Psychology Colloquium Highlights Diverse Careers and Research Interests of Graduate Program Alumni

On April 5, the Villanova University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences hosted a special colloquium that featured presentations from four alumni from the Master of Science program in Psychology. This daylong event in a packed Dougherty Hall East Lounge showcased the diverse research interests of successful alumni and was made more notable by the presence of each presenter's faculty thesis mentors, all of whom are recently retired or are retiring this year.

All four MS alumni went on to earn a PhD and are currently psychological scientists as members of university psychology departments.

"The colloquium highlights the outstanding research and diverse, academic careers of our alumni, as well as the lasting connections that our students form with their faculty mentors. We are delighted to bring the Villanova Psychological and Brain Sciences community together for this wonderful event," said Michael Brown, PhD, Professor and Department Chair.
 

The 2024 Psychological and Brain Sciences Alumni Research Colloquium included:

Page Anderson, PhD, '93 MS
Associate Professor, Psychology and Neuroscience, Georgia State University
PhD: University of Georgia, Clinical Psychology
Talk Title: "The Chatbot Will See You Now: Two Decades of Technology in Mental Health Research"
Villanova Advisor: Pamela Blewitt, PhD, Professor Emerita

Joshua Hicks, PhD, '03 MS
Professor, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University
PhD: University of Missouri, Personality and Social Psychology
Talk Title: "Unique Pathways to the Experience of Meaning in Life"
Villanova Advisor: Deborah Kendzierski, PhD, Professor Emerita

Eddie Ester, PhD, '06 MS
Assistant Professor, Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno
PhD: University of Oregon, Psychology
Talk Title: "Human Brain Oscillations Link Cognition With Action"
Villanova Advisor: Charles Folk, PhD

Amy Moors, PhD, '09 MS
Assistant Professor, Psychology, Chapman University
PhD: University of Michigan, Psychology and Women's Studies
Talk Title: "Rethinking Romance: Challenging Misconceptions About Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships"
Villanova Advisor: Thomas Toppino, PhD

About Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the Villanova learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.