ESU Psychology Department Presents at 2015 Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA)

Pictured from left to right are Kristin Schafer, Emily Selby, Nicole Troia, Rebecca Keck, Caitlin Trainer and Dr. Richard Wesp who presented their study, “Multitasking During Introductions Inhibits Ability to Remember Names,” at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA). Missing from photo are students Victoria Stella and Danielle Verhage who also worked on this study.

Students and faculty in the psychology department at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania started their spring break telling people about how irresponsible college freshmen are when it comes to online shopping and the importance of infusing diversity into the college classroom.

The forum for these discussions was the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA) in Philadelphia, Pa. from March 5-7, where ESU faculty and students presented their research on these topics and more.

The EPA is the oldest of the regional Psychological Associations in the United States. The annual meeting is an opportunity to keep up with what other experts are doing in psychology.

Eleven presentations were given by ESU students and faculty. Topics varied from college students’ perception about mental illness to research meant to help college students see connections between coursework and “real life.”

“The research components of this presentation provide students with a realistic immersion,” Rick Wesp, Ph.D. distinguished professor of psychology, said. “Students who have gone on to graduate school have reported back that their research experiences at ESU have equipped them with the skills they need to succeed in graduate work.”

Dr. Wesp and psychology students Emily Selby, a senior from Endwell, N.Y., Rebecca Keck, a senior from Pen Argyl, Pa., Kristin Schafer, a senior from White Haven, Pa., Victoria Stella, a senior from Fort Plain, N.Y., Caitlin Trainer, a junior from East Stroudsburg, Pa., Nicole Troia, a junior from Effort, Pa., and Danielle Verhage, a senior from Effort, Pa., informed the Philadelphia crowd that playing those first-day-of-class introduction games, in which you go around the room, state your name and a few things about yourself, actually leaves people less likely to remember your name.

“We found that name recall was significantly lower when participants were expected to have to say something about themselves,” Dr. Wesp said.

Other presenters included Professors of Psychology Joseph Miele, Ph.D., Bonnie Green, Ph.D., Sussie Eshun, Ph.D., Associate Professors of Psychology Irina Khusid, Ph.D., Renee R. Boburka, Ph.D., and John Chang, Ph.D., and psychology majors Rafael Rivera, a senior from Saylorsburg, Pa., Dekontee Menpen, a senior from Belmar Terrace, Pa., Chelsea Neal, a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pa., Shanna O’Connor, a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pa., John Herrman, a senior from Norwood, Pa., Alyssa Sandoval-Coscia, a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pa., Sean Hall, a senior from Bartonsville, Pa., Erica Perez, a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pa., Lisa Koskulics, a senior from West Orange, N.J., Jacqueline Cassaro, a junior from Mongaup Valley, N.Y., Savannah Doyle, a junior from Stroudsburg, Pa., Emily Fitzsimmons, a sophomore from East Meadow, N.Y., Aisha Prodani, a junior from East Stroudsburg, Pa., and Joseph La Tassa, a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pa.

For more information about the psychology program at ESU, please contact Chair Tony Drago, Ed.D., at 570-422-3355.

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