Applications for assistant professor position in clinical psychology being accepted

The Department of Psychology invites applications for a tenure-track position in clinical psychology, beginning August 2010 (click here to view the advertisement). Review of applications will begin December 1, 2009.

Students, Faculty honored by annual awards

The end of Spring is the time of year when many members of the Department of Psychology are recognized for their outstanding efforts in research and teaching. We celebrate the many wonderful accomplishments of our students and faculty!

Psi Chi announced that Dr. Jennifer Quinn was named Professor of the Year in Psychology and that Don Sacco was named Graduate Student of the Year in Psychology!

In addition, many of our graduate and undergraduate students were recognized with many honors (their faculty advisors are listed in parentheses). First, Christina Brown (Dr. Allen McConnell) and Don Sacco (Dr. Kurt Hugenberg) were honored as the Outstanding Graduate Students in Psychology with Capretta Scholarships. Also, Dave Walker (Dr. Terri Messman-Moore) received the Graduate Student Teaching Award.

Four graduate students also earned Academic Achievement Awards: Christopher Beemen (Dr. Steve Berry), Christina Brown (Dr. Allen McConnell), Marci DeCaro (Dr. Robin Thomas), and Jim Mosher (Dr. Larry Leitner). In addition, three graduate students were Marjorie Post Farrington Scholars: Michael Bernstein (Dr. Heather Claypool), Jill Matusek (Dr. Margaret Wright), and Steven Young (Dr. Heather Claypool). Finally, Jill Matusek (Dr. Margaret Wright) received the 1905 Mount Holyoke College Alumnae Fellowship.

The Patten Prize winner, which is given to the Outstanding Undergraduate in Psychology, was Lauren Brunton (Dr. Kurt Hugenberg).

Finally, several undergraduate students' research activities were recognized with university and college awards. Specifically, four students were named Dean's Scholars: Kristen Altenau (Dr. Rose Marie Ward), Colleen Martin (Dr. Allen McConnell), Laura Stayton (Dr. Allen McConnell), and Brian Wilkey (Dr. Amanda Diekman). Finally, five students were named Undergraduate Summer Scholars: Erin Alexander (Dr. Jennifer Quinn), Phillip Bauer (Dr. Jennifer Quinn), Nathan Moses (Dr. Robin Thomas), Elizabeth Vater (Dr. Kurt Hugenberg), and Brian Wilkey (Dr. Amanda Diekman).

Once again, congratulations to all students and faculty listed above. We celebrate your accomplishments and contributions to psychology!!!

Personnel changes in the department

With the conclusion of the 2008-09 academic year, there are many changes in a number of positions throughout the department. First, after 11 years of service in the role, Dr. Len Mark is stepping down as the Director of Graduate Studies. Len will enjoy a well-earned academic leave in the fall semester, and Dr. Kurt Hugenberg will be assuming the role of Director of Graduate Studies.

Also, after exceptional service as the chair of the Department Review Board, Dr. Heather Claypool will be passing the DRB torch to Dr. Jay Smart. Heather has set a new standard for IRB processing efficiency, and we appreciate her tireless contributions to facilitating research in the department.

In addition, Dr. Patricia Kerig will be leaving Miami University to join the faculty at the University of Utah beginning Fall 2009. With Patricia's departure, Dr. Margaret Wright will assume the duties of Director of Clinical Training. We wish Patricia the best of luck in her new position.

Faculty Receive Promotions

Dr. Heather Claypool has been granted tenure and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Psychology. Claypool is a social psychologist and earned her Ph.D. from Purdue Univ. in 2002 and joined the department in 2003 after serving as a post-doctorate fellow at the Univ. of California, Santa Barbarta. Her work explores how familiar objects are viewed with positivity and why positivity triggers feelings of familiarity. Claypool's research is supported by the National Science Foundation. Congrats Heather!

Dr. Kurt Hugenberg has been granted tenure and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Psychology. Hugenberg is a social psychologist who earned his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 2003. His work explores stereotyping and prejudice, with a focus on how people perceive faces in interracial situations. Hugenberg received both the 2009 Sage Young Scholar Award and the 2006 SPSP Theoretical Innovation Prize, and his research is supported by the National Science Foundation. Congrats Kurt!

Dr. Robin Thomas has been promoted to the rank of Professor of Psychology. She is a cognitive psychologist who earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1995. Thomas's work applies mathematical models to understanding behavioral and neural data. She received the Outstanding Paper Award from the Society for Mathematical Psychology and a New Investigator Award from the American Psychological Association, and her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Mental Health. Congrats Robin!

August 20, 2009
Faculty meeting, 302 PSYC, 3 p.m.
Reception for first-year graduate students, 4:30-6:30 p.m., PSYC Patio

August 28, 2009
Dr. Paul Flaspholer, Miami Univ.
Colloquium: Community science stories: Participatory research with schools
125 PSYC, 3 p.m.

Septembert 11, 2009
Dr. Margaret Wright, Miami Univ.
Colloquium: Women's voices on recovery: A multi-method approach to understanding resilience following childhood sexual abuse,
125 PSYC, 3 p.m.

September 18, 2009
P&T Meeting, 302 Psychology, 3 p.m.

September 25, 2009
Faculty Meeting, 302 Psychology, 3 p.m.
Fall Picnic, 4:30-7:30 p.m., TBD

October 2, 2009
Dr. Milton Hankel, Univ. of Memphis
Colloquium: Teaching for durable learning
125 Psychology, 3 p.m.

October 9, 2009
Dr. Joseph Gone, Univ. of Michigan
Colloquium: The red road to wellness: Cultural reclamation in a native First Nation treatment center
125 Psychology, 3 p.m.

October 16, 2009
Fall Break

October 23, 2009
Dr. Tony Ward, Miami Univ.
Colloquium: Working in the field of critical indigeneity
125 PSYC, 3 p.m.

October 30, 2009
Faculty Meeting, 302 Psychology, 3 p.m.

November 6, 2009
Dr. Tim Pleskac, Michigan State Univ.
Colloquium: Using cognitive models to better understand and identify real-world risk takers
125 Psychology, 3 p.m.

November 13, 2009
Dr. Rich Petty, Ohio State Univ.
Colloquium: Confidence versus doubt: What causes it and why it matters
125 Psychology, 3 p.m.
(Allen McConnell, host)

November 20, 2009
Lilly Conference

November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving Break

December 4, 2009
Dr. Joe Johnson, Miami Univ.
Colloquium on Teaching and Learning
125 PSYC, 3 p.m.

December 11, 2009
Faculty meeting, 302 Psychology, 3 p.m.

December ?, 2009
End-of-semester graduate student evaluation meeting, 8:30 a.m.