Faculty Accomplishments

John Nezlek, Fulbright Specialist

JohnNezlek was recently accepted as a member of the Fulbright Specialist Roster, a program administered by Council for International Exchange of Scholars. Members of the Fulbright Specialist Roster are experts in their respective fields.

Individuals apply to be on the Roster, and once admitted, they are eligible to receive grants to travel abroad to consult with academic institutions on matters that involve their specific field of expertise. The CIES administers these grants, which match overseas institutions and Fulbright Specialists from the US. Grants cover visits that range from 2-6 weeks. Prof. Nezlek will be on the Roster for five years, during which time he can have a maximum of two grants.

In Prof. Nezlek’s own words: “I am not certain who will request my assistance, but right now I am simply happy that I made the Roster.”

Congratulations, Prof. Nezlek, for receiving this prestigious appointment. (10/10)

(Return to Top)

Associate Editor Todd Thrash

We congratulate Psychology Professor Todd Thrash on his recent appointment to Associate Editor at Journal of Personality which has a high impact rating in the social/personality world. (10/10)

William and Mary Professor Wins Peacekeeping Training Award

Professor Harvey Langholtz, of William and Mary's Department of Psychology, was awarded the 2009 Peacekeeping Education and Training Award. The winner of this year's award was announced 26 November at the annual meeting of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres, held this year in Sydney Australia, attended by United Nations Peacekeepers and people world-wide involved in the training, screening, and selection of UN Peacekeepers. The award was presented to Professor Langholtz in Sydney by Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Johah, Director of the Nigerian War College, and President of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres.

According to International Association for Peacekeeping Training Centres' own guidelines for the award "The purpose of the award is to acknowledge excellence in the field of peacekeeping education and training.  The individual or group must have demonstrated a unique and extremely valuable contribution to peacekeeping education and training and to the preparation of individuals or groups to participate in future or current peace operations." 

Professor Langholtz founded a not-for-profit which employs current William and Mary students, recent graduates, and others from the Peninsula, and provides on-line peacekeeping training world-wide over the internet.  During each of the past three years the program has exceeded 100,000 enrolments globally and offers 22 courses in English, 19 in French, 2 in Portuguese, 19 in Spanish, and recently the first in Arabic. The program is open to anyone world-wide and is partially funded through grants or agreements from the governments of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bangladesh, Chile, Canada, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and also directly through private donations which are tax-deductible for US citizens.

The text of the award states "In recognition to your achievements in developing key strategic partnerships; development of doctrine, training programs and in providing strong leadership in peacekeeper education." Professor Langholtz has personally visited many of the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. He is widely published in the field, including two books "The Psychology of Peacekeeping" and "The Psychology of Diplomacy." (08/10)

(Return to Top)

Child abuse and neglect are social and public health problems that need to be addressed by strong policies and dynamic initiatives that show quantifiable results. The Healthy Families America® Initiative: Integrating Research, Theory and Practice is the most up-to-date examination of the home visitation program aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect.

Healthy Families America is a program that works to help new families give their children a healthy, abuse- and neglect-free environment in which to grow. This book comprehensively discusses the programs from both micro and macro perspectives, while offering practical strategies to strengthen HFA and guide the next phase of child abuse prevention. This resource also provides several tables to clearly present research data and is extensively referenced. (11/07)

 Dr. Pamela Hunt has been named an Arts & Sciences Distinguished Associate Professor of Psychology. This is a three-year Professorship that carries some nice perks. Selection was based on "success in research, teaching, and service and promise of a strong future career at the College."(2/07)

Our very own Peter Vishton has agreed to work with the National Science Foundation as their interim Director for the Developmental and Learning Sciences Program in the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS). BCS supports research to advance the scientific understanding of human cognition, language, social behavior and culture. Click for more specific information about the Developmental and Learning Sciences Program

This is quite an honor for Dr. Vishton. We congratulate him whole-heartedly!

Neill Watson has been appointed to the Scientific Committee of the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy conference in 2010. The mission of the committee is to develop international collaborative research on the process and outcome of psychotherapy. (8/06)

Pam Hunt was honored with an Alumni Achievement Award  from her undergraduate institution, Framingham State College in MA.

"The Alumni Achievement Awards are presented annually to recognize individuals who have utilized their education and training from Framingham State college to achieve noteworthy accomplishments and success both in their careers and in their communities."

Pam was nominated by the President of her undergraduate college and was one of 6 recipients which included alumni who have made outstanding contributions to industry, education, and community service. The award was conferred to Pam at ceremony by Professor Douglas Bloomquist, one of Pam's favored professors as an undergraduate who encouraged her to seek further training in graduate school. Fortunate are we that he did.(6/06)

Galano’s students learn to give psychology away
Author: David Williard, Source: W&M News
Date: May 25, 2006
To improve the human condition, send students upstream. That is the strategy that Joseph Galano, associate professor of psychology, employs each year when he assigns 25 students enrolled in his research practicum to service in the greater Williamsburg region.(6/06)
(Read the rest of the story.)

