School of Psychology

Dean Mary Beth Kenkel, Ph.D., Head

Senior Associate Dean
Lisa A. Steelman, Ph.D.

On-Campus Degree Programs

Applied Behavior Analysis, B.A.
Clinical Psychology, Psy.D.
Forensic Psychology, B.A.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology, M.S.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Ph.D.
Psychology, B.A.
Psychology, B.S.

Online Degree Programs

Applied Psychology, A.A. Applied Psychology, B.A. Criminal Justice, A.A. Criminal Justice, B.A.
Criminal Justice - Homeland Security, B.A.
Liberal Arts, A.A.

Undergraduate Minor Programs

Forensic Psychology Minor
Psychology Minor

Professors
William K. Gabrenya Jr., Ph.D., cross-cultural differences in group interaction, Chinese culture, social class and modernization, international student adjustment, indigenous psychologies, political psychology, sex.

Linda Garcia-Shelton, Ph.D., primary care psychology, family medicine resident training.

Richard L. Griffith, Ph.D., response distortion on noncognitive selection procedures, advanced measurement issues, organizational innovation, cognitive processes of work teams.

Thomas H. Harrell, Ph.D., psychometrics and computerized psychological assessment, use of MMPI-2 in clinical evaluation, cognitive-behavioral approaches to assessment and therapy, adaptation to aging.

Mary Beth Kenkel, Ph.D., clinical/community psychology, rural mental health, gender issues, telehealth, prevention, future of professional psychology.

Radhika Krishnamurthy, Psy.D., personality assessment with the MMPI-2/ MMPI-A and Rorschach, therapeutic test feedback, psychological assessment competency, gender and cultural factors in assessment and treatment.

Kevin P. Mulligan, Psy.D., cognitive changes, traumatic brain injury, combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder.

Frank M. Webbe, Ph.D., sport psychology, neurobehavioral correlates of athletic head trauma, neuropsychology and aging.

Associate Professors
Ivy Chong, Ph.D., BCBA-D, analysis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

Patrick D. Converse, Ph.D., self-regulation, cognitive ability, ability requirements of occupations, personality measurement.

Vanessa A. Edkins, Ph.D., juror decision-making, racism in the law, attitudes toward the legal system.

Richard T. Elmore Jr., Ph.D., marital and sex therapy, clinical hypnosis, traumatology, occupational health psychology.

Philip D. Farber, Ph.D., psychological assessment, clinical training issues, psychopathology, existential/humanistic approaches to therapy.

Mark T. Harvey, Ph.D., BCBA-D, psychopathology, self-injurious behavior, behavior analysis in educational settings.

Michael E. Kelley, Ph.D., BCBA-D, early intervention for autism, translational research, severe behavior problems, pediatric feeding disorders.

Maria J. Lavooy, Ph.D., diversity, confronting behavior, scholarship of teaching and learning.

Barbara Paulillo, Psy.D., community psychological services.

Erin M. Richard, Ph.D., nature of emotional display rules, emotion regulation in the workplace, individual difference in workplace motivation.

Lisa A. Steelman, Ph.D., job performance feedback processes, performance appraisal, multirater feedback, organizational survey research, employee commitment and engagement.

Zhiqing Zhou, Ph.D., workplace mistreatment, employee health and wellbeing, organizational climate, organizational citizenship behavior, crosscultural issues.

Assistant Professors
Demara Bennett, Psy.D., evaluation and treatment of early childhood disorders, autism family violence.

Felipa T. Chavez, Ph.D., racial/ethnic identity, substance abuse/addictions, child abuse and neglect.

Xinxuan Che, Ph.D., occupational health psychology, leadership and teams, workplace safety, patient safety and care quality in healthcare.

Travis W. Conradt, Ph.D.,childhood emotion, memory and suggestibility.

Julie S. Costopoulos, Ph.D., forensic psychology, sex offender treatment, personality, criminal behavior.

Bill Leach, Ph.D., writing, literature online education.

Robyn E. Tapley, Psy.D., clinical issues in the student population, career counseling, psychological/psychoeducational assessment, clinical training/supervision, professional ethics.

Kristi S. Van Sickle, Psy.D., health psychology, psychologist early career issues.

