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Department of Psychology

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Outstanding Peer Advisor Awards

Peer Advisors offer significant help to the Department of Psychology through one-to-one assistance to students planning their programs of study and by offering career-related symposia.

2009 Award Recipients

Senior Peer Advising Award

  • Stephanie Tigue
  • Allyson Vasi

Junior Peer Advising Award

  • Alaina Vinacco

Past Award Recipients

2008

  • Meghan Thompson - Meghan “Megs” Thompson is the recipient of the 2008 Senior Peer Advising Award.  Megs is the Project Coordinator for Peer Advising, and has been a key leader in the organization’s service projects this year, including the “Food Fight against Hunger” and “Relay for Life.”  She has also served as an Orientation Program Assistant, Student Orientation Coordinator, and as Student Coordinator of JMU’s First Year Experience.   Megs has participated in one Alternative Spring Break and led another.  She has also been a Small Group Leader for Inter-Varsity at JMU.  Megs has been an Academic Tutor at Thomas Harrison Middle School and she was also a volunteer member of the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad.  She is an Honors Program Scholar and recently completed her honors thesis with Dr. Brian Saville.  Megs will also hold a concentration in Behavior Analysis.  Congratulations, Megs, for this recognition of excellence by your peers!
  • Allyson Vasi - Allyson Vasi is the recipient of the Junior Peer Advising Award this year.  Allyson is the new Coordinator for all of Peer Advising.  She has been heavily involved this year in all Peer Advising Service events, including our Special Olympics “Day with the Dukes,” our “Food Fight against Hunger,” and “Relay for Life.”  Ally also serves as the Secretary of Membership for Psi Chi and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.  Allyson has been a Tutor at Plains Elementary School, a Research Assistant for Dr. Jessica Irons, and has been a Teaching Assistant for our new “Preparing for a Job in Psychology” class.  She will complete her Senior Honors thesis with Dr. Irons.  Congratulations, Ally on this recognition of excellence by your peers!

2007

  • Amanda Gisbert
  • Jennifer Polasek

2006

  • Chrissie Ridolfi - has been on the Deans List since the Fall of 2002. Chrissie is a member of JMU’s Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and serves on the Senior Class Council of the Student Government Association at JMU. She also serves as a Safe-rides volunteer, and a Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor. Additionally, Chrissie worked with Dr. Steve Evans as a Challenging Horizons Research Assistant, and served as a First Year Orientation Guide (FROG) for JMU in 2004. She is a member of Psi Chi and serves as the Secretary-Treasurer for Peer Advising. Chrissie has been immensely involved with Peer Advising’s Food Fight against Hunger and Relay for Life Team for the past two years and worked last fall with Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts. Chrissie plans to work with Teach for America after graduation.
  • Jennifer Polasek - participated in JMU’s study abroad semester in London last year. She currently serves as Peer Advising Training Liaison and Leadership Transition Coordinator. In this role she co-teaches the new Peer Advising class with Dr. Bill Evans and coordinates the selection of the new class of Peer Advising leaders for 2006-2007. She is a key member of Peer Advising’s Relay for Life Leadership Team and also participated in the Food Fight against Hunger and Hurricane Katrina relief race this year.

2005

  • Jessica Begley - Senior
  • Kelly Malia - Junior

2004

  • Katie Welborn - Senior
  • Joshua Tarr - Junior

2003

  • Jenny Hunnius - Senior
  • Elizabeth Mold - Junior

2002

  • Jill Sundheim - Senior
  • Jenny Hunnius - Junior