Awards Presented at ESU’s Psychology Department’s Biannual Research Forum

The psychology department at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania celebrated the 20^th anniversary of its Biannual Research Forum on April 25, 2017 in the Niedbala Auditorium of the Hoeffner Science and Technology Center.

The student presenter for the spring 2017 Research Forum was Michelle Coughlin, from Branchville, N.J., who recently earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology. Coughlin presented research that she conducted with Irina Khusid, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, titled, “The Effects of Social Media on the Perception of Infidelity in College Students.”

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 Evelyn and Valerie M. Hodge Memorial Scholarship, which was named for former Vice President of Student Affairs Val Hodge and her mother, and promotes the principles and ideals they espoused including compassion and service, was given to Emily Conte, a senior from Fair Lawn, N.J. Abigail Kaspszyk, a senior from Kunkletown, Pa., was named runner-up. This award honors psychology majors who have demonstrated active participation and service in student organizations. The John Kramer Service award, given in memory of John Kramer, who graduated from the ESU psychology program in 2002, was given to Ariel Tucci, a junior from Douglassville, Pa., and Sarah Ceccola from Wyomissing, Pa., who recently earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology.  The award 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 John Kramer Science Award was also presented to Rebecca Collett, from Mount Olive, N.J., who recently earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology; Stephanie Hertel, a junior psychology and criminal justice major from West Babylon, N.Y.; Gertrude Kibagendi, a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pa.; D’Airah Payne, a sophomore from Bronx, N.Y.; Amy Spanudis, a junior from Feasterville, Pa.; and Paige Taylor, a junior from Doylestown, Pa. Their study, “Don’t Let Workout Routines Fool You, Athletes Have Body Dissatisfaction, Too: College Athletes versus Non-athletes on Body Dissatisfaction,” was the most outstanding student research poster submission of the forum.

During the Research Forum 14 undergraduate psychology majors were inducted into Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. The new inductees are: Nicole Dimitriou, a senior from Mount Pocono, Pa.; Shannon Foley, a junior from Middletown, N.Y.; Arielle Garcia, a senior from Long Pond, Pa.; Nickole Kazes, a senior from Lords Valley, Pa.; Zoe Mass, a junior from Coatesville, Pa.; Victoria Negron, a senior from Queens, N.Y.; Raquel Sosa, a junior from Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Amy Spanudis; Paige Taylor; Ariel Tucci; and Imani Williams, a junior from Collingdale, Pa. In addition, Veronica Hernandez, from Scranton, Pa., who recently earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology, Margaret Chase, from Cape May, N.J. and Agata Kopacz, from Brooklyn, N.Y., both of whom recently earned their Bachelor of Science degrees in psychology, were also inducted.

Sussie Eshun, Ph.D., professor of psychology, initiated the department’s Biannual Research Forum in 1996. The following year, Richard Wesp, Ph.D., distinguished professor of psychology, helped to expand the forum to include student poster presentations. This semester’s Research Forum included a very special recognition presented to Dr. Wesp, who is retiring after an illustrious career of teaching and research at ESU.

For more information, contact Reneé Boburka, Ph.D., associate profess of psychology, in the college of arts and sciences, at rboburka@esu.edu or Dr.  Sussie Eshun at seshun@esu.edu.

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