Dr Langholtz lead a small group of William & Mary students on a class trip to the United Nations. The day at the UN included a tour of the UN and the General Assembly. They sat in on a Security Council Meeting on small arms disarmament. They had a briefing by Mr. Sur and a briefing on UN reform by Mr. John Carpenter of the US Delegation to the United Nations. (click here for link to article)

Photo taken in the UN General Assembly

Left to right are: Michael Weissberger, Computer Science and Environmental Science; Professor Harvey Langholtz; Mishelle Ordosgoitia, Psychology; Will Cline, Computer Science and Economics; Casey Hull, Psychology; and Eric Reeder, Psychology.

This picture is following a briefing by Mr. Rahul Sur of the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight.

Left to right are: Michael Weissberger, Computer Science and Environmental Science; Will Cline, Computer Science and Economics; Mishelle Ordosgoitia, Psychology; Professor Harvey Langholtz; Casey Hull, Psychology; Mr. Rahul Sur, UN Office of Internal Oversight; and Eric Reeder, Psychology.
 (3/2006)

Psychology researchers to measure brain response.

Read the article by Joe McClain, in the W&M News
Mar 16, 2006

John B Nezlek honored with Journal of Research in Personality's Best Paper of 2005.

 John Nezlek was honored for an article he co-wrote with Kristof Vansteelandt and Iven Van Mechelen, both at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. The article has been selected as the best paper published in 2005 in the Journal of Research in Personality . JRP is a first-tier journal, so this is a real honor.

The article appears in the June issue (i.e., issue #3) of the journal and the full reference is: Vansteelandt, K., Van Mechelen, I. , & Nezlek, J.B. (2005). The co-occurrence of emotions in daily life: A multilevel approach. Journal of Research in Personality , 39 , 325-335. Link to the article
 (1/2006)

Psychologists in Action.

Our Faculty are learning to use the new ERP system.

Square One 2005 Outcomes Report Program
Keynote Speaker
Dr Joseph Galano, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, College of William and Mary

Kathy Morgan Celebrates 20 years "Running" the Psychology Department!!

We are honored and very blessed to have had Kathy Morgan working for the Psychology Department for the last 20 years. She began in the basement (as the lab tech) on November 4, 1985, and worked her way up to the 2nd floor (doing just about everything over the last 20 years). Currently she is the Fiscal Technician, but she does far more than just manage money around here. She is a joy to work with and her knowledge of department history is invaluable.

Thank you, Kathy, for all you do for us. We couldn't make it without you!!  (Nov 2005)

Dr. Jensen Awarded Grant Funding

The Alzheimer's and Related Diseases Research Award Fund (ARDRAF) recently awarded grant funding to Christine Jensen, Adjunct Psychology Professor, to conduct a study entitled: “Promoting an Effective Partnership between Families Coping with Alzheimer's Disease and Their Healthcare Providers.” Along with the College of William & Mary, this project is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Aging and Geriatric Health as well as the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. The study will identify the most critical needs of family caregivers as they interact with healthcare providers.

Jensen is also serving as co-chair of the annual Memories in the Making program sponsored by the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. This educational program utilizes art therapy to tap the creative abilities of persons with dementia. Persons with dementia who reside in area long-term care facilities or who participate in adult day or senior center programs are encouraged to submit artwork. Artwork is juried and then is exhibited throughout the chapter service area. An art auction and fundraiser takes place May 2006.  (Oct 2005)

Dr. Galano Recognized as a Shining Star

In April, 2005, Dr. Joseph Galano, Associate Professor of Psychology, was officially recognized by the Williamsburg/James City County Community Action Agency at their “Community of Stars” banquet. In 1996 the American Psychological Association recognized Professor Galano's career accomplishments by awarding him the 1996 Distinguished Contribution to Practice in Community Psychology award.

An excerpt from the program “Dr. Galano served as a W/JCC CAA board member for eight years and as chair from 1980-1986. In Virginia , he has worked with Project LINK, a perinatal substance abuse prevention program in 6 cities, Square One: a 17 locality partnership to ensure that children in Hampton Roads enter kindergarten healthy and ready to learn, and Voices for Virginia 's Children and Youth to prepare the “KIDS Count” annual reports on the status of children. He participated in Robert C. Scott's Congressional Briefings on Youth Violence and the Congressman's community roundtables with youth. He has consulted with Hampton 's Healthy Families Partnership for almost fifteen years, and since 1995, with Prevent Child Abuse Virginia to develop Virginia 's statewide child abuse prevention initiative, Healthy Families Virginia. He is co-chair of Virginia 's Prevention and Promotion Advisory Council and a member of the steering committee that developed the Blue Ribbon Plan to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect in Virginia 2005-2009. Dr. Galano has helped hundreds of students become involved in community service and was twice nominated for the President's Award for Service at the College of William and Mary.” The W-JCC Community Action Agency staff and Board proudly salute Dr. Joseph Galano. 

Prof. Galano on Governor's Blue Ribbon Committee

Professor Joseph Galano of the Psychology Department served as a member of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Committee. The committee developed “Keys to Prevention: A Blue Ribbon Plan to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect in Virginia 2005-2009.” Committee members included representatives of state and local agencies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, the military, the faith community, and parents. The year-long effort included convening stakeholder and community input sessions in seven cities. The plan identifies critical needs in Virginia and nine strategies that comprise a five-year action plan. The plan was endorsed by Governor Mark Warner who issued a proclamation in support of the recommendations, declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

(Return to Top)