The Department of Psychology offers 100 courses leading to a bachelor's of arts or sciences degree, master's degrees in Psychology and Clinical-Counseling Psychology, and a specialist and doctoral degree in School Psychology. Each year over 10,000 students enroll in psychology courses; one in four Illinois State students take a psychology course.

The Department of Psychology has 500 majors including 50 honors students, 500 minors, and 140 graduate students. Among the College of Arts and Sciences doctoral departments, Psychology has the highest percentage of women graduate students: 74%.

The Department of Psychology is an important contributor to general education and teacher education at Illinois State. It offers five general education courses, with more than 5,000 students enrolled each year, and two required teacher education courses, with over 1,500 students enrolled each year.

The Department of Psychology is located in DeGarmo Hall, which includes classrooms, faculty offices, and laboratories, a Human Research suite, a 31-station computer classroom, and the Psychology Resource Center with a 10-station computer lab. The department also has neuroscience laboratories associated with the small-animal colony in Felmley Hall of Science.

The department's Psychological Services Center, a training and research facility serving children, families, and college students, with diagnosed disabilities is located on the fourth floor of Fairchild Hall.

The department's Social Climate and Diversity Committee has published diversity and civility guidelines on its Web site.

Since 2000, the department has published an annual newsletter, that is sent to all alumni. It also hosts an annual Alumni Day during Illinois State's Homecoming, when the department honors its Alumni of the Year.

Two specialist students in School Psychology are supported each year as Audrey Grupe Fellows. Support for this fellowship has been provided by Mary Jane McCarthy and Dr. Audrey Grupe, former coordinator of the School Psychology Programs.

Three undergraduate psychology majors are recognized each year for their accomplishments. The writer of the best paper receives the Laura Berk Undergraduate Writing Award, a senior receives the Edwin A. Payne Memorial Award, and a sophomore receives the Walter Vernon Scholarship in Psychology.

About 100 undergraduate majors each year complete capstone experiences as research apprentices to faculty members or as interns at community agencies.

The department participates in many interdisciplinary activities: the Neurosciences Program of Excellence, The Mind Project, and the Multidisciplinary Psychoeducational Assessment Service at the Psychological Services Center.

The department has a speakers series each year that includes an all-day School Psychology Institute by a nationally know expert. In 2006, Dr. Dorothy Espelage spoke about anti-bullying programs in the schools. Dr. Scott Poland spoke, in 2007, about school violence.

The Psychological Services Center (PSC) sponsors predoctoral and postdoctoral internships in school psychology. By providing services at the PSC or at local schools and agencies, interns become eligible for certification as school psychologists and licensure as psychologists.

The Psychological Services Center (PSC), known for its work with children, also has a service for college-age students with suspected or diagnosed learning disabilities. The program is the College Learning Assessment Service.

The department sponsors the Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium (ISPIC), in cooperation with Loyola University, National Louis University, and Northern Illinois University. ISPIC coordinates placement of predoctoral interns in 17 school districts and agencies throughout the State of Illinois.

Alumni

Alumnus James Antos (BA '73, MS General Psychology '76) is principal at Brother Rice High School in Chicago. He has been active in the National Catholic Educational Association and as a member of the Legislative Commission of the Illinois High School Association.

David Baker (MS School Psychology '72) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2001. He also received the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities 2000 Fellow Award. He is Executive Director of the Open Door Rehabilitation Center in Sandwich, Illinois.

Dr. Heather Bouchey (MS Developmental Psychology '95) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2003. She is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont.

Dr. Tracy Cruise (MS Clinical Psychology '94, PhD School Psychology '98) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2006. She has presented over 50 papers at professional conferences and is coauthor of the book Child Abuse and Neglect: The School's Response. She is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.

Fred Dornback (MS School Psychology Counselor '64) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2005. He is retired after over 30 years as a school psychologist for the Northern Suburban Special Education District in Highland Park, Illinois. He is currently a volunteer mental health crisis worker for the Red Cross.

Dr. Gerald Ferris (BS '73, MS Industrial/Organizational Psychology '76) received an Illinois State Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994. He also was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2001 and was inducted into the College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2004. He is currently the Frances Eppes Professor of Management and Professor of Psychology at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. He has edited a number of books and published over 100 articles in scholarly journals on human resources management.

Dr. Joseph French (BS Education '49, MS Education '50) received an ISU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998 and was inducted into the College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2006. He was one of the founders of the National Association of School Psychologists. He directed the School Psychology program at Pennsylvania State University from 1965 to 1997; he is currently Professor Emeritus.

