Table of Contents

Poster Session 1: 9:30am-10:45am

Field Placement, Internship, Practicum


  1. Field Placement Experience at Western State Hospital
    Aliza Tobias
    Advisor: Dr. Alison Kaiser
  2. Harrisonburg Victim Witness Program: Intimate Partner Violence Outreach and Awareness
    Alyssa Bryars
    Advisor: Magina Melanciano
  3. My Field Placement Experience at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board
    Aubrey Nowland
    Advisor: John Wilson and Rose Holden
  4. Field Placement at the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents
    Candace Schourek
    Advisor: Valerie Jackson
  5. Field Placement at Sentara RMH Life Recovery Program
    Catherine Morrissey
    Advisor: Robin Breeden
  6. Field Placement Experience at The Victim/Witness Program
    Daisy Foncha
    Advisor: Magina Melanciano
  7. Placement Experience at James Madison University Adult Degree Program: DEI in Higher Education
    Hanzhi Fang
    Advisor: Virginia Trovato
  8. Field Placement Experience at Sentara RMH Behavioral Health and Life Recovery
    Jenny Olcott
    Advisor: Robin Breeden
  9. Adagio House and Expanding Respite Care
    Kylee Wiggins
    Advisor: April Hepler
  10. Therapeutic Support Groups and Utilization of Between-Session Homework
    Logan Falk
    Advisor: Brian Martin and Lexi Tuttle
  11. Field Placement Experience at Turner Ashby High School
    Marissa Hart
    Advisor: Candy Martin
  12. Field Placement at the Community Counseling Center
    Samantha Keenan
    Advisor: Brian Martin and Lexi Tuttle
  13. Elkton Elementary
    Samantha Sitzman
    Advisor: LeAnne Lambert
  14. Field Placement at Riverbend Elementary School
    Sarah Caufield
    Advisor: Kim Muraskin
  15. Internship at The Victim Witness Program
    Sydney Baker
    Advisor: Magina Melanciano
  16. Field Placement at Augusta County Pathways Program
    Taylor Gryder
    Advisor: Jack Belcher
  17. Field Placement at Sentara Behavioral Health
    Claire Peterson
    Advisor: Robin Breeden

Honors Research


  1. Racialized Gender Stress: Masculinity Stressors and Health among Black/White Men
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Amira Saudi
    Advisor: Dr. Benjamin Blankenship
  2. The Long-Lasting Effects of Early Interpersonal Relationships: Long-term Links from Adolescence to Adult Physical Health Outcomes
    Elizabeth Poillucci
    Advisor: Dr. David Szwedo
  3. The Effect of Acute Testosterone Treatment on Changes in Voice and Self-Perceptions in Transgender Individuals
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Ezrah Hickey
    Advisor: Dr. Melanie Shoup-Knox
  4. Predictions of Distorted Self- and Other-Perceptions of Self-Worth to Romantic Jealousy: The Mediating role of Emotional Regulation
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Emily Chavez
    Advisor: Dr. David Szwedo
  5. Investigating the Experience of Transfer Students: Impostor Syndrome and Social Support
    Emily Filer, Mika Walker, Elle Dela Rosa, Macy Gray, Emma Kliewer, and Logan Falk
    Advisor: Dr. Tracy Zinn
  6. Life After Cults: Finding Meaning, Membership, and Self-Esteem
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Katie Angle
    Advisor: Dr. Lindsey Harvell-Bowman
  7. Interactions between Online Communication and other Social Qualities as Predictors of Romantic Satisfaction
    Keira Mills
    Advisor: Dr. David Szwedo
  8. Climate Change Message Framing, Death Anxiety, and Conspiracy Beliefs Impact on Individual Emotions, Cognitions, and Future Behavioral Intentions
    Shanna Castellucci
    Advisor: Dr. Monica Reis-Bergan
  9. Recognizing Cognitive Bias: An Examination of Personality and Work Factors
    Nick Ippolito
    Advisor: Dr. Monica Reis-Bergan

