Senior psychology majors present research shaped by faith, service and academic study.
Concordia University Wisconsin will host its annual Arts & Sciences Research Symposium Thursday, April 23, in the Terrace Room from noon to 1 p.m. The symposium coincides with World Psychology Day, a time to recognize psychologists and their contributions to global challenges and mental health awareness. The campus community is invited to engage with student research across disciplines.
Rooted in Concordia’s Christ-centered mission, the study of human behavior reflects a shared commitment among students and faculty to serve others with compassion, integrity and purpose.
That calling is especially visible within the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program, one of the university’s largest majors. Students enter the program with a desire to better understand others and to serve their communities. CUW’s program blends academic study with experiential learning to prepare students to engage thoughtfully with a range of human experiences.
Purposeful research
At this year’s symposium, 11 senior psychology students will present independent research projects developed over the course of the academic year. Each project reflects careful study and a focus on questions that connect to real-world concerns.
Topics include social media’s influence on academic self-efficacy, a weeklong cognitive behavioral intervention among female CUW athletes, and mental health considerations for children with dyslexia. Additional research examines the relationship between religious participation and coping strategies among Concordia students.
For Autumn Snow, a senior psychology major, research became a way to connect her academic work with her personal experience as a student-athlete. Her project explored how cognitive behavioral techniques can help reduce performance anxiety among female collegiate athletes. She said the experience deepened her understanding of how psychology can support others in meaningful ways.
“Through Concordia’s program, I’ve been challenged academically and encouraged to grow as a person,” Snow said. “My professors have invested in me in ways that have shaped both my character and my purpose. This experience strengthened my desire to pursue a career as a therapist, where I hope to support others in their mental well-being.”
Preparing students
Faculty design the research process to prepare students for what comes next, both academically and professionally.
“Our psychology seniors have worked incredibly hard over the last year to develop scientific studies that have real-world impact,” said Sthephany Escandell, assistant professor of psychology. “As their research faculty, I am very proud of their accomplishments. The skills they have learned through this process will easily translate to graduate school, the workforce, and their lives as informed research consumers and producers.”
The symposium will feature more than 40 projects from across the School of Arts and Sciences. While topics vary, each presentation reflects a shared commitment to careful study and meaningful application.
“Concordia University Wisconsin’s psychology department is committed to providing all majors with meaningful experiential learning opportunities, such as engaging in independent research and collecting original data,” said Dr. Rachel Pickett, professor of psychology and department chair. “These experiences not only help students grow in their ability to apply the concepts that they learn in the classroom; they also make them competitive candidates for jobs and graduate programs.”
“We are grateful for the dedicated faculty and students in the Department of Psychology who continue to use their God-given gifts to make a meaningful difference in the world,” said Escandell. “Happy World Psychology Day!”
World Psychology Day at Concordia highlights both celebration and purpose. It affirms the value of studying human behavior with care and points to the responsibility that follows. Students pursue this work with intention, seeking to understand others and serve where they are called.
Sthephany Escandell, assistant professor of psychology and senior research faculty advisor, contributed to this article.
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Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.