DEPARTMENT PAGES:

Dr. Walsh's Pages

Late Breaking Stories~2006-2007

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

Bottom ~General Information & NEWS Since 1999

May 8, 2007, Newport, RI : On May 2nd, after our annual spring Wakehurst picnic had to be moved indoors due to inclement weather, the psychology club elected officers for 2007 - 2008. They are, from left to right in the photo above, Meghan Fitzpatrick, Treasurer, Kerry Duarte, Vice President, Kaenna Macauley, President, and Jennifer Sousa, Secretary. We congratulate them all and look forward to an active, fun, and productive year of club activities beginning this fall.

May 7, 2007, Newport, RI : On Tuesday May 1st, 2007 our annual senior dinner was held once again at Sardella's Italian Restaurant on Memorial Boulevard in Newport. Eleven seniors and four faculty members attended this year. A great food and conversation-filled evening was enjoyed by all.

April 5, 2007, Newport, RI : On Tuesday, April 5, 2007, 12 psychology majors were inducted into Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology. The ceremony was conducted in Ochre Court by Dr. Paula Martasian, Dr. Sheila Quinn, and current society officers. A reception followed. To learn who these honored scholars were, view a photo of this group, and discover who next year's officers will be go to our honor society page here.

March 29, 2007, Newport, RI :Pamela E. Warner de Montoya(2002), who was a member and officer of both our psychology club and honor society as an undergraduate, and who obtained both M.A.(2004) and C.A.G.S.(2005) degrees at Salve in Holistic Counseling, with a mental health concentration(C.A.G.S.), has just informed the department that she has been awarded her professional licensure. Pam received her Rhode Island license as a mental health counselor in December, 2006 and became a National Certified Counselor in March. She stated that she plans to continue working at the Newport County Community Mental Health Center as an adult outpatient therapist. Pam has been affiliated with this center for several years during which time she was completing the residency/internship requirements to be licensed by the state and national agencies. Congratulations Pamela!

March 29, 2007, Newport, RI : Heather Smith(2007) has just learned that she has been accepted into the UMass Boston graduate M.Ed/C.A.G.S. program in school psychology. This program "...is designed to prepare professionals whose primary interests involve children, families, and the educational process. Training goals are founded on a respect for the dignity and worth of all people, with a commitment to appreciating and responding to human diversity. Course work integrates theory and research in child and adolescent development. Empirically-based intervention approaches for psychological services in schools are emphasized." Congratulations Heather. Job well done!

March 29, 2007, Newport, RI : Kate Grenci(2007) has just notified the department of her acceptance into the Harvard Graduate School of Education program in Human Development and Psychology Program. This program is described as one which "is designed for students interested in the development of children and adults and how knowledge of development can be applied to educational issues. The purpose of the program is to introduce practitioners and future researchers to theory and research on child, adolescent, and adult development and to reflect on potential applications to education." Congratulations Kate! Job well done!

February 6, 2007, Newport, RI : Dr. Sheila O'Brien Quinn who spoke at a colloquium at the University of Rhode Island on February 5th(see below) had her presentation reported in the university's newspapaper, The Good 5¢ Cigar. You can read the coverage of that event here and here

January 22, 2007, Newport, RI : Dr. Arthur Frankel reported recently that he had received word from Krista Paduchowski(2006) that she has been accepted into the graduate program in community social psychology at the University of Massachusetts at their Lowell campus. Congratulations Krista. All the best as you start your new studies.

January 22, 2007, Newport, RI : Assistant Professor Sheila O'Brien Quinn, Ph.D. has been invited to give a colloquium at the University of Rhode Island on February 5, 2007. Joseph S. Rossi, Ph.D., professor of psychology and Director of Research for the Cancer Prevention Research Center at the University of Rhode Island extended the invitation. A fellow URI faculty member, Kat Quina, Ph.D., had heard Dr. Quinn's Presidential Address at the New England Psychological Association last year and recommended her to Dr. Rossi. The topic of Dr. Quinn's presentation is "Mesmerism on Weybosset Street ~ Rhode Island’s Role in Introducing Hypnosis to the United States." The abstract of her presentation reads as follows: "Hypnotism was introduced to the United States when a 20-year-old from the French West Indies gave a series of demonstrations in Rhode Island in the 1830s. During this colloquium, the story of mesmerism will be used to trace the history of one of the most popular pseudopsychologies in nineteenth century America. The effect of mesmerism (hypnosis) on behavior, pain tolerance and apparent well-being convinced many that this technique had unlimited medical, philosophical and religious uses. It gave birth to the American Spiritualist movement as well as the current use of medical magnets. In Rhode Island, and eventually nationwide, it became a means for the disenfranchised to make their voices heard. It is not difficult to understand magnetism’s attraction."

January 22, 2007, Newport, RI :Dr. Anthony A. Walsh, Department Chairman, has just received word from Matthew Dussault(2005), that he will finish his master's degree at the University of Massachusetts at their Dartmouth campus. Matt wrote to Dr. Walsh recently stating: "I started working on my Master's thesis in September[2006] and recently got approval from the IRB[the university research approval board] to collect the data. My thesis explores mating preferences and strategies among individuals who score high on the MACH-IV scale[a scale that measures a person's degree of Machiavellianism{aaw}]. I'm doing very well in all my classes and am very excited to graduate. Last year I was hired as a graduate assistant for Disabled Student Services at UMass. I provide mobility assistance, tutoring, guidance,exam proctoring, and reading assistance to students. Im hoping to start teaching at the high school...[or]community college level after graduation." Well done, Matt, and congratulations from us all.

October 26, 2006, Newport, RI : On Saturday, October 21, 2006, Dr. Sheila O'Brien Quinn, outgoing President of the New England Psychological Association, delivered her presidential address. The annual convention was held over two days commencing October 20th at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire. Her address was entitled Magnetic Personalities: Batteries, Hypnosis and Pseudopsychology. She used the history of the development of the pseudoscience of animal magnetism into the science of hypnosis to illustrate pitfalls in scientific reasoning. She also addressed the historically related phenomena of spiritualism. Presidents of this organization serve for one year upon election. Dr. Quinn was elected in 2005.

October 26, 2006, Newport, RI : Two Salve sophomores traveled to Manchester, NH on October 21st to present the results of a class research project they conducted under the supervision of Dr. Sheila O'Brien Quinn at the 46th Annual Convention of NEPA, the New England Psychological Association. The host was Southern New Hampshire University. The students were Alison Rondino(left below) and Melissa Duguay(right below)seen at their poster session. Other class members involved were Renee Pelletier, Christina Lee, Katelyn Collins, and Andi Solemina. The research, entitled Which Way Did Stroop Go? The Difference Between Vertical and Horizontal Response Patterns was described in the official program as follows:
"Because English is read from left to right, we hypothesized that a Stroop procedure requiring a left to right response would yield faster response times and a larger Stroop Effect than that resulting from a vertical response. Our results indicate that the direction of the response pattern does not result in faster responding or change the magnitude of the Stroop Effect. The difference between single word recognition and fluent reading for meaning is discussed." Congratulations Alison and Melissa for a job well done!

October 22, 2006, Newport, RI : Nicole Malik(2006), psychology & criminal justice major and SRU graduate and award winner in the class of 2006, joined the Peace Corps after a lengthy application process this year. Her assignment, Africa, specifically Kenya. We have received a couple communications from her and share them with you here.

On September 13, 2006 Nicole wrote: "...my adventure officially begins tomorrow[September 14, 2006] when the wheels go up on my plane...crazy!!! I have been in D.C. the past two days going through all the policies and procedures (very overwhelming if you can imagine)....and trying to fit as much stuff into my 3 bags without going over 80lbs!!! Its amazing how simple you can make your life if you really need to but I did bring a blow dryer, my roommate laughed but you never know!!! ...I am working as a deaf educator with 16 other people...which is a really small training and volunteer group...everyone here knows ASL[American Sign Language] really really really well...so I feel a bit behind but we will be learning Kenyan Sign Language...3 of the volunteers are deaf so I am learning [to] sign fast...my roommate worked as an interpreter and most of the others work in speech therapy or as special ed teachers...so I feel like I have a different ...[perspective] with criminal justice and psychology ...I will be in Nairobi for the next 3 days and then I am off to Kitui to live with a host family and train for my next 2 years as a volunteer."

