Megan Redditt

Students in Dr. McKenzie’s 2013 Relationships course recently enjoyed a lecture by Megan Redditt, LPCA, one of the counselors at the GC Wellness Center.  Her presentation covered issues and approaches to relationships counseling.  She described differences between types of therapy, motivations of those who seek counseling, and statistics and facts related to outcomes.  She even led us through an interactive demonstration that allowed us to practice our own abilities at experiencing empathy.

Wes Hunt, Ariel Hoskins, Jaime Horne, T.C. O’Neal, Rachel Skaggs

Students in Dr. McKenzie’s 2013 Industrial-Organizational psychology course were visited by GC alumnus (2005) Wes Hunt, Louisville, for his April guest lecture. He discussed his undergraduate work at GC, where he double majored in Psychology and Economics; his graduate school experiences at EKU, where he earned his master’s degree in I/O psychology after completing a master’s thesis on organizational citizenship behavior and aggression; and his current work experiences as a specialist with Mercer.

Jason Snyder with Hannah Sharp Walker, Andrea Lucena, Meredith, McCoy, and Amberlee Kelley.

Dr. McKenzie’s Psychology and the Law students learned about the education and experiences of two prosecutors, both of whom practice in Louisville.  Jason Snyder currently works for the Department of Justice.  Kathleen Serey Snyder serves as a guardian ad litem in child abuse and neglect cases.  Together, they explained law school coursework, the many diverse directions an attorney’s career can take, and specifics of their current responsibilities.  For example, Jason described differences between state and federal prosecutorial standards, while Kathleen discussed four types of parental neglect: physical, emotional, educational, and medical.  Thank you to both of them for spending their morning with our students.

During October, for Psychology and the Law students, Samantha Lickliter (pictured with Amberlee Kelley, Lindsey Atkinson, Meredith McCoy, and Hannah Sharp Walker), GC 2006, effectively, thoroughly, and realistically presented her perspective on a variety of topics related to her former career as a probation and parole officer and her current career with the Kentucky State Police.  We often visualize a state trooper when we hear the organization KSP, but Samantha explained the many, many other areas for which KSP is responsible, including criminal identification and records, the lab and morgue, and 911 maps.  Her information was strengthened with the variety of visual aids and handouts she circulated.

Many thanks to Sergeant Kevin Wallace for his willingness to speak to our Fall 2012 class.   He has presented material to my students for 17 years now.  And this year, an added bonus: Officer Joey Valdez accompanied him and together, they co-presented material related to officers’ duties, dangers, and rewards.  (Officer Valdez actually took the class when he was an undergraduate a couple of years ago!)  The two officers provided factual information and anecdotal stories, illustrating how the GPD’s selection, recruitment, and training processes are constantly evolving and improving.  Students were particularly intrigued by the hands-on demonstration related to DUIs.

During May, Dr. Singer took a group of students to the Bahamas to conduct research with dolphins!  This is the fourth year in a row Dr. Singer has traveled with students to either the Bahamas or Honduras for upper-level hours credit.  Look behind the student for the four “big boys”.  Three should be obvious but one is hiding behind the students.  The hidden dolphin is Jake who played Flipper in the movie!

Thanks to GC alum Wes Hunt (pictured with undergraduates Destiny Cornell, Bruno Baumer, Seaton Stiles, Megan Landry, and Tyler Daniel), Louisville, for his April guest lecture to Dr. McKenzie’s Industrial/Organizational Psychology course.  He discussed his undergraduate work at GC, where he double majored in Psychology and Economics; his graduate school experiences at EKU, where he earned his master’s degree in I/O psychology after completing a master’s thesis on organizational citizenship behavior and aggression; and his current work experiences as a specialist with Mercer.

Ava, Cate, and Olivia joined Dr. Bell’s Child Development class last fall.  Students had an opportunity to interact with and observe the young guests.  Ava (wearing plaid) is Coach Leah Crews Castleman’s daughter; Cate (in a brown dress) is Dr. Emily Stow’s daughter; and Olivia is Dr. Bell’s granddaughter.

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Katie Blair, Jalie Adams, Megan, Cassandra Simmons, Allison Beck

Back by popular demand, Megan Redditt guest lectured to the Relationships students in April.  A specialist in couples counseling techniques and strategies, Megan informed students about the research related to common problems couples struggle with, what to expect during counseling, and the benefits of receiving counseling.

Jennifer Bowling and Chelsea Denham

Sarah Flynn Jones

During the Spring 2012 semester, Dr. Bell brought several guest lecturers to her classroom, including GC alums Jennifer Bowling, Chelsea Denham, and Sarah Flynn Jones.  Alum  Brooke Reed Browning also spoke (not pictured).  All four are pursuing graduate degrees in school psychology.

Kathleen Serey visited Dr. McKenzie’s Psychology and the Law class during October.  She shared her knowledge and background as an advocate for children and their legal rights.  Drawing on her past as both a licensed social worker and an attorney, she described the obligations parents have regarding their children, as well as the legal rights given to children whose parents do not meet those responsibilities.  She is pictured with Jared Colvin, Dr. McKenzie, Artrylle Trent, and Jan’a Prater.

