FALL 2007 D e p a r t m e n t o f P s y c h o l ogy | University o f i L L i n o i s a t U r b a n a - C h a m p a i g n

Focus on Resea r c h

The Legacy of Early Experience: Prospective and Psychological Retrospective Evidence for Enduring Effects Models of Language By Glenn I. Roisman Comprehension By Kara Federmeier One of the more Ironically, debates about the developmental controversial claims significance of early experience have, until Human brains are storehouses for vast in developmental recently, taken place in the relative absence amounts of information about things, is that of much data from long-term, longitudinal people, places, and events. Remarkably, in early experiences studies, tracking cohorts of children from only hundreds of milliseconds the brain with caregivers leave infancy to maturity, that have used state- of an experienced language user can an enduring mark on of-the-art methods for studying the quality retrieve information from this storehouse in human development. of interpersonal relationships in the early response to a complex, often ambiguous, Although this is a very old idea, formalized in life course. Fortunately for me, it was as a perceptual signal—that is, a visual or theories that date back to the beginnings of graduate research assistant on one of the auditory word. Research conducted in the psychological science, no strong consensus few such investigations—Alan Sroufe, Byron University of Illinois Cognition and Brain has been built within the field or in society Egeland, and Andy at large about this issue. For example, some Collins’s Minnesota scholars have claimed that any effects of early longitudinal study— experience are transient—that is, they are that I got my start gradually erased over time by subsequent life as an interpersonal events (see, for example, high-profile books relationships researcher. by Judith Rich Harris, Jerome Kagan, and After publishing a series Michael Lewis). Others, meanwhile, strongly of papers based on this identify with the notion that early experience study, demonstrating, may be uniquely important, a sentiment among other things, that has provided a foundation for a multi- that infant attachment billion dollar “first three years” industry that security predicts the has given rise not only to unprecedented observed quality of educational opportunities for parents to learn young adults’ romantic An infant’s early relationship experience with a caregiver predicts the observed quality of his or her young adult romantic relationships. about normative development but also CDs, relationships, I became Lab aims to uncover the psychological and DVDs, and other products—many of dubious convinced that early experiences might biological mechanisms that make such value—designed to jump start babies’ indeed have lasting consequences. rapid appreciation of meaning possible. To cognitive and social development. (continued on page 4) do this, we look at behavioral responses in conjunction with eye movement patterns and

(continued on page 5)  university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 

In This Issue From the Department Head

Preparing Students for the Future My first year as head of the Department of Psychology page 7 has gone by very quickly. I am grateful to the many Faculty and Student Awards page 10 dedicated faculty, staff, and students who made it a fun Faculty News and rewarding year. It is a great honor to be head of this page 13 excellent and congenial department and I have found Alumni News page 15 the experience to be both stimulating and rewarding. The field of psychology has changed a great deal since most of us were in school. Our department now consists of eight different areas or divisions: Biological, Brain and Cognition, Clinical/Community, Cognitive, Developmental, Quantitative, Social-Personality-Organizational, and Visual Cognition and Human Performance. Students and faculty members in these divisions study the mind and behavior at various levels of analysis— from individual neurons, to individual brains, to individual people, to groups, to institutions. In terms of size, we are one of the largest departments on campus with approximately 60 tenure-stream faculty members, nearly 200 graduate students, and approximately 1,300 undergraduate majors. We teach over 50,000 student credit hours each year, and we do it well—80 percent of our teaching ratings are Psychology Times Psychology Times is a publication of the above the midpoint of our five-point rating scale. We also excel in the research University of Illinois Department of Psychology produced by the College of Liberal domain. Approximately 90 percent of our faculty have external funding, and Arts and Sciences Office of Communications last year psychology faculty members received over $6 million in grant funds. It and Marketing (06.099). Photos by Creative Images Photography, Dr. Kara Federmeier, Illini is little wonder that the department is consistently ranked among the top five Studio, Komorita family, Jessica Lyles, McGrath psychology departments in the country. family, Thompson-McClellan Photography, Inc., and Harry Zanotti. Suggestions for future Befitting our high rank, many faculty members and students won prestigious issues should be directed to: awards in the last year. In this newsletter you will learn more about some Cheryl Berger, editor Department of Psychology of these remarkable people, as well as staff members and alumni who are University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 603 E. Daniel St. distinguishing themselves in their work on campus and across the country. I Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: (217) 333-3429 hope that reading about their accomplishments and their work will make you as Fax: (217) 244-5876 For more information on the department, visit proud to be associated with this department as I am. our website at: www.psych.uiuc.edu David E. Irwin Professor and Head  university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 

Gene X Environment Interactions in Mental Health Avshalom Caspi, a recognized leader in the field of , is a professor of psychology E-Risk Research and the Future at the University of Wisconsin, where he co-directs the Developmental Program on Personality and Psychopathology. He also holds a concurrent appointment in the Social, Genetic, and Developmental To determine whether the risk factor is truly Psychiatry Research Centre which is affiliated with the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College in London. an environmental cause, researchers have Caspi focuses his research in three areas: (1) the origins, continuity, and change of individual differences in conducted randomized treatment trials, both normal and abnormal psychological traits; (2) social inequalities and mental health; and (3) how and natural experiments, and twin and adoption why personality differences shape health-risk behaviors. designs with genetic controls. Caspi and make its way into the nervous system Moffit, for example, explored the latter option and alter its elements, to generate when they conducted an e-risk longitudinal the symptoms of a disordered mind? study with 1,116 families with twins who According to Caspi, there is were born between 1994-95 in England and emerging evidence of GxE in Wales. The twins were followed over the first psychiatric conditions. Behavioral decade of life. One of the issues studied was scientists know a lot about what whether the experience of being maltreated environmental risks (e-risks) are was influenced by a child’s genes.T he results connected with psychiatric disorders. that were found for environmental mediation The pool of e-risk candidates included: includes antisocial disorders, • A child’s risk of maltreatment was not depression, and the schizophrenia influenced by the child’s genes spectrum. Caspi contends that these risks should also be extended to • Controlling for the child’s prior level of symptoms, maltreatment experience psychosocial, perinatal, infectious, was followed by an increase in new and toxic pathogens. He looks conduct disorder symptoms for three criteria when selecting • After controlling for both parents’ candidate environmental risks for the Avshalom Caspi was the featured speaker at the Department of antisocial behavior, maltreatment still Psychology’s Lanier Lecture on September 11, 2006. The Lanier Lecture GxE hypotheses: predicted conduct disorder significantly highlights the research of a distinguished psychologist whose work is (Jaffee et al., 2004,Journal of Abnormal of interest to the general campus community. • Marked variability of response Psychology) among people exposed to the Avshalom Caspi thought it was fitting that environmental risk he was delivering a lecture about gene- • Evidence that the putative risk is a true “GxE is well recognized in agricultural environment interactions on the campus environmental pathogen having causal research but only recently have that is home to the Morrow Plots, the oldest effects mental health researchers begun to continually used experimental fields in the • A plausible effect of the environmental grapple empirically with GxE. GxE has United States. After all, the gene-environment risk on biological systems involved in already been reported and replicated interaction (i.e., GxE) is well recognized in the disorder in other branches of medicine. agricultural research. For example, dietary fat intake is It is only recently, however, that mental Examples of e-risk research conducted by associated with high triglycerides health researchers have begun to grapple Caspi’s team includes: male conduct disorder when subjects were the carriers of empirically with GxE, which occurs when and how child maltreatment interacts the APOA5 genotype, and heavy an environmental pathogen (e.g., poor with genotype; adult depression and how tobacco smokers developed gum diet, pollution, life stress) has an effect on life stress interacts with genotype; and disease, indexed by the number of health (dependent on genotype). What schizophrenia spectrum disorder and how remaining teeth, when the subjects has taken so long, and what does future cannabis use interacts with genotype. He has were carriers of the Interleukin 1 research about this topic promise to deliver? identified six strategic steps for research into genotype.” Caspi claims that successful collaboration measured GxE: (1) identifying the candidate between genetic epidemiologists and environmental pathogen, (2) optimizing —Avshalom Caspi neuroscientists can solve the biggest mystery the environmental risk measurement, (3) of human psychopathology: how does an identifying candidate susceptibility genes, (4) testing for interaction, (5) evaluating the environmental factor, external to a person, (continued on page 8) specificity of the GxE, and (6) replication.  university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 

Early Experience (continued from page 1) Researching the Lasting remain about for whom the effects of early research goals, such investigations have Consequences of Early experience are most pronounced and also yielded consistent evidence that secure Experiences through what mechanisms early experience adults who are able to freely evaluate their My current program of research seeks to leaves its persistent mark on development. early experiences—without either becoming refine and extend what we know about As such, in ongoing longitudinal work, I am preoccupied with or dismissive of early life the significance of early experience. In one examining both genetic (e.g., polymorphisms events—tend to interact more effectively line of research, I continue to analyze data demonstrated to increase risks associated with both close partners and strangers, from cohorts of children intensively studied, with environmental inputs) as well as an idea which has led us to believe that prospectively from infancy. For example, environmental (e.g., the continuity of developing a coherent narrative about early I serve as a Co-Principal Investigator on caregiving experiences) moderators and life events serves as a key psychological the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and mediators of the developmental significance resource for successfully engaging adult Youth Development (SECCYD), a multi-site of early experience. relationships. investigation of more than 1,000 children A second line of research I am conducting Such work has also demonstrated that tracked from infancy to age 15. Using these presently consists of a programmatic set of insecure adults show distinctive patterns of data, in collaboration with Professor Chris laboratory analogue studies involving the physiological response when they attempt Fraley, we have been able to demonstrate administration of semi-structured, hour-long to resolve areas of disagreement with that observations of maternal sensitivity in Adult Attachment Interviews (AAIs) of college their partners, implying that interpersonal the first three years students, stranger experiences may tune psychobiological of life are associated “Developing a coherent dyads, , reactivity with consequences for physical and romantically health. These initial findings provide a in enduring ways narrative about early life with cognitive and involved couples foundation for collaborative research in the social functioning. events serves as a key (dating, engaged, planning stages on the neurobiology of adult Similarly, focusing married, gay attachment as well as a behavior-genetic twin on the nationally psychological resource male, and lesbian) study of adults’ narratives about their early that ask about experiences. representative twin for successfully engaging their childhood sub-sample of Early Glenn Roisman is an assistant professor in the Devel- Childhood Longitudinal adult relationships.” experiences. In opmental Division in the Department of Psychology. His interests broadly concern the legacy of early Study Birth Cohort, Dr. addition to having relationship experiences as an organizing force in made methodological contributions in this social and emotional development across the lifespan. Fraley and I have conducted behavior-genetic He was recently honored with the 2007 Society for analyses, which suggest that genetic variation area (e.g., distinguishing empirically between Research in Award for Early Research Contributions. Roisman is currently pursuing among children plays no detectable role in developmental and social psychological his research agenda both through (1) prospective in- approaches to the assessment of adult vestigations of the fate of early experience as a Co-PI terms of scaffolding the quality of infant- on the NICHD Study of Early Child Care, a longitudinal caregiver relationships—whereas shared and security and using taxometric procedures study of over 1,000 youth tracked from infancy to age 15, and (2) a programmatic set of laboratory analogue non-shared experiences within the home are to determine that variation in security studies involving administering in-depth interviews is continuously and not categorically to college students, stranger dyads, siblings, and paramount in this regard. romantically involved couples (dating, engaged, Cumulatively, such work provides distributed), these studies provide rare married, gay male, and lesbian) about their childhood experiences. compelling evidence that early experiences observational and physiological evidence of largely non-genetic origin are associated that committed same-sex couples compare in enduring ways with developmental quite favorably to their heterosexual adaptation. Nonetheless, questions counterparts. More central to our primary  university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 

