Psychology Department Hosts 39th Biannual Research Forum

The psychology department at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania hosted its 39th Biannual Research Forum on April 26 in the Niedbala Auditorium of the Hoeffner Science and Technology Center. The Research Forum was established almost 20 years ago by Sussie Eshun, Ph.D., professor of psychology, and Richard Wesp, Ph.D., distinguished professor of psychology, as a venue to showcase the outstanding student research being done in the psychology department. It has steadily grown and now includes numerous research and internship posters, student research presentations, student award presentations, and honor society inductions.

The Research Forum is the highlight of the semester for both psychology faculty members and students. The spring semester Research Forum included special recognition of Donna Hodge, Ph.D., professor of psychology, who is retiring after 30 years. Both undergraduate psychology majors and faculty members celebrated Dr. Hodge’s dedication to the many students she taught over the past three decades.

The encouragement and recognition of student research are central aspects of the forum. Each semester, selected student researchers give oral presentations discussing their recent empirical research projects. Like presentations at a professional conference, students provide detailed accounts of their hypotheses, research methods, data analysis, and conclusions. The students who presented their research conducted with Irina Khusid, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, include: Julia Nikolajuk, a sophomore psychology major from East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Erin Rubendall, a junior psychology and sociology major from Collegeville, Pa.; and Tasha Wehrenberg, a senior psychology major from Newton, Pa.

Two awards are presented annually at the spring Research Forum to psychology majors who have demonstrated exceptional service to the department, university and community. The scholarship award given in memory Evelyn and Valerie M. Hodge honors the lives of these two individuals and promotes the principles and ideals they espoused, including compassion and service. Recipients of this award must meet specific academic criteria, which includes maintaining a 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate active participation and service in student organizations such as Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology, and The Psychology Association. The 2016 recipients of this award were Theresa Gehring, a junior psychology and criminal justice major from Stroudsburg, Pa., and Christina Borghese, a junior psychology major from Middletown, N.J. The John Kramer Service award, given in memory of John Kramer, a 2002 graduate from the ESU psychology program, recognizes a psychology major who demonstrates exemplary service to the university, department, and community, taking into account community volunteer work and participation in student organizations. The 2016 recipients of the John Kramer Service Award were Jacqueline Cassaro from Bethel, N.Y., and Caitlin Trainer from Andreas, Pa., both of whom recently earned the Bachelor of Science in psychology.

As the day’s celebration of student excellence continued, those undergraduate psychology majors who have met rigorous academic achievement, which include maintaining a 3.0 GPA, standards were formally inducted into Psi Chi.

Psi Chi is the largest student psychological organization in the world, having more than 700,000 members. Psi Chi’s mission is to promote excellence in scholarship and to advance the science of psychology. The ESU chapter was founded in 1980 and since that time, hundreds of students have become members. The ESU Chapter of Psi Chi, along with its counterpart, The Psychology Association, a general membership student organization for anyone interested in the study of psychology, sponsors many educational, charitable, and civic programs, which are of value to the professional discipline, as well as to the local community.

Reneé Boburka, Ph.D. and Irina Khusid, Ph.D., both associate professors of psychology, are the faculty advisers for these organizations. During the spring 2016 Research Forum, 21 undergraduate students were inducted into Psi Chi including: Kara Bogucki, a junior from Southampton, Pa.; Kylie Brancato, a sophomore from Saylorsburg, Pa.; Christina Borghese; Lisa-Ann Cerenov, a sophomore psychology and nursing major from Howell, N.J.; Emily Conte, a sophomore from Fair Lawn, N.J.; Cindy Daniels, a sophomore from Stroudsburg, Pa.; Dominika Douckova, a junior psychology and French major from East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Ryan Flannery, a junior from Stroudsburg, Pa.; Peter James Gangemi, a junior from Randolph, N.J.; Carla Garis, a junior from Sandoval, Ill.; Abigail Kaspszyk, a sophomore from Kunkletown, Pa.; Toniann McErlean, a junior from Mount Bethel, Pa.; Julia Nikolajuk; Maggie O’Grady, a junior from New Milford, N.J.; Nicole Parisi, a junior from Stroudsburg, Pa.; Anissa Rago, a sophomore from North Bergen, N.J.; Samantha Reilly, a junior from Doylestown, Pa.; Danielle Santapaola, a junior from Albrightsville, Pa.; Breanna Zafia, a sophomore from Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; and Zeynepa Zaimova, a sophomore from Wind Gap, Pa. Sarah Schaeffer, from Tafton, Pa., who recently earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology, was also inducted.

After the formal student presentations, awards, and inductions, students and faculty members reconvened on the first floor of Stroud Hall to view research posters by students who completed internships or are enrolled in research-oriented psychology courses. The John Kramer Science Award, which recognizes outstanding student research posters .was presented to Emily Conte; Dominika Douckova; Iqra Mahmood, a junior from Hazleton, Pa.; Jesenia Rosario, a junior from Northampton, Pa.; Gina Santini, a junior from Harmony Township, N.J.; and Samantha Valente, a sophomore from Milford, Pa. Their study was titled “Improvement of Memory when Negative Emotion is Related to Content.”

For more information about the Psychology Research Forum, contact Dr. Boburka at rboburka@esu.edu or 570-422-3328.

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