Jessica Wildman, Ph.D., cross-cultural variables in team performance, interpersonal trust.

Zhiqing Zhou, Ph.D., workplace mistreatment, employee health and well-being, organizational climate, organizational citizenship behavior, cross-cultural issues.

Instructors
Marshall A. Jones, M.S., Director, College of Psychology and Liberal Arts Undergraduate Online Programs

James K. Reynolds, M.P.A., Criminal Justice Academic Program Chair

Adjunct Faculty
B. Amendolace, Psy.D.; J. Becker, M.A.; D. Bersoff, Ph.D.; R. Collins, Ph.D.; C. Curry, Ph.D.; K. Graham, M.S.; S. Howze, Psy.D.; K. Hunger, Pharm.D.; F. Kaslow, Ph.D.; R.E. Russell, Psy.D.; V. Savage, Ph.D.; M. Stallo, Ph.D.; G.M. Vecchi, Ph.D.; W.S. Whitacre, Psy.D.; S.R. Wise, Psy.D.; S. Young, Ph.D.; J. Zimerman, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus
Arthur Gutman, Ph.D.

Professors Emerita
Juanita N. Baker, Ph.D.; Carol L. Philpot, Psy.D.

Overview

The School of Psychology is located on the second floor of Florida Tech Commons. Included are offices, classrooms, human research areas, computer facilities, conference rooms, faculty/staff/student lounges and a student meeting/reading room. Located on Florida Tech’s main campus is the Scott Center for Autism Treatment, which also houses the Psychological Services Center. The East Central Florida Memory Clinic (ECFMC) is also located in Melbourne.

The school operates The Scott Center for Autism Treatment, Center for Organizational Effectiveness, ECFMC and the Family Learning Program (FLP). ECFMC provides memory screenings as well as neuropsychological assessment and counseling. The ECFMC and FLP programs are state supported.;

The Multicultural Commitment

The School of Psychology is committed to providing students with information and training that is not restricted to one cultural or national tradition. Exposure to information on the theory and practice of psychology in different cultures and with different ethnic and cultural minorities make graduates sensitive to cultural, national and ethnic differences, whether encountered at home or abroad.

Intensive Classroom Courses

These courses are usually one credit hour and are taught by nationally known members of our visiting and adjunct faculty. The format of an intensive course is as follows. Each registered student is given a syllabus that includes reading and report assignments. Several weeks into the term, the class meets formally with the professor for one, two or three days. Papers or tests can be given during this time, and papers and projects are usually assigned for the remaining weeks of the term. All assignments are due by the end of the semester. This format allows our students to gain exposure to distinguished psychologists from throughout the world. Generally, one of these courses is available each semester.

Psychology Honors Program

Academically gifted, highly motivated students may participate in the department’s honors program. Students who plan to seek graduate degrees are strongly advised to consider this program.

The psychology honors program is available to juniors enrolled in all undergraduate psychology programs (B.A., B.S., psychology; B.A., forensic psychology, and B.A., applied behavior analysis). The honors program includes six credit hours of Psychology Honors Thesis ( PSY 4515 ) taken in place of the internship (PSY 4000 ). Students must also complete a minimum of three (3) credits of the Psychology Honors Seminar ( PSY 4590 ), usually taken in place of lower-level courses in the concentration area or in place of free electives. Only honors students may write a thesis.

Admission Requirements

Prospective honors students must have reached their junior year. Applicants should have completed a minimum of 12 hours of psychology (BEH, PSY, PSF) courses and a minimum overall GPA of 3.4. These courses may be taken at Florida Tech or transferred from another four-year university. Community college courses will not be included in the GPA calculation.

To earn the honors distinction, students must successfully complete the program with a graduating overall GPA of 3.4. Only courses taken at Florida Tech will be included in this calculation. A minimum average GPA of 3.0 in PSY 4590 is required. Successful students will receive a certificate indicating completion of the requirements.

