Pacific Research Society Forum Awards Announced
Date:
April 24, 2010
A congratulations and thanks to all for a successful Pacific Research Society Forum this past Saturday. 74 students presented posters, 16 faculty reviewed and judged presentations, and 7 students from Drs. Gomez and Weaver’s labs gave symposium presentations. The level of both academic excellence and PGSP community support was something to be proud of.
A special thanks to the PRS leadership for spearheading this event: Sheresa Christopher and Bibi Stang (co-presidents), Julia Hernandez (treasurer), and Melanie Stephens (secretary).
Congratulations to the following students who were selected for awards:
Awards for Research Excellence, sponsored by PAU trustee Berton Keith
1st place: Andrew Buchanan, “Parental Status as a Motivating Factor in Reducing Recidivism”
Amy Leino, “Helping Veterans with PTSD and their Families: Strategic Approach Therapy”
2nd place: Danica Jardini, “Veterans Treatment Court Influence on Reducing Recidivism”
DiAnn Tokars, “The Effects of Sensory Detail on Imaginal Exposure”
3rd place: Jeannie Celestial, “The Effectiveness of Therapeutic Maternal Massage and Mother-Infant Massage in Treating Maternal Depressive & Anxious Symptoms and for Facilitating Attachment”
Cere Fingerhut, “Sexual Satisfaction as a Predictor of Divorce”
4th place: Johanna Gruen, “Adult Sibling Contact Relationships and PTSD”
Sandra DiVitale, “The Clinician’s Toolkit: Can Mindfulness Help Buffer the Trauma Therapist from Vicarious Traumatization?”
Amy Wytiaz, “Effects of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy on Interpersonal Functioning and Recovery in Comorbid Personality and Substance Use Disorders”
Thank you to our faculty panel of judges: Alinne Barrera, Leonard Beckum, Joyce Chu, Nigel Field, Bill Froming, Rowena Gomez, Amie Haas, Shelley Howell, Ted Jacobs, Sandy Macias, Paul Marcille, Lou Moffett, Stephanie Raney, Sandra Trafalis, Chris Weaver, and Amy Wisniewski.
SECA Research Awards
1st place: Laura Sciacca, "Mental health disturbances among Samali Bantu Refugees: Primary Prevention Program Development"
2nd place: Danielle Mentzer, "Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Individuals and Religious Stress"
Brandi Casto, "The Effects of Biculturalism on the Development of Inhibition and Cognitive Flexibility"
A special thanks to our president Allen Calvin and trustee Berton Keith for supported this event.
Joyce P. Chu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Director, Diversity and Community Mental Health Program
Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
Palo Alto University
1791 Arastradero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304