On October 22, 2006 Nicole wrote: "...Im doing great!!! Although today I'm a little homesick because I had pizza for the first time and it reminded me of home. Kenyan food is quite different than American food... I keep telling my home stay family[host family] that we eat for taste and not for nourishment[in the U.S. so] they think that we're crazy. I'm living in a tiny village called Kitui with a home stay family. I have no running water, no electricity and no glass windows and an outside toilet...every other trainee has most of these things but not me...which is fine by me because right now I'm really not that interested in watching TV over dinner...anyway my family is really kind but have struggled a lot ...out of 13 children, 5 have died...but they are amazingly strong and good hearted people... and are very generous. I'm still learning Kenyan Sign Language... [T]he deaf community is really in need here and I'm looking forward to my site assignment. I will be working as a Behavior Change Communicator, as apart of PEPFAR (presidential emergency plan for aids relief)...trust me PEPFAR is working and people are living because of it...I'm in Nairobi now in order to visit the only deaf VCT (voluntary counseling testing for HIV/AIDS), the research center for KSL[?] and a primary school for handicapped children (the only one in Kenya that uses IEP's (individualized education plan) but is limited to 13 students...so sad)...I lost over 15 pounds since I arrived...thank God...I also have the privilege of a flushing toilet with tp and a hot shower!!! Its the little things in life..."

October 2, 2006, Newport, RI : On September 30th, 2006, during Fall Festival Weekend, Kate Grenci, University Senator and Psychology Club President was voted "Student of the Year" in due in part to her exemplary and tireless work on behalf of student life at Salve. Kate also was the recipient of a Dean's List Certificate that weekend for her academic accomplishments during the spring semester, 2006. Congratulates Kate!

May 21, 2006, Newport, RI : At the 56th Annual Commencement of Salve Regina University held on McCauley lawn on the Cliff Walk, 22 students graduated with degrees in psychology. They were Shannon M. Baker, Kristen B.Conn, Mary Elizabeth Cordeau, Adam Robert DiBona, Colleen Marie Gillespie, Cyndi Lauren Giordano, Kristen Leigh Gworek, Brianna Michelle Hyman, Ellen Margaret Knapik, Nicole Elizabeth Malik, Jena Marie Mazzetti, Katelyn Keleigh McGuire(Cum Laude), Ryan Patrick McGuire, Shannon Marie Moran, Pamela J. Murphy, Jenifer Joyce O'Neill, Krista Anne Paduchowski, Michelle Leigh Pinto, Rachel A. Posocco, Stephanie Lyn Rafael, Jennifer Sousa(Magna Cum Laude), and Heidi Leigh Whitney-Sarles(Magna Cum Laude). We wish them all well as they pursue new and exciting careers. For news on where some of the class are going to graduate school, see last year's news page here

May 20, 2006, Newport, RI : At University Annual Awards Ceremony held on May 20th, 2006, the following psychology majors received awards: Nicole Elizabeth Malik received the Feinstein Enriching America Program Award, the Recognition for Outstanding Community Service Award, and the Via Program Award. Shannon M. Baker, Shannon Marie Moran, and Heidi Leigh Whitney-Sarles all received a Via Program Award. Katelyn Keleigh McGuire received the Chi Alpha Sigma Award for excellence in both athletics AND academics. Heidi Leigh Whitney-Sarles also received the Delta Epsilon Sigma scholastic honor society awarded to students in Catholic universities and the Kappa Gamma Pi Catholic College Graduate Honor Society Award. Kristen Leigh Gworek also received a Kappa Gamma Pi and Delta Epsilon Sigma award. Ellen Margaret Knapik received a Delta Epsilon Sigma as well. Congratulations to them all!