Celebration Time!
’s Department of Psychological Sciences celebrated the 50th anniversary of its PhD program with a PhD alumni reunion held June 1-3, 2018. Approximately 200 alumni, faculty, grad students, staff and family members took part in weekend events that included a campus 5K Walk/Run Race and Kids’ Fun Run, a banquet with a special appearance by Diminished Faculties (the department’s all-faculty band), presentations, lectures, a tour of facilities, bowling and group photos.
Since the PhD program was established, more than 725 PhD degrees in clinical psychology or psychological science have been awarded to date. Most graduates of the program are employed in colleges and universities, where they are engaged in teaching and research in psychology.
Speakers at the reunion included a presentation by the first PhD graduate, Don DeRosa, PhD ’67, President Emeritus, University of the Pacific, and keynote speakers Brian Hall, PhD ’11, University of Macau (“Global Mental Health: Scalable innovations to bridge the treatment gap in China”), Tricia Leahey, PhD ’08, University of Connecticut (“Next Frontiers in Obesity Treatment Research: Dissemination and weight loss maintenance”) and Lynn Martire, PhD ’97, Penn State University (“Close Relationships and Chronic Illness Research: 3 highlights from the past 20 years”).
Professor Dave Riccio, PhD, who came to in 1969 and will be retiring in 2019, gave a “Last Lecture” recalling the early days of the program, remembering past faculty and grad students and reviewing some of the research he’s done over the years.
“It was a great event!” wrote attendee Robert Klepac, PhD ’69, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, on the department’s Facebook page. “Thanks to the dept. for staging such a wonderful time for us.”
Click here for lists of reunion attendees
Pictured (l to r): Front row: President Beverly J. Warren; Chantrell M. Lewis, BFA ’19; Nick Belluardo, BS ’15; James Bailey, BA ’03, MS ‘04. Back row: Douglas M. Mancino, BA ’71; Carol A. Mancino, BA ’72; Ramesh Rajasingham, BA ’85, MA ’86; Sandra C. Armstrong; Lawrence R. Armstrong, BS ’79, BArc ’80. Not pictured: John R. Elliot, BArc ’70 and Michael E. Rogers, PhD ’96, who were unable to attend the ceremony.
Alumni Honors
The Alumni Association hosted the annual Alumni Awards ceremony at the Hotel and Conference Center on October 5, 2018.
The university’s most prestigious honors given to alumni, the awards recognize the exceptional contributions of alumni (and students) in their chosen profession, in their communities and at the university.
“Each of our alumni have left a distinctive footprint at
and have helped to shape who we are today,” says James Bailey, BA ’03, MS ’04, President, Alumni Association Board
of Directors.
Congratulations to the following 2018 Alumni Award recipients:
Distinguished Alumni Award—John R. Elliot, BArc ’70, Owner, American Medical Facilities Management LLC (AMFM)
Professional Achievement Award—Ramesh Rajasingham,
BA ’85, MA ’86, United Nations Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, Syria Crisis
Professional Achievement Award—Michael E. Rogers,
PhD ’96, Professor of Exercise Science at Wichita State University
Advocacy Award—Sandra C. Armstrong, Philanthropist, and Lawrence R. Armstrong, BS ’79, BArc ’80,
CEO, Ware Malcomb
Distinguished Citizen Award—Carol A. Mancino, BA ’72, Human Resources Professional, Civic Leader, Philanthropist, and Douglas M. Mancino, BA ’71, JD, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Civic Leader
Outstanding New Professional Award—Nick Belluardo,
BS ’15, CM, Cleveland Hopkins Airport Planning Manager,
Business Owner
Golden Flash Award—Chantrell M. Lewis, BFA ’19, Theatre Studies, Concentration in Musical Theatre
Read recipient bios at .
Submit a nomination for the 2019 Alumni Awards at
www.ksualumni.org/alumniawards.
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