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MACKENZIE PAYTON - ROBERT HENDERSEN LEADERSHIP AWARD

How did you become interested in psychology?

My interest in psychology stemmed from my natural curiosity about people and why they act the way they do. I also have a passion for learning, and majoring in psychology provided me with an abundance of areas and specialties to learn about. Psychology also paired well with my double major in Advertising and Public Relations, as I could combine the insights I’ve learned in Psychology courses and implement them in a creative capacity.

How have your leadership opportunities enriched your experience as a student?

While at GVSU, the leadership roles I have served in have enriched my educational experience in many ways, including professional development, honing technical skills, and community building on and off campus. I have made countless close connections among students, staff, and faculty that have shaped my career goals and future aspirations. These connections also allowed me to explore my many passions and have led to amazing networking opportunities which I am incredibly grateful for.

What are you planning to do after graduation?

After graduation, I am looking to work for a few years before pursuing a master's in I-O Psychology. I hope to use my degrees in the entertainment industry with a focus on self-compassion, DEI, or team dynamics.

PHUC DANG- RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

How did you become interested in psychology?

I got interested in psychology in a fairly stereotypical fashion. I had taken AP psychology in high school and found it was really easy to be interested in the subject. This, coupled with encouragement from my peers to pursue a career in therapy lead me to declare a major in psychology upon entering Grand Valley. I think it’s more important to talk about, Dr. Kristy Dean, Amanda Dillard, and Mihaela Friedlmeier who were amazing mentors, inspiring me through their own teachings, initiating the development of my drive for research and curiosity for psychology as a whole.

What have you learned from doing research?

The research process has taught me far past what the literature explicitly conveys. Research in combination with my coursework and practical experiences has served as a place to express my academic curiosity, explore personal questions, and strengthen my psychological foundations. It’s clearly shown the value of being well-read and an effective consumer of science; taking literature for exactly what it is, nothing more, and nothing less. Most importantly though, it’s taught me the intrinsically rewarding nature of being curious.

What are you planning to do after graduation?

As of writing this, I have recently accepted an offer of admissions from Purdue University’s Social Psychology Ph. D program. I hope to successfully obtain my Ph. D, being the first in my family to receive a doctoral degree, and pursue a career in academia thereafter. As of right now, the most appealing career activities to me are the continuation of psychological research, dissemination of the science, and guidance of future researchers. 

MADISON WHEELER - RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

How did you become interested in psychology?

I have always been interested in the brain and human behavior since I took psychology in high school, and as a behavioral neuroscience major, psychology became something I was fascinated with as I began to take more and more psychology courses for my studies. I found that I love being able to connect the biological and psychological pieces of human behavior to understand what fully makes us, “us”.

What have you learned from doing research?

While I have learned a lot, I would say the most important thing I have taken away from my research experience is learning academic resilience. There are many unprecedented and unpredictable obstacles when it comes to research, and gaining the skills to endure and work with obstacles is an important tool I take with me.

What are you planning to do after graduation?

After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school at Michigan State University starting in the fall to earn my Ph.D., working in a neuroscience research lab.

RACHEL KLOSS - ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

How did you become interested in psychology?

I have been interested in psychology since my junior year of high school when I first took AP Psychology. The more I learned, the more interested I became in the field, making the decision to major in psychology quite easy. I have never had any doubts that this was the right choice for me because every psychology class that I have taken has only furthered my passion for the subject.

 What has been your favorite psychology class and why?

This is a very difficult question, as all of my classes have been extremely interesting, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would be Psychopharmacology. This class was a big challenge for me because biochemistry has not been a strong suit of mine. Not only doing well in the class but also finding great enjoyment in the topic and feeling like I really comprehend what I am learning made overcoming the challenge of this class so much more rewarding. I often find myself referencing back to this class in everyday life, as the content is also applicable to many things outside of therapy.

What are you planning to do after graduation?

I am very happy to announce that I am committed to Michigan State University for my master's in Social Work this upcoming fall semester! With my master's, I plan to pursue a career in Marriage and Family Therapy!

THOMAS MCNETT TREMBLAY - ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

How did you become interested in psychology?

I became interested in Psychology my Freshman year of undergrad. I entered Grand Valley State as a sports management major but I quickly realized that I did not have a distinct plan in place with that degree. I felt that I would be better suited in a different major. Second semester of freshman year I took my intro to psychology class with Dr. Todd Williams where I became fascinated with all things psychology. After some advising meeting I ultimately decided on changing my major to psychology.

 What has been your favorite psychology class and why?

My favorite psychology course was Psychology and Education of Exceptional Child. This has been my favorite class because of the professor who taught it, Dr. Kristen Schrauben, and because it is most geared on what I want to go into in the future. This class was easy to stay engaged with and I was interested in nearly all of the topics given.

What are you planning to do after graduation?

After graduation I will be staying at Grand Valley State University and entering the School Psychology program to further my education.

MEGHAN G. THORNTON - ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

How did you become interested in psychology?

I became interested in psychology because I wanted a career that would have a meaningful impact in the lives of others. The human mind and the ability to learn are fascinating. School Psychology providesa way to continue learning about the human mind while applying that knowledge to improving the lives of my students and their families.

 What has been your favorite psychology class and why?

