2023

Congratulations to the recipients of 2023 Outstanding Undergraduates in Psychology Awards!  These students represent the best of the Psychology Department.

Overall Outstanding Students:

  • Jacob Hall
  • Stephanie Vance

Outstanding Research Award:

  • Ray Wyatt
  • Keely Kiser

Outstanding Service Award:

  • Ricci LaRoue
  • Vic Ferimer

WVPA/APA Citizen Psychologist Student Award

  • John Prentice in recognition of his extensive & important work in the community.

2022

Congratulations to the recipients of 2022 Outstanding Undergraduates in Psychology Awards!  These students represent the best of the Psychology Department.

Overall Outstanding Students:

  • Destiny Thompson
  • Jayson Bowen

Outstanding Research Award:

  • Abir Benemar
  • Brennan Counts
  • Lauren Gaal

Outstanding Service Award:

  • Destiny Thompson

Special Merit:

  • Brian Ash
  • Megan Russell

2021

Congratulations to the recipients of 2021 Outstanding Undergraduates in Psychology Awards!  These students represent the best of the Psychology Department.

Academic Excellence:

  • Laura Yost

Overall Outstanding Students:

  • Erin Freeman
  • Kelly Romans
  • Kariana Jude
  • Brianne Covington
  • Kaylee Hillman
  • Amanda Farley

Outstanding Research Award:

  • Laura Yost

Outstanding Service Award:

  • Chloe Manning

Congratulations to the following with Academic  Achievements:

Academic Excellence

Kingson, Iram

Smith, Jessica

Adkins, Lexi(Alexis)

Covington, Brianne

Stone, Amber

Jude, Kariana

Rice, Sydney

Stevenson, Rebecca

Hillman, Kalee

Freeman, Erin

Manning, Chloe

Howerton, Brooke

Farley, Amanda

Romans, Kelly

Academic Distinction

Carman, Kennedy

Justice, Kara

Bowen, Derrick

Burress, Ebony

Russell, Cleo

Fleming, Tyler

Butcher, Starr(Evelina)

Altizer, Andrew

Yost, Laura

Smith, Emily

Laslo, Katelynn

Curry, Hannah

Chapman, Natalie

Drake, Regan

Grant, Caleigh

High Achievement

Stapleton, Paige(Emily)

McCoy, Katelynn

Carter, Kayla

Lewis, Ariel

Criswell, Courtney

Pense, Julianne

Fairfax, Paris

Cassity, Kelli

Ferguson, Kim(Kimberly)

Pearson, Kaylee

Stepp, Miriam

Newsome, Kristen

Covey, Mikayla

Leffingwell, Jessica

Bennett, Heather

Ellis, Hardia(Christopher)

Taylor, Abi

Bricker, Paul

Sansom, Haley

Simmons, Jamison

Linz spearheads community action resulting in Huntington Community COVID Care Plan

April 8, 2020

Marianna LinzDr. Marianna Linz, professor and chair of the psychology department, has served as a driving force to bring community groups together in what is being called the Huntington Community COVID Care Plan.

The organization was created to help the vulnerable populations in Huntington who have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Linz, lead organizer of the group.

“We are working to create more awareness of the needs of agencies who serve those in our community that struggle with various issues such as poverty, homelessness and behavioral health issues, as well as those who are aging and challenged physically,” Linz said. “At this unusual time, the agencies are experiencing increases in need and require more resources to meet that need.”

She noted one example with the Huntington City Mission, which has seen a huge increase in the number of meals served under more cumbersome guidelines.

“There are families at the mission with children who have little access to play space and educational supports,” she said. “They also have few resources to keep them busy and families are dealing with the stress of having children out of school and also having no permanent residence. We want to get them and other disadvantaged children access to things that help occupy their time, provide educational stimulation and assist families in maintaining health relationships. This includes activity kits, resources and ideas of things to do that are low cost.”

The activity kits can include arts and crafts, science experiment packets, gross motor play equipment such jump ropes or balls, movies, games and puzzles. The Huntington COVID Care Plan organization is also providing tips for parents on managing stress and behaviors, as well as reducing anxiety over the current pandemic on top of the stress and trauma of being homeless.

“We also hope to organize activities where kids create art to share, such as creating their own character called ‘Corona the Virus,’ along with reminders of how to defeat Corona (handwashing, distance, etc.),” Linz said. “Families at the mission are often left with very little private space and with school being out, this has the potential to create stress for them. They soldier on valiantly, but we want to give them resources to make it easier. We are currently putting together our first ‘expansion kit’ that will include pre-packaged, fun science experiments like making slime and making vinegar volcanoes. If people have ideas and materials to share, they are encouraged to contact us via our Facebook page.”

Items currently needed for the Huntington COVID Care Plan include:

  • Used or new computers for the City Mission;
  • Word searches for those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities;
  • “Fidget” items, or items with interesting patterns or nice textures that can relieve stress for those with dementia;
  • Adults or children willing to write letters for those in senior care centers;
  • Anyone interested in creating ‘virtual play dates’ that could link kids in different socioeconomic situations together for shared activities;
  • Food and hygiene item donations;
  • Donations of pajamas, blankets and stuffed animals for children.

All donations can be dropped off at bins outside Harris Hall on the university’s Huntington campus. Front porch pick-up can also be arranged by contacting Linz by e-mail at linz@marshall.edu or visiting the Huntington COVID Care Plan Facebook page. Interested donors are also encouraged to contact their chosen agency directly to make their donations.

“We receive so much support from the community and we are a large entity capable of spreading much care. We also serve a vibrant community of young people who are looking for ways to be involved and we need to set the example and lead the way. Marshall has always been a unique university in its connection to the Huntington community. We need to continue to reach out and take care of each other,” Linz said. “Please do what you can to help now but don’t lose the momentum as things begin to return to normal at some point. Let our connectedness to each other be the new normal.”

The Huntington COVID Care Plan organization has members from university’s departments of psychology, social work, communication disorders. English and women’s studies, in addition to several community agencies including Huntington City Mission, Harmony House, Stepping Stones, Golden Girls, Davis Child Shelter, Cabell County Schools, Cabell County Community Service Organization, Marshall Student Food Pantry, Facing Hunger Food Bank and various senior centers in Huntington and Barboursville.

Harmony House Volunteer of the Year Award

Congratulations John Hensley

Harmony House was very excited to finally announce the winner of this year’s Hometown Breakfast Volunteer of the Year award: John Hensley.

John is currently a master’s student at Marshall University, working very closely with Marianna Linz. He was one of the students to help start Chat & Create at Harmony House and has helped kick start a similar program at The Center – Youth Opportunity Hub.

Aside from weekly Chat & Creates, John has been dedicated to collecting donations regularly both locally and in his hometown of Elkins on behalf of Harmony House, often filling the needs we have in the shelter.

Assistantship Opportunities
Departmental Awards and Scholarships
Previous Award Winners
Outside Scholarship Opportunities

Congratulations to Dr.Marianna Footo-Linz who received the American Psychological Association Board of Educational Affairs Cynthia D Belar Education Advocacy Distinguished Service Award. In recognition of her leadership in advocating for increased federal investments in the Graduate Psychology Education Program, and her commitment to mentoring and instilling in her students and colleagues the shared responsibility of advocating for the psychology profession.

The Dr. Marty Amerikaner Scholarship for Excellence in Professional Psychiatry
Emily Woodrum received the first Dr. Amerikaner Scholarship on Friday, December 15th, 2017. The criteria to be a recipient(s), is to be a doctoral student candidate of the Psy D program who shows excellence in psychotherapy, mentoring and/or advocacy. The Department of Psychology, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and the Office of Student Financial Assistance have selected Emily because she meets this criteria and has gone above and beyond as a doctoral student. This scholarship was established to honor the work of Dr. Marty Amerikaner and his contributions to the university, the psychology department, and to the many students that he advocated for to establish a quality training program for clinical psychologists.

Additional contributions may be added at anytime. You may either send them to:
Scholarships
MU Foundations
519 John Marshall Drive
Huntington, WV 25703
or go to the website at http://www.marshall.edu/foundation/