UMKC Department of Psychology & Counseling

Audrey Harper, a Psychology and Counseling Undergraduate researcher, was selected as one of the Undergraduate Research Fellows. This is an amazing achievement for all of her hard work as a scholar!

Students who seek this designation must be able to demonstrate that they have been deeply engaged in the processes of research, scholarly and artistic production, from the inception of an initial question or line of inquiry through the selection of appropriate research and scholarly methods or artistic processes, the ex*****on of the project and the circulation of the final product to a wide audience through publication, presentation or performances.

Congratulations, Audrey!

Undergraduate Research Assistants from Westley Youngren's NITE Lab presented their work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium on Thursday, November 21st!

Bailee Ehlers and Ainsley Pickering presented on the relationship between dream recall and stress. Lyanna Moss presented a study which looked at how insomnia and nightmares predicted su***de.

We are so proud of the work happening in the undergraduate program with these researchers!

Aijalon Edwards, a veteran from the United States Air Force, talks about his experience as a Psychology Major and his goal to support veterans and the Black community through his degree. Read his story below!

Psychology Major Hopes to Help Black Community and Fellow Veterans Aijalon Edwards says a sense of community kept him at UMKC and provided lifelong friendships

The annual Summer Undergraduate Research and Opportunities Symposium was yesterday, and Audrey Harper presented her work titled 'Examining the Effects of Introspection on Self-Control and Long-Lasting Relationships.' Congratulations to Audrey and her mentor!

Faculty and student scholars participated in the recent American Psychological Association meeting in Seattle. We are well-represented!

Had a total blast this evening! We had a department social event and played pickleball! I usually don't post so many pictures, but the action shots were too great not to share! Thanks Erin & Johanna for organizing, and to everyone for being good sports and strutting your pickleball stuff!

UMKC School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences

Our students are the best! Last week was the annual Symposium of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship where students showcase their research projects. A number of our undergrads participated and won 2 of the 3 "Presentations of Distinction" in our category (Behavioral and Social Sciences). Congratulations to students and mentors!

UMKC School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences

UMKC night at the Royals! A little chilly, but super fun! Always fun with such good company! And the Royals got a victory!

The rock stars among us... Dr. Laurel Watson was just elected to Fellow status in APA's Division 35, The Psychology of Women. "The division promotes feminist research, theories, education, and practice toward understanding and improving the lives of girls and women in all their diversities; encourages scholarship on the social construction of gender relations across multicultural contexts; applies its scholarship to transforming the knowledge base of psychology; advocates action toward public policies that advance equality and social justice; and seeks to empower women in community, national, and global leadership" (from the division website https://www.apadivisions.org/division-35/about).

Fellow status is a significant achievement for psychologists. APA states that "Fellow status is an honor bestowed upon APA members who have shown evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology. Fellow status requires that a person's work has had a national impact on the field of psychology beyond a local, state or regional level."

Congratulations Laurel - we are proud to be your colleagues!

UMKC School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences

Hey what's everybody looking at? Many pics of the eclipse out there, but this is us!

Some of our students participated in the 2024 Research Symposium in the Psychological Sciences hosted by KCK Community College. Joanne Jung presented work on trauma-exposed preschoolers (with co-authors Luisa Mader, Taylor Guhin, and Erin Hambrick). Max Fiorella, Grant Urban, and Alyssa Schulz presented their work on social justice advocacy conducted with Johanna Nilsson. Congratulations all, and great job repping our Department!
UMKC School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences