Student Spotlight

Senior Departmental Award

2011

2010

Peter Rosen

While at Illinois Wesleyan University I was involved in many activities both in and out of the psychology department. I became involved in psychology research as a freshman while helping other students complete their thesis work. I was also a teaching assistant for the Behavioral Conditioning Lab, as well as the research assistant for the EEG Lab on campus.  I recently completed my honors research thesis with Dr. Jason Themanson working with event-related brain potentials. Outside of psychology I was an art student, and a coach for a youth soccer league in the community. I am currently going on to pursue my Ph.D. in the Experimental Psychology program at Washington State University to work on a collaboration between the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab and the Sleep and Performance Research Center. In addition to school I will work as a teaching/research assistant there on campus.  

2009

Melinda Mallory

At Illinois Wesleyan University I was involved in many activities both in and out of the psychology department.  I was involved with psych research both as a research assistant my sophomore and junior years as well as doing my own thesis with Dr. Dougan my senior year.  I was a member of Psi Chi and was president of the organization my senior year. I also did an internship at BroMenn on the Mental Health Unit. Outside of psychology I played the oboe in the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra.  I was a member of Colleges Against Cancer and the Philosophy Club and I worked as a tour guide at Admissions.  I am currently finishing some necessary prerequisite courses and applying to Nursing School.  I will hopefully be entering an accelerated program this May to receive a Bachelor's degree in Nursing. 

Jim Dougan Award

2011

2010

Ashley N. Czworniak

As I junior, I was fortunate enough to begin research with Dr. Williams exploring the effectiveness of pulsed radio frequency in the treatment of pain, which I found fascinating. Continuing with research, I will be pursuing a senior thesis investigating the effects of terminal illness on family functionality. Outside of the Psychology department, I am involved in Global Medical Brigades, as well as International Justice Mission which works to end sex trafficking in foreign countries. Additionally, I have been fortunate enough to work at Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago for about two years which has been an absolutely enlightening opportunity. After graduation, I plan to work towards an M.D/Ph.D., and hopefully one day join the Peace Corps.

2010

Kerry Gremo

I am currently a senior psychology major and Spanish minor at IWU. Within the department I've participated as a teaching and research assistant for Dr. Sheese. During my sophomore year I completed an internship in the Intervention Strategies Team of the North DuPage Special Education Cooperative. I'm a member of Psi Chi, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, and serve as Vice President of Kappa Delta Sorority. After graduating in December I plan to pursue a Ph.D in school or child clinical psychology  specializing in diagnosis and treatment of mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

2009

Psi Chi Award

2011

2010

2009

Melanie Essayen

I am currently in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Ph.D program at Central Michigan University. I'm doing my research on occupational stress and am helping a professor with a book on woman leaders in the workplace from an evolutionary psychology standpoint. In addition to school I'm working as a general psychology teaching assistant and as a research consultant for CareerBuilder.