The CPSD Turns 30!
Wendy Kliewer Chair
Michael Southam-Gerow Director, Graduate Studies
Linda Zyzniewski Director, Undergraduate Studies
Dorothy Fillmore Associate Director for Academic Operations
PROGRAM DIRECTORS Eric Benotsch Health
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Everett Worthington Counseling
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Counseling psychology doctoral student Rachel Boutté , left, speaks to Scott Livengood, visiting speaker from Winston-Salem, N.C. Livengood spoke to the Positive Psychology Research Group in December about the “Living Stories” project on which he, Bruce Rybarczyk, Ph.D., professor of clinical psychology, and Autumn Lanoye, M.S., doctoral student of clinical psychology, collaborate at the Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
4-5
20-21
Fulbright scholar returns
Grad student returns from South Africa
Shawn Utsey, Ph.D.
6-7 Alumni spotlight Colleen Androvich Davis B.S. ‘03, M.Ed. ‘05
8 Ask the CPSD
Feature Story
12-15 Center for Psychological Services and Development Turns 30
9 Professor receives high honor Everett Worthington, Ph.D.
10 Undergraduate student spotlight Herbert Mokwuah
11 Undergraduate student news
Daniel Snipes, M.S.
22 About service-learning Robin Everhart, Ph.D.
24 Department news and updates
25 16-17
Faculty in the media
Research spotlight
26-27
Wendy Kliewer, Ph.D.
Newly-published books
18
28
Graduate student spotlight
December 2014 graduates
Tory Spindle Health psychology program
29 Contact information
Shawn Utsey, Ph.D.
In October 2013, VCU proudly announced that Professor of Counseling Psychology, Shawn Utsey, Ph.D., had received the prestigious Fulbright scholarship to conduct research in South Africa. (Read the VCU press release.) The aim of his project was to study the intergenerational transmission of psychological trauma related to apartheid ethnoviolence and, more specifically, the degree to which Black South African children experienced the residual trauma that parents who lived through the apartheid era had encountered. Utsey wanted to know how that effect, if found, manifest-
ed in their psychological well-being. In order to carry out the research project, he interviewed people who had experienced or witnessed this ethnoviolence, along with their children. More generally, Utsey’s research interests lie in the area of the African American experience and the psychological effects of racism and race-related stress. Utsey reasoned that if he found there were residual psychological effects from the racism that defined the apartheid era in his Fulbright project, perhaps he could draw parallels between those and the residual effects of racism over generations in
the United States. After all, Utsey ed the development of an appre- Utsey considers the Fulbright notes, the experiences of apartciation for how people make program to be an excellent and heid in South Africa mimic our meaning in the world without the well-organized program in which own experiences in the U.S. with luxuries Americans typically one gets the opportunity to meet regard to state-sponsored and collaborate with scholviolence. Utsey hopes ars from other universito demonstrate in his ties and disciplines. Utsey hopes to demonstrate in his research the need to He recommends consider not only the program to research the need to consider not only the impact of racother faculty and the impact of racism on the ism on the individgraduate students, individuals who directly experience it, uals who directly saying it has the experience it, but potential to broadbut across generations, as well. across generations, en horizons by exas well. This research panding research into project is still ongoing; the international arena. InUtsey plans to return to South have at their disposal and witternational research collaboraAfrica to continue his work. nessing the empowerment of tions, he says, provide the opporyoung people. There were also a tunity to establish relationships While abroad, Utsey also had the with scholars across the world opportunity to co-teach a gradu- few challenges, including acknowledging the requirements of whose research interests are simiate research seminar in the Dethe society, maintaining an open lar to one’s own.
., returns from Fulbright fellowship in South Africa partment of Psychology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a VCU international partner university in Durban. Providing the methods for conducting qualitative and quantitative research in a cultural context so students could formulate questions and projects that would address the cultural phenomena of interest was a particularly rewarding experience, he notes. Some of the joys Utsey experienced while living abroad includ-
mind and trying not to compare his experiences with those in the U.S. to create a false dichotomy. One of his favorite moments while in South Africa was going to the U.S. Embassy for the Independence Day celebration where he got a chance to meet some important South African leaders. He also met the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa and discovered they grew up in the same neighMichelle Stith is a secondborhood in New York.
year student in the counseling psychology doctoral program.
Alumni spotlight Colleen Androvich Davis (B.S. ‘03, M.Ed. ‘05) A hard worker who waited tables and received financial aid to pay for her education, Colleen Androvich Davis graduated from VCU Psychology with her bachelor’s degree in 2003. From there, she ventured out to Chicago to Loyola University to pursue her Master of Education degree in counselor education. She had a change in heart about moving to Chicago, though, and decided to return to VCU to finish her master’s degree in the School of Education. In the final year of her graduate program, Davis took advantage of available collegelevel administrative and advising experiences (all unpaid) and also taught a couple of courses introducing new VCU students to the university—UNIV 101. A participant in the Summer STAR program (Student Transitions, Advising and Registration) through University College, Davis helped orient new students to the university and provided advising and support with course registration. After obtaining her master’s degree, she applied for several advising positions throughout VCU and finally decided on a new position advising in the undergraduate studies office in the School of Business. She credits her prior experiences and contacts through teaching and working in the STAR program for helping her land her first job.
After two years, Davis applied for a position as student services manager in the graduate studies office. “In undergraduate studies, I had maintained a strong working relationship with the director of graduate studies and I was able to gain the position in part because of that.” She held this position for six years before applying for and accepting a newly created position in the graduate studies program as senior director of master’s programs. Davis has served in this position for just thinks about the world and helped over a year now. to shape her into the person she is Davis treasures her undergradu- today. “I can distinctly remember ate experiences in the Department classroom discussions that draof Psychology and says she par- matically changed my perceptions on feminism, race and huticularly enjoyed the classroom discussions and debates that led man development in amazing ways.” her to new and higher levels of understanding, especially when the new understanding was in direct contrast to her prior thinking. “I loved feeling like I was a better person and a better citizen as a result of the education I received.”
As for her plans for the future, Davis is working toward a second master’s degree by taking advantage of VCU’s tuition waiver program for employees. She is currently enrolled in graduate courses in nonprofit management, marketing and strategy. “I am not She reports that her greatest influences at VCU as an undergrad- sure what is in store after that!” uate were a handful of “exceptional VCU professors” who helped to teach her how to Stith is a secondbe a critical thinker, yet examine Michelle year student in the counseling situations with an open mind. She psychology doctoral program. says courses such as the Psychology of Women with Kathleen Ingram, Ph.D., and Physiological Psychology with Joseph Porter, Ph.D., changed the way she
Colleen’s Counsel Do you have any advice for undergraduate psychology majors who aren’t going to graduate school in the field and who might be worried about how their degree will translate into employment? Having taken the graduate school path, I cannot say what the market is for students with undergraduate degrees in psychology. My advice though, is to consider a master’s level degree or a professional certificate and be sure to explore all options. Many undergraduates in psychology think the only graduate level option is a doctoral degree, but there are many other options, even at VCU! My other advice is to network with your peers and your faculty, to volunteer and to join student organizations and get involved! Building a network of contacts and a list of experiences is what leads to future employment and to friendships, too. In looking back at my successes, the support of a person I knew along the way was a key factor in every case. You never know who will be that key contact!
Center for Psychological Services and Development
Ask the CPSD
by Renée Grinnell, M.S., doctoral student of clinical psychology
I am the sole caregiver for my husband who has been quite ill over the last year. When he first got sick,... ...I thought I'd be able to manage his care on my own, but after a year, it is really wearing on me. I am constantly battling feelings of resentment, fatigue, isolation and a deep sense of shame that I would be feeling this way about a husband who never asked to be sick. Can you recommend some specific ways for me to combat these feelings and be stronger for him in his greatest time of need? First, let me commend you for admitting you’re feeling burned out and asking for help. We are constantly pressured to do it all in our busy culture, and women in particular are often presented a self-sacrificing Superwoman ideal. Making time for yourself can seem low on the priority list when a loved one is depending on you for care, but self-care should be item number one. Consider the advice you’re given before a flight in the event of an emergency: put your own oxygen mask on before helping others. It’s not possible to be an effective helper when you’re running out of gas, literally or figuratively. The way you are feeling is not at all unusual – around-the-clock caregiving is very, very hard! There are many resources available to provide home caregivers like you with regular respite, including supportive individual talk therapy, caregiver support groups and in-home healthcare aides. Check with the Family Caregiver Alliance, the AARP Caregiving Resource Center (if you are retirement age) and/or a social worker or case manager in your area. Your local community service board can also provide useful referral information. Depending on the level of care your husband requires, you might ask him how he feels about you getting out of the house for a few hours to take a walk, catch a movie or engage in any other activity you enjoy. Sometimes the care recipient enjoys the alone time as much as the caregiver! If this is not possible, you might consider asking in-town family, friends or neighbors if they could stay with your husband for a few hours to give you a break. However you end up deciding to carve out time for yourself, make it a regular and non-negotiable appointment on your calendar. Remember, what’s good for you and keeps you in good spirits will ultimately be good for him, too.
Send us an anonymous question about mental health and treatment issues via our secure messaging system.
Worthington honored as Commonwealth Professor The Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors has named psychology professor Everett Worthington Jr., Ph.D., a Commonwealth Professor – one of the highest distinctions that the board can bestow upon a VCU faculty member.
wife and family have been my primary emotional support system, and I look at this as an honor we share. I could not be more grateful to all."
Steven Danish, Ph.D., Photo courtesy of Damian Muller professor emeritus of psychology, wrote in a nomination letter that Worthington's work "fits the description of a leader whose scholarship merits nationCandidates nominated for the rank of Commonwealth Professor must have an al and international distinction." established prominence through extraor- "He has been a worldwide force to proWorthington, a professor in dinary scholarly attainment, educational mote forgiveness and reconciliation," the Department of Psychology in advancement, or leadership in an acaDanish wrote. "Through his efforts as a the College of Humanities and Sciences, demic discipline or field of study, with researcher, an intervention designer, a said he is "deeply moved and grateful" national or international distinction. training of practitioners, an activist and for the appointment. a speaker throughout the world, his conWorthington has published more than "I think no other recognition has 350 scholarly articles and chapters and tributions to this field have literally changed the world." touched me as deeply," Worthington more than 35 books during his career. said. "The honor is a reflection of the He is an internationally recognized exmany great colleagues at VCU (and pert in the field of forgiveness and recthroughout the world) I have had over onciliation, and is regarded as one of the the years who have supported me, and two founders of the field of forgiveness often carried me, in research, teaching, studies. service and administration. Also, my Courtesy of VCU News
undergraduate student spotlight Herbert Mokwuah, Class of ‘15 “I have a supreme confidence in myself that I can accomplish things I once thought were beyond me. Those were yesterdays and this is today.” When asked why he chose psychology as his major to help him achieve his goals, he said, “I Nigerian native Herbert knew that psychological science Mokwuah is currently in his is a field [in which] one is third year as an undergraduate trained to tolerate the ambiguipsychology major at VCU. ties and uncertainties of human Originally a public relations ma- nature; so [I see this field of jor in the Richard T. Robertson study] as a ‘teeth-cutting’ proSchool of Media and Culture, cess and foundation necessary Mokwuah left when he decided for delving in to the treacherhe wanted to go to law school to ous... world of corporate law.” pursue a career in corporate law. Mokwuah also values the study As a corporate lawyer, he says of psychology for the insight it he hopes to “...[do] the most good in terms of influencing and gives him into his interpersonal bringing about sound egalitarian relationships and into human beings in a more general sense. public policies, while enjoying career longevity and enviable Highly motivated to make up for financial remuneration.” what he calls “mismanaged A strong believer in education as time” in his youth, Mokwuah recognizes the value of experia tool for social advancement, Mokwuah also plans to serve the encing college as an older stucommunity at large as an advo- dent. “I have a supreme conficate for better educational fund- dence in myself that I can accomplish things I once thought ing at state and national levels. were beyond me. Those were “We will protect educational funding from the ravages of the yesterdays and this is today.” speculative forces of the market economy.”
and science fiction. He also mentors at-risk youth and promotes the role of education in bettering their lives. Currently preparing to take his LSAT exams in order to pursue law school next year, Mokwuah hopes to stay local and attend the University of Richmond Law School. He looks forward to giving back to the university after he graduates, saying, “I will come back here and build huge parking decks for the students!” Mokwuah believes he has received superb academic instruction at VCU and reports that “the field of psychology will always tug at my intellectual heart.”
In his spare time, Mokwuah enjoys cooking, listening to music, Michelle Stith is a secondmetaphysical dialectics with year student in the counseling friends and reading biographies psychology doctoral program.
Congratulations, Courtney Vaughn! Courtney Vaughan, an undergraduate research intern in the social and affective neuroscience lab under the direction of Kirk Warren Brown, Ph.D., has earned a place in the National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program. The program provides funded scholarship support, summer research training at the NIH and employment and training at the NIH after graduation. Vaughn is triple majoring in psychology, science, and gender, sexuality and women's studies.
@kyleclyde
Follow Kyle clyde’s study abroad
Study abroad location: Gwangju, South Korea Host university: n/a; working abroad via the Teach and Learn in Korea Program Instagram handle: @kyleclyde Blog: anamericaninsouthkorea.wordpress.com Why I chose this location: I enrolled in the TaLK Program at the end of the fall 2014 semester. Though I wasn't able to choose the city in which I will be teaching English (Gwangju), I chose South Korea for a few reasons: 1) I really want to learn the Korea language (I think it sounds awesome); 2) I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Korean food; and 3) Korea is an amazing country and I would love to learn more about it. What I look forward to most during my study abroad: It sounds a little odd, but I really look forward to being thrown into an environment which is completely foreign to me. Ultimately, I will be pushed to improve my Korean language skills and learn the social culture firsthand. What I will miss most about home: Hamburgers... and of course my family and friends. Anything else you want to tell us about your study abroad experience?: A little more about the TaLK Program: It is a scholarship program offered by the South Korean Ministry of Education for native English speakers in at least their third year of college. It sends these English speakers to elementary schools in rural areas of South Korea to help the students receive a better and more efficient English language learning experience. Courtesy of VCU News
The Center for Psychological Services and Development Turns 30!
by Beth Heller, Ph.D. Much like the graduate students and clients who have passed through our doors, the Center for Psychological Services and Development (CPSD) has grown and evolved over its 30year history. Now a thriving state-of-the-art mental health clinic and graduate training center, CPSD was predated by two earlier – and separate – training clinics within the Department of Psychology.
50 people to attend and that “Sometimes you could almost cut the cigarette smoke, it was so thick in the room. We also had some rousing debates as students presented their cases to the group.”
MLCS always had a waiting list that seemed to grow week by the week. “In the summer,” he said, “we had to run ‘test-and-tell’ career groups to ease the client pressure.” Under his leadership, the MLCS began to include other midlife concerns, such as Following a little behind the schedule of development of the family and couples counseling, PSC, the counseling psychology so that the MLCS was operating like a community clinic for midgraduate program, founded in 1973, established its own train- life adults rather than a career ing clinic, the MidLife Counsel- counseling clinic. The Psychological Services ing Services (MLCS), in Meanwhile, on the PSC side, Center (PSC) was founded in 1974/75. Under the leadership Joe Crowley, Ph.D., served as 1972 and first directed by Jim of Ralph Wiggins, Ph.D., MLCS director from 1975 to 1985 and Hooke, Ph.D., then faculty was also housed in Williams oversaw the move to White member of the newly estabHouse starting in 1981. Everett House in 1981. Current students lished (1969) clinical psycholo- Worthington, Ph.D., assumed will be interested to learn that gy graduate program. From the helm in the fall of 1982, the undergraduate advising area when Wiggins left academia. in White House formally func1973 to 1975, Jim McCullough, Ph.D., professor (Coincidentally, as current coun- tioned as the PSC client waiting of clinical psychology, guided seling psychology program diroom and staff workroom. The the PSC through its early stages rector, Worthington now reone-way mirrors still remaining of development at 800 West occupies the very office that he in the back rooms of White Franklin Street (Williams formerly occupied when director House are remnants of PSC House). of the MLCS.) Worthington not- therapy rooms. ed that in its early years, the Somewhat innovative for the time, each of the seven therapy clinic, which focused strictly on rooms was equipped with closed midlife career issues mostly for -circuit TV capability. In fact, a well-to-do midlife careerchanging clients, “did a boomcable extending from the third ing business.” floor group therapy room to equipment in the basement hung In 1981, when the PSC moved outside of the building for many to White House at 806 West years after the PSC was no long- Franklin St., the MLCS was loer housed there! cated on the first floor of Williams House, and it occupied Cases were discussed during large weekly staff meetings that three interview rooms on the right hallway and three assesswere mandatory for all faculty ment rooms on the left hallway. and students. McCullough recalls that it was not unusual for According to Worthington, the
Williams House 800 W. Franklin St.
