Emil's Epilogue

The On-line Psychology Department Student Newsletter

May 2005 * Volume 5, Issue 5

Special Senior Edition

The Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference was held Saturday, April 23, 2005 at Bemidji State University. Psychology majors who presented were:

Jamie Larson -- "Myer-Briggs and Four-Factor Design" Paper

Rachel Elvebak and Pamela Bechtle --"The Effect of Disparity in Intra-Couple Attractiveness on the Probability of Mate Poaching" - Poster

Justin Kalemkiarian, Nick Palmer and Anne Swenson -- "Hemispheric Differences in Non-Familiar Facial Recognition" Poster

Shawnie Girtler and Crystal Smith -- "The Effects of Self-Esteem on Mate Selection" -- Poster

Psi Chi Inducts 2004/2005 New Members

On Thursday, April 14, 2005, fifteen psychology majors were were inducted into the Gustavus Chapter of the National Psi Chi Organization. Newly inducted members are:

Alissa DeHaan, Chris Rozek, Sarah Flood, Rachel Anderson, Melissa Aasen, Stephanie Lovik, Crystal Smith, Emily Ulve, Bradley Hammer, Joel Nelson. Not pictured: Leslie Beaumont, Angela Goines, Cassandra Krueger, Lisa Undem, Eric Wilberg,

New and current members:

Kim Assad, Alissa DeHaan, Elanna Tryon, Chris Rozek, Sarah Flood, Rachel Anderson, Melissa Aasen, Stephanie Lovik, Crystal Smith, Emily Ulve, Bradley Hammer, Joel Nelson, Nicole Fuerstenberg. Not pictured: Emily Eddy, Heidi Lawson, Kelly Semenkewitz, Julie Severson, Michelle Steadman, and Maisie Stish.

Yellowsheet, Thursday, April 7, 2005 Volume 37
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE:

2005 St. Ansgar Members Named... The following graduating seniors who demonstrate outstanding excellence in scholarship, exceptional leadership, and diversified participation in extra-curricular activities have been named to the Guild of St. Ansgar for 2005: Jennifer Abrahamzon, Claire Anderson, Elizabeth Appleton, Kimberly Assad, Elizabeth Baranowski, Rachel Batalden, Megan Beltz, Andrew Brown, Cory Christenson, Stefanie Cossalter, Kiri deLaubenfels, Renee Donahue, Kimberly Eisenreich, Andrew Erickson, Britt Forsberg, Nicole Fuerstenberg, Carrie Hibbard, Bethany Hirst, Heidi Hope, Jennifer Ingraham, Leah Jarvis, Johanna Johnson, Emma Jordon, Hannah Julien, Kristin Kachelmeyer, Katrina Kleinwachter, Rebecca Kuehl, Melissa Laine, Jamie Larson, Joseph Lencioni, Matthew Lieser, Katherine MacQueen, Ellen Muggli, David Myers, Amanda Parker, Nichole Petersen, Lynnea Piotter, Jessica Prody, Kendra Rinas, Jessica Schrieber, Maisie Stish, Ann Syverson, Anne Tupy, Joshua Winter, Elizabeth Wojahn, and Marissa Wold.

Donald G. Paterson Award Winner
The Minnesota Psychological Association announced the winner of the 2005 Donald G. Paterson Award as Gustavus senior psychology major Kim Assad. The purpose of the award is to recognize and encourage high achievement in psychology at the undergraduate level. Each institution, through its Department of Psychology, annually nominates a candidate to the Paterson Award Committee. The award was presented to Kim at the Annual Convention of the Minnesota Psychological Association April 29-30.

Kim will attend Michigan State University for their PhD. program in Social and Personality Psychology in the fall.