Sergeant Kevin Wallace, GC ’95, presented material to students in Dr. McKenzie’s Psychology and the Law class.  He addressed many topics, including the selection process for officers, drug interdiction, cycles of abuse in domestic violence cases, and physiological & psychological reactions to danger.  He is pictured with Jan’a Prater, Jared Colvin, Dustin Brown, Kayleigh Riddell, and Blythe Graden.

Students in the Psychology of Slavery class, taught by Dr. Lookadoo, were able to make several field trips during the May mini-term session. View pictures from their 2011 visits, as well as photos from previous years the course was taught, and a list of the specific sites visited.

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Students in Dr. McKenzie’s 2011 Relationships course recently enjoyed a lecture by Megan Redditt, LPCA, one of GC’s counselors.  Her presentation covered issues and approaches to relationships counseling.  She described differences between types of therapy, motivations of those who seek counseling, and statistics and facts related to outcomes.  She even led us through an interactive demonstration that allowed us to practice our own abilities at experiencing empathy.  Those pictured include Chayna Hardy-Taylor, Megan Redditt, Stacey Page, and Hannah Wilcox.

Wes Hunt with Dani Fuentes and Amberlee Brock

Students in Dr. McKenzie’s 2011 Industrial-Organizational psychology course were visited by GC alumnus (2005) Wes Hunt (pictured with undergraduates Dani Fuentes and Amberlee Brock), Louisville, for his April guest lecture. He discussed his undergraduate work at GC, where he double majored in Psychology and Economics; his graduate school experiences at EKU, where he earned his master’s degree in I/O psychology after completing a master’s thesis on organizational citizenship behavior and aggression; and his current work experiences as a specialist with Mercer.

Ethan Batstone of Not For Sale

During February 2011, the Industrial-Organizational class, taught by Dr. McKenzie, heard from Ethan Batstone, Regional Director of Not for Sale.  He spoke about the Not for Sale tour, child labor laws, and the chain of supply regarding various consumer products.

During March 2011, he presented information on the Not for Sale organization, its national tour, and the psychological, emotional, financial, and physical relationships between human traffickers and their victims.  For more information on Not for Sale, go to http://www.notforsalecampaign.org.

The purpose of this course is to explore the lives of women. It will examine topics such as gender roles, language, emotion, motivation, mental health, violence against women, women and work, and development. The course will also, include a special focus on women of different ethnic backgrounds.

Women Supporting Women- this is our theme for this course. Through each topic in class we will explore the many ways that women can support each other rather than contributing to sexism in our society.  Click Continue reading to view a list of guest lecturers and their topics. (more…)

During November 2010, the Psychology and the Law class, taught by Dr. McKenzie, heard from GC alumnae Samantha Burriss Lickliter (pictured: Allison Dye, Kristen Greenhill, Max Smith, Samantha, Laura Bradford, and Sarah Beth Mounts), a parole and probation officer.  She spoke about her training, career, and daily responsibilities interacting with sex offenders.  She presented an area of the legal system that students find intriguing and with which they are often unfamiliar.

During October 2010, the Psychology and the Law class, taught by Dr. McKenzie, heard from Louisville and Frankfort attorneys Kathleen Snyder and Jason Snyder (pictured with students Allison Dye, McKenzie Albright, Ryan Vaughn, and Olivia Norton), who discussed the prosecution of child sexual and neglect cases, education and training of law school students, insanity and competency, elder abuse, and criminal cases.

During October 2010, mothers and daughters from the Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky (DSACK) visited Dr. Bell’s Developmental Psychopathology class (PSY 417) to talk about having a family member with an intellectual impairment.

Students in Dr. McKenzie’s 2010 Psychology and the Law course recently enjoyed a lecture by Sergeant Kevin Wallace (pictured with students Megan Angell, Savannah Fields, Joey Valdez, Erin Fields, Meredith Mueller, and Olivia Norton), from the Georgetown Police Department.  Sgt. Wallace visited our classroom in September to discuss many topics related to law enforcement, including the selection process of police officers, the dangers involved in a “routine” traffic stop, and the cycle of violence found within physically abusive couples.

Students in the Child Development class, taught by Dr. Bell, were recently entertained and educated by several young guests, including Logan Lookadoo (Dr. Lookadoo’s daughter), Eli Tudor (Mr. Jeremiah Tudor’s son), and Sophie Cook (Dr. Cook’s daughter)! View pictures from their visit.

During the May 2009 mini-term, Dr. Singer led 18 of our students on the trip, designed to study animal behavior.

Students in Dr. McKenzie’s 2009 Relationships course enjoyed a lecture by Dr. Lloyd Clark, Director of our Health and Wellness Center, who visited our classroom in April to present approaches, techniques, and topics related to relationship counseling. Her lecture, entitled Couples counseling, covered many issues, including skills learned during counseling, common problems experienced by couples who seek counseling, and various professionals licensed to provide counseling. Her applied psychology material meshed beautifully with the theoretical aspects of relationships we have covered throughout the semester.

Students in Dr. McKenzie’s 2009 Relationships course were visited by Dr. Robin Lightner from University of Cincinnati’s behavioral neuroscience department. Dr. Lightner visited our classroom in March to present research results from a study in which our students participated. Her lecture, entitled Combining work and family: Personality Predictors, described and explained the variables of self-handicapping, hardiness, rumination, and fear of negative evaluation. She then applied those variables to research pertaining to working parenthood.