In 1985, Department Chair John Hill, Ph.D., directed that the PSC and MLCS be merged to become one clinic—the Center for Psychological Services and Development (CPSD). The CPSD would serve the training needs for both clinical and counseling psychology programs and allow space for developmental psychology students (and others when appropriate) to be trained. The word “development,” in fact, was added to the title to reflect both the inclusion of the developmental psychology graduate program and the developmental focus of counseling psychology. Cathy Radecki-Bush, Ph.D., was hired to direct the new training center starting in the fall of 1985. This historic event of the creation of the CPSD significantly strengthened training and made it more cost effective. For the first time, clinical and counseling psychology graduate stu-
White House 806 W. Franklin St.
dents participated side by side in ordinate assessment training. their practicum experiences. Beth Heller, Ph.D., was hired as By the early 2000’s, the CPSD the first associate director in had clearly outgrown its walls, 2011. With substantial input from Operations Director Stacey so in early 2006 it moved in to Maples, Flores oversaw substanwhat native Richmonders remember as the “Richmond Bal- tial cosmetic upgrades to the CPSD in 2012, bidding farewell let building” at 612-620 North Lombardy Street. Sonia Banks, to what Heller often referred to as “yard sale chic.” With Flores’ Ph.D., who had assumed the departure in 2014, Heller bedirectorship in 2002, was the driving force behind this move. came the director and is still serving in that role. According to a press release at the time, “The relocation expand [ed] the center’s space from 4,000 to 10,000 square feet and increase[d] the number of treatment offices from eight to 15.”
The clinic now comprises nine treatment rooms and two stateof-the-art classrooms, with ample office space and several research labs also housed in the building. Five specialty clinics/ Banks was quoted in the press treatment teams and a robust release as saying, “Now VCU has a community-based mental psychological assessment service operate throughout the health clinic for all VCU emyear, contributing to the CPSD’s ployees and the surrounding community. Our move is part of well-deserved reputation for the larger VCU mission to link high-quality, low-cost treatment. the campus and the community. Over 2,700 appointments are logged each year, with well over It’s exciting to be in a place where people can see where we 200 individuals seen in the clinic. Clients benefit from a dediare and know where we’re gocated group of eager graduate ing.” students and seasoned clinical Leticia Flores, Ph.D., followed supervisors. All constituents – Banks in 2007. Under her lead- students, faculty and clients – ership, the CPSD truly entered reap the benefit of the history the 21st century, as she enthusi- and evolution that culminated in astically introduced enhanced the Center for Psychological technology, including digital Services and Development. recording capability and electronic medical records. AddiThe author would like to express gratitionally, Flores successfully lob- tude to Dr. Jim McCullough and Dr. bied for the creation of an asso- Everett Worthington for their institutional memories and willingness to ciate director position to share share their recollections. administrative duties and to co-
612-620 N. Lombardy St., home of the CPSD since 2006
Research spotlight How stress affects low-income Richmond-area parents' ability to raise children Wendy Kliewer, Ph.D.
Over the course of two years, Wendy Kliewer, Ph.D., professor of developmental psychology, surveyed more than 300 lowincome female caregivers who were parenting children in the Richmond area to learn how high levels of violence, noise, crowding and other stressful factors, such as health issues, family conflicts and concerns about money, were affecting their ability to raise children.
and Parenting Practices: A Longitudinal Study," which was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.
their parenting. One year later, at the third interview, caregivers with higher levels of depression, anxiety and hostility knew less about their adolescents' whereabouts and reported that their adolescents were less likely to confide in them.
After interviewing 316 lowincome female caregivers who were parenting youth in the Richmond area, what were some of the key conclusions you Were you surprised by any of found? your findings?
We found that caregivers' life stress and the victimization they reported during their first interKliewer, chair of the Department view was related to increases in of Psychology in the College of depression, anxiety and hostility Humanities and Sciences, recent- one year later at their second inly discussed the study, "Parental terview. These mental health Strain, Mental Health Problems, symptoms then went on to affect
I've been concerned about parents for a long time, so the fact that life stress and victimization affected caregivers' mental health did not surprise me. The relationship between parents' mental health and parenting practices wasn't so much a surprise as a
confirmation that we need to do what we can to help parents be effective in their role.
cause parents will be better role models and will be able to be more sensitive and responsive to their children's needs.
