This dissertation project has the potential to help us understand ually help develop interventions why young adults use prescription medication for nonmedically ould stop people from starting to prescribed reasons — a phenomenon that has been increasing in recent years — and thus may help inform prevention and interng their motivations," she said. vention efforts in this area," she said. "As far as we know, the econdary data analysis of the study Tess has proposed has not been undertaken with the nawhich is a nationally collected tionally representative sample she is planning to use for her pros and values of American second- ject, nor has the range of prescription medication and the motivaents and young adults. Specifical- tions for their use been examined with a nationally representaset's longitudinal sample, which tive sample of young adults." tion on a small portion of stuDrazdowski said she was honored to receive the award, and is excited for the opportunity. s as: What predicts substance hese patterns change over time?" "I have a big sense of pride," she said. "And it's great to know that other people are concerned about the same public health issue that I am and that they're willing to invest money into trying to ewer, Ph.D., professor and chair solve these problems and make peoples' lives better." y, said that Drazdowski is a "real o pursue research that is both iety.
Tess Drazdowski
Yet, Sharp’s road to becoming a scholar was winding and any thing but conventional. In her commencement address, Sharp shared how she performed terribly in her first college experience at age 18 and ended up “flunking out” of a large university in the deep South. However, she returned to college at age 21, attending two community colleges before entering VCU as a sumErin Hiley Sharp, Ph.D. (B.S. ’99), mer school student in 1996. approached the podium with a While it took great courage to casual confidence and a familiari- make another attempt at somety that felt more like a homecom- thing that had ended so poorly, ing. “VCU is a family affair for me. she was determined to finish My dad, David Hiley, is a former what she started and dug in deep dean and vice provost. My husto find within herself, the “grit” to band, Andrew Sharp, is a former finish what she had started. staff member in the Office of Community Programs. My father- Sharp shared how she loved VCU almost immediately. The urban in-law, Nicholas Sharp, is a longcampus, the diversity of the stutime faculty member in the Engdent body, staff, faculty and the lish Department. And, Andrew and I got married on VCU’s cam- added support for non-traditional students was something that not pus in 1997.” only drew her to VCU, but susHaving Sharp back to deliver our tained her as well. What she 2015 commencement address treasures most about her VCU was both an inspiration and a re- experience was getting an educapatriation. She graduated from tion outside of the classroom VCU in 1999 with a B.S. in psythrough service learning opportuchology and a minor in sociology. nities. She was deeply motivated She went on to receive an M.S. by her experiences working in the and Ph.D. in human development community and felt she was not and family studies from the Penn- only a student, but a contributor sylvania State University with a to the community that was so specialization in adolescent devel- vital to her development. She opment and prevention science. noted that her participation in
research outside of the classroom was, and still is, an opportunity that is rare in undergraduate education at other universities. Sharp says taking the developmental course Psychology of Adolescence really helped define her vocational direction, though she credits several VCU faculty members as being influential, as well. The first was Aleta Meyer, Ph.D., instructor of the aforementioned course, which set the direction for her future education and career. Having had a difficult adolescence herself, success in the classroom gave Sharp the confidence she needed to translate that struggle into work that could make a meaningful difference in the lives of other struggling adolescents. Dr. Sharp felt that Dr. Meyer was a very dynamic and approachable professor and that she feels extremely fortunate and is reminded of that each time that she encounters Dr. Meyer at professional conferences. Wendy Kliewer, Ph.D., current department chair, also helped shape Sharp’s vocational development by mentoring her in an independent study and in a fieldwork experience. It was through her guidance that Sharp was able to assist in the evaluation of an intervention program working with youth on probation—an experience that was particularly
AlumnA spotlight Graduation speaker Erin Hiley Sharp, Ph.D. (B.S.‘99) powerful for Sharp. She served as a mentor in this tutoring program with youth on probation and felt good about the work she was doing. While the evaluation did not ultimately yied many positive results, the experience motivated her and served as a chief influence in her decision to pursue doctoral work.
of my job I love the most.” She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses across the lifespan, including prenatal and infant development, child development, family theory, adolescent development and human sexuality.
hours.