Research with Undergrad Presenters Only


  1. Timing is Everything: The Importance of Prompt Responses in Texting
    Abigail Hanifen and Katevonni Sorlouangsana
    Advisor: Dr. Sri Upadhyay
  2. Love Where You Live: Place Identity Dimensionality and Voting Enthusiasm
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Amira Saudi, Cisy Fang
    Advisor: Dr. Benjamin Blankenship
  3. Do Bundled Choices Increase Self-Control: An Animal Model
    David Morales and Sharon Dupuis
    Advisor: Dr. Dan Holt
  4. Women's Transition Back to Work After Having Children
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Emma Kliewer, Logan Falk, Emily Filer, Macy Grey, Elle Dela Rosa, and Mika Walker
    Advisor: Dr. Tracy Zinn
  5. The Effect of Cognitive Capacity on the Goals and Responses of LGBTQ+ Individuals When Facing Bias
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Ezrah Hickey and Shadther Rosso Feliz
    Advisor: Dr. Kala Melchiori
  6. Ethnocultual Empathy and Sociocultural Awareness in Psychology Majors
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Mika Walker, Ella Dela Rosa, Emma Kliewer, Logan Falk, Macy Gray, and Emily Fifer
    Advisor: Dr. Tracy Zinn
  7. Q-sorting for the Queering of Engineering (STEM)
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Tanner Sykhammountry, Shamara Woodfaulk, and Xiaoyu Zhou
    Advisor: Dr. Benjamin Blankenship

Brief Talks: 11:00am-12:00pm

Investigating Attachment and Suicidal Ideation: The Role of Reducing Death Anxiety Amongst Clinical Populations
Peter C. Montwill, Emma Coleman, Sophia Cundiff Kara Ferrell, Emily Garraghty, Kayla Miller, Teagan Davis, Lindsey A. Harvell-Bowman, Kenneth L. Critchfield, and Priyata Thapa

Terror Management Theory and First Responders: Heroic Acts and the Role of Mortality Salience
Kara Ferrell

Sleep Troubles: Death Thought Accessibility and its Impact on Sleep Quantity and Quality
Katie Angle, Kara Ferrell, Ethan Hoffman, Sureyya Sanchez, Peter Montwill, Lindsey Harvell Bowman, and Jeff Dyche

Psychology DEI Student Council

Psi Chi Inductions 12:00pm-12:30pm

Psyc Clubs/Grad Psyc Program Info Sessions: 12:30-1:00pm

  • Psi Chi
  • Psychology Club
  • Peer Advising
  • JMU Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • JMU Psychological Sciences
  • JMU School Counseling

Poster Session 2: 1:45-3:00pm

Field Placement, Internship, Practicum


  1. Field Placement: Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents
    Amy Mendez-Spears
    Advisor: Valerie Jackson
  2. Field Placement Experience at Summit House
    Anna Bobbitt
    Advisor: Jane Fetterman
  3. Know Your Niche Workshop - Clifton Strengths and Wellbein: Field Placement at the JMU Student Leadership Center
    Anoushka Verma
    Advisor: Michael McCleve
  4. Field Placement - Western State Hospital
    Cara LaHiff
    Advisor: Dr. Ken Showalter
  5. Implementing A Trauma-Informed Approach in Adult Probation
    Ciara Hagan
    Advisor: Josh Lutz and Chris Sheets
  6. JMU Student Leadership Development
    Elle Dela Rosa
    Advisor: Michael McCleve
  7. Adagio House Field Placement Experience
    Emma Mason
    Advisor: April Hepler
  8. Field Placement at Western State Hospital
    Erica Axelson
    Advisor: Dr. Ken Showalter
  9. The Detrimental Effect of Alcohol on Youth
    Lauren Kaine
    Advisor: Pam Simmons & Ed Ricca
  10. Field Placement Experience at the Community Counseling Center
    Kaitlyn English
    Advisor: Brian Martin and Lexi Tuttle
  11. Field Experience at the Virginia Institute of Autism
    Kathleen Angle
    Advisor: Dr. Tonya Lambert Delp
  12. Creation of an OER Topical Developmental Psychology Textbook
    Kharis Holzknecht, Dakota Mitchell, Vivian Lindsay, Mackenzie DeSouza, Abegail Lee, and Anoushka Verma
    Advisor: Dr. Krisztina Jakobsen
  13. Field Placement at the JMU Counseling Center
    Lauren Hirshorn
    Advisor: Dr. Magali Laitem
  14. Placement Experience at the Virginia Institute of Autism - James C. Hormel School
    Sarah Eggleston
    Advisor: Emily Reed

Honors Research


  1. Examining How Goals Shape Responses to Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Allison Mohar, Amy Mendez-Spears, and Emily Anan
    Advisor: Dr. Kala Melchiori
  2. The Interaction between TikTok Engagement and Social Comparison Orientation on Eating Disorder Symptoms
    Faith Fischetti
    Advisor: Dr. Monica Reis-Bergan
  3. Need for Cognition on Susceptibility to Psychic Numbing
    Jonathan Henriques
    Advisor: Dr. Kevin Apple
  4. Mental Health Services: Usage and Relationship to Sense of Belonging
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Macy Gray, Emily Filier, Elle Dela Rosa, Mika Walker, Logan Falk, and Emma Kliewer
    Advisor: Dr. Tracy Zinn
  5. The Moderating Role of Cultural Orientation Between Self-Reported Narcissism and Selfie-Taking
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Moriah McDonald
    Advisor: Dr. Benjamin Blankenship

Research with Undergrad Presenters Only


  1. The Effects of Cannabis on Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Cognition in Young Adults
    Sureyya Sanchez, Catherine Trice, Ethan Hoffman, Olivia Hornung, Hannah Andersen, Caitlyn Hewitt, Laila Hooks, and Zaytoon Mirawdali
    Advisor: Dr. Jeff Dyche
  2. Sparkle or Skull: On the Situational Selection of Object Emoji
    Catherine Morrissey, Elizabeth Riccio, and Michael Steinbach
    Advisor: Dr. Sri Upadhyay
  3. Adolescent Attachment as a Predictor of Young Adult Romantic Jealousy : The Mediating Roles of Self-Worth and Romantic Rejection Sensitivity
    Courtney Roberts
    Advisor: Dr. David Szwedo
  4. Choice Among Readings Decreases Boredom and Increases Retention
    David Morales
    Advisor: Dr. Ashton Trice
  5. Levels of Outness and Social Support Impact
    Jacob Tran, Morgan Melchor, and Emily Chavez
    Advisor: Dr. Kala Melchiori
  6. Insecure Parental Attachment and Future Early Adulthood Romantic Relationship Attributes
    Sarah Eggleston
    Advisor: Dr. David Szwedo
  7. Linguistic Indications of Truthfulness in 911 Calls
    Shannon Liberty, Elaina Fazio, and Alexandra Sheffield
    Advisor: Dr. Kethera Moore
  8. Adding a Trumpet to Soften the Blow: Object Emoji Influence Text Interpretation
    Tyler Johnston, Olivia Neddermeyer, and Veronica Olson
    Advisor: Dr. Sri Upadhyay
  9. Moral Concern and Associated Characteristics For Animals
    Vanessa Hindle, Grace Romano, Hannah Dodson, and Haley Willoughby
    Advisor: Dr. Suzanne Baker
  10. Big 5 Personality Traits and Childhood Attachment on Adult Romantic Relationship Outcomes
    Vanessa Serafine
    Advisor: Dr. David Szwedo
  11. The Effects of Experimenter Gender on Participant Hormones and Behavior
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Zaytoon Mirawdali and Daisy Foncha
    Advisor: Dr. Melanie Shoup-Knox
  12. Quantifying Student's Motivation in General Education
    Zach Baron
    Advisor: Dr. Kenn Barron
  13. What Increases and Decreases Motivation in General Education at James Madison University
    Candidate for the Diversity in Psychological Research Award
    Alexa Cornejo-Longa and Emily Anan
    Advisor: Dr. Kenn Barron
  14. The Science of Social Connection
    Alyssa Bryars, Kevin Cottrell, Sophie Kay, Ryan Murphy, Jenny Olcott, Claire Peterson, Brianna Thomas, and Emily Triplett
    Advisor: Natalie Kerr and Jaime Kurtz

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