Our GAC Psych alums -- "What are they doing now?"
"I am a 2000 Gustavus graduate. I majored in psychology and health fitness and attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota and received an MS in occupational therapy. I am now a licensed occupational therapist at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, MN. I work both in physical rehabilitation with people after stroke, spinal cord injury and brain injury. I also work in the adult Crisis Intervention Unit, the acute mental health unit in the hospital. My psychology major and experience at Gustavus serve me well in my work. If anyone has any interest in occupational therapy or an acute mental health environment in the hospital setting I am available for questions. "

Cathy (Edlund) Bussler, class of 2000 -- edlu0017@umn.edu

Third Annual Psychology Symposium

Monday, May 2, 2005

3:00 - 4:00 p.m. -- Poster Presentations --SSC lower level (garden level) hallway

4:00 - 5:15 p.m. -- Oral Presentations -- SSC 28

Heidi Lawson - Change Over Time: Evaluating Improvement in the Self, Significant Other and Acquaintance

Kim Assad - Co-rumination Communication Patterns in Friendships and Romantic Relationships

Alissa DeHaan - Individual Differences in Shyness Related to Sensitivity and Startle Response

Jamie Larson - Myers-Briggs and 4-type Structure

Nicole Fuerstenberg - Comparing Suggestive Interview Techniques and the Influence of a Warning in an Eyewitness Testimony Paradigm

Annual Department Picnic - May 2, 2005

On a cold, blustery but sunlight-speckled May afternoon, approximately 60 psychology folks came together at the Interpretive Center to grill some burgers, talk shop and share in some fun. Dr. Martin, department chair, welcomed majors to the annual spring gathering and congratulated the seniors on a job well done. Students Nick Palmer, Anne Swenson and Justin Kalemkiarian publically thanked Dr. Ohnesorge for the help and support he's provided to them as majors and wished him the very best in future endeavors. Beth DeLaRosby and Kari Steffenhagen were chefs for the day and Jo Ellison and Krista Peterson were in charge the door prize drawings. Robyn Starr won the Gustie Frisbee, Sarah Hudson won the Gustie mug, Neil Nelson took home the nalgene, Sarah McPherson won the Gustie pillow case and Rick Rittmaster took home the grand prize Gustavus stadium blanket.

I expect that you think from reading the above title that I’m going to tell you about a Psy. D. degree or counseling or the most applicable experiments we do in our psych labs. Well, you’re not wrong, exactly, but I'd like to write about more than that. The beauty of a psych major is that it can be applied literally anywhere. You do not have to go on to graduate school in psychology and become a researcher to make your four years of learning here worth the energy. Whatever you do, psychology will be there with you, helping you. If you become a pastor (so that you can raise kids and send them to Gustavus to keep our P.K. ratio high), psychology will be incredibly helpful. If you teach, you can understand the developmental level of the children you work with. If you go become an insurance salesman, you can use your superior understanding of your clients’ psyches to persuade them to buy all the packages you offer so that you can make lots of money to donate back to Gustavus. If you become a homemaker and raise kids, hopefully you can damage them just a little less along the way because of all that Dr. Martin and Dr. Rudek have taught you….

My point is that, whatever you want to do after graduation, you can use the knowledge you’ve acquired in your psych classes to help you become an awesome employee (or employer!). Psychology is liberal arts at its best. People are everywhere, so the more you understand them, the better off you’ll be. So, if you’ve declared a psych major and don’t know what you want to do with it, fear not! Have you thought about nursing? Car sales? Music therapy? Law school? Jobs in psychology are certainly available and the most obvious choice of what to do with yourself after Gustavus sends you packing. If that’s where your passion lies, GREAT! Send in those grad school apps or job apps and you’re on your way. But if you find yourself in a mid-college crisis, discovering that you really weren’t cut out to be a clinician, remember that you’ve lost nothing. You know more about who you are and you have chosen a major that will follow you wherever you end up.

[Heidi Lawson is a honors psychology, criminal justice and political science triple major who will graduate this spring. She has been a regular contributor to this newsletter, a student assistant in the department, tutor and academic assistant. Thank you Heidi for all of the hours you've put in and for the gracious way you've assisted in the department.]

Seniors.... "What Now?"

