Marquette Psychology

Save the date for the annual Dr. Mary Anne Siderits Lecture for Research on Male and Female Roles, Social Construction, and the Search for Selfhood, Thursday, October 9! This lecture will feature Dr. Anne P. DePrince, from the University of Denver, speaking about "Awareness Isn’t Enough: Leveraging Research to Build Our Common Cause Ending Intimate Violence." AMU 163 from 2-3:30 pm. There will also be a workshop session with Dr. DePrince on Friday, Oct 10, from 10am-12pm, on “If You Don’t Tell the Story, Someone Else Will: Building Skills for Public Scholarship.” RSVP for this event and to get location by emailing Dr. Nakia Gordon. Hope to see you at one or both events!

Congrats to alumnae Clin Psych grad students Dr. Sydney Timmer-Murillo and Dr. Keara Kangas, and to Psych faculty member Dr. Nakia Gordon, on their recent publication in Race and Justice, about a tool to reduce bias and improve empathy in police! The work was also included in Dr. Timmer-Murillo's doctoral dissertation. Citation: Timmer-Murillo, S. C., Kangas, K., & Gordon, N. (2025). Exploring the Effect of Counterstereotype and Perspective Taking in Reducing Bias and Promoting Empathy in Police. Race and Justice, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/21533687251377232

Check out Dr. Amy Van Hecke's interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, about the administration's comments on acetaminophen, folate, and autism:

Wisconsin autism researcher urges nuance after Trump comments on Tylenol links President Donald Trump on Monday announced an alleged tie between autism and acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. A Wisconsin researcher said identifying why children are born with autism is more complex than the White House let on.

Happening tomorrow! Students are welcome! Use the QR code to register!

Congrats are in order! Dr. Jacklynn Fitzgerald (Psychology) and Dr. Rachel Bollaert (Exercise Science) have been awarded a $10,000 AHPRC award to complete a pilot feasibility study of yoga for veterans with PTSD. The project involves community partnership with a veteran-owned yoga studio located on the south side of Milwaukee. Way to go, Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Bollaert!

Interested in our new Master's program in Applied Psychology and Data Analytics? Put this info session down in your calendar! Oct 8 6:30-7:30. RSVP for location!

First day of class photos! It's going to be a great year!! 🎉😍

Wow! Congrats to first year Psychology and digital comm double major Kennedi Luckett, the first Wade scholar! Kennedi also works with Dr Gordon on the wellness research project through MU4Gold! We're so proud! check out the link in below to watch Kennedi find out her scholarship news on the Today show! 🎉🎉🎉

See Dwyane Wade surprise Marquette student with scholarship Kennedi Luckett, a freshman at Marquette University, gets a surprise meeting with Dwyane Wade — and learns she is the very first Wade Scholar and recipient of a room and board scholarship!

Hey y'all! It's National Give Marquette day and we have our own link this year, like grown ups ;) We appreciate you sharing our link and donating, so that together, we can do even more great psychology things! And you get those socks! Use the QR code here or the link is also in our bio.

Happy Mardi Gras, Psychology! It’s actually Lundi Gras today- Fat Monday- but in Psych we celebrate both Fat Monday AND Fat Tuesday! 🎭🎉 Come by Cramer 317 for a slice of King Cake (second picture) today, and come by Tuesday for a pączki! Laissez les bon temps roulez!
Pictured is Dr Van Hecke’s mom Betty at a Mardi Gras parade a few years ago, with a suspiciously large number of beads 😉😍🎉

Staff Spotlight! Meet Dr. Lucas Torres who is a professor and chair of the Marquette Psychology Department! Learn more about Dr. Torres below!

How many years have you been at Marquette?

I started at Marquette in 2006 so I am in the middle of my 18th year!

What courses do you teach?
I teach Abnormal Psychology/Adult Psychopathology, and Multicultural Psychology

What research area are you focused on?

Mental health disparities, or the unique stressors (i.e., discrimination) and strengths (i.e., ethnic identity, social cohesion) that contribute to well-being among racially marginalized groups.

What roles/responsibilities do you serve as the Department Chair?

The Department Chair is responsible for overseeing all the Psychology department’s activities and operations including the undergraduate major, several graduate programs, and supporting the great work of our faculty and staff.

A fun fact about you!

I was raised in Puerto Rico so am bilingual (Spanish/English). I have also traveled to 10 different countries.

Shout out to an MU Psychology double alum! 🎉🎉Pictured in the center is Theresa Lauer Kapke, with her mom and sister, also MU graduates, starting off Mission Week by heading the conversation about how we can Act with Care in our lives at the Women’s Luncheon on Monday. Theresa graduated as an undergrad MU Psychology major in 2010, then went on to graduate with her PhD in Clinical Psychology from our program in 2018! She’s now a Pediatric Psychologist at Children’s Hospital of WI and an Assistant Professor at the Medical College of WI! We’re so proud of you, Theresa! 🥹🎉❤️