from moms and teens in the community for Project HEART: Health and Resilience in Teens with my colleague Jo RobWhat led to your interest in this ins, Ph.D., from the School of Nursing. We are looking at stress topic? Are there pub- When I came to VCU in 1992, I and health, including family dynamics and how that relates to lic policy imhad an interest in coping sociali- risk for cardiometabolic disorplications of zation — that is, how children ders. There are things families do this study? acquire the coping skills they Kliewer and local family Should more be done learn. As a developmental scien- that increase health risks and things families do that protect to support this population? tist, I believe that happens first in youth from health risks. Since Parenting is a very important job the family context, although African Americans are much and stressful even when resources clearly children and adolescents more likely than Caucasians to are plentiful. When you add eco- learn from other sources, as well. develop specific health problems, nomic strain and family stressors I came to believe that as a field we want to understand that better on top of the normal things par- we weren't putting enough focus and try to intervene early to ents of adolescents have to deal on parents. change the course these adoleswith, it can be tough. Just as we Are you planning to continue cents are on. have programs to help adolesresearching this topic? cents with coping and emotion Yes. Most of my work incorporegulation, I think programs for rates family influences in one parents to support them in their way or another. roles could be useful. If we can help parents cope effectively, I What are you working on next? believe that can go a long way to Currently I am collecting data Courtesy of VCU News helping adolescents adjust be
Read about other new research findings from our department’s investigators. A sampling of the research questions addressed are:
What else do college students “do” while studying?
Do high risk women receive breast cancer screening?
Do certain racial/ethnic groups cope better with traumatic brain injury?
Can people learn to forgive faster and more thoroughly?
Graduate student spotlight Tory Spindle, a health psychology doctoral student in his second year, has been conducting research to gain further understanding of drugs of abuse and in particular, nicotine and tobacco. His current line of research is focused on understanding the acute effects of novel tobacco products—primarily electronic cigarettes—in the Center for the Study of Tobacco Products (CSTP) in the Department of Psychology. He is interested in identifying factors that influence nicotine delivery and subjective effects associated with using e-cigarettes (such as withdrawal suppression or nicotine-related side effects), including characteristics of the devices (e.g., battery voltage, concentration of nicotine found in ecigarette liquid) and users’ puffing behaviors.
The journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research recently published an article concerning the acute effects of and behaviors associated with e -cigarette use for which Spindle served as first author. He has also co-authored two comprehensive reviews of e-cigarettes published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine. He currently awaits approval for an F31 grant in hopes that it will fund him for his final three years while he is conducting his dissertation research.
Tory Spindle graduate student with outside obligations, Spindle replied, “Compartmentalization. I try to devote all of my energy to whatever it is I am doing at that moment, whether it be work or some other type of outside obligation and try my best not to let all of my obligations and demands interfere with or influence one another.”
Originally from Stafford, Va., Spindle was the first person in his family to receive a college education. He noted, “I come from a blue collar family and my parents Spindle, a VCU alumnus, obtained worked very hard to provide me his B.S. in psychology and minor with the opportunity to go to in biology in 2013. As an under- school.” graduate, he worked for two years His plans for the future include as a research assistant in the becontinuing to research licit and havioral pharmacology laboratory illicit drugs of abuse in an acaunder the direction of Joseph Por- demic setting with the hope that ter, Ph.D. and, prior to that, in the he can provide insight into how sensation and perception laborato- drug use influences human behavry at Randolph-Macon College ior and the factors that lead to under the direction of Cedar Rie- drug use and abuse. His goal is for ner, Ph.D. his research to help contribute to better prevention and treatment Along with mentor and co-director An avid sports fan, Spindle and his girlfriend try to attend sporting strategies and inform product regof the CSTP, Thomas Eissenevents every chance they get. Lo- ulation. berg, Ph.D., Spindle serves as a cally, they enjoy going to see the consultant to other non-VCU investigators interested in measuring Flying Squirrels and, of course, puff topography (i.e., the detailed the VCU men’s basketball team. examination of puffing behaviors) He also enjoys playing sports, especially when it is basketball with in electronic cigarette users. He his younger brother, a sophomore has become an expert in two math major at VCU. Reading outmethods to accomplish this— side of that which is necessary for videotape and computer-based methods—and has shared his ex- his training is a treat for Spindle, pertise in a workshop at an FDA- whose favorite author is Malcolm Gladwell. funded site. This month he will Michelle Stith is a secondpresent another workshop to an When asked what his secret is for year student in the counseling psychology doctoral program. NIH/FDA-funded group at Yale. balancing the demands of being a
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Daniel Snipes and project colleagues are pictured here collecting data at the Durban Institute of Technology. They were demonstrating a new prototype female condom and recruiting people for a study to use these condoms. Snipes’ research interests lie in examinations of sexual behavior, substance use and stigma. He is particularly interested in sexual assault and rape, as well as primary HIV prevention.
Health psychology doctoral student, Daniel Snipes, M.S., was awarded a prestigious grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development to participate in a project to evaluate South Africa’s female condom program. The grant was a supplement to his current NSF Graduate Research fellowship.
He was also involved in two other projects—one involved the Snipes worked with the MatCH examination of a new prototype program (Maternal, Adolescent female condom and another dealt and Child Health) in Durban, with sexual victimization among South Africa. The purpose of the African commercial sex workers. multi-year project he took part in Snipes is currently working on a is to increase the use of female manuscript with the MatCH orcondoms and reduce the rates of ganization on the subject of acHIV infection in South Africa. cess to care and discrimination Snipes was responsible for creatamong commercial sex workers ing surveys for data entry, trainwho have been raped. ing employees on data entry and statistical analysis. Research
Graduate student shares experiences from NSF Fellowship in South Africa Snipes credits his course preparation at VCU, departmental guidance and the mentorship of his advisor, Eric Benotsch, Ph.D., for preparing him so well for this endeavor.
environment, too, for experiencing Indian culture.
A particularly favorite part of his time abroad was the food. He would eat bunny chow every day for lunch. “Bunny chow is a quarCultural impressions ter loaf of bread that is scooped out and filled with curry,” Snipes said. Snipes says he has always tried to At the end of his trip, the manager educate himself about race and of the program treated him to a culture, but his experiences in homemade “braai” dinner comSouth Africa really helped him see plete with grilled meats, creamed the direct impact racist regimes spinach, porridge, vegetable relish and oppression can have on peoand popular African dancing. ple. “Apartheid wasn’t that long ago and the racial tension still ex- Snipes regularly recommends the NSF fellowship to other graduate ists; there is still a lot of anger,” students noting that it affords a said Snipes. He stated that while great number of opportunities; in the trip was sobering in many fact, he regularly assists other stuways, it served as motivation for dents with their own applications. him to use research as a tool to For his own part, he would love to improve people’s lives. return and, in fact, has applied to When asked about other memorado just that this summer to continble experiences, Snipes said that it ue the ongoing work. was really fun to absorb the culture while he was there. He made good friends inside and outside of the lab who were happy to show him around Durban and take him to popular local restaurants and markets. With the largest Indian population outside of India, Durban, to his surprise, proved to be a rich
“Bunny Chow”
While the trip was sobering in many ways, it served as motivation for him to use research as a tool to improve people’s lives.
Michelle Stith is a secondyear student in the counseling psychology doctoral program.
Attention, Undergraduates! Re
Undergraduate students Becca Easter, left rear, Eric Cudiamat, Josh Brown and Jessica Bowers participated in the 15th annual James River Regional Cleanup in 2014 as part of a PSYC 493 service-learning course led by Victoria Shivy, Ph.D. The students assisted with managing volunteers and removing invasive species (English Ivy). They also collected data regarding volunteers' attitudes towards recycling.
“When I first signed up for a service-learning class, I was hesitant because I was not sure I was going to enjoy it. After just a couple of Development Center. I loved the fact that things I had learned in class could be applied to my service-learning placement. Working the myself. I recommend service-learning to anyone that is a hands-on learner and everyone in general; it’s a very rewarding experience.
Currently I serve as a service-learning teaching assistant (SLTA) and I truly enjoy it. It gives me the opportunity to continue to be invo role. Being an SLTA has given me the opportunity to get a glimpse at how service-learning can have a huge impact on the community. ty and the community at large.�
eady for something different? Robin Everhart, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of health psychology and one of two instructors of service-learning courses this semester.
Service-learning classes are unique courses offered at VCU that provide an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in traditional classroom settings to real world settings. An educational experience that engages students in organized service activities and guided reflection, service-learning enhances students’ understanding of course content, builds their sense of civic responsibility and provides services that benefit the Richmond community. Students receive credit for the course (PSYC 493: Human Services
Fieldwork) and provide service Witness Assistance Program, to an organization with identified Communities in Schools of Richcommunity needs. mond, Carver Promise, Peter As part of the class, students in- Paul Development Center, Center for Psychological Services tern for eight hours a week in a community agency or organiza- and Development and others. tion serving populations at risk for negative psychological or health-related outcomes. PSYC 493 is designed to promote student understanding of a multisystemic model of individual and community development and change through both in-class and practical experiences. The class meets together as a group once a week.
Psychology instructors Robin Everhart, Ph.D., and Mary Loos, Ph.D., are both teaching a section of PSYC 493 this semester. For more information about service-learning at VCU, visit the Division of Community Engagement’s website and/or email Dr. Everhart at reverhart@vcu.edu. PSYC 493 is geared toward junior/senior psyPast and current service-learning chology majors with a preferred GPA of 3.0. sites include: Fan Free Clinic, CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, Spiritos School for Autism, Hanover Safe Place, Henrico Vic-
Henry Jimenez, senior psychology major, has served as a servicelearning teaching assistants for two semesters under the guidance of Robin Everhart, Ph.D.
f weeks I found that I was always excited to go to my placement at the VCU Child ere gave me the opportunity to learn more about the community and also more about
olved with service-learning while at the same time gaining experience in a leadership . I enjoy the fact that I am actively making a change both within the VCU communi-
News and updates
Daniel Berry, a doctoral student in the social psychology program who works in the social and affective neuroscience lab directed by Kirk Berry Warren Brown, Ph.D., received a $15,000 Francisco Varela Award from the Mind and Life Institute to fund his research on mindfulness, empathy and helping behavior. Michael Inzlicht, Ph.D., (University of Toronto), Jeffrey Greene, Ph.D., (VCU), Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., (Wake Forest University) and Brown are the co-sponsors for Berry’s project, “Bridging the Empathy Gap: Effects of Brief Mindfulness Training on Helping Outgroup Members in Need.”
Eissenberg also contributed the article “Collaborating Across Cultures” to the American Psychological Association’s December 2014 issue of Monitor on Psychology. In it, Eissenberg discusses ethical issues associated with international collaborations and urges researchers to seek out scientists from other cultures for rich collaborative opportunities. Read the article.
their “Word of the Year” for 2014—vape. Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D., professor of health psychology and Eissenberg director of the Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, was asked to submit a scholarly reflection on the word. Read the submission.
Sarah Javier, doctoral student of health psychology, contributed to a local television feature called “More Minorities Turning to Plastic Javier Surgery.” Javier studies self-image among minorities.
Leticia Flores, Ph.D., former director of the Center for Psychological Services and Development, received Equality Flores VCU’s Burnside Watstein Award for contributions to VCU’s LGBT community. Flores The study will compare a four-day was honored for her efforts with Safe mindfulness intervention with a Zone Training, the annual Lavender structurally-equivalent sham mindGraduation (a special graduation cerfulness intervention to understand emony that honors the achievements the effects of mindfulness on physio- of graduating gender and sexual milogical, behavioral and real-world nority students) and for helping creindicators of empathy and helping ate gender-neutral bathrooms on behavior in interracial contexts. campus. Flores is currently the associate director for the University of Oxford Dictionaries Tennessee Psychological Clinic. recently announced
Dustin Birmingham (B.S. ‘10), left, Jeff Green, Chris Morgan (B.S. ‘09), Hilary Sullenberger (B.S.
To celebrate the start of his tenth year at VCU, Jeffrey Greene, Ph.D., associate professor of social psychology, held his usual end-ofsemester party in December for his lab team (two graduate students and about a dozen undergraduates), but also invited research assistants from the last ten years. Though alumni living in Boston, Spain and New York City could not attend, ten alumni did return. Many of them are working on graduate degrees (e.g., one is working on a doctorate in educational psychology and one is in law school) and others are gainfully employed in Greater Richmond. It was a splendid opportunity for Green’s current students to network with older students and to reminisce about times past. Green, a nostalgia researcher who is highly nostalgic himself, reports having enjoyed it so much that he plans to have another reunion at the end of the spring semester!
Faculty in the media
Faye Belgrave, Ph.D., and Shawn Utsey, Ph.D.
VCU Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development
“Black Faculty at VCU Fight Decline in their Ranks” read
“Community-Engaged Research, Community-Engaged University” read
Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D.
Everett Worthington, Ph.D.
“Hookah Smokers are Inhaling Benzene” read
“Divorce Rates Dropping Nationwide” watch (above)
Suzanne Mazzeo, Ph.D.
“Learn About a New Hope-Focused Technique to Maintain a Healthy Relationship” watch
“ADHD Drug Might Help Treat Binge-Eating Disorder, Study Suggests” read
“REACH Forgiveness” listen
“Chesterfield Parents, Educators Consider Starting Class Later” read
“Six Steps to Forgiveness” read
Terri Sullivan, Ph.D.
Victoria Shivy, Ph.D.
“$2.6 Million Research Grant Set To Help Prevent Bullying In Schools” listen
“New Research Shows James River Park is Region's Most -Visited Site” read
“VCU Professor Lands Grant to Study Anti-Bullying Programs in Richmond” read
“The Forgiveness Boost” read
New Book Faye Belgrave, Ph.D., and Joshua Brevard, M.S. The challenges faced by African American boys and adolescents, such as negative stereotyping and racial profiling, have received a great deal of attention recently, from the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Mo., to President Obama's "My Brother's Keeper" initiative, which aims to support young black males despite opportunity gaps.
an identity about who they will be."
Perceptions and Changing Experiences."
One of the book's chapters explains what types of programs and practices have worked well at helping African American boys in the past.
Brevard, who was the lead author on the new book's chapters on peers and delinquency and victimization, said he hopes "African American Boys" will help promote positive ways of influencing better outcomes.
A new book co-authored by Faye Belgrave, Ph.D., professor of health psychology, and Joshua Brevard, M.S., doctoral student of health psychology, aims to inform that conversation. "African American Boys: Identity, Culture, and Development," provides in-depth information on topics including self and identity; school expectations and achievement; peers, family and kin; and delinquency and victimization. "We've summarized the research, the literature and the best practices for working with African American boys," Belgrave said. "We saw a need to compile in one source [a book on] the state of the literature and research on black boys." The book is written for academics, policymakers, psychologists, parents, teachers and others working with African American boys. "It's geared toward an academic audience," Belgrave said, "but it's meant to be accessible." The book focuses on African American boys between the ages of 10 and 16, Belgrave Brevard Belgrave said, because decisions made during preadolescence to mid-adolescence "There are a lot of programs out there," often have far-reaching consequences. Belgrave said. "And I always ask people "At that age, boys are likely to make deci- when they're running these programs, 'Why are you reinventing the wheel? Let's sions that might have a profound impact on the rest of their lives," she said. "Think look at what's out there already and see what's working.'" about early adolescence, when they start moving ahead in school or start moving "African American Boys" comes five back in school. They might start getting in years after Belgrave authored a similar trouble, or not getting in trouble. And, book focused on African American girls accompanying all this, they're developing titled "African American Girls: Reframing
"I hope that it provides individuals who are in a position to work with young African American males some potential ways of protecting them from the negative environmental factors that can be present in a lot of situations," he said. "And to not only focus on the bad or focus on the assumption that if you're a black male then you're almost predestined to have negative outcomes." A key theme throughout the book, Belgrave said, is that African American boys and adolescents are faced with insidious and pervasive racism, even relative to African American girls. "The expectations for black boys are lower among parents and teachers," she said. "So parents have higher expectations for their girls than their boys, as do teachers. So no wonder you're seeing all these disparities in incarceration and academic achievement." These challenges, she added, are underlying factors in situations such as the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. "This pervasiveness of racism and discrimination is not necessarily intentional, but it has adverse consequences. It's very subtle," she said. "When people see black boys, they automatically associate [them with] negativity. And this is why we're seeing things like Ferguson."