Sarah Johnson -- "Next year I am going to work as a full-time volunteer at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago. This will include working with youth in the residential home and living in a volunteer community. It is a one-year comitment. After that... I don't know what I am going to do".
Karolina Konczyk -- "I am going to law school at William Mitchell next fall in immigration law or child advocacy- though that focus may change!"
Nicole Holland -- "Research assistant position"
Nicole Fuerstenberg -- "My post graduate plans include work, work, and work. I am currently looking for a job, so I really don't know where exactly I will be working, but I am hopeful that it will be in the twin cities area. In the long range of things, if I find an good career opportunity, I do see myself sticking with it, as I really do enjoy working. However, if I miss the academic world too much, I can see myself going back to school to earn my M.A. or perhaps Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. My interest in applied psychology and my new interest in the business world have really made me think hard about this option. Right now though, a break from school and job sound absolutely perfect!"
Kim Assad -- "I will be going to Michigan State University for their PhD. program in Social and Personality Psychology this fall."
Jamie Larson -- "Trying to find some experience that will sort out what type of counseling/clinical emphasis I want to pursue, and what kind of interests I would seek out in a potential advisor...(p.s. this task is easier said than done)."
Maisie Stish -- "University of Minnesota Graduate School - Physical Therapy Doctorate Program"
Kelsey Getz -- "Next year I will hopefully be going to graduate school at the University of St. Thomas for counseling. I will also be getting my teaching license for golf ":)
Heidi Lawson -- " I'm going to work for a year, then go on to grad school for a Ph.D. in either Legal Theory or Jurisprudence and Social Policy (bonus points to whomever knows the difference between the two). After that, I'm planning to become a professor, because really, a Ph.D. in either of those things has no real world value. All I can do is teach others what I've learned. Oh yeah, and I think being a professor would be fun."
Kelsey Hanson -- "I plan to go into the field of criminal psychology. I have been working with juvenile sex offenders and will continue working with juveniles for awhile. Then I hope to become a case worker at a prison or work in probation and court services."
Alissa DeHaan -- "My plans for next year: I will be moving to Colorado with my fiancee, Colin and we will be getting married summer of 2006. I have yet to find a job, but am hoping to work in a non-profit setting next year and then apply to grad school in social work or something related to psychology."
Kari Steffenhagen -- "I will be attending University of Wisconsin Stevens Point for 2 more years to get a masters degree in human development with a focus on child and family studies. After my masters program, I hope to work in a healthcare setting with children."
Sarah Flood --"I'm going to teach abroad in France for a year, then off to grad school in Minnesota or University of New Mexico! Hopefully I'll find a job in Minnesota after that."
Beth DeLaRosby -- "As for my post-graduate plans, I am going to work at Wheaton College (in Norton, Mass. just outside of Boston). I will be a swim coach there, and hopefully will be going to grad school the year after that for Sports Psychology/Sports Administration.Wheaton College has a similar atmosphere as Gustavus, but I will miss being here!"

"Find your niche within the psych department: whether that's doing your own research, helping a professor with their research or interning/volunteering within the community." -- Nicole Holland

"My advice to new psychology majors: I would recommend taking at least one course in every discipline (if it fits into your schedule). Why do I suggest this? Well, I have recently learned that I am interested in the business world, and have taken zero classes from the economics/business department. I know that I can always pay extra money and enroll in a class somewhere once I have graduated, but I think that I should have explored this area a bit to really round off my "well-rounded" educational experience at Gustavus. Having taken a business class or two would really help me out now, when I am looking for a job in the business world. A second piece of advice is to do research with a professor. I believe that I have gained a lot of skills from my research experience. Both employers and graduate schools look upon research experience highly, so it will be a beneficial piece to any resume or application. If you are not at all interested in research, get involved in some organization and try to gain some leadership experience, if at all possible. Currently, I am interviewing for jobs and almost all of them have behavioral based interview questions. What this means is that when an employer asks you a question, your answer is not acceptable unless you are giving them a concrete example of something that you have actually done. Being involved in different organizations, volunteer programs, research, etc. really, really helps when faced with tough questions". -- Nicole Fuerstenberg

"Get involved with research right away- actively talk to your professors to see if there is anyway you can get involved and don't be afraid to submit your work for presentation at local, regional, or national conferences. They aren't as scary as you think, and graduate schools will really be impressed by it." -- Kim Assad