Russell Hagen (MS Counseling Psychology '80) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2004. For over 25 years, he has been Chief Executive Officer of Chestnut Health Systems, a successful not-for-profit behavioral health service organization, in Bloomington, Illinois.

Dr. James Johnson (MS School Psychology Counselor '64) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2006. After receiving his doctorate at Northwestern University, he returned to spend his career at Illinois State as a faculty member in psychology, retiring in 2002. For 17 years, he was the editor of The Illinois Psychologist, the newsletter of the Illinois Psychological Association.

Dr. James LeBreton (BS Psychology '95, MS Industrial/Organizational Psychology '97) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2005. He is an Associate Professor of Psychological Sciences at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Alumnus Jay Miller (BS '78) coached the U.S. National Softball team to a gold medal at the 2001 U.S. Cup in Hawaii. He is currently head softball coach at Mississippi State University.

Diane Morrison (MA School Psychology '82) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2002. She worked as a school psychologist and Director of Support Services for the Northern Suburban Special Education District in Highland Park, Illinois for over 20 years. Diane is a significant leader in implementing a major educational reform, the Flexible Service Delivery System, across the State of Illinois.

Greg Robinson (MS School Psychology '80) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2000. Currently, he is Superintendent of Schools for the Urbandale Community School District in Iowa. In 1994, the Council of Exceptional Children gave him the Presidential Recognition Award. In 1998, he was named Iowa Elementary Principal of the Year and then selected as a Nationally Distinguished Principal, receiving his award in Washington, D.C. from U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley.

Dr. Amy Shelton (BA Psychology '93) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2004. She also was recognized by Illinois State with a Young Alumni Award in 2005. She is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Vince Trosino (MS Counseling Psychology '73) served on the Illinois State University Foundation Board from 1989 to 1997 and was Chair of the Board from 1993-1997. In 1994, he received the ISU Alumni Achievement Award, and in 2006, he was inducted into the College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. In 2006, he retired as President, Vice Chair of the Board, and Chief Operating Officer of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company in Bloomington, Illinois.

Dr. Danny Wedding (BA '73, MS General Psychology '74) was recognized as one of Psychology's Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2003. He is Director of the Missouri Institute of Mental Health and editor of PsycCritiques, the American Psychological Association's online journal of book reviews.

Faculty

The department's faculty members are active scholars who each year publish about 50 journal articles and book chapters and present about 100 papers at professional conferences.

Eighteen of the department's faculty members serve in editorial roles for professional journals: one as co-editor, four as associate editors, and 13 as members of editorial boards.

The ISU psychology faculty were among the top 40 worldwide in publishing in counseling psychology, according to a report in the May 2005 The Counseling Psychologist journal. ISU was one of only three universities without a doctoral program that made the list.

Dr. Larry Alferink, in 2006, was the President of the Behavioral Analysis division of the American Psychological Association. He is an APA Fellow of that division, of the Experimental Psychology division, and of the Division for the Teaching of Psychology.

Dr. David Patton Barone is author of two graduate textbooks in psychology, Social Cognitive Psychology and Advanced Personality. He is a Fellow of the General Psychology division of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Gary Cates coordinates Academic Intervention and Consultation Services at the Psychological Services Center. It provides tutoring and support for young students facing challenges in mastering basic school subjects.

Dr. Gary Cates and Dr. Mark Swerdlik have grants to evaluate the effectiveness of school programs. The grants are funded by the Illinois State Board of Education and two school districts.

Dr. Gary Creasey is author of Research Methods in Lifespan Development, one of the few books on that topic.

Dr. Thomas Critchfield is the 2007 President of the International Association of Behavioral Analysis. He previously was President of the Behavioral Analysis Division of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Karla Doepke coordinates Autism Service at the Psychological Services Center. It is the only assessment and treatment program for autistic children in the Bloomington-Normal area. Her work is supported by a state grant to The Autism Project. Dr. Doepke is the recipient of the University Service Initiative Award.

Dr. Valeri Farmer-Dougan studies the effect of dopamine in the brain. Her research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. She is a recipient of the College and University Outstanding Teacher Awards.

Dr. Byron Heidenreich studies the effect of neurotoxins with the support of grants from the U.S. Army and the National Institutes of Health. He is a recipient of the University Research Initiative Award.

Dr. Matthew Hesson-McInnis is a statistical consultant on many grants and a recipient of the College Service Award.

Dr. Kathryn Hoff coordinates the Child/Adolescent Intervention Services at the Psychological Services Center. This service works with students, and their parents and teachers to improve personal and school functioning.