In her personal time, Sharp is an avid reader and documentary watcher. Her favorite book genre is memoir, as she has always loved learning about people’s lives. She and her husband Andrew have two sons ages six and Her program of research, pub11 years old. They live a short 20 lished work and presentations minutes from the majestic coast Finally, Cathy Howard, Ph.D., focus on activity involvement as a lining the Atlantic Ocean and she then director of the Office of context for the development of says she enjoys spending time on Community Programs, was an identity and future perspective; the beach with her family and important influence for Sharp parental, family and broader con- their dog River. She also spends while at VCU. Just knowing there textual influences on adolescent time with friends dancing, laughwas an office dedicated to bring- development; and prevention ing and enjoying the life that her ing together resources of a uniresearch and theory from a posi- tenacity, determination and pure versity and enhancing the host tive youth development perspec- grit has helped her attain. When community was motivational and tive. asked about other hobbies, Sharp greatly influenced her decision to While in pursuit of academic and replies in her friendly and outstudy human development and going manner, “I would like to scholastic achievement, Sharp family studies. Interestingly, Lin- began to feel somewhat discon- become more outdoorsy; we da Zyzniewski, Ph.D., current di- nected from the community that shall see about that.” rector of undergraduate studies, originally inspired her. So, last The Department of Psychology was the graduate teaching assis- May she trained to become a would like to extend its warmest tant for Sharp’s statistics course court appointed special advocate thanks to Dr. Sharp for the generin 1998. “I loved her statistics guardian ad litem, which allows osity of her time and the insight course and she is one of the rea- her the opportunity to represent she offered our graduates and sons why.” and mentor children and adoles- their families. Now a tenured associate profes- cents who have experienced sor and a faculty fellow at the abuse and neglect. Carsey School of Public Policy at And while “things are very good the University of New Hampshire, right now,” Sharp is looking to Sharp was recently awarded the expand her research to focus on UNH College of Health and Huintervention work geared toward man Services Teaching Excellence enhancing rural youths’ opportuLeia Harper is a doctoral Award. She says, “Teaching unnities to engage in meaningful student in the health dergraduate students is the part activities during the after-school psychology program.
MayGraduates Doctor of Philosophy Joshua Brevard Michell Pope Dissertation: An Evaluation of the Raise 5 Project: Dissertation: African American Parent-Adolescent Communication About Tobacco Use Within the Preventing HIV and Substance Abuse Among Context of Parental Smoking African American College Students Major director: Faye Belgrave, Ph.D.
Major director: Rosalie Corona, Ph.D. Master of Science
Sarah Braun Thesis: Determinants of Stress and Effects on Performance in Internal Medicine Residents Major director: Stephen Auerbach, Ph.D. Athena Cairo
Leia Harper Thesis: Examining the Effect of Race on the Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Metabolic Syndrome in Women Major director: Scott Vrana, Ph.D.
Thesis: Curiosity and CompasChelsea Hughes sion: Curiosity and Attachment Security’s Relationship with Em- Thesis: A Measure of Social Bepathic Responding to Hardship havior in Team-Based, Multiplayer Online Games: The SociMajor director: Jeffrey Green, ality in Multiplayer Online Ph.D. Games Scale (SMOG) Sarah Clark Major director: Everett Thesis: Predicting Depressive Worthington, Ph.D. Symptoms Among College StuMelissa Kwitowski dents: The Influence of ParThesis: An Exploration of Factors enting Style Influencing Attrition from a PeMajor director: James diatric Weight Management McCullough, Ph.D. Intervention Julia Cox Major director: Suzanne Thesis: Therapist Adherence to Mazzeo, Ph.D. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxious Youth Across a Case Major director: Michael Southam-Gerow, Ph.D.
Stephen Molitor Thesis: The Written Expression Abilities of Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Major director: Joshua Langberg, Ph.D. Annie Rabinovitch Thesis: Parenting Practices and Parenting Stress in African American Families of Children with and without ADHD Major director: Heather Jones, Ph.D. Courtney Simpson Thesis: Investigating the Effects of Obesity Prevention Campaigns Major director: Suzanne Mazzeo, Ph.D. Rachel Weiskittle Thesis: The Roles of Gender and Ethnicity in College Student Bereavement Major director: Sandra Gramling, Ph.D.
Bachelor of science Nancy Abou Fakher
Catherine Carbone
Rosa Cruz
Keyana Fleece
Alexis Adams Bruce Addair
Jessica Carlson Keiona Carter
Eric Cudiamat Nicole Daily
Azalea Flores Carl Frazier
Alexandra Adesalu
June Cartmill
Hilary Daniel
David Frost
Faria Ahmed Dominic Aldridge
Brandon Cary Brittaney Castro
Bianca Davis Tess Davis
Marleny Gaitan Victor Gallardo, Jr.
Elisabeth Alison Taylor Allie
Nikolai Centeno Shelby Cheng
Carolyn Dawkins Deloris Dease
Summer Gamal DaVonne Garner
Danice Alston
Jacqueline Childress
Samantha Donals
Charlene Gaw
Maya Alston
Angela Chung
George Dow, IV
Merit George
Kimberley Alston-Neal
Vanessa Clayberg
Marisha Downer
Demiana Gergess Mekael
Ayesha Arora
Keandrea Cody
Danielle Dreyer
Brittany Gifford
Juan Arze
Kiera Cofield
Samya Dyer
Sarah Gilbert
Christopher Baker
Emily Coleman
Amanda Easter
Natalie Gomez
Kendall Baker
Kierra Collins
Rebecca Easter
Chelsea Goodman
Korey Baker
Jordan Coltrane
Sepopo Ekouevi
Emily Gordon
Amber Balderson
Kendell Combs
Denise Elliott
Michele Graham
Jasmine Barbour
Charlotte Cooper
Mazin Elmubarak
James Gravins, Jr.
