Class of 2024 Celebration

The SCCAP Student Achievement Award recognizes one late-stage graduate student who has made a significant contribution to the field of clinical child and adolescent psychology, primarily through research work but also through teaching, mentoring, clinical work, and other forms of community engagement. 

Honoree: Gretchen Perhamus

Gretchen won the award for her exemplary approach to clinical child and adolescent psychology, as well as the significance and innovation of her work. Her research broadly centers on applying a developmental psychopathology framework to examine the interplay between affective, social-cognitive, and psychophysiological factors in the development of youth externalizing problems. In addition to the honor, Gretchen will receive a monetary award of $1000. She is mentored by Dr. Jamie Ostrov. 

The Psychological Association of Western New York (PAWNY) recognizes the importance of supporting and encouraging underrepresented racial and ethnic minority students to pursue and complete doctoral training in clinical and counseling psychology. To assist with this goal, we offer a $1000 scholarship gift to be awarded once annually to qualified applicants who are currently enrolled in a local WNY doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology.

Recipient: Margaret Azu 

Maggie’s current research interests center on how differences in psychophysiological reactivity and self-regulation combined with experiences in the social environment (e.g., parent-child relationships, peer interactions) together shape children’s developmental trajectories. Her advisor is Dr. Jamie Ostrov.

Recipient: Xinyao Ma

Xinyao's research interests lie primarily in understanding the cognitive processes in psychopathology. Currently, her research focuses on maladaptive future thinking in depression, specifically insensitivity to the potential future consequences of one's behavior. Her advisor is Dr. John Roberts.

The Bulgelski award recognizes outstanding doctoral scholarship in psychology. It is given based on excellence in scholarly productivity during doctoral studies, and significance and quality of the doctoral dissertation project.

Honoree: Katie Paige

Katie received this award for her dissertation research, titled “Leveraging Bifactor Modeling to Test Prospective Direct and Mediational Effects of Adolescent Alcohol Use and Externalizing Symptoms on the Neurobiological Development of Executive Functioning.” This work investigated the effect of alcohol use on the development of executive functioning in adolescence. Katie's findings suggest the critical role of social adaptation within peer and school contexts in promoting healthy development of executive functioning. Specifically, general externalizing symptoms predicted poor executive functioning indirectly through poor social adaptation. There was no evidence that specific, neurotoxic effects of alcohol or drug use derailed development of executive functioning. In addition to the honor, Katie will receive a monetary award of $2500. She is mentored by Dr. Craig Colder. 

Runners-up: Gretchen Perhamus (mentored by Dr. Jamie Ostrov) and Nolan Ramer (mentored by Dr. Craig Colder) each received a monetary award of $1500.

The Rice award honors early excellence in scientific research for an empirical paper completed by a graduate student. It is given based on evaluation of scientific work completed by the student during the first three years of graduate training.

Honoree: Verenice Ascencio Gutierrez

Verenice received the award for her paper titled “TRPM4 and PLCβ3 Contribute to Normal Behavioral Responses to an Array of Sweeteners and Carbohydrates but PLCβ3 is Not Needed for Taste-Driven Licking for Glucose,” published in Chemical Studies in January 2024. In this study, Verenice examined the role of multiple intracellular signaling pathways in taste responding to “sweet” and “starchy” stimuli. Her findings are consistent with mounting evidence that glucose has access to a sweet-independent signaling pathway and expands the field’s understanding of sweet taste signaling to include a new cell type. In addition to the honor, Verenice will receive a cash award of $1,800, and will be recognized on our Robert W Rice Memorial Award plaque. Her mentor is Dr. Ann-Marie Torregrossa.

Runners-up: Xinyao Ma (mentored by Dr. John Roberts) and Veronica Schneider (mentored by Dr. Shira Gabriel), who will each receive a cash award of $250.

Dr. Murray Levine was a member of the UB Psychology Department from 1968 until 2000.  He was a member of the clinical area and a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor. Murray was among a core group of influential psychologists who helped launch the field of community psychology. This award recognizes original research that is poised to make a significant impact on the community surrounding UB and is sponsored by the generous support of Dr. Robert Fink, a UB alumnus and one of Murray’s former students.

Graduate Honoree: Hope White

Hope received the honor and $500 monetary award for her paper titled, “Play With Me: Effects of a Shared Activities Parenting Intervention on Positive Parenting and Relative Reinforcing Value of Food.” This work reports results of a randomized controlled trial evaluating impacts of a novel parenting intervention that is implemented by parents in their home to promote positive parenting skills and prevent child obesity via shared-parent child activities. The self-guided intervention combines traditional didactic parenting videos with play kits that enable parents to practice positive parenting skills learned in the videos. Providing positive parenting resources that can be completed at home reduces barriers to engagement in the intervention and facilitates the practice of skills in families’ natural environments. Findings indicate that the intervention was feasible, improved positive parentings skills, and was well-liked by local parents. This work will help facilitate exporting the intervention into the community and has broad implications for improving health and well-being of children. Hope is a student in our social-personality doctoral program and was mentored by Dr. Stephanie Anzman-Frasca for this project.

Undergraduate Honoree: Reilly Diemond

Reilly, a very deserving recipient of the Murray Levine Award for Community Engagement in Psychology, has been a valuable member of the Department of Psychology and UB in his time here. He has served several leadership roles in Psi Chi International Honors Society in Psychology, helped implement the yearly WNY Psychology Research Conference, and participated in numerous informational and recruiting events for the department. Reilly worked as a research assistant for Dr. Mark Seery, Dr. Leonard Simms, and Dr. Larry Hawk. He also participated in many activities with the UB Women's Healthcare and Wellness Association and served as an instructor for the College of Arts and Sciences Peer-Assisted Learning program. As a recipient of the Murray Levine Award, Reilly will receive $500.

Honoree: Elizabeth Rakowski

Bestowed by UB's Graduate School and Graduate Student Association, the award recognizes graduate students who demonstrate exceptional performance in the execution of teaching responsibilities, teaching competence, effective mentorship of students, and maintenance of high academic standards and expectations of student performance. Beth has served as a teaching assistant for Psychological Statistics, Scientific Inquiry, Social Psychology, and Psychology of Personality. Her advisor is Dr. Paul Meyer.

The SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence acknowledges students for outstanding achievements that have demonstrated the integration of SUNY excellence within many aspects of their lives in areas such as academics, leadership, campus involvement, community service, or the arts. It is the highest honor bestowed upon a student by the University.

Honoree: Cole Fredericks

Cole Fredericks of New York City graduates with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. He is a University Honors scholar and has served as a residence hall vice president, student affairs director for the Student Association, a teaching assistant for evolutionary biology, and a volunteer counselor for a crisis hotline. A research assistant for both Dr. Matthew Paul's behavioral neuroscience laboratory and Dr. Julie Bowker's clinical/developmental psychology laboratory, Cole has contributed to research on vasopressin deficiency impacting rat social communication and young adolescents’ friendships and victimization experiences. He plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology.

This award honors the most outstanding graduating senior from each department in UB’s College of Arts and Sciences. We recognize the undergraduate who has best demonstrated the highest level of academic achievement and involvement in the Department of Psychology and the field of psychological science.

Honoree: Reilly Diemond

Reilly Diemond of Ithaca, New York, graduates summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, receiving a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a minor in counseling. Reilly is a member of the Psychology Honors Program, which enabled him to complete an independent Honors thesis under the mentorship of Dr. Mark Seery, and served as vice president of UB's chapter of Psi Chi International Honors Society in Psychology. He worked as a supervising research assistant in Dr. Seery's Social Psychophysiology Laboratory, and as a research assistant in both Dr. Leonard Simms's Personality, Psychopathology, and Psychometrics Laboratory and Dr. Larry Hawk's Behavioral Health Laboratory. In the fall, Reilly plans to continue working in psychology research to prepare for a doctoral program in clinical psychology.

The Psychology Honors Program enables senior Psychology majors to complete an individual research project (i.e., Honors Thesis) under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Students work on completing their Honors Thesis throughout both the Fall and Spring semesters, then defend it in an oral examination at the end of Spring. This challenging yet highly rewarding experience involves all steps in the research process and prepares students for a wide variety of educational and career opportunities. The Honors Program Director is Dr. Wendy Quinton.