"Study in the department area, as it really gives you the ability to get questions answered, have contact with the profs, and get to know them...and let me tell you, they can be really fun and interesting people! If you have a plan of what you want to do, intern in it right away. For six years I thought I wanted to do high school counseling, but I didn't intern in it until spring senior year, and insights I gained could be better used if I had learned earlier what I know now!" -- Jamie Larson

"Get involved in research with a psychology professor - it's a great way to get to know them and your fellow psychology majors. It's also great for graduate school applications and resumes!" -- Maisie Stish

"I would tell undergrads to take advantage of internships...you get a lot of great experience and it looks good on a resume. Internships to look into...CADA (committee against domestic abuse), Mike McGinnis (drug/ alcohol counselor in mankato), St. Peter treatment center, Sioux Trails (St. Peter). Start internships early!! You will learn so much more and have a better idea of what you really want to do when you graduate. And good luck to all psych undergrads!" -- Kelsey Getz

#1. Listen to what I have to say :) #2. Take Stats in the fall and Methods in the spring, that way you minimize your forgetting! (Also, don't be scared of Stats. Really, you don't need to know any math, nor is it worthy of your fear.) #3. GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS!!! They will be writing your recommendations, they will be giving you research opportunities, they can help you decide what to do with your life, and they are all very nice people. #4. In part to further #3, get a job in the psych office. It's awesome. Lee's a great boss!"[Lee, I demand that you keep this sentence in. :)] -- Heidi Lawson [editor's comment - Once again, Heidi's demand is met... :)]

"I would advise undergrads to do some kind of internship in a psych related field, whether that be counseling or market research. An internship will only help them. it is necessary to have some kind of experience when you try to get a job and get into a grad school." -- Karolina Konczyk

"Do internships!!! You will gain so much from experience!! Do your reading!! Plan to go on to grad school!!" -- Kelsey Hanson

"Take advantage of J-term career explorations to get exposure to a variety of careers and help figure out what you want to do. Also, if you are thinking about graduate school in psychology, try to get a lot of research experience before you apply. There are lots of opportunities for this: summer REU's, work-study research assistantships, and doing a thesis project. Graduate schools will care just as much about that as your GPA, GRE scores, etc." -- Alissa DeHaan

"Get to know the professors early, work with them and ask them questions...it will help you out in the long run! Read Emil's Epilogue...sometimes you can win a free blizzard!" -- Kari Steffenhagen

"Take Stats early on because it makes understanding psychology articles SO much easier! Don't be afraid to ask teachers for help! You don't look dumb, probably other people have the same questions, and the teachers are really helpful and make time to help you. (Looking back) I would have taken Stats I and Stats II back to back instead of putting one semester between them. I also would have been in the psychology Honors program to get more experience with experiments." -- Sarah Flood

"I have no more advice for undergrads, other then to enjoy everyday at GAC because it goes by so fast (after freshmen year of course)." -- Beth DeLaRosby

Thank you to the student assistants for all the help in the department and with the newsletter this year. A special thank you to the terrific seniors who worked in the department this spring as assistants! You've been a great crew to work with and we are going to miss you dearly. On behalf of the department - thank you for all of your help and best wishes for bright and fulfilling future!

Calendar of Events:

Sigma Xi - Friday, May 6, 2005
Honors Day -- Saturday, May 7, 2005

Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) 2005 -- May 5-7, 2005, Chicago, IL

Final Exams -- May 20 -24, 2005

Commencement -- May 29, 2005

Senior psych majors,
Well, here we are at the end of this issue and at the (almost) end of this academic year. You have no doubt looked at this board in SSC so many times since the beginning of the year that you've probably forgotten the bribe that was offered in October to encourage you to have your photos taken... If you recall, the value of the prize to be drawn was dependent upon what percentage of your class had their pictures taken. You were a terrific group and the percentage turned out to be 88% . All of the names of students who are pictured here were included in the drawing held this morning. And the winner is....... Daisy Nelson!

Of course -- to find out what the prize is -- she will have to have: 1) read this far in the newsletter to know that her name was drawn (or have good friends who have read this far for her) and then: 2) stop by my work area in the department to pick up what you've won. Thanks to everyone for participating and congratulations on the win Daisy!-- Lee Sande