Epidemiology is the study of diseases in populations.  Epidemiologists study rates and patterns of disease occurrence and use this information to identify underlying causes.  Angie currently works for the Northern California Cancer Center.  Her work focuses on factors that affect recovery and survival in cancer patients.  Through interviews with people who have had cancer, she studies factors such as diet, exercise, family history, social networks, and attitudes, which affect patients' recoveries.  The ultimate goal is to find patterns of living that may improve cancer patients' quality of life and improve chances of long-term survival. 

Angie lives with her husband, Tim Prehn (class of '87), in the San Francisco Bay area. A recent addition to the family is their first child, Linnea, who was born last March.  Motherhood has been a fun new challenge for Angie.  Her employers have been great, she says.  She works three days each week as an epidemiologist and the rest as a mom.  She loves being a mother, and the experience has been a great one so far. 

While at Gustavus, Angie worked under the guidance of Dr. Martin as a Partner in Scholarship.  The program allowed her to do research at the undergraduate level and gain skills that proved valuable later on.   She feels that this opportunity put her at an advantage in her graduate work and in her professional life.  In fact, Gustavus recently honored her as the recipient of its First Decade Award, which annually honors one alumnus who has made substantial contributions in his or her field.  Clearly, Angie has made a way for herself in a field that she loves by taking advantage of opportunities that have sprung up along the way.  By her example, we may all have confidence to do the same. 
  -Sara Lindberg 
 

Karen Heidesch is from a town so tiny that they put up stopsigns during the business day and take them down at night. 

Joshua Burgett tried polyphasic sleep cycle during fall semester. If you don't know what that is, he slept only 15 to 30 minutes every 3-4 hours. He said he never made it through the 2 week adaptation stage but is going to try it again during J-term. 

Matt Hirsch was involved in the sport of speed skating from his 7th grade through his sophomore year in high school. He said that most speed skaters start skating as soon as they can walk, so he mostly played catch-up. 
 
 

 If you have any questions or comments for "Dear Emil," email them to Dear Emil. 

 

 

It's official! Gena Fox has been voted president of the Gustavus Adolphus Psi Chi chapter for the spring semester. 

In March, social psychologist Mark Snyder will be a speaker here at Gustavus. Mark will be visiting from the University of Minnesota. More information will be published in Emil's as we get it.  
 

Nancy Walbek and Richard Seeley, have been teaching Sexuality here at Gustavus since 1994. The class is taught mostly on Tuesday nights in half-semester sections.  

Richard Seeley is a social worker at the Hoffmann Center in St. Peter and works with sexual offenders. He also has been teaching since 1964. Nancy Walbeck is a psychologist who works at the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center  with quality management.  

Nancy and Richard have had a great time teaching at Gustavus. They both told me that they love teaching here because it is a different environment from their normal work setting. The most important part of the class is to inform students so that they can modify behavior that may be considered "risky" if engaged in. Richard said that even 'smart' kids make 'stupid' mistakes. Some of the blame could be the lack of information or even misinformation. Both faculty members said that sex education should be life long. If sex was not such a "taboo" subject, maybe people would make better decisions.  

Another important part of the class is to teach communication. People need to speak openly with their partners and their doctors and not be embarrassed about the subject of sex. That is a positive step toward open communication, and a very important step. 

I hope that by writing this article I have helped to introduce you to Nancy Walbek and Dick Seeley. I know that it was a learning experience for me and I very much enjoyed meeting them, interviewing them, and writing this article about them. 
  -Chris Kwasniewski 
 

Electronic Journals and Periodicals in Psychology and Related Fields 

Mental Health Infosorce - a variety of great links 
Welcome to The New & Improved MHI Home Page!  

Lots of info on all kinds of addictions 
Web of Addictions  
 
An informative personality test 
Keirsey Temperament Sorter II  

And just for fun 
Call Hang 100 

The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. 'I can't, dear," she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room." 

A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice:  "The big sissy." 
 
 

 

 

Alicia leads a busy life filled with the duties of a Collegiate Fellow, a teaching assistant for General Psych labs, assisting in Dr. Simpson's FTS, along with the regular responsiblities of seniors here at GAC.  As well as all of those commitments, Alicia is also an active member of the Rugby team and takes singing lessons in the Department of Music.   
  
When asked about her favorite part of the Gustavus community, Alicia replied very honestly.  Without being cheesy, she stated that her favorite thing would have to be our Psychology Department.  She really enjoys the people, the professors, and the atmosphere that is created in the basement of SSC. 
  
Every student at Gustavus has something to learn from the seniors that surround us.  Many give helpful advice to those upcoming in their departments that could assist them throughout their years here.  Alicia's advice for Psychology Majors is as simple as getting to know the professors.  She feels very strongly that you should get to know the people who stand at the front of the classroom and lecture during class. And be sure to question those people for more than just material that will be on the next test. Alicia says that the faculty and TA's  are interesting people and are always willing to help when it is asked for. 
  
Although knowing someone through their academic activities, position, and goals is important, getting to know someone on a personal level can be even more helpful in your understanding of them.  Alicia is one of those people that, by looking at her academic standing here at Gustavus you wouldn't even get half of the picture about her.  Her life is a random sphere of ideas and creations that help define who she is, and I thought it best to share some of those random facts in order for us all to know Alicia a little better: 

 ---While spending February through August in Scotland this past year, Alicia adopted two cows named Ralphie and Rowan. 
 ---She hates clowns. 
 ---She loves dogs.   
 ---Alicia has 4 piercings and a tattoo. 
 ---Owns a whip. 
 ---Her favorite thing in Scotland was the Edinburgh castle, along with being up in the highlands. 
 ---At Christmas time she enjoys misteltoe. 
 ---She works as a volunteer for the MS Society. 
 ---She has coached soccer for little people. 
 ---Has a fish named Clyde who is currently inhabiting the section of 5C. 
 ---In her almost 22 years, Alicia has never had a cavity. 
 ---While in Scotland this past year, she visited Sweden for three weeks over the summer. She also went to Prague and Italy. 
 ---In her dorm room Alicia has over 10 pillows scattered randomly throughout the room. 
 ---She answers her phone and holds entire conversations in her sleep. 

Random facts about a person, along with being fun, can really be useful in getting to know them.  Now that we have explored the academic appearance along with some of Alicia Barron's random facts, maybe we know a little more about her.   
  -Jenny Pratt 

RESOURCES AVAILABLE 

 

December 17 - January 2 - Christmas Recess 

January 3 - January Term Begins 

January 29 - Touring Week Begins 

February 7 - Spring Semester Begins 

March 25-April 2 - Spring Break 

April 21-24 - Easter Recess 

April 26 - MAYDAY! Conference 

Previous Issues of Emil's 
March 1997 
April 1997 
May 1997 
September 1997 
October 1997 
December 1997 
February 1998 
November 1998 
December 1998 
January 1999 
March 1999 
May 1999 
October 1999 
November 1999