Language Comprehension (continued from page 1)

brain electrophysiological responses (event- Institute on Aging to examine how and why left cerebral hemispheres. We find that the related potentials or ERPs). language comprehension changes with age left hemisphere is more likely to process Many psychological models of language and what factors might make age-related language through prediction, perhaps comprehension assume that words are impairment less likely. explaining in part why damage to the left processed in a “bottom-up” fashion, While prediction can help language hemisphere is particularly devastating beginning with each word’s visual or auditory users rapidly appreciate meaning in some for normal language functions. The right features, progressing to basic information circumstances, there are also times when hemisphere, in contrast, seems to process about word kind (e.g., language in a more bottom- whether the word up fashion, making it is a noun or verb), better at flexibly handling and, finally, yielding unpredictable words, such as information about those in jokes. the word’s meaning. Overall, research in our Importantly, this laboratory suggests that process is assumed to while our appreciation be the same whether of meaning often seems one encounters a effortless, immediate, word alone or as part and unified, it is, instead, of a larger context, constructed by the brain such as a sentence across both space and or story. However, time and in more than one our work suggests manner at any given point in context has important time. Our aim is to continue “Our work has shown that the brains of many older adults are less effective at making effects on how a to try to understand how we (context) predictions during normal comprehension and, correspondingly, less good word is processed so quickly process patterns at rapidly appreciating the meaning of sentences.” and, in particular, of sounds or letters to that the language derive such complex, rich comprehension system can use context prediction might cause errors. For example, associations—an ability that seems to be information to predict what upcoming words when reading the sentence, “When I asked uniquely human. will be like. This means that some information the bartender for something cold and full of rum, he recommended his…” a predictive Kara Federmeier is an assistant professor in the Brain about word meaning may be available to and Cognition and Cognitive divisions of the Depart- the system even before the word actually language comprehension system is likely to ment of Psychology. She received her PhD in cognitive science from the University of California at San Diego appears, which may be an important part prepare itself to process a word like “daiquiri.” in 2000, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship with of what allows meaning processing to be as Such a system might then have trouble when the Center for Research in Language at UCSD before joining the faculty at the University of Illinois in the fall fast and effective as it usually is—at least, the final word turns out to be “wife.” In cases of 2002. She recently received the Society for Psycho- physiology’s award for Distinguished Early Career Con- as it usually is for young adults. In fact, our like the processing of this joke, a system that tributions to Psychophysiology. Federmeier’s research work has shown that the brains of many waited and made no assumptions about focuses on the neural bases of language comprehen- sion, including the representation and organization of older adults are less effective at making such the final word might do better. Intriguingly, verbal and pictorial knowledge in long-term memory predictions during normal comprehension our recent research suggests that the brain and semantic and syntactic context effects in language comprehension. In July 2005, she was awarded a grant and, correspondingly, less good at rapidly might use both predictive and more bottom- from the National Institute on Aging to study hemi- spheric differences in verbal processing and the effects appreciating the meaning of sentences. We up processing strategies, distributed across of normal aging on comprehension. currently have funding from the National the two “halves” of our brain: the right and  university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 

Lee Honored for Teaching Excellence Congratulations to Matthew Lee, who was student’s early evaluations cited both residing in a university living and learning a recipient of the College of LAS Award for his creative use of real-life events and community and that document the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by a music to illustrate important concepts, complexity of Asian American college life. Graduate Instructor. Lee was also selected his approachable style, and ability to Lee also won an award from the Office of the as the 2006 recipient of the know students by name even Dean of Students for workshops he provided departmental teaching award. in a lecture class. Lee’s use of to students outside the classroom. For four semesters, Lee innovative classroom activities to Lee will be on a one-year internship at Ohio facilitated five dialogue sections engage students on both personal University’s Counseling Center for the 2007- and co-facilitated one section and interpersonal levels earned 08 academic year. of “Exploring Cultural Diversity” him accolades from students as (Ed Psych 202), an introductory well as three semester placements course to guide students’ on the “Incomplete List of “My teaching philosophy is grounded on understanding of historical Teachers Ranked as Excellent.” He and social oppression, and discrimination. has gone beyond the duties of a teaching the basis of social justice. My classroom Lee led three sessions of an elective in assistant to earn a Graduate Teaching techniques challenge students to think Asian American Studies called “Being Asian Certificate. beyond the texts and develop skills in American” (AAS 199) in the spring of 2006. Lee’s approach to teaching has also engaging peers and institutions in an The sections he offered not only met the been shaped through his service on many increasingly diverse world. My goals program’s mission to deliver Asian American important campus committees (e.g., for students are that they can apply the Studies content to students of all ethnic University Provost and Vice Chancellor backgrounds, but proved so popular that for Academic Affairs Search Committee, knowledge to actual skills and behaviors another section was added to accommodate Counseling Center Specialist Search such as problem solving, communicating the overwhelming student interest. Committee, and Asian American Studies across differences, and deciding to act as As an instructor in “Introduction to Program Advisory Board), and research an agent of, or ally against, oppression. Psychology” (Psych 100) in Fall 2006, his experiences that examine the effects of

Students Complete Honors Program Last spring, 16 students presented their research at the Honors Program Fair. The program, coordinated in 2005-06 by Professor Eva Pomerantz, requires that students write a research–based thesis at a level comparable to a master’s thesis and make several oral presentations on both assigned material and their own research. Students who complete the honors program graduate with a “Distinction in Psychology.”

Bottom row: Kate Scott, Lindsay Termini, Amber Stoesser, Lyn Apa, Nicole Sorell. Middle row: Dr. Eva Pomerantz, Rebecca Olejniczak, Sankirtana Mundlapudi, Jenny Fell, Jessica Eggert, Alice Moon, Agnieszka Konopka (graduate TA). Top row: Kate Olson, Bharathi Pillai, Danielle McCarthy, Kristoffer Myczek, Renier Pualengco, Wilbert Law.  university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 

Preparing Students for the Future “The goal of the Psych The Psych 290 Experience 290 course is to expose Doctoral student Bradley Brummel students to more in-depth received an enthusiastic response in his Psych 245: “Industrial/ research and to develop Organizational Psychology” class last fall when he announced that he would their skills for literature accept seven students for Psych 290: reviews and analytical “Research Experience in Psychology.” The students, six seniors and one thinking.” junior, met weekly with Brummel in Professor Drasgow’s lab suite. What Students Say About Psych 290 The goal of the course was “Brad has done a great job of integrating a classroom to expose the students to more in-depth research in the Industrial/Organizational and learning environment into the lab work. Aside from field and to develop their skills for literature reviews and analytical thinking. In running subjects and entering data—the expected grunt addition to the weekly readings and discussions, the students learned about data work for a 290—we have actively participated in discussion collection, data entry, pre-tested a web survey, and contributed to the design and evaluation of other research and topics in the field.” —Patricia Meehan of other projects. Two of the students continued the work with Brummel for an additional semester, and one student presented a poster at the Society for “Bradley has been extremely helpful with the process of Personality and , the preeminent social psychology conference. applying to graduate schools. He has given me helpful The senior students also received assistance completing applications for graduate advice on which schools and programs to apply to, written school, including a letter of recommendation. me letters of recommendation, and provided advice for my personal statement.” The seven students in Brummel’s Psych 290 section were part of the nearly 250 —Daniel Treiber students who enroll in the course every semester. Faculty from all of the divisions in the department participate in this unique educational opportunity. “All of my expectations were met through the articles, For both the instructor and the students, Psych 290 proved to be a win-win weekly discussions, and helping run Brad’s recent study. situation. Brummel had the opportunity to work with highly motivated students, I feel I learned a lot more about the field and gained experience that I would not have if I just took an I/O course.” engage in the personal interaction that is missing when teaching a large class like —Alicia Mohammed Psych 245, and gain experience as a mentor. The students had the chance to receive hands-on research experience in a lab setting, engage in personal interaction with an instructor, and obtain assistance with the graduate school application process.

Generous Donors Assist Students The Ann L. Brown Award for Excellence Frederick H. Kanfer, a member of the Department of in Developmental Research was Psychology from 1973 until 1995, was a pioneer in the behavioral therapy movement and a founding father of created to honor researchers who have self-management therapy. To honor his legacy, his family made stellar contributions in the field established the Frederick and Ruby Kanfer Award, to be presented to the graduating senior whose scholarship of developmental psychology. The first and/or service in the field of clinical/community psychology is award was presented to Alan Leslie, aimed at improving the psychological lives of all individuals. Amanda Howald was the 2006 Kanfer Award winner. at the 2006 Ann L. Brown Lecture on Howald worked with Professors Wendy Heller and Gregory Miller for three years, November 16, 2006, in the context of the making substantive contributions in their lab. She began her graduate studies last year in Northwestern University’s Counseling Psychology Program. Cognitive Science Colloquium Series.  university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 

Gene X (continued from page 3) Caspi believes different e-risks can come into play at different points in the lifespan. For Distinguished Alumni Honored example, when looking at the environmental positions at GTE and MCI. She contributions in schizophrenia, Caspi said retired after the WorldCom acquisition of MCI was infectious prenatal exposure could put an completed. individual at risk for schizophrenia. Additional Fred Volkmar (BS ’72) e-risks could include: birth: hypoxia; earned an MA in psychology adolescence: drug use, prodrome and onset; and an MD from Stanford adulthood: life stress, degeneration, and University. He has been chronicity. associated with Yale University since 1980, GxE research is in the early stages, when he came to the Yale says Caspi, but he predicts that the Child Study Center as a most important work on GxE will come fellow in child psychiatry. out of neuroscience and experimental He joined the faculty in psychopathology, not epidemiology, The Department of Psychology honored two 1982 as an assistant professor of child distinguished alumni, Kathy Olesker Pounds because researchers can accomplish more psychiatry, pediatrics, and psychology, and and Fred Volkmar, at last year’s graduation currently holds the position of Irving B. Harris in a laboratory than they can in the field. ceremony. Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and For example, researchers can randomly Kathy Olesker Pounds (BS ’71) pursued Psychology. He is recognized as the leading assign subjects with different genotypes to graduate work in community counseling expert in the field of autism and related different e-risk exposures, measure reactivity and provided social services in the poorer disorders, such as Asperger’s syndrome. to exposure, and manipulate the strength of sections of Miami before deciding to enroll Volkmar also serves as a consulting and in law school at Northwestern University. exposure. chief psychiatrist at Benhaven School in Pounds became a litigator with a Miami New Haven, Conn., a school for children with As important as GxE research is, Caspi is not law firm and was assigned to represent an autism, and the Yale Psychiatric Institute. He is suggesting that all genetic effects on mental international conglomerate, headquartered a member of the faculty of the Western New health operate through the environment. in New York City where she met her husband, England Institute for Psychoanalysis. Volkmar He emphasizes that the remarkable Ralph Pounds. She began a career in the delivered the Distinguished Alumni Award capacity of humans to overcome adversity telecommunications industry, where she held lecture, “Understanding Autism-Perspectives cannot be reduced to simply based-pair from Research and Clinical Work.” differences in DNA. Rather, he suggests that wherever there is variation among humans Psychology C a r e e r I n f o r m a t i o n n I g h t in their psychological reactions to major The Department of Psychology held its Participants environmental pathogens for a mental health first Career Information Night on April 19, Denise Dallmier Burger (BS ’93, psychology; AM ’94, human resource manage- disorder, GxE might be operating, and it is ment), director of human resources, Horizon Hobby, Inc. 2007, in the Psychology Building’s atrium. Steven Epstein (BS ’68, psychology; DDS ’72), dentist (retired). worthwhile to explore this hypotheses. Caspi Eight psychology alumni, representing Kara Federmeier (BS ’94, psychology; MS ’96, PhD ’99 University of California, is also hopeful that GxE research will help San Diego, psychology), assistant professor, Department of Psychology, University the fields of teaching, human resources, assuage public fears that genetic research is of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. health, counseling, and marketing, Dale Hoke (BS ’73, psychology; MS ’74, Illinois State University, psychology), dangerous. adjunct instructor of psychology, Heartland Community College. offered current students insight on how Karen McLaughlin (BS ’94, psychology; MS ’97, Institute of Labor and Industrial The Lanier Lecture is supported by a bachelor’s degree in psychology can Relations), associate director for college human resources, College of ACES, Univer- a fund established by L. Gene and sity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Catherine Lemon in memory of prepare them for a future career. Contact her father, Lyle Lanier, former head Keri Carter Pipkins (BS ’96, psychology; MS, Northern Illinois University, Gary Wszalek in the Undergraduate education counseling), assistant director, health and graduate school information, of the Department of Psychology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (1951-1959), dean of the College Advising Office at [email protected] if you of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Ronald Rothschild (BS ’80, psychology; MSW ’84, social work; LC, social work), provost of the Urbana campus. The are interested in participating in a future licensed social worker in private practice. Lanier Lecture brings a distin- Career Information event. Peggy Ruff (BS ’75, math and psychology), vice president, logistics, Tate & Lyle guished psychologist to campus whose work is of interest Ingredients Americas. to the general campus community.  sychology sychology Organizational sychology VCHP)—4th ognition he department was hilosophy degrees degrees hilosophy ommunity T ersonality- ognition and Human ognition U.S. News and World Report U.S. News and World . News’ Rankings .S. News’ ognitive ognitive—6th isual C ocial-P ocial—10th erformance ndustrial/Organizational—5th disciplines)—8th he Department of P P • V ranked in the top 10 in many of 10 in many in the top ranked the sub-discipline as well, ratings including: under health linical (listed • C of areas in eight awarded are psychology: • Biological and C • Brain • Clinical/C • C • Developmental • Quantitative • S Psychology Psychology Department is #5 in ‘U T its rankingmaintained in the top in the programs graduate five 2007 rankings graduate of psychology programs. • I • S Doctor of P • C • Developmental—8th • Experimental ( imes | Departmentimes | of P T sychology sychology P Top 5 cArthur. n addition ark M hese students answered student student answered hese students T M Not shown: Wszalek. ary g h t ebecca Zavelovich, Jayme Jones Jayme Zavelovich, ebecca n I oggins, R oggins, oldt, Academic Advisor G Advisor Academic oldt, o n en B atalie C Natalie arie, othschild, othschild, i onald R egistration Assistants worked year-round during fall and spring year-round worked Assistants egistration ipkins. osengren (Associate (Associate osengren eer R

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Award-Winning Faculty, Students, and Staff

The following faculty, students, and staff were recognized for academic excellence during the past year. All of the recipients receive certificates and have their names inscribed on award plaques that are kept on permanent display in the Psychology Building.

Mabel Kirkpatrick Hohenboken 2006. Hatch is the Director of Budget and Department of Psychology Staff Teaching Enhancement Award Resource Planning and she advises on and Award Gary Dell was selected as the 2006 recipient implements all policies pertaining to the Lori Hendricks received the Department of of the Hohenboken Award. This award financial resources of the department. She is Psychology’s 2006 Staff Award. Hendricks recognizes departmental faculty who also the liaison between the department and is responsible for administering the consistently contribute to instruction, focus various research management authorities department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office, on students and the quality of instructional at the federal, state, and campus levels. One which handles admissions, registration, and outcome, develop innovative approaches to of her references stated, “Kathy is essential the academic progress for approximately 200 teaching, and influence the curriculum. Dell is to the smooth running of the psychology graduate students. Hendricks was also the a faculty member in the Cognitive Division. department, which is a large and financially recipient of this award in 2001. complex unit.” Graduate Student Organization 2007 APA Division 7 Outstanding Instructional Award LAS and Campus Academic Dissertation Award This award is presented to faculty for Advising Award Florrie Fei-Yin Ng received this award for excellence in teaching and advising at the Deneen DeMarie received the LAS and her dissertation, “Parent’s Responses to graduate level. The 2006 recipient is R. Campus Academic Advising Awards for Children’s Success and Failure: Differences Chris Fraley from the Social-Personality- excellence in advising undergraduate Between Chinese and European American Organizational Division. psychology students. DeMarie is one of Parents.” According to the award committee, three advisors in the department who work “it is excellent research with important Psi Chi Teacher of the Year Award with approximately 1,500 undergraduate implications for developmental theory, psychology majors. Many students wrote Renee Baillargeon received this award research, and application. We commend you letters of support and completed the LAS for her demonstrated excellence in for the broad scope of your work and your Student Survey endorsing her candidacy undergraduate teaching. She is a faculty keen eye in integrating several important for the advising award. One of her students member in the Developmental Division. strands of developmental research.” stated, “Deneen became a life mentor. She is Her dissertation was supervised by Dr. Eva Department of Psychology and an advisor that nourishes her students’ lives Pomerantz in the Developmental Division. Ng LAS Academic Professional and challenges them to grow.” spent the 2006-07 academic year conducting Award postdoctoral research with Pomerantz. Kathy Hatch received an Academic Professional Award from the Department of Psychology and College of LAS in

Gary Dell R. Chris Fraley Renee Baillargeon Kathy Hatch Deneen DeMarie Lori Hendricks 10 university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 11

Nancy Hirschberg Memorial took responsibility for the education and Community Action Award Award well-being of her undergraduates and for The Community Action Award recognizes The 2006 award was presented to Elena providing the best possible services to undergraduates who promote social justice Rykhlevskaia (Quantitative Division) for her survivors of domestic violence. in the community through a commitment to paper, “Lagged Covariance Structure Models citizen activism, community organizing, and for Studying Functional Connectivity in the J. McVicker Hunt Award the promotion of individual and community Brain.” Geoffrey Brown was selected by the well-being through the application of their Developmental Division to receive the award knowledge of psychology. Ed Scheiderer Award based on the significance and quality of his Matthew Boden and Erica Mattison were research as well as his research productivity. Lindsay Gehrig was the 2006 Community selected as the 2005 award recipients. Action Award recipient for her work with Boden received the award, in collaboration APA Dissertation Research Grant the Community Advocacy Project (CAP), a with Professor Howard Berenbaum, for Geoffrey Brown received a cash award for his University of Illinois community intervention investigating the causal relation between dissertation “Father Involvement, Fathering program and service-learning course. She emotional awareness (EA) and suspiciousness Quality, and Father-Child Attachment in the excelled both in an academically rigorous and whether this relation is moderated by First Three Years.” investigation of domestic violence and gender. The resultant paper was published in through her compassionate engagement the journal, Cognition and Emotion. 2007 Distinguished Student with survivors. Mattison’s study investigated the Research Award (Division 45) As part of the CAP project, Gehrig engaged relationship between school racial climate Eric John David won the inaugural award in a careful analysis of interviews on domestic and student’s self-reports of academic and from Division 45: Society for the Study of violence, was an advocate for survivors, discipline outcomes, including whether racial Ethnic Minority Issues. David received his served as an undergraduate teaching climate mediated and/or moderated the doctoral degree in May 2007, and accepted assistant for the course, recruited community relationship between race and outcomes. a faculty position in the Clinical-Community participants for the project, and assisted in Results suggest careful attention should Psychology program at the University of the supervision of fellow students. be given to the racial climate of secondary Alaska. The program has a cultural and After graduating in May 2006, Gehrig schools, particularly for adolescents who indigenous psychology emphasis. entered the AmeriCorps Program and was perceive schools as unfair. stationed in Washington, D.C., providing Janet Tritsch Award emergency assistance to those in need. Herman Eisen Award The Janet Tritsch Award, established in Jennifer Trotter was selected as the recipient memory of this enthusiastic participant in Brian Schwartz received an honorable of the 2006 award, in recognition of her undergraduate research, was presented to mention for his work in developing Action tireless efforts with the Community Advocacy Reinier Pualengco in 2006 for his senior Darfur, a grassroots campaign to raise Project (CAP) as well as her community- thesis: “Preemptive Effort Downplaying: awareness of, and provide humanitarian relief based education on domestic violence and Self-Enhancing?” Pualengco conducted for, the genocide in Sudan. her one-on-one clinical work. CAP pairs his research under the supervision of Dr. (continued on page 12) undergraduate students with domestic Chi-Yue Chi from the Social-Personality- violence survivors in the community. Trotter Organizational Division.

Florrie Fei-Yin Ng Elena Rykhlevskaia Erica Mattison Jennifer Trotter Geoffrey Brown Eric John David 12 university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 13

More Award-Winning Diener Retires Undergraduate After 27 years of service to the department, the University of Students Illinois, and the communities of Champaign-Urbana, Carol Diener retired in May 2007. The Department of Psychology recognized Diener’s many contributions included developing valuable the achievements of eight outstanding training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students, undergraduate students at an awards while also serving the needs of several community agencies. ceremony on May 13, 2006. The community experiences included working with youth at Cunningham Children’s Home, Circle Academy, the local Juvenile Outstanding Students in Detention Center, and Vermilion County Teen Court. Biological Psychology: Diener was honored in 2005 with the Campus Lyn Apa, Lashley Award Award for Excellence in Public Engagement. The Diana Rodriguez, Hebb Award award was given in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to connect the University with the Outstanding Students in broader community on issues of social impact. Cognitive Psychology:

Amber Stoesser Accolades for Carol Diener Amy Wechsler “What a wonderful colleague we have been blessed with! You are really going to be missed, not just because of the Outstanding Students in work you do, but especially because of the personal quali- Developmental Psychology: ties you have always brought to our program: a sense of integrity, respect, and a generous spirit. And here, I might Jessica Eggert add, your systematic and scholarly teaching of professional ethics…. Your pursuit of formal education Katherine Olson as a lawyer, and your subsequent work as an expert in child custody, and in community settings such as Cunningham Children’s Home and the Juvenile Detention Center, have made an indelible mark and a Outstanding Student in Social- lasting contribution to the welfare of children, and on the agencies, staff, and citizens of Urbana-Cham- Personality-Organizational paign. You have modeled, with seamless integration and professional expertise, the role implied in the Psychology: practice of clinical and community psychology.” —Professor Emeritus Julian Rappaport Reinier Pualengco

Outstanding Student in Visual “Our work with Dr. Diener has put us at the forefront of detention reform. The improvements we have Cognition & Human Performance made together to the quality of life for juveniles who come into contact with the juvenile justice system Psychology: have gained our facility state and national recognition. My staff and I attribute so much of this progress to the work of Dr. Diener, her inspired students, and the work they performed from the heart.” Kristoffer Myczek —Connie Kaiser, Director, Juvenile Detention Center

“I, for one, have benefited immensely from your wisdom, ingenuity, professionalism, and goodness. I am a more confident assessor; I have learned what it takes to success- fully collaborate with social service agencies and systems; and I have a better sense of my philosophy as a teacher and supervisor of undergraduate students. I never thought that my enrollment in your practicum course in 2002 would have led to over four years of mentorship. What good fortune!” —Natasha Watkins, Clinical/Community Graduate Student

Top row: Kristoffer Myczek, Lindsey Termini, Lyn Apa, Amy Wechsler. Bottom row: Amber Stoesser, Jessica Egert, Diana Rodriguez, Katherine Olson. Not shown: Reinier Pualengco. 12 university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 13

Faculty Recognized for Professional Excellence Kral Joins Psychology Department Michael Kral has joined the Clinical/Community Psychology American Academy of Arts & Division of the department. His research focus includes: Sciences cultural-community psychology and psychiatry; medical and William Greenough (Biological) was psychological anthropology; cultural-psychological idioms of elected as a fellow to the Academy in 2006. distress and well-being; suicide; history and theory; community- Renee Baillargeon (Developmental) will be based participatory research; collective agency; indigenism; inducted as a fellow in October 2007 along Artic/Nunavut; and Native North America. with 19 other fellows and 24 new foreign honorary members. Fellows are nominated and elected to the Academy by current members. Society for Psychophysiological Society for Industrial/ Association for Psychological Research Organizational Psychology Science Kara Federmeier (Brain & Cognition) Charles Hulin (Emeritus) was presented with Monica Fabiani (Brain & Cognition), received the 2006 Young Investigator Award. the Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Gabriele Gratton (Brain & Cognition), Michel Award at the April 2007 SIOP conference. Regenwetter (Quantitative), and Neal Roese Society for Research in Child (S-P-O) were named APS Fellows for their Development (SRCD) Center for Advanced Study sustained and outstanding contributions to Glenn Roisman (Developmental) received an Ying-Yi Hong (S-P-O) and Michel the field of psychological science. Early Scientific Achievement Award. SRCD is Regenwetter (Quantitative) were named the largest organization devoted to the study Associates, and Michael Kral (Clinical/ American Psychological of developmental psychology in the world. Community) was named a Fellow at the Association University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign R. Chris Fraley (S-P-O) was awarded the Society for Personality and Social Center for Advanced Study for the 2007-2008 Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Psychology (Division 8) academic year. These appointments grant one Career Contributions to Psychology in the Ed Diener (S-P-O) received the Jack Block semester of teaching release time in order area of Individual Differences. Award for distinguished contributions in to pursue an individual scholarly or creative personality psychology. project. National Institutes of Health Denise Park received a 10-year MERIT award Society for Psychophysiological (Method to Extend Research in Time) from Research the National Institutes of Aging to conduct Monical Fabiani (Brain & Cognition) was research on brain structure and function in elected president of the society for a three- a lifespan sample of adults. Fewer than five year term. percent of NIH-funded scientists receive MERIT Awards, which are given to researchers Royal Netherlands Academy of with a proven track record of scientific Arts and Sciences excellence and productivity over the previous Lawrence Hubert (Quantitative) was elected ten years. as a foreign fellow to the academy. 14 university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 15

Faculty Obituaries

Samuel Komorita By Patrick Laughlin, Professor Emeritus of Psychology “The central Dr. Samuel Shozo Komorita, professor emeritus of psychology, passed away theme of his December 11, 2006, at Hella Health Care, Champaign, Ill. After receiving his research and doctoral degree in psychology from the University of Michigan in 1956, he was a faculty member in the psychology departments of Vanderbilt, Wayne scholarship, State, and Indiana University, before joining the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois in 1974. After his retirement in 1994, he remained as of his life, active in writing and research with his former students. was turning Komorita was internationally known for his research and scholarship in bargaining and negotiation, coalition formation, social dilemmas, and game theory. conflict into His theoretical work is expressed in elegant formal models from both game theory and experimental results. His experimental research is an exemplar of design, execution, and cooperation.” analysis, and his scholarly writings insightfully incorporate theory and research from social psychology and related disciplines. He was an excellent teacher, advisor, and mentor; a deeply respected and admired colleague; and a truly fine man.T he central theme of his research and scholarship, as of his life, was turning conflict into cooperation. A December memorial service included tributes by former colleagues from the Department of Psychology, including professors emeritus James Davis, Patrick Laughlin, and Joseph McGrath. Komorita is survived by his wife Nori; children Paul Alan, John David, and Lorene; and nine grandchildren. Memorial donations for Samuel Komorita are being used to create the Samuel Komorita Lecture Series. Contributions may be sent to the University of Illinois Foundation, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801.

Joseph McGrath Dr. Joseph McGrath, professor emeritus of psychology, died April 1, 2007. He “He was known earned a PhD in social psychology in 1955 from the University of Michigan, and worked in the private sector prior to joining the University of Illinois as a very warm faculty in 1960, where he remained until he retired in 1997. McGrath’s distinguished career included serving as head of the Department and thoughtful of Psychology from 1971-1976; serving as president of the Society for the person, going Psychological Study of Social Issues (Division 9 of APA) from 1985-1986; receiving the Distinguished Contribution Award from APA in 1997, and the out of his way “Group Psychologist of the Year” award from APA Division 49 in 2001; and being named a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in 1990. McGrath published to welcome 11 books, edited or contributed chapters to three dozen other publications, and published and counsel more than 100 journal articles, papers, or reviews. He was the editor of the Journal of Social Issues and served as a consulting editor and/or on the editorial boards of many prestigious department journals in his field of research. McGrath’s research interests included small group research, negotiation groups, social and heads who psychological factors in stress, research methodology, the social psychology of time, gender succeeded him.” issues in social psychological research, and the effect of technology on the flow of work in groups. Throughout his career, he was a mentor and inspiration to hundreds of students and colleagues. He was known as a very warm and thoughtful person, going out of his way to welcome and counsel department heads who succeeded him. McGrath is survived by his wife, Marion; children, Robert, William, James, and Janet; and four grandchildren. A memorial service was held on July 17, 2007, at the Levis Faculty Center. 14 university of illinois at urbana-champaign Psychology Times | Department of Psychology 15

Alumni News David Teuscher (BS ’80) is an orthopedic Songie Milhouse-Todd (BS ’92) is vice- Travis J. Ledgerwood (BS ’96) has been surgeon with a specialty interest in sports president of student development at South licensed to practice law in Tennessee since medicine. Teuscher serves as team physician Suburban College in South Holland, Ill., 2003. for Lamar University NCAA athletes as well where she is responsible for Counseling, The as several local high schools. As president Transfer Center, Students with Disabilities Tracy Tucker (BS ’98) completed a master’s of the Texas Orthopaedics Association, Office,T esting, Academic Assistance Center, degree at the School of Social Science he represents more than 1,200 Texas Student Leadership, Child Care, Reading, Administration at the University of Chicago. orthopaedists. He also serves as chairman of Talent Search, and Student Life. Milhouse- Tucker has LCSW licensure and joined a medical liability for the American Academy Todd married Anthony Todd (CBA ’87) in medical practice where she is developing a of Orthopaedic Surgeons. February 2006, and they reside in South therapy program. Holland. David M. White (BS ’86) has a clinical Darcy Grostick (BS ’02) recently faculty appointment at the University of Michele (Bath) Kus (BS ’94) completed completed a doctorate program in California-Los Angeles School of Medicine. a master’s degree in educational ministries optometry from the Illinois College of White also maintains a private practice in in 2003 from Wheaton College. Kus is Optometry in Chicago. Grostick is a licensed clinical psychology that he started in 1991. a part-time adjunct faculty member at optometrist working in Buffalo Grove and Wheaton College and also teaches a variety Hinsdale, Ill. Andrew Schneider (BS ’90) was a of parent education workshops through fifth-year fellow in child and adolescent the International Network for Children psychiatry at the University of California– and Families (INCAF). She married Gregory Irvine for the 2006-07 academic year. Kus (BS ’94, education), and they have two daughters, Anna and Emily.

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