Kimberly Barrett Kelsey Bateman
Kelsey Cosumano McNeill Jonathan Engel Crystal Couser Stacey Farr
Hali Groat Noel Grote
Naomi Batten
Mary Cox
Kiara Ferguson
Ashley Groth
Mary Battiata
Victoria Cox
Catherine Fernandez
Casey Guerra
Victoria Beaton Michael Bender
Michaela Crutsinger
Erick Ficken
(Continued on next page)
Reid Bigman Michael Bourne Jessica Bowers Kristin Bowker Lisa Boyle Addison Brecht Kadie Brigham Caitlin Brightwell Emma Broderick Qualitra Brown Sarah Buchwald Graham Burbanck Portia Burstion Hannah Campbell Tia Campbell Courtney Caradonna
(Continued on page 42)
Danice Alston (B.S. ‘15) celebrates her graduation with a favorite Psychology professor, Jennifer Joy-Gaba, Ph.D.
Cherrelle Kinney
Katelin Nelson
Arron Smith
Catherine Knox
Jordynn Newcomer
Jessica Smith
Ami Kumar
Mary Nguyen
Magda Smith
Sungi Lee Kimberly Leiby
Brittany Noah Jennifer Norfleet
Tiffany Smith Victoria Sommer
Rose Lekwuwa Brianna Leonard
Melinda Norris Jenna Nystrom
Amber Speller
Katherine Levine
Michael Oden, Jr.
Alexis Stroman
Kamren Lewis
Miriam Ortiz
Laila Lewis Jessica Linas
Melissa Owusu Hailey Packer
Kaitlyn Tate Jasmine Terry
(Bachelor of Science, continued from page 41)
Patricia Lindholm Sam Long
Brittany Padgett Bansari Patadia
Jasmyn Toney Kiran Toor
Mahdere Haile Nelufar Hajigurban
Adriana Luca Erica Lurry
Ekta Patel Natasha Patel
California Torry
Calvin Hall, III
Christina Lyon
Michael Pease
Akaninyene Umo
Adam Hamdan
Tatyana Maizel
Alissa Perdue
Dominique Harris Deanna Harvey Benjamin Hathaway
Brooke Majors Sabrina Marrero Kristopher Mason
Dawn Perry Ryan Piersante Cary Pitts
Joanna Underwood Helena Unhoch
Kara Herring
Melissa Mason
Kaitlyn Potter
Jessica Hill
Allen Matherly
Melissa Presley
Ashley Hilton
Alison McCoy
Nathan Quel
Blaine Hooper Christie Houy Kendall Hudak
Shannon McCoy Dean Mcknight
Steffen Rau Christal Redd
Patricia McNair
Victoria Reed
Chanell Hudson
Kimberly Mencias
Ryan Reeves
Caitlyn Walker Kiara Washington
Dorothy Huffman Robert Hughes, III Christopher Hutton Casmar Innocent
Afi Mensah-Etsi
Rachel Reid
Nia Webb
Christina Merritt Brittany Miller Elana Miller Choul Min Min
LaVia Rhone Amber Richardson Karli Robb Brittany Robbins
Briante Weber
Shaghayegh Missaghi
Nicole Robinette
Kristena Mitchell Layne Mitchell Mark Mooney Arzu Moosvi
Ashley Robinson Mahima Saini Nury Salazar Molly Scott
Johnnie Mortensen
Ryan Scott Taneisha Seawood Alexis Seay Fraz Shakeel
Kristianna Woolfolk
Najwa Kemal
Rhonda Moton Twambo Moyo Rachel Munro
Christina Kesler Tracy Kim
Fatima Mustapha Sreeram Nalluri
Daniell Shibla James Shiflett
Eunhee Yoo Katherine Zavodny
Cherise Jamieson Emily Jensen Henry Jimenez Deja Johnson Dontrel Johnson Keyona Jordan Brian Joseph Khadeeja Juma Sindhu Karnam
Zachary Stansberry
Jenna Tinger
Claudine Tucker
Nicholas Vanderburg Chelsea Vandish Jorge Vargas Courtney Vaughan Cristalle Vilardo Melissa Virtue Jordan Waitman
Jaime Whitesel Taylor Whitman Ebone-Tiyasia Williams Elizabeth Williams Robert Willoughby Morgan Wilmouth Silvia Winkler Amanda Wontz Krystal Woods Jasmine Wrenn Maire Yasin
PSYUGRAD advisors help undergraduate students explore research opportunities at the annual research recruitment fair. Pictured: Katharine Stoddard, assistant director of academic advising, left, Ashley Hill, Allie Baylor, and Alejandra Morlett-Paredes.
Virginia Commonwealth University College of Humanities and Sciences
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