This past semester, Emma Garber (‘25) and Devin Thompson (‘25), two of our undergraduate research assistants, were inducted into Psi Chi. Psi Chi is the international honor society in Psychology. Memberships are for life, and Psi Chi also provides scholarship, networking, and career opportunities for those interested in a career in Psychology. Read about their experience and what they’re looking forward to below!

Emma: "Devin and I were sworn in on December 8th at noon. It was really fun to meet the other members of our new Psi Chi chapter and to chat about what classes we will be taking in the spring. Joining Psi Chi was very important to me because it solidifies my commitment to pursuing a career in Psychology. 

I participate in many extracurricular activities and most of them do not directly relate to psychology in an obvious way. I am really excited to now be a part of a group that can help me gain more experience to achieve my goals. Being more involved in the psychology extracurriculars at Pacific has been a goal for me since I first applied. Some of my favorite moments have been spent with my psychology and ACT Lab peers. 

I can't wait to make more memories with Psi Chi! I am looking forward to our bi-weekly meetings with Psi Chi and Psychology Club members. Our meetings are always fun and interesting and I hope to take on a leadership role in the future." 

Devin: "I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join Psi Chi! Being part of this organization will help me further develop my professional growth and teach me about the many opportunities in the field of psychology. I’m also excited to get to know the other members and faculty.

Overall, I’m having a wonderful experience in the psychology department at University of the Pacific. Due to the smaller class size, I was able to make connections with multiple professors and even got the chance to start conducting research as soon as my freshman year. Working in the ACT lab has been the highlight of my Pacific experience! I've learned so much from both my peers and advisor Dr. Strickland-Hughes. I will forever be grateful to be part of this team!"

Congratulations Emma and Devin! You can learn more about Psi Chi by visiting psichi.org. 

The Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) division of the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a RAPID grant for COVID-19 related research to Dr. Rachel Wu (PI) and Dr. Carla M. Strickland-Hughes (Co-PI) for the amount of $132,474. The title of the proposed research is Older Adults' learning and adaptation as resilience processes to counter social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional details available on the Pacific Newsroom.

Mercedes Ball, Kezhia Barba, Lluvia Garnica, and Sebastian Getman received Research Awards, and Breanna Moreira received an Experiential Learning Award at the Psychology Department lunch celebration following commencement. These awards require faculty nomination and are based on GPA and engagement in research and experiential learning over multiple semesters.