Courtesy of VCU News
New Book Jim McCullough, Ph.D. James P. McCullough Jr., Ph.D., spent 25 years developing the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy, or CBASP, to treat chronically depressed patients. These are individuals who have been continuously depressed for two or more years. Seventy-five percent have been depressed since mid-adolescence. When combined with medication, CBASP therapy has been shown to be 85 percent effective in treating chronic depression for patients who complete treatment.
sonal patterns of living. Patients also learn to recognize that the way they live affects others in highly specific ways. The psychotherapy provides them with interpersonal skills to change the destructive effects they have on others.
While some prefer online training, others choose the old-fashioned way— personally attending one of McCullough’s regularly-scheduled CBASP training sessions in the Richmond area. A group of faculty members from McGill University in Montreal trained in Richmond in March.
A 2000 article in the New England Journal of Medicine reported the effectiveness of CBASP based on the results of a study of 681 chronically depressed outpatients who completed a randomized clinical trial at 12 medical sites in the United States. In the same year, McCullough published his first CBASP text, “Treatment for Chronic Depression: Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy.”
“We were attracted to CBASP by the studies showing its effectiveness in treating chronic depression,” said Gail Myhr, a McGill University psychiatry professor who participated in the March training session. “We came because we wanted to hear directly from the guy who created the treatment method. Everything he teaches is grounded by evidence.”
After the journal article appeared, widespread international interest in CBASP arose, McCullough said. McCullough has presented CBASP at lectures, seminars and workshops for psychiatry faculty and residents and psychologists at the University of Freiburg and the University of Lubeck in Germany. He was also invited to present at the Universities of Helsinki and Tampere in Finland, McGill University in Montreal and the University of Toronto in Canada. McCullough has also conducted workshops, seminars and lectures at the University of Tokyo, the University of Hiroshima and the Nagoya City Medical School in Japan; his plans include travel to Germany, Holland, Ireland, Switzerland and South Africa. The CBASP method approaches chronic depression as a lifestyle disorder and trains patients to change basic interper-
who interacts with McCullough from Nagoya City, Japan, nearly 7,000 miles away. Furukawa is chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Nagoya City Medical School, where he treats patients and conducts research.
“His program has captured the essence of what we’ve believed to be true in treating chronically depressed people, but we weren’t able to put it all together in a way that works,” said Jeanne Talbot who is also a McGill University psychiatry professor. McCullough estimates the number of chronically depressed people worldwide at 3 to 4 percent. “My goal now is to train people who can then train others, and in this way, increase the number of people who can administer While psychology professionals from the methodology,” he said. In addition to other countries were eager to learn increasing the number of professionals CBASP, training them initially proved to certified in delivering CBASP, be cumbersome and expensive. Last year, McCullough also wants to find new and however, McCullough began supervising inexpensive video conferencing technoloCBASP trainees using an inexpensive gy that will allow him to train simultaneInternet videoconferencing technology. ously in multiple sites. One professional who benefits from the online training is Dr. Toshi Furukawa, McCullough
Courtesy of VCU News
DecemberGraduates Joshua Cox Lauren D'Urso Staci Carr James Davis Timothy Donahue Jashelle Davis Jessica Davis Master of Science Mica Davis Annalucia Bays Stephanie Davis Renee Grinnell Ashley Deal Anh-Thuy Le Katelyn Dougherty Lisa Looney Christy Enyinnaya Alejandra Morlett-Paredes Eliza Ertel Megan Sutter Alexis Exum Efren Velazquez Rachel Farmer Brittney Ferguson Bachelor of Science Matthew Fritts Stephanie Frost Kealisha Adams Adedamola Adeyokunnu Shanita Glenn Alexandria Glover Gabriela Agostinelli Nichole Goldsmith Faith Akinbohun Maegan Gordon Ekta Amin Kimberly Greenshields Megan Ankofski Jasmit Gulati James Austin Candis-Monique Hardin Alexandra Barbuto Kaazim Hasan Megan Baxter Alexandra Blaszkiewicz Khattar Hatoum Mary Hazard Cameron Blount Christian Hellerstedt Mary Boltz Alba Hernandez Gomez Rebecca Britt Jessica Hofmeyer Schuyler Brown Ivory Hudson Andrew Browning Sara Huffman Rachel Buchanan Abigail Cadua Jazmin Capo' Nichole Clark Molly Clarke Kendall Clay Kaylie Corbin Francisco Cornejo Jeremy Cornelissen Doctor of Philosophy
Amber Hula Travis Hultgren Cymone Hylton Amy Ianniello Pegah Izadpanah Asyia Jackson Brandon Jarvis Allison Jones Austin Jones Daniel Jung Jovia Keys Courtney King Rachel Krusenklaus Alexis Kwamin Alison Laird Michael Levinson James Lilly Kaitlyn Lyford Kaitlyn Lynch Shana Lynch William Makris Hamid Mansoor Taylor Marshall Kimberly Mayfield Taylor Mayfield Helen Mays Hannah McLoone Natalia Mello Kate Miller Mallory Mingos Sara Mooney
Sarah Moore Joanna Nelson Daniel Newton Cameron Noel Brandi Okelley Joshua Olenik Priscilla Owusu-Mensah Mayra Parada Alicia Patterson Gina Pido Megan Placona Brandon Rice Christopher Samuels Kasey Shumaker James Smith Sean Spragley Brandy Sprouse Bailey Stotka Stephanie Streat Rachel Sutton Laura Talley Laura Traylor Donald Tweedie Brittany White Gabriella White Henrietta White Alexandra Wood Hannah Woodward Karlee Wynn
Photo courtesy of Elijah Christman
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