My favorite course was Developmental Psychopathology. It was challenging and had a lot of information, but the subject was fascinating. It also provided a great deal of practical and meaningful interventions for children.

What are you planning to do after graduation?

After graduation I will be working as a school psychologist in East Grand Rapids Public Schools.

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Liam Hart - Robert Hendersen Leadership Award

How did you become interested in psychology?

I became initially interested in psychology by watching related videos on YouTube - TED talks, recorded lectures at universities, and podcasts. One day while watching one of those videos, I had a realization that most of these talks/discussions were led by a psychologist, and that I could make it my career. My interest only continues to grow to this day, as it seems that any topic in psychology can spark an interesting discussion if one is to think deeply about it.

How have your leadership opportunities enriched your experience as a student?

My leadership opportunities enriched my experience as a student by giving me a deeper sense of what it means to be a leader and manage people that are depending on your oversight. Being the president of Psi Chi was my first real “leadership position”, and it gave me a sense for how governing boards and executives make decisions when the path is not clear-cut. It also generally gave me more confidence to take part in leadership activities and work independently on my own projects.

What are you planning to do after graduation?

After graduation, I am planning on taking a gap year while continuing my research on beliefs with Dr. Michael Wolfe and Dr. Todd Williams. I will be working at Planet Rock, a climbing gym in Madison Heights, to further explore and advance my expertise in the sport and to meet like-minded people. This gap year will allow me to have a firmly established hobby while working in academics so that I can contain a work/life balance as I pursue a PhD in cognitive psychology.

What has been your favorite psychology class and why?

My favorite psychology class was Advanced General: Capstone because it touched upon a lot of interesting topics and consequences of psychological research. Nearly every question asked in the class did not have a clear answer, and it tested and strengthened my critical thinking skills. It was broad, covering many areas in psychology, but also took a fine-grained look at many controversial issues that stem from research findings and practices.

Lily Kedzuch - Research Excellence (Psychology)

 How did you become interested in psychology?

I first became interested in psychology when I took AP Psychology in high school and was enamored by the vast range of topics it covered. I loved learning about people's biological processes and how environments can influence development. After that class, I knew I wanted to pursue this subject.

How have your research opportunities enriched your experience as a student?

Since participating in research, I have grown as a student, critical thinker, and problem solver. The experience put me out of my comfort zone but I've become more confident when tackling challenges and pushing myself to new experiences.

What are you planning to do after graduation?

I plan to take a year to work in a clinical setting to gain clinical experience and save money for graduate school. I hope to attend a PhD in Clinical Psychology program within a year or two.

What has been your favorite psychology class and why?

My favorite psychology class has been Psychopathology because I learned about psychological disorders that I've always heard about but never knew about in depth. A lot of topics discussed in this class are relevant and I appreciated having this knowledge.

Ian Pope - Academic Excellence (Behavioral Neuroscience)

How did you become interested in psychology?

To be honest I do not have a very good story about how I became interested in psychology. Mainly, I am interested in how the mind and behavior arise from the interactions of cellular collectives. Trillions of cells collaborate through time and space to create all human beings. We are not monadic entities and yet, it still feels like I have a unified conscious experience of the world and I can't think of anything more interesting than that.

What are you planning to do after graduation?

I have applied to and hope to get accepted to the Master’s Program in Cell and Molecular Biology here at GVSU. My goal is to work in research and continue to learn more about neuroscience, behavior and other biological systems. I'll also be spending a lot of time outdoors with my dog Norma and fiancé Megan, my two biggest inspirations. 

What has been your favorite psychology class and why?

My favorite psychology class was Advanced Research Methods in Psychology. I really enjoyed the experimental design process, collaborating with others, analyzing data and presenting results. Having everything coming together at the end was a really satisfying feeling. I have to say though, my favorite class at GVSU in general has been Developmental Biology, and I really wish that we had a class in Developmental Neuroscience!

Lena Thornton - Academic Excellence (Psychology)

How did you become interested in psychology?

More than anything else, I believe that my interest in psychology arose from my general interest in the human condition; what it means to be human in a world like ours, why we behave in the ways that we do, and why we are similar or different from others in the ways that we are. Like many others, I assume, who make the choice to study psychology, I always had a great interest in gaining a better understanding of my own self and actions, as well as my place in a complex (and scary!) society. While there is still so much unknown to come and so much more to learn, I can confidently say that I have grown immensely as a person throughout my time at GVSU, and my experiences in the Psychology Department most definitely helped me get there.

What are you planning to do after graduation?

After graduation, I plan to spend a year working, applying for graduate schools, and hopefully gaining some research experience. As of now, I am interested in graduate programs for School Psychology or School Counseling, but my plans are still up in the air -- and I’m excited to see how things turn out!

 What has been your favorite psychology class and why?

I would say that my favorite psychology class at GVSU was PSY 492 - Advanced General: The Capstone. While it definitely was the most challenging course that I have taken in the Psychology Department, it was also the most rewarding! The discussion-based format of the course made each class session exciting, as we consistently explored a wide variety of psychological topics and the available research behind them. Additionally, the small size of the course created a comfortable, close-knit environment for sharing our thoughts and ideas, which allowed all of us to bond over the subject that we are passionate about and for great peer connections to be made!

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Dionne Pinto-Guerra

Robert Hendersen Leadership Award

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Lucretia Dunlap

Robert Hendersen Leadership Award

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