DEPARTMENT PAGES:

Dr. Walsh's Pages

Late Breaking Stories~2005-2006

Phone: 401.341.3120
e-mail:walsh@salve.edu

Bottom ~General Information & NEWS Since 1999

May 18, 2006, Newport, RI : Our chapter of Psi Chi celebrated its 5th Anniversary as a chapter May 9th, 2006. Earlier this spring, in recognition of that accomplishment, we received a certificate from the national office congratulating us on this achievement. In the cover letter accompaning the certificate Robert A. Youth, the Psi Chi National President, wrote: "On behalf of the Psi Chi National Council, the entire membership, and all of us at the Psi Chi National Office, we congratulate and commend you in reaching a significant anniversary in the history of your chapter. Thank you for your support of Psi Chi through the years and for all of your chapter's efforts that have contributed to the success of our honor society. By encouraging students at your school to strive for excellence in scholarship and rewarding them with the opportunity and privilege of joining the honor society in their discipline, you have contributed not only to the achievement and fulfillment of psychology students, but also to the accomplishments of Psi Chi. Because of contributions of chapters like yours, Psi Chi has the largest membership of any psychological organization in the world. It is the oldest and largest student psychological organization and is also one of the largest and most successful honor societies holding membership in the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). Thank you for your many years of support and service. Please accept the enclosed certificate as a small token of our appreciation." [Signed: Robert A. Youth, Psi Chi National President]

May 8, 2006, Newport, RI : Shannon Moran(2006) has just informed the department of her acceptance to the University of Hartford's Master of Arts Degree Clinical Practices in Psychology graduate program. The program, according to their brochure, offers "...a two-year planned program of course work and practicum leading to the Master of Arts degree...[by blending] rigorous training in science and practice. Students are trained "...in the foundation skills of assessment and diagnosis, as well as in counseling and psychotherapy, [in order] to develop a sensitivity to practice issues." Congratulations Shannon! Well done!

May 5, 2006, Newport, RI : During the annual Psychology Club picnic held on May 4th this year on the Wakehurst deck, Psychology Club Officers were elected for the 2006-2007 academic year. They were, from left to right in the photo above, Kate Grenci~President, Bonnie Duncan~Secretary, Kaenna Macauley~Vice-president, Spencer Philps~Public Relations, and Matt O'Reilly~Treasurer. We are certain that these fine officers will continue to manage our club well bringing distinction to everyone involved. Congratulations to them all.

May 5, 2006, Newport, RI : On Thursday, May 4th, 2006 the Psychology Club held its annual picnic on the Wakehurst deck. About 20 people attended the event including Professors Frankel, Martasian, Quinn, and Walsh. Sandwichs and salads from Panera Bread were served along with a variety of desserts. The weather was balmy and a good time was had by all. Officers were elected for the next academic year.

	May 4, 2006, Newport, RI : Katelyn McGuire(2006) has just reported that she has been accepted into the master's program at Rhode Island College in Providence, RI. Her graduate studies in psychology there are intended to be a stepping stone facilitating her subsequent pursuit of Ph.D. in psychology. Congratulations Katelyn.
ADDENDUM: May 9, 2006, Newport, RI : At the annual banquet for student athletes held on Sunday evening, May 7th, Katelyn received the Salve Regina University 2006 Student Athelete Award for Women for achieving the highest grade point average of all women atheletes in the university this year. Congratulations once again, Katelyn, for this additional accomplishment.

April 28, 2006, Newport, RI : At this year's induction ceremony for new Psi Chi members held on April 27th, 2006, new officers were elected for the next academic year. They are(left to right in the photo) Brielle Luciano, Vice-president~Service, Matthew O'Reilly, Secretary, Spencer Philps, President, Dana Plouffe, Treasurer, and Heather Smith, Vice-president~Research. Congratulations to them all.

April 28, 2006, Newport, RI : The Salve Regina Chapter of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, conducted its 6th Annual Induction Ceremony yesterday, April 27, 2006, at 5:00 PM in O'Hare Academic Center, Room 260. Twelve qualified candidates participated in the ceremony conducted by Drs. Sheila Quinn and Paula Martasian with the assistance of club officers Katelyn McGuire(2006), President, Heidi Whitney-Sarles(2006), VP~Research, Kate Grenci(2007), VP~Service, Spencer Philp(2007),Treasurer, and Matthew O'Reilly(2007, Secretary. Inducted into the chapter from left to right in the photo above were: Kaenna Aston Macauley, Christine Marie Doherty, Alexandra Burke Miller, Kerry C. Duarte, Brielle Luciano, Nicole Angela Young, Paul P. Zasada, Lisa M. Pokorny, Bonnie P. Duncan, Yuri Ichikawa, and Nicole D. French. A reception followed attended by current members of Psi Chi, parents, Drs. Arthur Frankel and Anthony Walsh, and other guests. Caitlan L. Murray and Dylan Erickson Sharek were inducted in absentia.

April 12, 2006, Newport, RI : The photos are now in from the recent Psychology Department invasion of Baltimore, Maryland to participate in the 2006 Eastern Psychological Association Annual Convention. For a medium size larger view of the collage above, click here. For a very large view, click here. To view a larger image of the individual photos, click on the photo to view.

April 7, 2006, Newport, RI : More good news about this year's graduating class members. Jennifer Sousa has just informed the department that she has been accepted into Boston College's Lynch School two year Master of Arts Program in Mental Health Counseling. According to their web site, "...[the] Mental Health Counseling sequence is a 60 semester-hour program...In the Mental Health program, the first year is devoted primarily to course work...The second year of the program includes a full-year, half-time internship placement (600 hours) and the completion of remaining academic requirements for Mental Health Counseling students...The 60 semester-hour Mental Health Counseling sequence of study reflects the professional standards recommended by the American Counseling Association and the Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals. This sequence is designed to meet the pre-master educational requirements for licensing as a Mental Health Counselor in the state of Massachusetts." Congratulations Jennifer! Job well done!

	March 30, 2006, Newport, RI : Cyndi Giordano(2006) has just notified the department that she has been accepted to graduate school at Teacher's College, Columbia University in New York City. Upon graduation, Cyndi will earn a Masters of Education (M.Ed.) and will have dual certification in mental retardation/autism and early childhood education. According to the Columbia University web site, "The special education programs at Teachers College build upon a more than 80-year tradition of leading the field of special education in policy, practice, and research for individuals with disabilities across the age span. Students who earn M.A., Ed.M., Ed.D., and Ph.D. degrees in special education from Teachers College assume leadership and scholarly positions at all levels of professional
activity including public and private schools, community and national service agencies, hospital and rehabilitation programs, colleges and universities, research centers, and local, state, and federal educational agencies." For more details about this extraordinary program, go to their web site here. Congratulations Cyndi! Job well done!

March 25, 2006, Newport, RI :Dr. Arthur Frankel, Lauren Sebastianelli(2006), Kristin Conn(2006), and Dr. Debra Curtis(an SRU anthropology professor)will be on the program of the 18th Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science to be held in New York City in May. An abstract of their poster entitled "What's in a purse? Maybe a woman's reputation" may be read on line here. Also on the program representing psychology at Salve are Bryce Dubois(2005), whose abstract of his poster entitled "Correlation Between Presumed Life Courses and Level of Adulthood" may be read here and Heather Smith(2007) whose abstract of her poster entitled "Some Children are still left behind" may be read here. Both Heather and Bryce reported on their research earlier this year on the official program of the Eastern Psychological Association annual convention in Baltimore, MD on March 18th, 2006(see below).

March 23, 2006 Newport, RI : Krista Paduchowski(2005) has just notified the department that she has been accepted into the school psychology program at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. According to its website, the school psychology graduate program at Marist College focuses "...on instruction in theory and skills associated with five roles regularly encountered by a school psychologist: facilitator in understanding human behavior; counselor; psychological/educational examiner; consultant and information specialist/intervention strategist." Krista will have the opportunity to earn both a Master's and CAGS degree in school psychology making her eligible for licensure in most states. Congratulations to you Krista. We know you will do well.

March 21, 2006, Newport, RI : Four Salve psychology majors were on the official program of the Eastern Psychological Association annual convention held in Baltimore, MD over the weekend of March 16th - 19th, 2006. Two papers were included under the sponsorship of Dr. Shelia Quinn and one was sponsored by Dr. Arthur Frankel. Kaitlyn McGuire graduates this year, Heather in 2007. Bryce and Gina completed their research in the year prior to their graduation in 2005. Abstracts of their research as described in the official program appear below. Photo coverage will appear on this page soon.

March 20, 2006, Newport, RI : From March 12th to 17th, 2006, Dr. Arthur Frankel, Professor of Psychology, participated in the Oxford Round Table conference held at Lincoln College at the University of Oxford, Oxford, England. The conference, whose advisory board is made up of scholars from around the world, assembled scholars from around the United States to present papers focused on the topic of "diversity." The conference format involved the presentation of formal papers followed by round table discussions. Dr. Frankel was the second Salve psychology professor invited to Oxford to participate in a round table conference in the past twelve months. Dr. Sheila Quinn was at Oxford in July, 2005 for a similar event(see below). Dr. Frankel's paper was entitled Profiling and the Demand for Security, Civil Liberties, and Dignity."

March 16, 2005, Newport, RI : Kristen Gworek(2006) has informed the department that she has been accepted into Northeastern University's(Boston) College of Criminal Justice graduate program. Kristin will be pursuing a joint degree in rehabilitation counseling and criminal justice. Kristin was also accepted to a similar graduate program at Suffolk University. CONGRATULATIONS Kristen!

February 3, 2006, Newport, RI :Salve will be well represented at the prestigious Eastern Psychological Association conference in March, 2006. Senior Katelyn Maguire will present her research on gender differences in children’s drawings. Junior Heather Smith has been invited to present her timely analysis of the difference between handicapped and non-handicapped children in terms of their federally mandated, academic test results.

Gina Liguori's(class of 2005) research on using a form of the popular Stroop Test as a early predictor of academic problems in young children has also been accepted. Finally, Bryce Dubois(class of 2005) will present his findings on the development of college student views of emerging adulthood and life goals. Assistant Professor Sheila O'Brien Quinn, Ph.D. will serve as program chair for the Psi Chi Poster Awards at the conference. She will also participate in the Council of Undergraduate Teachers of Psychology panel where she will present an participatory learning activity for introductory psychology classes. Congratulations are due to them all for helping to put Salve Regina University, and particularly our Department of Psychology, ON PROVERBIAL THE MAP!

January 8, 2006, Newport, RI :Gloria Rakaczki(Psychology, 2000) contacted the department recently to report the happy news that she passed her comprehensive exams in November, 2005 and will be awarded a Master of Arts degree in psychology from Rhode Island College shortly. "I couldn't have been happier about passing[,she stated]... I did very well in the program and it was definitely worth it. It was hard working full time and being a student, but I did it and am proud of my accomplishments." Gloria then added, "I must say, as much as I loved some of my professors at RIC, it wasn't the same as being in the psychology department at Salve." Gloria also reported the equally happy news that she is engaged to be married in September, 2006 to her fiancé, Jon, who in May will be awarded his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston. "Needless to say, I have been blessed," she wrote. Gloria presently lives in Trumbull, CT and is the "Director of Development/Alumni Affairs at Notre Dame Catholic High School in Fairfield, CT," her alma mater. She and Jon will most likely move when he graduates perhaps back to Providence or Newport where Jon will secure a position as a professional practicing pharmacist. During her last year at Salve, 1999-2000, Gloria was a recipient of a University Regina Scholarship for $2000, was a member of our honor society, Psi Chi, and graduated Summa Cum Laude in May, 2000, among many other accomplishments. We in the department are delighted to learn of Gloria's accomplishments since graduation and extend to her and her husband-to-be our best wishes as they plan their future together.

October 17, 2005, Newport, RI : Six psychology majors who worked on two research investigations(below) were on the 45th Annual Meeting of the New England Psychological Association held at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven this past weekend. Psychology majors on the official program were Mary Cordeau, Gina Liguori(2005), Meghan Fitzpatrick, Katelyn McGuire, Allison Smith, and Lacey Milanese. Dr. Sheila Quinn supervised the research and sponsored the student's poster entries. Congratulations to all of them for a job well done.

October 17, 2005, Newport, RI : During weekend of October 14th ~ 15th, 2005, Dr. Sheila Quinn, Assistant Professor of Psychology, assumed the presidency of the New England Psychological Association held at Southern Connecticut State University at its annual convention held at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut. Her name is, of course, now emblazoned on their official stationery as you can see in the image below, a larger version of which can be viewed by clicking on it. Congratulations Dr. Quinn.

September 1, 2005, Newport, RI : During the spring semester, Dr. Sheila Quinn was invited to present her research on impulsivity and inhibition in children as part of the Oxford University Round Table on Child Development hosted by Oriel College, Oxford. The Round Table invites individuals who are actively involved in higher education and have made recognized presentations at state or national conferences.
On July 26, 2005 Dr. Quinn presented her paper at Oxford entitled "Impulsivity and Inhibition in Children: Cognitive, Behavioral and Social Predictors." A photo of Dr. Quinn with a Dr. Lynda Randall of California State College at Fullerton may be viewed here.

July 19, 2005, Newport, RI : The Salve Regina University chapter of Psi Chi~The National Honor Society in Psychology received notification this week that they had been selected as one of only 36 chapters to be recognized as a Psi Chi Model Chapter for the year ending June 30, 2005. The notification read in part: "On behalf of the Psi Chi National Council, it gives me great pleasure to inform you that your chapter has received this Psi Chi Model Chapter designation for the year ending June 30, 2005...Psi Chi sends congratulations and hopes that your chapter will serve as a role model for other chapters to strive to meet the criteria as a Psi Chi Model Chapter."

The chapter received a check for $100 to do with as they wish. The criteria for selection are reprinted here and the other schools selected this year at this URL. A PDF version of the letter itself may be read here

June 12, 2005, Newport, RI :Regina DiGiovanni contacted the department recently reporting on her experiences in the Florida Keys at a dolphin research facility. Regina wrote: "I hope your summer is going well. I still cannot believe I will not be coming back to Salve in the Fall, at least not as a student anyway. I just returned from the Florida Keys and the amazing week I spent down

there cannot even be put into words! I had the time of my life and learned more than I ever thought possible. Some of the dolphins are learning semantics and how to count, and one dolphin is actually learning to complete match to sample problems. I took seminars and got to swim with and practice signals with the dolphins and sea lions. I filled 4 cameras and had a video of my experience down there. ... I hope they make you want to go visit and see the dolphins up close and personal for yourself! :)"