Perspective Online

UWG Doctoral Students Sweep Psychology Conference

by Rachel Williams

Thirteen graduate students from the University of West Georgia presented at the 2014 Society for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology Midwinter Meeting. The meeting, which was part of Division 24 of the American Psychological Association, was held March 6-8 in Atlanta, Georgia. The twelve doctoral students and one master’s student received widespread praise for their poster and paper presentations.

“Presenting at conferences disseminates research findings and developing ideas, sparks conversations that lead to collaborations and develops community among scholars and researchers with shared interests,” explains Dr. Lisa Osbeck, UWG Psychology professor and interim chair and member of the society’s executive committee. “Several well-known colleagues from other universities told me that they were impressed with our bright and enthusiastic UWG students. I was very proud of our students and the faculty working with them.”

Thursday, March 6, doctoral student and instructor Patrick Whitehead presented his paper, “Alfred North Whitehead and the Task for Twenty-First Century Psychology” at 11 a.m. In a 3 p.m. session, Jonathan Gibson explained “What Does the Body Know? Towards a Redefinition of Interoceptive Awareness,” with Jacob Glazier following with “HaraQueen: Donna Haraway, Alexander McQueen and Critical Psychology.” John Roberts, a new UWG faculty member, also presented “Obsession, Technology and the Modern Subject” 3 p.m. Thursday. John was the first student to obtain his doctoral degree from the new PhD program in Consciousness and Society at UWG.

UWG took the stage again at 10 a.m. the next morning, when Chase O’Gwin and graduate student Ron Hopkins presented “Ethical Epistemic Methodology in the Social Sciences.” At 11 a.m., Richard La Fleur and Christina Wright held an interactive discussion on “Historical Critiques and Current Re-Emergences of Symbolic Interactionism.” Lastly, during a 3 p.m. panel on “Spinoza and Qualitative Research,” Christopher Biase, Timothy Beck and Emaline Friedman discussed ethics and philosophy in qualitative research. During Saturday’s poster session, Robert Beshara represented “Cinema and Multi-Layered Structure of Reality” while Kizito Okeke explained “Psychology of Authenticity: a Phenomenological Anastomosis of the Experience of a Transition to an Authentic Human Life.” Richard La Fleur and Christina Wright returned to field questions about their individual projects, “Reintegration and Mattering: Post-Deployment and Veterans” and “An Exploration of Theories of Legitimization Through Discussions on Sexual Orientation,” respectively. Gary Senecal tackled the struggles of retiring NFL players in “Engaging CTE in the Lived Experience of the Athlete’s Career Transition.”

“Presenting at conferences has many benefits for students,” continues Dr. Osbeck. “It requires them to organize their ideas and communicate them clearly to an unfamiliar audience. Questions about their work can help students sharpen and refine their thinking, or can lead them to consider a line of research or theory they would not have otherwise encountered. It also helps them make connections that can be invaluable as they advance in their careers. My own adviser encouraged me to present at national conferences during my first year of study with him, and doing so established professional connections that I have maintained to the present.”


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