Palo Alto University (PAU) faculty members, students and alumni were invited to present posters at this year's 128th annual American Psychology Association (APA) Virtual Convention in August. Here is a selection of posters from the Convention.

Update: The Foster 5K, held on September 13th, welcomed nearly 400 participants and raised more than $32,000. Participants checked in from California, Montana, Michigan, and New Jersey. Also, PAU Team Knowledge captain Nicole Khauli submitted the winning photo for the Most Festive Award (photo below).    On Sunday, September 13th, hundreds of individuals will run, walk, or bike the “Foster 5K” to raise funds for Child Advocates of Silicon Valley.

As in year's past, Palo Alto University (PAU) faculty members, students and alumni have again been invited to participate in this year's 128th annual American Psychology Association (APA) Virtual Convention taking place August 6-8, 2020. This annual event is the largest gathering of psychologists and psychology students in the world from all areas of specialization in psychology and from research, practice, education and policy. The convention provides a platform for sharing information on a wide variety of critical and timely topics.

On February 25th, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) hosted their annual Day in the Capitol, during which more than 100 students discussed the importance of the Cal Grant to different legislators, key influencers, and other students who attend independent, nonprofit institutions.    Palo Alto University was represented by six undergraduate students in attendance: juniors Francesca Pedraza, Shuangshuang Zhang, Elizabeth Nguyen, Jocelyn Lopez, Gabrielle Paige, and Jeremy Mayes.     Cal Grant recipient Elizabeth Nguyen chose to attend

  The research of PAU Ph.D. candidate Gabrielle Agin-Liebes has made headlines recently. Ms. Agin-Liebes and colleagues found that a single dose of psilocybin could lead to decreases in depression and anxiety in people receiving treatment for cancer.

Senior, BS in Psychology and Social Action

Shirin Aghakhani, a senior in PAU’s bachelor’s program in Psychology and Social Action, recently took a break from her busy schedule to talk about her interest in psychology and what drew her to PAU. She grew up in Los Angeles, where she attended community college before applying to PAU to finish her four-year degree. She is currently President of the Undergraduate Student Council.

What drew you to psychology?

Mentoring has been a major theme in the life of Saranya Sundaram, a fourth-year student in PAU’s clinical psychology Ph.D. program. She has mentored youth ages 10 to 17, including those from underserved populations and with truancy issues, as well as her fellow PAU graduate students. Saranya has also been a beneficiary of mentorship throughout her clinical and academic career.

PAU’s doctoral candidate in clinical psychology, Maryke Harrison, was invited to present at World Health Organization.  Maryke has worked with underserved populations in South Africa, India and United States, to address HIV/AIDS, leprosy and substance abuse.