ESU’s Psychology Department Hosts 48th Biannual Research Forum

The psychology department at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania hosted the 48^th Biannual Research Forum on December 6, 2022 in 117 Stroud Hall. The Research Forum was started over 20 years ago by Sussie Eshun, Ph.D., professor of psychology, and Richard Wesp, Ph.D., retired distinguished professor of psychology, as a venue to showcase the outstanding student research being done in the psychology department. It has steadily grown over the years and now includes numerous research and internship posters, student research presentations, student award presentations, and honor society inductions.

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. These presentations are similar to those that would be given at a professional conference, in that the students provide detailed accounts of their hypotheses, research methods, data analysis, and conclusions. The student presenter for the fall 2022 Research Forum was Alissa Tressler, from Lake Ariel, Pa., who recently earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Tressler presented research conducted with Jyh-Hann Chang, Ph.D., professor of psychology, titled, “Using the COOL Scale to Compare Compassion Levels between Cultures.”

During the Research Forum, the celebration of student excellence also includes the presentation of various awards and honors, including the Drago Family Scholarship Award, the John Kramer Science Award, and student inductions into Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology. The Drago Family Scholarship Award, given by the family of Anthony Drago, Ed.D., distinguished professor of psychology, is a monetary scholarship awarded each fall to a psychology major who exemplifies academic excellence. The fall 2022 co-recipients of this award were Lily Bunce, a senior from Chalfont, Pa.; and Jacqueline Colón, a senior from Kunkletown, Pa.

As the day’s celebration of student excellence continued, those psychology undergraduates who have met rigorous academic achievement standards were then formally inducted into Psi Chi, which is the largest student psychological organization in the world with over 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 of this prestigious organization. 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. Irina Khusid, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, and Deena Dailey, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, are the faculty advisors for these organizations. Five undergraduate students were inducted into Psi Chi: Samiyah Bonds, a senior psychology major from Edison, N.J.; Kaylin Cuba, a senior communication sciences and disorders major from Long Island, N.Y.; Savannah-Rose Kruk-Mason, a senior psychology major from East Stroudsburg, Pa.; James Owens, a junior psychology major from Easton, Pa.; and Tazaiel Whitfield, a senior sociology major from Lancaster, Pa.

Following the formal student presentations, awards, and inductions, students and faculty reconvened to view additional research studies presented in poster format by students enrolled in various research-oriented psychology courses. Informational posters presented by students who recently completed internships were also presented. Any students who prepared research posters were eligible to submit their projects for consideration of the John Kramer Science Award. This award, given in memory of former student, John Kramer, who graduated from the ESU psychology program in 2002, recognizes the most outstanding student research submission of the Forum. The awardees of the fall 2022 John Kramer Science Award for their study titled, “Mental Health among Student-Athletes and Non-Student-Athletes” were psychology major Amanda Antoine, a junior from Allentown, Pa.; Rodney Caldwell, a senior from Bronx, N.Y.; Manuwa Jeneh Kebbie, a junior from Philadelphia, Pa.; Bianca Lorusso, a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Madison Shai McAllister, a senior from Nazareth, Pa.; and Madison Mulligan, a senior from Floral Park, N.Y.

For more information, contact Dr. Anthony Drago, Chair of the Psychology Department, at tdrago@esu.edu.

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