Required Courses

PSY 4515 Psychology Honors Thesis (taken twice for 6 credits) 3

PSY 4590 Psychology Honors Seminar (3 credit hours required) 1

Fast Track Master’s Program

This program allows qualifying undergraduate students currently enrolled in the School of Psychology to start work toward a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology or applied behavior analysis during their senior year. This option allows qualifying students to enroll in up to six credit hours of graduate courses and earn simultaneous credit toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The program is available to undergraduates who have completed a minimum of 31 credit hours at Florida Tech with an earned GPA of at least 3.4, and who have completed at least 95 credit hours toward their undergraduate degree by the time the approved student begins taking graduate-level courses. The credit hours are treated as transfer credit (GPA does not apply) when applied toward the master’s degree. Interested students should consult the School of Psychology for more information about this program.

Policy Regarding Graduate Admissions

The following statement is specific to the agreement assumed between a prospective psychology graduate student and the School of Psychology. A resolution adopted by the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States, and supported by 362 universities and colleges, reads as follows:

Acceptance of an offer of financial aid (such as graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship or assistantship) for the next academic year by an actual or prospective graduate student completes an agreement that both student and graduate school expect to honor. In those instances in which the student accepts the offer before April 15 and subsequently desires to withdraw, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer. It is further agreed by the institutions and organizations subscribing to the above Resolution that a copy of this Resolution should accompany every scholarship, fellowship, traineeship and assistantship offer.

Academic Dismissal for Graduate Students

Students will be dismissed from further graduate study under the following circumstances:

A grade point average below 3.0 (doctoral students) or 2.0 (master’s students) at any stage of the doctoral program.
Two or more grades of D, F or U.
Unsatisfactory grades for nine credit hours of internship.
Nonadmission to doctoral candidacy as defined under “Degree Requirements.”
Failure to abide by the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Ethics of the American Psychological Association.
Hampering the academic efforts of other students.
Failure to maintain satisfactory progress in coursework and/or research, regardless of grade point average.
Violation of the legal and ethical standards of the university, including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, knowingly furnishing false information to the university, or forging, altering or misusing university documents or academic credentials.
Failure to demonstrate adequately those personal and interpersonal skills and attributes deemed suitable for the profession, as delineated in the psychology graduate student handbook.

The Academic Overview section presents information concerning dismissal and the rights of the student to appeal dismissal decisions.

Minor Programs

Minors in psychology and forensic psychology are offered through the School of Psychology. A complete policy statement regarding minors can be found in the Academic Overview section. Information about current minor offerings is available through the individual colleges/departments.

Research

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): Faculty and graduate students in the ABA program are actively engaged in a variety of research topics including the assessment and treatment of problem behaviors, skill acquisition techniques, and the assessment and improvement of staff performance.

Organizational Behavior Management (OBM): Faculty and graduate students in the OBM program are actively engaged in a variety of research topics including the assessment and improvement of staff performance, behavior-based safety in organizations, and pay-for-performance.

Psychology/Forensic Psychology: Faculty and undergraduate students engage in a wide variety of research. For the forensic psychology program, faculty research programs cover topics such as plea bargaining, murder charges and the use of the death penalty in Florida; the relationships among psychiatric diagnoses, personality variables and deviant or criminal behavior; criminal case analysis; racial profiling; and leadership emergence and development. In the B.A and B.S. psychology programs, faculty research focuses on memory, perception and cognition in extreme environments; employee emotions and motivation in the workplace; cross-cultural psychology, in particular crossculture competency, socio-psychological processes among East Asians, and value change; cognitive, behavioral and physiological correlates of exercise and sport; and neuropsychology research on methods for detecting mild traumatic brain injury, and the creation of assistive technology for support of Alzheimer’s caregivers.

Industrial Organizational Psychology (I/O): Faculty and graduate students in the I/O program are actively engaged in a variety of research topics, including the use of personality measures in selection, employment law, the role of feedback processes in organizations, employee engagement, emotions in the workplace, work motivation and self regulation, and team processes.

Doctor of Psychology: Faculty and doctoral students in the Psy.D. program are engaged in a number of research topics including personality assessment, self-knowledge, gender and multicultural issues, traumatology, child maltreatment, parent-child interactions, adaptation to aging, forensic issues and neuropsychological assessment.

Cognition Applied Research Lab (CARL): See “Research” in the Institution Overview section.