
Inaugural members inducted into College’s chapter of Nu Rho Psi
Pictured above, left to right: Professor Jillian Marshall, Professor Joan Chrisler, Professor Ruth Grahn, Carolyn Irving ’18, Stephanie Jackvony ’18, Lauren O’Loughlin ’17, Trevor Bates ’18, Kate Rudolph ’16, Rebecca Frawley ’16, Kerry Benson ’16, Kelsey Fischer ’17, President Katherine Bergeron, Tanya Songtachalert ’18, Samantha Pierce ’16, Samantha Krieger ’16, Adam Goldberg ’18, Professor Joseph Schroeder, Professor Annemarie Brown ’10, Natalie Grant ’18 and Stephanie Reeves ’16. Not pictured: Alyson Bortone ’18, CC Chadwick ’18, Ashely Curran ’17, Leah Fleming ’16 and Kelsey McGinnis ’17.
“The Nu Rho Psi honor society recognizes talented neuroscience students,” said Associate Professor of Psychology Joseph Schroeder, who directs the College’s Behavioral Neuroscience Program. “Students will be able to list their membership on their resume—any potential employer or graduate program in neuroscience will know membership is a great accomplishment.”
To be admitted to Nu Rho Psi, students must be declared behavioral neuroscience majors with an overall GPA of 3.2 and GPA within the major of 3.5. The College was selected to host the Beta in Connecticut chapter earlier this spring.
“It’s a wonderful thing when an institution is awarded the honor to recognize its students in this way,” said President Katherine Bergeron in her remarks congratulating the students and faculty on their achievements.
Nu Rho Psi is an independent non-profit founded in 2006 by the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience. In addition to encouraging professional interest in neuroscience and advancing excellence in neuroscience scholarship, the goals of Nu Rho Psi include increasing public awareness of neuroscience and encouraging service to the community.
The College’s behavioral neuroscience program is already well known in the community for its service and efforts to raise awareness. Members of the department give presentations to local, state and federal agencies about the ways that psychological research can inform public policy, give talks about psychology to community groups, host workshops for local science teachers, and serve as consultants to schools and agencies in the region.
Faculty and students also bring science to elementary schools with demonstrations for Brain Awareness Week and with the annual Kids Judge Neuroscience Fair.
In addition, students and faculty participate in several local walks to raise money and awareness about neurological diseases. The program has fielded a team for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s every year since 2008. In 2015, the College was recognized for fielding the largest team with 125 participants, and for raising the second largest amount of money, bringing in $4,598 to benefit the association. More than 80 members of the College community participated in last fall’s Walk Now for Autism Speaks, raising a total of $2,920. Most recently, 120 walkers raised $945 at the April 17 Walk for MS at Waterford’s Camp Harkness.
The 2016 Nu Rho Psi Beta in Connecticut inductees are:
- Trevor Bates ’18
- Kerry Benson ’16
- Alyson Bortone ’18
- Annemarie Brown ’10, visiting assistant professor of psychology
- CC Chadwick ’18
- Joan C. Chrisler, Class of ’43 Professor of Psychology
- Ashley Curran ’17
- Leah Fleming ’16
- Kelsey Fischer ’17
- Rebecca Frawley ’16
- Adam Goldberg ’18
- Ruth E. Grahn, associate professor of psychology
- Natalie Grant ’18
- Carolyn Irving ’18
- Stephanie Jackvony ’18
- Samantha Krieger ’16
- Jillian C. Marshall M’12, lecturer in psychology
- Kelsey McGinnis ’17
- Lauren O’Loughlin ’17
- Samantha Pierce ’16
- Stephanie Reeves ’16
- Kate Rudolph ’16
- Joseph A. Schroeder, associate professor of psychology
- Tanya Songtachalert ’18