Dr. Alvin House is author of DSM-IV Diagnosis in the Schools. His book is widely used in professional training programs and has been translated into Italian and Japanese.

Dr. Alycia Hund researches children's spatial location and memory. She is a recipient of the University Research Initiative Award.

Dr. Patricia Jarvis is a recipient of the College and University Outstanding Service Award and the College Distinguished Teacher Award. In addition to her research on adolescents and children, she is one of the leading researchers at Illinois State on the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Dr. J. Scott Jordan is author of two books and co-editor of a 2007 special issue of The Journal of Consciousness Studies. It is based on papers given at the international conference on The Concepts of Consciousness at Illinois State in 2004, which he also co-organized.

Dr. Jeffrey Kahn is a recipient of the University Research Initiative Award. His research is on disclosure of distress during psychotherapy and research productivity in counseling psychologists.

Dr. Dawn McBride is co-editor of a 2007 special issue of The Journal of Consciousness Studies. It is based on papers given at the international conference on The Concepts of Consciousness at Illinois State in 2004, which she also co-organized. She is a recipient of the University Teaching Initiative Award.

Dr. Adena Meyers is coordinator of For Children's Sake, a program for children who have witnessed domestic violence. It is supported by a grant from the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

Dr. Margaret Nauta is a recipient of the University Teaching Initiative Award. Her research is on career decision-making.

Dr. John Pryor is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 8) and the Association for Psychological Science. He has been retained by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an expert witness in employment discrimination cases. He is a recipient of the College and University Research Awards.

Dr. Glenn Reeder is recognized by Illinois State University with the title of Distinguished Professor. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 8) and the Association for Psychological Science. His research on impression formation and the study of prejudice is widely cited in the social sciences.

Dr. Rocío Rivadeneyra is a recipient of training grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Ford Foundation. Her research is on adolescent Latinos' perceptions of television images. She is a recipient of the University Service Initiative Award.

Dr. Michael Stevens is a Fellow and President in 2007 of the Division of International Psychology of the American Psychological Association. He is an honorary professor at Lucian Blaga University in Sibiu, Romania, where the Psychology Library is named in his honor. He is also a recipient of the College Research and Service Awards.

Dr. Mark Swerdlik is a Fellow of the School Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association and a Diplomate in School Psychology and Assessment Psychology. He is also Chair of the Illinois Directors of University School Psychology Programs.

Dr. Mark Swerdlik and Dr. Kathryn Hoff coordinate the Child/Adolescent Psychoeducational Assessment Services at the Psychological Services Center. This service works with students, and their parents and teachers to improve personal and school functioning.

Dr. Renée Tobin is a recipient of a University Teaching Award. Her research is on emotional regulation in children and adolescents.

Dr. Jeffrey Wagman is a recipient of a University Research Initiative Award. His research is on movement perception.

Departmental Excellence

Illinois State's psychology programs at the bachelor's and master's level have distinguished themselves from other programs at Illinois public universities by being lower in cost and greater in faculty credit hours generated.

The department's master's degree program in psychology and clinical-counseling psychology are among the top at Illinois State in number of applicants and credentials, such as GRE scores, of those accepted.

About 75 psychology graduate students are supported each year with over $400,000 of tuition waivers and graduate assistantships, either working with faculty or other offices on campus or at community schools or social service agencies.

The Department of Psychology has developed a model undergraduate advising system. It includes the 1-credit course, PSY 200 Careers in Psychology, and emphasizes students taking responsibility for their career development.

Psychology students are active researchers. About 60 undergraduate and 60 graduate students present their work at Illinois State's annual Research Symposia.

Jennifer Hitt, an undergraduate honors student in psychology, received the 2007 National Student Research Award from the Association of Behavioral Analysis.

Since 1998, the department's doctoral program has earned accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA). Illinois State offers the only APA-accredited school psychology doctoral program in the State of Illinois.

Students from the department’s specialist and doctoral programs earn 100% placement rates for internships and first professional positions as certified school psychologists. They have a 100% pass rate on the Illinois State Board of Education subject test in school psychology.

Each year, the department helps alleviate the shortage of school psychologists in Illinois by graduating eight to twelve certified psychologists.

Interns placed through the Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium (ISPIC) have remained in Illinois as school psychologists at a rate of 87%. ISPIC has reversed the loss of doctoral-level school psychologists, not only by retaining those trained in Illinois, but also by attracting those trained elsewhere.

In 2007, the Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium (ISPIC) is supported by two grants, a Higher Education Cooperation Act grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and another grant for diversity training from the Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation.