Department of Psychology

2012 Highlights

Going Above and Beyond ...

Ms. Sharma & her colorful research poster.

Graduate student, Dinghy Sharma and her take on "Quality of Life" through research.

Grad student, Dinghy Sharma was invited to attend the Native Children's Research Exchange II 2012, Frontiers in Intervention Research with Native Children, Families, and Communities conference that was held at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus on October 4-5th.

During the poster symposia Ms. Sharma was able to share her research entitled, "What Makes Life Good?: Co-Developing a Quality of Life Measure for Use with Alaska Native College Students", under the mentorship of Dr. Ellen D.S. Lopez, MPH, Ph.D.

Ms. Sharma was not only honored to attend the event & share their research findings, but also had the great opportunity to learn from other NCRE scholars and mentors.

If you wish to learn more, please visit the University of Colorado NCRE website.

Dancing Polar Bear, Palaya Qiatsuk

Dancing & research, what a great combo!

Psychology grad student, Dinghy Sharma was awarded $1,500.00 from the UAA’s Alaska Native Community Advancement in Psychology (ANCAP) Program!

Dinghy will develop and pilot test the effects of using traditional dance and creative movement expression through dance movement therapy (DMT) as a therapeutic intervention among Alaska Native cancer support group members.  

With advising from Dr. Ellen D. S. Lopez and Freda M. Williams (Director of Community Service, Fairbanks Native Association), Dinghy will work with cancer survivors who participate in Hopeful Connections (a support group for Alaska Native cancer survivors and their loved ones). Hopeful Connections is a partnership of the Fairbanks Native Association and The UAF’s Center for Alaska Native Health Research.

Awards, awards and more awards.

UAF Psi Chi President, Ashley StrauchAshley Strauch, the UAF Psi Chi President and undergrad psychology major, has received THREE research awards:

URSA Travel Award  $760  (Mentor: Dr. Ellen Lopez)

URSA Research Award  $2500   (Mentor: Dr. Monica Skewes)

CLA Undergrad Research  $1000   
       ~~Tuition  $600
       ~~Travel   $400

CONGRATS!

Angel Vasquez, accepts "fellowship" from APA.

Psychology student, Angel Vasquez received a fellowship through the Minority Fellowship Program in Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services from the American Psychological Association (APA).

This fellowship is considered to be one of the highest honor's a grad student could ever receive within the psychology field!

Angel Vasquez smiling from ear to ear after receiving an honorable fellowship from the APA.

If you would like to know more about the fellowship, please visit the APA MFP website:

http://www.apa.org/pi/mfp/index.aspx

You've been published!!!

Dr. Ellen Lopez and grad student, Dinghy Sharma's research article, "Forging a new legacy of trust in research with Alaska Native college students using CBPR" has been published in the September 2012 issue of the International Journal of Circumpolar Health.

Grad student Dinghy Sharma rises to the occasion for a photo op with her research poster at Columbia University, NY for the 2012 Winter Roundtable: "Beyond Borders: Transforming Lives through Traditions and Innovations"

You can see the full article online by following the link provided:
http://www.circumpolarhealthjournal.net