September 2007
Hertz Chair
The Lila L. and Douglas J. Hertz Endowed Chair in Psychology will focus on "the science of learning.'" The Chair is funded by a generous donation from the Lila and Doug Hertz (both Tulane alumni) and a matching grant from the Louisiana Board of Regents. The BOR matching funds were presented by Commisioner Joe Savoie at a September 6th ceremony at the LBC. A search for the Hertz Chair will commence next fall.
Body Image and Obesity
Tulane psychology alumnus Dr. David Sarwer (University of Pennsylvania Department of Psychiatry) shared his research insights about body image with the Tulanian. Dr. Sarwer will deliver a colloquium on October 22 about psychological aspects of obesity. [Link to our colloquium schedule]
Lisa Molix, Ph.D. 2007 University of Missouri-Columbia,joined the faculty in July 2007. Molix is a social psychologist who is interested in stigma, stereotyping, and quantitative methods. She is teaching an honors section of Social Psychology this fall.
Visiting Faculty
The Department welcomes two visiting faculty: Dr. Tolga Aricak will teach courses in school and developmental psychology. Dr. Bethany Rollins will teach introductory psychology and Brain&Behavior.
May 2007
The first Suzanne and Stephen Weiss Presidential Fellows for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching were announced at the unified commencement ceremony. Professor Dohanich, who instituted the neuroscience major in 2000 and secured funding for its state-of-the-art teaching laboratory, teaches courses in psychopharmacology and behavioral neuroendocrinology.
Full story.
Psychology Graduates' Reception
A reception to honor graduates in psychology was held May 17 from 4-6 at Cudd Hall. The chocolate fountain was a hit !!!
Senior Scholars and Honor Awardees 2007
Congratulations to the 2007 senior scholar in Psychology, Nicole Thieler and to the senior scholars in Neuroscience, Sarah Atkinson and Amelia Decker. Congratulations also to Jessica Siegel, winner of the Rosa Cahn Hartman Award in Psychology; Leslie Frankel, winner of the Aaron Hartman Medal for Psychology, and Steven Bright, winner of the Arnold Gerall Prize in Neuroscience. More information on awards in psychology.
Psychology Club / Psi Chi announces the results of the election for 2007-2008 officers: Co-Presidents Shubho Sarkar & Christina Thomas, Vice President of Public Relations Chris Hunerkoch, Vice President of Membership Samantha Himelman, Treasurer Jaimie Colica, Secretary Raven O'Rourke, Activity Chairs Kathryn Black, Erica Lee, Mara Mudd, Jenna Rosen
April 2007
Laurie O'Brien has been awarded a $126,157 grant from the Louisiana Board of Regents: "Conceptualizing Racism: Understanding Group and Individual Differences in the Perception of Racism"
Psychology and Neuroscience Posters were displayed on April 12 on Science and Engineering Research Day in the LBC. Additional pictures may be found here
March 2007
Lisa Molix, who is completing her doctoral studies at University of Missouri-Columbia, will join the faculty in July 2007. Molix is a social psychologist who is interested in stigma, stereotyping, and quantitative methods.
Psychology/Neuroscience Career Week was March 5 - March 9. More pictures may be found here.
Interested parties also may download Dr. Hebert's comments on the statement of purpose and Dr. Ruscher's comments on the cv and resume. Dr. Alvarez's comments on selecting appropriate applied programs, what interviewers ask, and what students should ask also are here (the article noted may be found at: http://www.psichi.org/pubs/articles/article_41.asp .
Professor Jeffrey J. Lockman has been appointed the Incoming Editor of Child Development, the flagship journal of the Society for Research in Child Development. The journal is the leading scientific journal in child psychology and developmental behavioral science.
Professor Michael Cunningham is the Director of the Frances Degen Horowitz Millennium Scholars Program, which supports undergraduate students from underrepresented groups to pursue graduate work in child development and related disciplines. Programming for 2007 is held concurrently with the Society for Research in Child Development bienniel meeting in Boston, MA.
Professor Lisa Szechter is co-PI of a National Science Foundation grant for Investigating map understanding and learning in the context of a family museum exhibit
New Psychology Faculty
September 2006
The Department of Psychology welcomes new faculty members in Fall 2006.
Annual Institute for Psychology in the Schools
August 2006
In conjunction with the meeting of the American Psychological Association, the Annual Institute for Psychology in the Schools met at Tulane University. Following a bus tour of the city, the Institute considered recovery of southeast Louisiana schools and the mental health needs of students. Professor Overstreet, Director of the Tulane School Psychology Ph.D. program, was a primary presenter at the event. For more details see the APA website.
Dr. Vasterling in NY Times — Memory deficits in Veterans
August 2006
Work by Tulane Psychology Research Professor Jennifer Vasterling and her colleagues is the subject of an August 1, 2006 New York Times article entitled Iraq Vets May Have Memory Lapses. According to the Times article, Dr. Vasterling's research on memory and attention disorders in veterans of the Iraq War is "one of the first studies to show war's effect on military personnel by documenting before-and-after mental function."
Dr. Vasterling is a clinical psychologist with the Veterans Administration Hospital in New Orleans and currently a research professor in the Tulane University School of Science and Engineering's (SSE) Department of Psychology. Dr. Vasterling also is a faculty member of SSE's Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience. During June 2006, she presented these data at Tulane's Psychology of Stress Symposium.
Dr. O'Brien in NY times — Older Adults and Memory Lapses
July 2006
Research by Dr. Laurie O'Brien and colleague Mary Lee Hummert is discussed in a July 18, 2006 New York Times science article entitled A 'Senior Moment' or a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy? The research demonstrates that late middle age adults (48-62) performed poorly on a memory task when they believed that their performance would be compared to adults 70+ years of age (relative to a control group and to a group who expected comparison to 20-year olds).
Ironically, the stereotype that older adults have poor memories caused the memory deficit. Regardless of their chronological age, participants who saw themselves as relatively older were more susceptible to memory deficits when they were reminded of this stereotype about older adults. The article detailing the research appeared recently in the journal Social Cognition.
Senior Psychology and Neuroscience Awards — 2006
May 2006
Congratulations to the 2006 award recipients in Psychology and in Neuroscience:
Descriptions of the awards may be found on our website.
Dr. Wee — Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award
May 2006
Dr. Beth Wee received the 2006 Newcomb College Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award. Emily Caster, who presented the award, aptly captured Dr. Wee's talents and dedication as a teacher and advisor.