Maryville College

Quick Fact

Social Psychology Research Lab group: Crystal Colter’s research group; 4 students presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association 2004 meeting.

Major Research & Teaching Resources:

  • Experimental Psychology Computer Laboratory
  • Cognitive Psychology Laboratory
  • Biopsychology Laboratory
  • Developmental Psychology Laboratory
  • Multipurpose rooms for Student Research
  • Developmental Psychology Children’s Play Group
  • Adolescent After-School Enrichment Program
  • Psychological Tests Library
  • Biofeedback Equipment
  • Psychophysiological Recording Computer systems
  • Cognitive/Experimental Psychology Computer software
  • Three sign language/interpreting laboratories with videocameras, televisions, and VCRs
  • Complete library of professionally and in-house produced videotapes
  • Listing of current newsletters, workshops, job openings and testing opportunities nationwide
  • Sign language classroom
  • The College Library holds up-to-date and historical print and video material, as well as CD-ROM titles, in Interpreting and ASL
  • Regional Test Site for the National RID-NAD tests

Meet The Students

Anne Diener

Student Profile

Name: Anne Diener
Class Year: Junior
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Major: Psychology and American Sign Language/Deaf Studies

Q:  Why did you choose Maryville College?
A: Originally, I discovered Maryville College because of the Sign Language program.  However, the size and location of the College (it was one of the closest schools to my home out of the three that I was interested in) also encouraged my decision to choose MC.

Q: What got you interested in studying psychology and American Sign Language?
A: I had taken a few Sign Language classes before coming to college, and really enjoyed them. Originally, I thought I wanted to interpret; however, by the end of freshman year, I decided that interpreting was not for me. Since I was still interested in Sign Language and really enjoyed it, I decided to declare an ASL/Deaf Studies major. As for Psychology, the field of study has always fascinated me.

Q: What do you plan to do with your degree after you graduate?
A: I’m planning on going to graduate school to obtain a masters degree in either counseling or social work. Eventually, I would like to be in a job where I will interact with people (most likely counseling, or some sort of related job). I’ve thought about maybe being a counselor for Deaf people, or working with an agency that advises hearing parents who have a deaf child. Thankfully, I have a little longer to figure it all out.

Q: Do you think that your decision to come to MC was the right one?
A: Definitely! There are occasional days that I’m stressed with the workload, or wonder what I’m doing here; however, I can’t see myself being anywhere else. Maryville just fits for me.

Q: What's one thing you wish someone had told you before you came to Maryville?
A: Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and use your resources. I wish I had more frequently taken advantage of the help that faculty or other staff can provide.

Q: Favorite place on campus?
A: The benches at Humphrey’s Courtyard, or the road to the House in the Woods.

Q: Favorite book and movie?
A: Jillian Jiggs, by Phoebe Gilman and “Singing in the Rain.”

Student Research/Achievements:

Elizabeth Graham ’07 has obtained a summer internship for 2006 with the Child Life Specialist Department at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Emily Nybo ’07 obtained a Lilly summer internship in 2005 as a Project Coordinator for the UT Child and Adolescent Development Lab, and is still an active Research Assistant on this project.

Michael Smith ’06 obtained a Lilly summer internship in 2005 to work with the Helen Ross McNabb center’s program in rehabilitation and anger management.

Kelly Jones ’06 and Tabatha Arwood ’06 received Lilly funds to attend the 2005 conference on Psychology and Religion at Hendrix College, Arkansas.

Patricia Nee ’06 and Katie Webb ‘06 presented the results of a study they conducted for their Fall 2004 Human Thought and Learning class with Dr. Chad Schrock at the 2005 meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association.  Their poster was entitled "The Effects of Perceived Self-Efficacy on Gender-Specific Educational and Occupational Attainment."

Sara Hofrichter ’07 obtained an ASL practicum at the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School in Washington, DC.

Sara Hofrichter ’07 and Megan Gast ’06 engaged in an ASL practicum, collaborating with First Baptist Church Deaf Adults members doing Chronological Bible Storytelling at Tennessee School for the Deaf, Fall 2005.

Hayley Lynn ’05 and Kyla Surdyka ‘05 received the distinction of honorable mention for their Senior Study research at the 2005 Mid-South Psychology Conference in Memphis, Tennessee.  Surdyka’s Study was entitled "Theory of Mind and Language Acquisition of Autistic Children." Hayley Lynn's presentation was entitled "Social Perceptions of Appalachian English."

MC psychology students and faculty attended the Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) meeting in Nashville from April 6-9, 2005. Lauren Stephens ‘04, Michelle Reed ‘05, Arielle Von Boettinger ‘05, Marie Nemerov ‘04, and Dr. Crystal Wright (Colter) were awarded an Undergraduate Regional Research Award by Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology, for their poster entitled, "Student Leaders' Perceptions of Group Entitivity and Related Characteristics," co-authored with colleagues Dr. David Hamilton, Wes Moons, and Joel Thurston from the University of California Santa Barbara.

Michelle Reed ’05, Lauren Stephens ’04, and Kyla Surdyka ‘05 presented their Senior Study in a poster session at the Southeastern Psychological Association conference.