Psychology

Outstanding Undergraduate Students

Elizabeth Anquillare

The Outstanding Undergraduate in Psychology is determined using the student's GPA, in-class performance, and research accomplishments. Elizabeth Anquillare is currently in her final semester as an undergraduate student at UCCS with a major in psychology and minors in gerontology and sociology. She joined Dr. Diana Selmeczy’s Cognitive Development Lab as a research assistant in January 2021 and also works with the Neuropsychology Team at the UCCS Aging Center. She is excited to continue her academic career at UCCS this coming fall in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program with a major area of study in Geropsychology and will be working with Dr. Rachel Thayer to explore the effects of long-term cannabis use on cognition in older adults. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys travel, theater, and building Lego creations with her 9-year-old daughter.

Lisa Brashar

The Outstanding Undergraduate in Psychology is determined using the student's GPA, in-class performance, and research accomplishments. This is such an honor for Lisa Brashar. It is with her sincere appreciation to all her amazing professors that she humbly accepted this award. Lisa concludes her journey at UCCS as a changed person. Earning a college degree helped Lisa change the way she sees herself and changed the way she sees the world. Lisa made it to the end of the tunnel and is now ready to go out and change the world!

Jessica Cuna

The Outstanding Undergraduate in Psychology is determined using the student's GPA, in-class performance, and research accomplishments. Jessica Cuna is a Psychology major with a special interest in Evolution. She is a Cryptocurrency enthusiast and loves frisbee golf, her family, and her husband.

Arianna Swenson

The Outstanding Undergraduate in Psychology is determined using the student's GPA, in-class performance, and research accomplishments.

Outstanding Graduate Students

Travis Griffin

David Nichols Award
 
This award was established in the name of Professor David Nichols, the founding member of the UCCS Psychology Department, and it is awarded based on academic excellence. Professor Nichols always heartily encouraged and supported the Department's students, especially those who had successfully overcome adversity or achieved success under non-traditional circumstances.

Hannah Levitt

2022 Becker Award
 
This award recognizes the graduate student (out of the approximately 20 first-year students) who has shown outstanding accomplishment in the statistics and research methods courses. The Becker Award, named for Dr. Lee Becker (Professor of Psychology, 1977 - 2001), includes a $2,000 scholarship for the award winner.

Katie Granier

Psychological Society of Pikes Peak Region Outstanding Student (Clinical Psychology)
 
The Psychological Society of the Pikes Peak Region graciously recognizes MA students from the Psychological Science and Clinical track every year. The MA program provides students with a solid foundation in psychological research. It includes coursework in core areas of psychology, advanced training in research methodology and statistics, and multiple research experiences. The vast majority of students matriculate into PhD programs in the subfield of their choice.

Julie Hurd

Outstanding Ph.D. Student (Trauma)
 
This award is giving to the student who has demonstrated exemplary performance as a PhD Student in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program in all areas of the program including research, clinical work, and leadership. Julie Hurd, M.S., is a fourth-year clinical psychology (trauma track) doctoral student at UCCS. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa and her M.S. in Psychology from Arizona State University. At UCCS, Julie has explored various lines of research including PTSD and marijuana use, community resilience and mental health outcomes, and the application of nonlinear dynamics to understand post-trauma recovery and resilience. Now, her research primarily focuses on intimate relationships and the impact of sexual trauma. Julie has been active in clinical work providing individual, couples, and group therapy to trauma survivors and conducting neuropsychological assessments. She also helped re-establish the psychology graduate student organization (PGSO) and is currently serving as the vice-president for the trauma track.

Katie Oltz

Psychological Society of Pikes Peak Region Outstanding Student (Clinical Psychology)
 
The Psychological Society of the Pikes Peak Region graciously recognizes MA students from the Psychological Science and Clinical track every year. The MA program provides students with a solid foundation in psychological research. It includes coursework in core areas of psychology, advanced training in research methodology and statistics, and multiple research experiences. The vast majority of students matriculate into PhD programs in the subfield of their choice."

Lisa Stone

Outstanding Ph.D. Student (Geropsychology)
 
This award is giving to the student who has demonstrated exemplary performance as a PhD Student in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program in all areas of the program including research, clinical work, and leadership. Lisa Stone, M.A., is a fourth-year clinical psychology (geropsychology track) doctoral student at UCCS. She previously received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Dayton and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from UCCS. She currently works with Dr. Daniel Segal where her research focuses on the nature, impact, and assessment of personality disorders among older adults. In particular, she is interested in dimensional models of personality disorders and their adaptability to the unique context of later life. Clinically, she has a passion for working with older adults and caregivers of older adults. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and camping, cooking with her partner, and watching hockey.

Alexander Stover

Outstanding M.A. Student (Psychological Science)
 
The MA program in Psychological Science provides students with a solid foundation in psychological research. It includes coursework in core areas of psychology, advanced training in research methodology and statistics, and multiple research experiences. The vast majority of students matriculate into PhD programs in the subfield of their choice. Alex Stover received his BS in behavioral neuroscience from the University of Kansas in 2018. Currently, he is a third-year graduate student pursuing his MA in psychological science with an emphasis on trauma at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). Alex works with Dr. Charles Benight at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience at UCCS, where he investigates motivational constructs in trauma survivors through a living systems perspective. After completing his MA, Alex will further his work as a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at UCCS.

Keara Werth

Psychological Society of Pikes Peak Region Outstanding Student (Psychological Science)
 
The Psychological Society of the Pikes Peak Region graciously recognizes MA students from the Psychological Science and Clinical track every year. The MA program provides students with a solid foundation in psychological research. It includes coursework in core areas of psychology, advanced training in research methodology and statistics, and multiple research experiences. The vast majority of students matriculate into PhD programs in the subfield of their choice.