I received this beautiful award in recognition of years of service at UNT-Dallas. I began working with UNTD as an adjunct in 2015, and then as a full-time lecturer in 2017. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to work in higher education, and at an institution that values the local community. It has been beyond rewarding.
This morning I had the pleasure of serving as an Oral Defense Panel member for AP Research students at Highland Park High School in Dallas, TX. I also had the honor of serving as a consultant for the following cult research project. I’m so proud of Miss Browne’s final research project. She did outstanding on her defense as well! I’m pleased that her research will further awareness of cult survivors and recovery programs. Many thanks for allowing me to be a part of the process.
The UNT-Dallas Trailblazer 360 event was, as always, a lot of fun! Prospective students were able to tour the campus, including the new residence hall and student center. The Student Life Resource Fair was also in full swing, with plenty of treats, prizes, and UNTD swag. At the end of the day students participated in a scholarship raffle. It was a pleasure meeting so many prospective students and their families.
I am very excited to announce a new course that will be offered to UNTD undergraduates in the Fall of 2021: Social Psychology of Cults. This course is designed to compliment the undergraduate psychology degree program, and specifically the Social Psychology (PSYC 3100) and Research Methods (PSYC 3200) courses. This course will survey case studies of cults from a social psychology perspective. Students will develop critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate social dynamics and group processes involved in cult recruitment, engagement, exfiltration, and recovery. To date there is no textbook offered for this topic, so I have gathered readings from a variety of sources. Below are a few examples from our class reading list. I can’t wait to begin exploring these topics with students!
I will hang this certificate of appreciation with great pride in my office. Thank you, McNair staff, for the recognition and for all that you do for our UNTD scholars. I’m honored to be a part of the program!
I had the pleasure of presenting the nuts and bolts of my Internship in Psychology course to the UNT-Dallas Teaching & Learning Collaborative group of distinguished faculty. This brief presentation was designed to illustrate common questions students ask, and how to generally prepare students for the internship experience in the field of psychology. Many points were expanded upon that bullet points don’t fully explain. If you are a faculty member interested in setting up your own internship course, please feel free to contact me – I’d be happy to share my thoughts and strategies!
Full presentation can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/2VJiIPU
I am so happy to announce that Ofelia Cavazos Chapa, a former UNT-D Psychology Club officer, and current Southern Methodist University graduate counseling student was awarded the 2020 Counseling Fellowship Award for the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program–Addictions Counselors (MFP-AC). Words cannot express how very proud I am of our former student and fellow psychology club cheerleader. Way to go Ofelia! Keep killing it in the world of counseling!
This covid quarantine has me missing traditional conferences and collaborations with colleagues and peers. I thought I’d share this memory from the Teaching Professor Conference, 2017, held in St. Louis, MO. This annual conference is for faculty who are seeking innovative classroom techniques, recent pedagogical research, and the latest technology tools. It was a fun experience full of great teaching insights. Looking forward to an end to this madness. Stay safe and healthy everyone!
Students love the new student union building, and Valentine’s Day spirit is all over the peaceful courtyard! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
The Psychology Club’s first Spring 2020 meeting was a lot of fun! We played the (pretty mean) card game Butt Hurt and had many uncomfortable, yet funny moments together. We also enjoyed Valentine’s Day treats and exchanged cards. Each semester we try to plan new and fun experiences. This was certainly a first, but hopefully not a last!