Honoree: Matthew Preisigke

The Feldman-Cohen Award recognizes the most exceptional undergraduate Psychology Honors Thesis. Named in honor of two of the Department’s most distinguished former faculty, the award goes to the undergraduate whose Honors Thesis receives the highest ranking by the student’s examination committee and faculty advisor.

Matt's thesis, supervised by Dr. Paul Meyer, investigated the effects of the anti-diabetic and weight loss medication liraglutide on healthy reinforcement processes in Long-Evans rats. Results revealed that liraglutide induced weight loss as expected. In addition, rats under conditions of food restriction and social isolation preferred food reinforcers to social reinforcers. Further, liraglutide induced transient decreases in responding for food reinforcers but had no effect on responding for social reinforcers. Overall, results confirm that liraglutide reduces body weight and can reduce food choice, although this latter effect may be transient and subject to tolerance development. Along with the honor, Matt will receive a monetary award of $750. 

Psi Chi was founded in 1929 to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence in scholarship and advance the science of psychology. Membership in Psi Chi is an earned lifetime honor. UB's Psi Chi chapter is student run and advised by Dr. Joyce Lacy. 

Our Psi Chi officers and members work closely with officers from our Undergraduate Psychology Association (UPA) on fun and enriching activities for psychology undergraduates (e.g., guest speakers, informational sessions on careers and graduate school, social events, and volunteer activities).

Dr. Veronica Lamarche

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology offers the SAGE Early Career Trajectory Award in recognition of outstanding achievements by early career scholars in social and personality psychology, including contributions to teaching, research, or service to the field. Dr. Lamarche is a 2017 graduate from UB's social-personality doctoral program, mentored by Dr. Sandra Murray. She is currently a Senior Lecturer (equivalent to Associate Professor) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Essex in Colchester, UK. 

Dr. Brooke Feeney

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology's Carol and Ed Diener Award is designed to recognize a mid-career scholar whose work has added substantially to the body of knowledge to the social psychology field and/or brings together personality psychology and social psychology. Dr. Feeney is a 1999 graduate from UB's social-personality doctoral program, mentored by Dr. Nancy Collins. She is currently a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. 

The SUNY Distinguished Professorship constitutes a promotion to the State University of New York’s highest academic rank. This honor is conferred by the Board of Trustees on faculty who have achieved national or international prominence and a distinguished reputation within their chosen field through significant contributions to research and scholarship. Appointees are inducted into the SUNY Distinguished Academy.

Dr. Craig Colder

Dr. Craig R. Colder was named a 2024 SUNY Distinguished Professor. Dr. Colder’s groundbreaking scholarship has demonstrated ongoing commitment to excellence and his funded research portfolio, publications, and mentorship of students and other faculty helps to elevate the intellectual discourse and rigor of research in the Department of Psychology at UB. Dr. Colder is considered a world-renowned authority on the developmental psychopathology of alcohol use during adolescence. His program of research uses advanced quantitative methods and rigorous longitudinal designs and has received nearly continuous support during his 24 years at UB, including 7 grants as Primary Investigator/Multiple Primary Investigator from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) totaling over $17 million and another 15 NIH grants as Co-Investigator, for over $43 million in total funding. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and 6 book chapters. With an h-index of 61 (and over 12,600 citations), Dr. Colder’s publications have appeared in the most prestigious journals in the field of psychology. He is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and was a 2022 recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities. Dr. Colder, who has served as the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Psychology since 2008, strives to mentor the next generation of scientists and has been a mentor on NIH-supported National Research Service Award applications for five students.

Dr. Julie Bowker

Dr. Bowker was promoted to Professor in 2023. A developmental psychologist and member of our Clinical area, her work examines the roles that close interpersonal relationships (e.g., friendships, parent-child relationships) play in social and emotional development and psychopathology during late childhood and early adolescence. 

The Excellence in Teaching Awards celebrate outstanding instruction in psychological science. We recognize those instructors whose quantitative and qualitative teaching evaluations reflect the most exceptional in the Department of Psychology.

Honorees (from left): Dr. Michael Poulin (Faculty), Dr. Shannon Lupien (Adjunct Instructor), and Elizabeth Rakowski (Graduate Student Instructor)