Conference & Symposium Highlights

This year marked the in-person return of two signature MSP events. On May 12th, the 4th Annual Cultural Competency Conference (CCC) was hosted by members of the Psi Chi Chapter at MSP, the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance (IDEA), and the Student Engagement team. Psi Chi’s 8th Annual Mental Health Research Symposium took place on June 2nd. Check out these highlight from the events.

The CCC is designed to support current and future practitioners through the development of a greater understanding of different cultural communities and practices that they might encounter in their work. In addition to numerous presentations, the 2023 conference featured implicit bias training from Drs. Johanna Buzolits and Derrick Sebree along with the keynote address entitled “Unsettling the Cultural Competency Mindset” by Division 32 President Dr. Gina Belton.

Members of Dr. Buzolits research team posing for a group photo — Charles Shamey (current MA), Qandeel Minal (MA '21, PsyD 2), Mary Pendelton (MA '22, PsyD 1), Dr. Johanna Buzolits, Vincent Mangiapane (MA '21, PsyD 2), Jasmine Perin (MA with ABA '22, PsyD 1), Olga Blum (MA with ABA '22), Arielle Self (current MA), and Jeffrey Binder (MA '19, PsyD 2) presented on "Cultural Responsibility & The Impact On Mental Health Care Providers With Marginalized Identities."

Grace Freeman holding a microphone with other students in the background. — Grace Freeman (current MA) offered her perspective during the implicit bias training.

Kari Eidnes, Tara Pope, and Erica Medina standing in front of whiteboard presenting. — Kari Eidnes (MA '21, PsyD 2), Tara Pope (MA '21, PsyD 2), and Erica Medina (PsyD 2) presented on "Working With Children & Adolescents From Minoritized & Underserved Communities."

Diana Jasser and Caroline Calloway posed in front of their presentation. — Diana Jasser (MA '20, PsyD 3) and Caroline Calloway (MA '20, PsyD 3) presented "EmBody Liberation: Breaking Down Anti-Fat Bias."

Drs. Johanna Buzolits and Lisa Wolf pose together — Drs. Johanna Buzolits and Lisa Wolf presented on "White Moves."

Ray Kaidbay at a podium with a laptop and a presentation in the background — Ray Kaidbay (PsyD 1) presented on the "Response Crises Generated After the Beirut Explosion."

Courtney Cabell standing at podium with a laptop and presentation in the background — Courtney Cabell (MA '21, PsyD 2) presented "Black Americans & Racial Trauma: Effects & Interventions."

Dennis Brown holding microphone with other students sitting around tables in the background — Dennis Brown (current MA with ABA) offered his perspective during the implicit bias training.

Dr. Gina Belton speaking at a podium — Dr. Gina Belton, APA Division 32 President and Core Faculty at Saybrook University, gave the keynote address entitled "Unsettling the Cultural Competency Mindset."

Jasmin Perin holding a microphone with other students sitting in the background. — Jasmine Perin (MA with ABA '22, PsyD 1) offered her perspective during the implicit bias training.

Kalani Banks sitting at classroom tables speaking with her hands out. — Kalani Banks (current MA) offers her perspectives during a panel presentation.

Drs. Derrick Sebree, Jr, and Johanna Buzolits posing together — Drs. Derrick Sebree, Jr, and Johanna Buzolits started the conference with an implicit bias training.

Shivani Sani presenting her research poster. — Shivani Sani (Current MA) shares her poster "The Perfect Storm Affecting Adolescent Sleep".

Ray Kaidbay standing with her research poster. — Ray Kaidbay with her poster "Explanation of Social Anxiety Disorder: Neurobiological- Environmental- Developmental- Treatment Factors Explaining Social Anxiety Disorder".

Devon Kardel, Courtney Cabell, Tara Pope, Natalya Zerka standing in front of their presentation. — Devon Kardel (PsyD 2), Courtney Cabell (MA '21, PsyD 2), Tara Pope (MA with ABA '21, PsyD 2), and Natalya Zerka (MA '21, PsyD 2) gave a panel presentation titled "Feminine Embodiment and its Contemporary Clinical Applications".

Kareem Daher presenting his research poster. — Kareem Daher (MA) presented his poster "A Response to Sexual Trauma Through Gender Differences: How Does Collectivistic Cultures and Honorr-Based Cultures Affect an Individual's Experience of Sexual Trauma?"

Elizabeth Romano and Hannah Riesser standing in front of their presentation. — Elizabeth Romano (MA with ABA '20, PsyD 2) and Hannah Riesser (MA with ABA '21, PsyD 2) gave a Panel Presentation titled "What is Within-Subject Research Design and Why Should We Use it?"

Wide shot of individuals sitting at tables in the atrium listening to keynote speakers. — Lizelle Salazar, MPH and Taylor Pahl, MSW, LMSW from the University of Michigan Eisenberg Family Depression Center gave a keynote address at the end of the symposium.

Dennis Brown speaking with symposium attendees about his research poster. — Dennis Brown (MA with ABA) talked with attendees about his research "The Biological, Physical, and Social Impact of Misophonia".

Qandeel Minal and Jamal Ghazi giving their presentation to a classroom full of people — Qandeel Minal (MA '21, PsyD 2) and Jamal Ghazi (MA '21, PsyD 2) shared their research on "Understanding the Intersection of Acculturation, Attachment Styles, Parenting Styles, and Psychological Well-Being in South Asian and Arab American Muslin Communities" during a panel presentation.

Avery Potvin, Erica Medina, and Jeffrey Binder standing in front of their presentation. — Avery Potvin (MA '20, PsyD 2), Erica Medina (PsyD 2), and Jeffrey Binder (MA '19, PsyD 2) gave a panel presentation on the "Use of a Quasi-Experimental, Pre-Post Design in Intervention Research."

Photo of students, faculty, and staff sitting at a table playing Disney Pictopia with another table behind. — IDEA and Psi Chi hosted a game night and raised funds for the Autism Alliance of Michigan.

Each year the Psi Chi Chapter at MSP hosts their Mental Health Research Symposium as a way to engage undergraduate and graduate students, along with clinicians in the mental health field, in meaningful discussion about current issues in psychology. The symposium features a mix of panel presentations and poster sessions on a variety of different topics. This year the keynote address “Promoting Mental Health in the Community” was given by Lizelle Salazar, MPH, and Taylor Pahl, MSW, LMSW from the University of Michigan Family Depression Center.