ESU’s Psychology Department Hosts 51st Biannual Research Forum

The psychology department at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania hosted the 51^st Biannual Research Forum on April 23, 2024 in 117 Stroud Hall. The Research Forum was started over twenty 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 since 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. Three research presentations given during the spring 2024 Research Forum. Meghan Guarino, senior majoring in psychology from Olyphant, Pa., presented research conducted with Deena Dailey, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, titled, “Correlations between Mobile Device Usage, Social Anxiety, and Social Avoidance”; Gianna Baker, a senior majoring in psychology and social work from East Stroudsburg, Pa., presented research conducted with Irina Khusid, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, titled, “Narcissism in the Workplace”; and Alycia Abbasi, a junior psychology major from Stroudsburg, Pa., Ava Beckford, a sophomore majoring in psychology and communication from Mount Pocono, Pa., Alexis Bowman, a junior psychology major from East Stroudsburg, Pa., Diamond Coleman, a senior psychology major from Prosperity, S.C., Jossy Cuevasduvernay, a junior psychology major from Bronx, N.Y., Frances Gourdet, a senior psychology major from Bartonsville, Pa., Juan Hughes, a sophomore psychology major from Sussex, N.J., Ava Palermo, a junior psychology major from Scranton, Pa., Katiera Smith, a junior majoring in psychology and criminal from Philadelphia, Pa., Keana Smoot, a sophomore psychology major from Stroudsburg, Pa., and Kylie Trapp, a junior psychology major from Northampton, Pa., all presented research they conducted with Bonnie Green, Ph.D., professor of psychology, titled, “A Qualitative Evaluation of Students’ Perceptions of Undergraduate Academic Dishonesty.”

During the Research Forum, the celebration of student excellence also includes the presentation of various awards and honors, including the John Kramer Service Award, the John Kramer Science Award, and student inductions into Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology. The John Kramer Service award, given in memory of former student, John Kramer, who graduated from the ESU psychology program in 2002, 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 2024 recipient of the John Kramer Service Award was Jossy Cuevasduvernay.

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. Psi Chi holds the distinction of being the largest student psychological organization in the world, having 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. Dr. Khusid and Dr. Dailey, are the faculty advisors for these organizations. During the spring 2024 Research Forum, 14 undergraduate students were inducted into Psi Chi: Aaliyah Bush, a sophomore psychology major from Minersville, Pa.; Diamond Coleman; Natalie Dunn, a senior majoring in psychology from Staten Island, N.Y.; Madison Higgins, a junior psychology major from Scotrun, Pa.; Zuri Jerman, a junior psychology major from Blue Bell, Pa.; Elizabeth Lugin, a sophomore majoring in psychology and philosophy from Springbrook, Pa.; Natasha Merchant, a sophomore psychology major from Bushkill, Pa.; Juliona Montalto, a junior psychology major from Kingston, N.Y.; Danielle Muntone, a senior from psychology from Middlesex, N.J.; Christiana Schleich, a junior psychology major from Easton, Pa.; Emalyann Serrano, a sophomore psychology major from Bronx, N.Y.; Anastasia Shishlo, a senior majoring in psychology from Dickson City, Pa.; Swornim Shrestha, a junior majoring in psychology and political science from Elmhurst, N.Y.; and Keana Smoot.

After the formal student presentations, awards, and inductions were completed, students and faculty reconvened in the hallway and in rooms 116 and 118 on the first floor of Stroud Hall 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, also given in memory of John Kramer, recognizes the most outstanding student research poster submission of the Forum. The awardees of the spring 2024 John Kramer Science Award, for their study titled, “Effect of Light on Memory” were: Jasmin Carter, a junior psychology major from Easton, Pa.; Madeline Sopp, a sophomore psychology major from Jessup, Pa.; Tara Tanczos, a sophomore psychology major from East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Kylie Trapp; and Symear Williams, a junior psychology major from Philadelphia, Pa.

For more information, contact Dr. Anthony Drago, professor and chair of the psychology department, at tdrago@esu.edu.

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