ESU’s Psychology Department Hosts 53rd Biannual Research Forum

The psychology department at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania hosted the 53^rd Biannual Research Forum at the end of the spring semester. The Research Forum was started over 25 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 then and now includes numerous research and internship posters, 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. Two research presentations were given during the spring 2025 Research Forum. Isaiah Sampson, a senior psychology major from Staten Island, N.Y., presented research conducted with Bonnie Green, Ph.D., professor of psychology, titled, “Fallacies in Current Ambiguity Tolerance” and Courtney Donnerstag, a senior psychology major from Long Valley, N.J., also presented research conducted with Dr. Green, titled, “The Stress and Undergraduate Academic Success Scale (SUASS).”

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 psychology students who demonstrate exemplary service to the university, department, and community, taking into account community volunteer work and participation in student organizations. The 2025 co-recipients of the John Kramer Service Award were Christiana Schleich, from Easton, Pa., who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and Swornim Shrestha, from Elmhurst, N.Y., who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in both psychology and political science.

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 900,000 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. During this year’s Forum, the ESU Psi Chi chapter celebrated the milestone anniversary of 45 years since its inception on the ESU campus. 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. During the spring 2025 Research Forum, 19 undergraduate students were inducted into Psi Chi: Sierra Adams, a junior psychology major from East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Emma Beaston, from Harrisburg, Pa., who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology; Bhimawatee Chatman, a sophomore psychology major from Bushkill, Pa.; Summer Corbo, a sophomore psychology major from Totowa, N.J.; Haley Delia, from Liverpool, N.Y., who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology; Hailey Glissmann, a senior psychology major from Saylorsburg, Pa.; Frances Gourdet, from Bartonsville, Pa., who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology; Saniyah Hardy, a junior psychology major from Harlem, N.Y.; Sarah Hernandez, a junior psychology major from Pearl River, N.Y.; Marissa Hill, a senior psychology major from Bangor, Pa.; Emely Lopez-Rodriguez, a junior psychology major from Hazleton, Pa.; Olivia Palmeri, a senior psychology major from Roseto, Pa.; Newton (Beau) Parker, from Blairstown, N.J., who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology; Sydney Ruhl, from Stroudsburg, Pa, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology; Gianna Silva, a senior psychology major from Tobyhanna, Pa.; Meia Stapleton, a junior psychology major from Bethlehem, Pa.; Brianna Thomas, a junior psychology major from Stroudsburg, Pa.; Trenece Tillman, a senior psychology major from Stroudsburg, Pa.; and Ruth Velarde, from Easton, Pa., who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in social work.

After the formal student presentations, awards, and inductions were completed, 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, also given in memory of John Kramer, recognizes the most outstanding student research poster submission of the Forum. The awardees of the spring 2025 John Kramer Science Award, for their study titled, “The Effect that Romance Media Consumption has on Relationship Satisfaction and Beliefs” were: Jordyn Cole, a senior psychology major from Swiftwater, Pa.; Scott Kowalski, a senior psychology major from Bethlehem, Pa.; Mabel Montiel, a junior psychology major from East Stroudsburg, Pa.; and Annabel Pyne, a junior psychology and English double major from Northampton, Pa.

For more information, please contact Dr. Anthony Drago, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Department Chair, at tdrago@esu.edu.

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