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Psychology News

  • 2023

  • 2022

    • Various junk foods, such as chips, candy and ice cream on a wooden table

      WELL Center Researcher Explores Food Addiction with NIH-Funded Grant

      December 20, 2022

      Before being proven as addictive and damaging, cigarettes gained the attention of children through relatable slogans, cartoon characters and attractive designs. Only with marketing regulation and research detailing the destructive effects of tobacco did smoking slowly become less attractive to its young audience. But the marketing of harmful substances to vulnerable populations hasn’t gone away entirely. Instead, it has switched focus to another product: ultra-processed foods, commonly known as “junk food.” Erica LaFata, PhD, an assistant research professor in the Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL Center), was recently awarded a grant to explore food addiction in relation to ultra-processed foods.

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    • Q&A: Military Psychology and Russian Atrocities in Ukraine

      September 01, 2022

      Eric Zillmer, PsyD, Carl R. Pacifico Professor of Neuropsychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, offered his insight as a neuropsychologist whose third edition of the “Military Psychology” book he co-edited was published five days after the six-month anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

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    • smiling woman standing beside a yellow research board outside on a sunny day

      Be Who You Want to Be, at Drexel

      April 05, 2022

      Growing up in South Brunswick, New Jersey, psychology major and student advisory board member Sanjana Oak rarely saw herself represented on the television screen. When she did, that character was grossly stereotyped or there only for comedic relief. What was worse, in real life, her peers expected her to behave in that same way. Curious about whether her experience was unique, she set up a research project through the STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) Scholars Program in the Pennoni Honors College.

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    • Drexel Professor John Kounios' Creativity Research Lab: "Where in the Brain Does Creativity Come from? Evidence from Jazz Musicians"

      Psychological & Brain Sciences PhD Programs Set Students Up for Exceptional Placements

      March 31, 2022

      In February, 100 percent of eligible doctoral candidates in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences programs matched with exceptional internship placement sites. This included three out of the eight students matching with the VA San Diego/University of California, San Diego—one of the leading internship sites in the country.

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    • person in black shirt looking at piece of paper, arms wearing striped sleeves are also looking at the paper

      United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Provides CoAS Faculty with Grant for The Promise’s New City-Wide Expungement Initiative

      March 28, 2022

      For individuals convicted of a summary offense, such as retail theft, who have had no subsequent arrests for a designated number of years, expungement—the erasure of a formal arrest or conviction record—may be a path to a fresh start...

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      Discovering How tDCS Brain Stimulation Therapeutically Modifies Brain Circuits in Depression

      March 17, 2022

      Researchers who conducted a small randomized trial of a form of non-invasive brain stimulation called tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) have found mechanistic evidence supporting its ability to help patients with moderate to severe major depressive disorder (MDD).

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    • I am psyched poster reading "this is what a psychologist looks like"

      National Traveling Exhibit Returns to Celebrate Women of Color in Psychology

      March 03, 2022

      The I Am Psyched! national touring exhibit has returned to Drexel and is being presented in person this month after last year’s virtual presentation due to the pandemic.

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    • Report: Students Better at Recognizing Relationally Aggressive Classmates

      February 15, 2022

      Veteran teachers will tell you that students are very perceptive about peers who are causing problems. Giving weight to this educational adage is recent research from the Psychological and Brain Sciences department in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University and the Center for Violence Prevention at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) that suggests nuanced observations about relational aggression across teachers and students.

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  • 2021

    • Headshot of Keisha April on blue and gold Drexel background

      Keisha April MS ’18, PhD ’20 Works to Change Policies, Practices in Criminal Justice

      October 27, 2021

      Keisha April, PhD, a recent graduate of Drexel’s Clinical Psychology PhD program, won the Art Nezu Dissertation Diversity Award for her dissertation “Let’s ‘talk’ about the police: The role of race and the intergenerational transmission of police legitimacy attitudes in the legal socialization of youth.” This prestigious award recognizes an individual whose doctoral dissertation makes an outstanding contribution to the field of professional psychology and diversity and/or multiculturalism.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      October 07, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Photo of Erica Schulte on Drexel blue and gold background

      Meet WELL Center Assistant Research Professor Erica Schulte, PhD

      September 29, 2021

      Erica Schulte, PhD, is an assistant research professor in the WELL Center. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kansas and her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan. Schulte completed a predoctoral internship at the Medical University of South Carolina and a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship with the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at the University of Pennsylvania.

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    • Evangelia Chrysikou

      Meet New Associate Dean for Research Evangelia Chrysikou, PhD

      September 20, 2021

      Evangelia Chrysikou, PhD, was appointed to a three-year term as associate dean for research following her service as interim associate dean. The Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Director of the Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences PhD program recently took the time to answer questions about her own research, the importance of undergraduate research opportunities and her goals as associate dean, among other things.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      September 09, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Headshot of Tetyana Yevdosyuk

      Students Share Co-op Experiences in the College of Arts and Sciences

      August 31, 2021

      During the spring/summer co-op, the College of Arts and Sciences invested $425,000 to offer 51 positions for students to pursue. Two students, Victoria Wible and Tetyana Yevdosyuk, share their experiences.

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    • A man casts a fishing net over a river

      CoAS Faculty and Research Featured in EXEL Magazine

      August 24, 2021

      The new issue of EXEL, Drexel University’s research magazine, features a number of articles on College of Arts and Sciences faculty members, departments, centers and programs, recognizing the significant contributions they have made to research and discoveries.

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    • Two students are at an event. Both are smiling and one student has her arms raised above her head in celebration.

      College to Mark Return to Campus with ‘CoAS Comes Back!’ Celebration

      August 17, 2021

      The College of Arts and Sciences, recognized by President John Fry as “the heart of the University,” presents CoAS Comes Back! on Tuesday, October 5, from 3 to 7 p.m., in Gateway Garden. All Arts and Sciences students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to gather, connect in person, and enjoy food, fun and music.

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    • Dieting: Villain or Scapegoat? Research Reevaluates Weight Loss Dieting

      August 17, 2021

      For decades, there has been an accepted definition of dieting in academia, and in society as a whole. Michael Lowe, PhD, a professor in Drexel University’s College of Arts and Sciences, has recently reevaluated the decades of dieting research to redefine the way researchers and the public define – and therefore understand - dieting and the culture of weight loss.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      August 12, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • John Medaglia

      NIH R01 Award to Develop Next-Generation Dry Electroencephalography (EEG)

      August 09, 2021

      Assistant Professor of Psychology John Medaglia, PhD, and collaborator Flavia Vitale, PhD, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, have been awarded an R01 research project grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a next-generation dry EEG using MXene electrodes, creating an update to this neuroscience technique that has been fundamentally unchanged for over 100 years. 

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    • Athletic Director Emeritus Reflects on 23 Years in College Athletics

      July 21, 2021

      Eric Zillmer, PsyD, shared some of what he saw and experienced during his run of more than 23 years at the helm of collegiate sports for the University — and what comes next.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      Recognizing Excellence in Research, Scholarship, Creativity, Teaching and Professional Service

      July 08, 2021

      As a means of supporting the ongoing development of Drexel University’s research, scholarship and creative activities, as well as recognizing excellence in teaching and professional service, the Office of Research & Innovation and the Office of Faculty Advancement and Undergraduate Affairs are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020-21 Research, Scholarship and Creativity Awards and the 2020-21 Provost Awards for Teaching, Scholarship and Professional Service.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      July 07, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      2021 Graduate Student Awards

      June 08, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the following graduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences, who recently received Drexel Emerging Graduate Scholars Conference Awards and Graduate Student Excellence Awards.

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    • Tim Hanlon

      Meet Undergraduate Student Commencement Speaker Tim Hanlon

      June 07, 2021

      Tim Hanlon is an honors biology major with a concentration in organismal biology and physiology, a minor in neuroscience, certificates in creative writing and in publishing, and is also the outgoing Student Body President. Hanlon recently took the time to reflect on his time at Drexel and share what’s in store for him after graduation.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      June 03, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      Spring 2021 CoAS Interdepartmental Research Showcase

      June 01, 2021

      At the Spring 2021 CoAS Interdepartmental Research Showcase, Emily Greberman, a Criminology & Justice Studies and Psychology major, took home first prize for her research presentation on "Twitter As a Mechanism for Coping with a Traumatic Event: Ferguson and the Shooting of Michael Brown."

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    • Michael Silverstein

      Michael Silverstein’s Research Provides Answers for People with ADHD, EFD in Highly Cited Paper

      May 24, 2021

      Michael Silverstein, a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology, investigated the relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and executive dysfunction symptoms in adults and found that ADHD symptoms were strongly correlated with and predictive of executive function deficits (EFDs), guiding clinicians to take a more holistic approach to treatment. The resulting paper received enough citations to place it in the top one percent of the academic field of psychiatry/psychology based on a highly cited threshold for the field and publication year.

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    • Maxwell Franklin, Johannes Wagner, and Elizabeth Espinal

      Two Students, Alum Named 2021 NSF Graduate Research Fellows 

      May 20, 2021

      Two CoAS graduate students and one recent alumni have received 2021 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships to promote research efforts in physics and clinical psychology. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program aims to encourage innovation and creativity in STEM fields by investing in outstanding graduate students through a five-year fellowship program. The fellowship includes three years’ worth of financial support, with an annual stipend of $34,000 and a cost of education allowance of $12,000 awarded to the researcher and their institution.

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    • Evangelia Chrysikou

      Evangelia Chrysikou, PhD Appointed Associate Dean for Research

      May 18, 2021

      Evangelia G. Chrysikou, PhD, from the Department of Psychology, has been appointed to a 3-year term as Associate Dean for Research to provide leadership to all research and scholarly/creative inquiry programs in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Headshots of Tim Hanlon and Angel Hogan

      #ForeverDragons: Save the Date for the CoAS Commencement 2021

      May 04, 2021

      On Tuesday, June 8, 2021, the College of Arts and Sciences will celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2021 with a virtual commencement. The ceremony will be live-streamed from Mandell Theater, where a small party of dignitaries and speakers will gather.

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    • Doctoral Student Fareshte Erani

      Clinical Psychology PhD Student Fareshte Erani Awarded F31 Fellowship from National Institutes of Health

      April 08, 2021

      Clinical Psychology PhD student Fareshte Erani was awarded the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research, which supports the research training of predoctoral students from diverse backgrounds that are underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral or clinical research workforce.

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    • Need an Impartial Sounding Board? Meet the Drexel Ombuds

      January 28, 2021

      <span>Kirk Heilbrun, PhD, a professor of psychology, has been the Drexel Ombuds since 2018, and specializes in lending an ear and offering advice to any Dragons in need.</span>

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  • 2020

    • Talking to Kids about Weight: What the Internet Says and Why Researchers Are Wary

      December 17, 2020

      <p>Researchers from the <strong>Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science</strong> (WELL Center) in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University systematically reviewed numerous independently published guidelines for having conversations with children about weight status to analyze their content, consistency, actionability and scientific support. They recommend future guidelines unify their messages for caregivers and health care professionals and be better supported by scholarly data.</p>

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    • Does Sharing Health Data Help Maintain Weight Loss?

      December 14, 2020

      Research from the <strong>Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science </strong>(WELL Center) in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University suggests that health counselors having access to self-monitored health data would improve a person&rsquo;s weight loss maintenance.

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    • 2020 CoAS Research Day Winners

      Paper Wasps to Fenceline Communities: Top Student-Led Research from Spring and Summer

      December 07, 2020

      The College of Arts and Sciences’ first-ever virtual Research Day showcased unique and innovative research conducted last spring and summer by Drexel students and their CoAS faculty mentors. The research may have been conducted as part of a research co-op, STAR Scholars project, independent funding and more. Learn more about the students who received the day’s top prizes and how the awardees have used the projects to push forward in their academic and professional careers.

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    • 2020 New College of Arts and Sciences Faculty

      Welcoming New Faculty to the College of Arts and Sciences

      December 07, 2020

      Meet the new faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences, and please join us in offering them a warm welcome to our community!

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    • Logo - Drexel Office of the Provost

      College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Awards

      October 28, 2020

      The mission of the College of Arts and Sciences and the University could not be accomplished without the dedication and support of our faculty members. It is their pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and scholarship that reinforces our position as a modern liberal arts college and enhances our University’s reputation as a world-class research institution.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      September 29, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Meghan Butryn, PhD - Drexel Psychology Prof and Licensed Clinical Psychologist

      Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Institutional: Drexel, Jefferson, Behavioral Science and Cancer

      September 25, 2020

      Meghan Butryn, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and a licensed clinical psychologist. She also serves as Director of Research in Drexel’s Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      August 26, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      July 27, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel University's 8th Annual Celebration of Faculty Authors -- June 2, 2020

      CoAS Shines at Annual Celebration of Drexel Authors

      July 22, 2020

      In June, Drexel University gathered virtually to recognize over 100 accomplished authors and editors in its eighth-annual Celebrating Drexel Authors event. Members of the College of Arts and Sciences featured prominently in the event, including professors, graduate students and alumni from across several departments.

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    • multi-ethnic hands - Our world can't wait.

      CoAS Creates New Role: Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

      July 22, 2020

      The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce that it will appoint an internal candidate to the new role of Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, with an expected start date of September 1, 2020. This new position will report directly to the Dean and become a member of the Dean’s Leadership Team, a group comprising Department Heads, Associate Deans and Directors.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      June 10, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel's Juvenile Justice Research and Reform Lab

      Psychology Grant to Address Youth Confinement Amid COVID-19

      June 05, 2020

      Correctional facilities have emerged as hotspots for the spread of COVID-19, and confined youth face an increased risk of COVID-19 infection. Given the overrepresentation of youth of color in correctional facilities, the disproportionate infection and mortality rate of COVID-19 among communities of color is compounded for these youth.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      College of Arts and Sciences Tenure and Promotion

      June 05, 2020

      We are pleased to announce faculty promotions and tenure appointments in the College of Arts and Sciences. Please join us in congratulating the following faculty members!

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    • Aha! + Aaaah: Creative Insight Triggers a Neural Reward Signal

      April 09, 2020

      <p>A new neuroimaging study out of Drexel University's Creativity Research Lab points to an answer of what may have driven the evolutionary development of creativity.</p>

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    • Graphic: Covid-19 Resource List by clinical psychology PhD student Kelsey Clark

      Psychology PhD Student Creates COVID-19 Resource List

      April 07, 2020

      As the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread, clinical psychology PhD student Kelsey Clark was inspired by her training as both a scientist and a clinical practitioner to do something. She created the COIVD-19 Resource List — now stretching over 400 items long — to connect the public with a range of resources, with a focus on mental health.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      April 03, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Where in the Brain Does Creativity Come from? Evidence from Jazz Musicians

      March 31, 2020

      <p>A new brain-imaging study out of Drexel University's Creativity Research Lab sheds light on the controversy on which side of the brain is responsible for creativity by studying the brain of jazz guitarists during improvisation.&nbsp;</p>

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      March 02, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      February 03, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Study: Physical Activity is Good for Your Appetite, Too

      February 03, 2020

      Researchers from the Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL Center) in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University found exercise to be a protective factor in a study where participants in a weight loss program, who were following a reduced-calorie diet, engaged in exercise in their real-world environments.

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    • Hidden Treasures: America’s First Drexel

      January 22, 2020

      In the early 19th century, the University’s founder’s father, Francis Martin Drexel, left his native Austria to become a famous portrait painter in America. He ended up creating a banking dynasty that led to the creation and funding of Drexel University.

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    • Employee Spotlight: The Nezus

      January 21, 2020

      Drexel psychology professors and husband-and-wife team Art and Christine Nezu celebrated 30 years at the University last year — and 36-plus years of marriage.

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    • Major-switcher Memoirs: Meet a Dragon Who Declared Four Different Majors Her First Year at Drexel

      January 17, 2020

      <span>Similar to national trends, more than one-third of Drexel undergraduate students change their major at least once. Like Elizabeth Warnock, who, after three failed switches within two different colleges her freshman year, found the elusive perfect fit she&rsquo;d been seeking.</span><br />

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      January 08, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, ABPP - Becoming a Forensic Psychologist

      How to Become a Forensic Psychologist

      January 06, 2020

      Aided by depictions in the media and popular culture, forensic psychology is a rapidly growing field. However, there are still many misconceptions about what it means to be a forensic psychologist — and how to become one. A team from Drexel’s Department of Psychology sought to address the lack of career guidance and widen access to the field in the new book “Becoming a Forensic Psychologist,” published by Routledge.

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  • 2019

  • 2018

  • 2017

  • 2016

  • 2015

  • 2014

    • Psychological Services Center Opens at Drexel

      September 24, 2014

      The new Psychological Services Center on Drexel's campus now offers high-quality, scientifically informed, affordable psychological services for the community and clinical training opportunities for doctoral students.

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    • Autistic Adult Driving Experiences Study

      June 26, 2014

      In the first pilot study asking adults on the autism spectrum about their experiences with driving, researchers at Drexel University found significant differences in self-reported driving behaviors and perceptions of driving ability in comparison to non-autistic adults.

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    • Majority of Minors Engage in Sexting, Unaware of Harsh Legal Consequences

      June 18, 2014

      Sexting among youth is more prevalent than previously thought, according to a new study from Drexel University that was based on a survey of undergraduate students at a large northeastern university. More than 50 percent of those surveyed reported that they had exchanged sexually explicit text messages, with or without photographic images, as minors.

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    • Marina Gershkovich Grad Student Profile

      March 31, 2014

      Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. But only one in five people who have the condition actually receive treatment for it. Marina Gershkovich may have a solution to that problem.

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  • 2013

    • Mobile Tech and Talk Therapies Strike at the Moment Binge Eating Urges Do

      September 27, 2013

      Two new treatment methods under investigation at Drexel University aim to help people reduce binge-eating behavior. One is a smartphone app designed to alert peopleat times when they are at risk for binge behaviors, among a comprehensive suite of other features. Another treatment is a new, evidence-based approach to small-group behavioral therapy.

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    • Past Weight Loss an Overlooked Factor in Disordered Eating

      September 24, 2013

      Due to a complex and vicious cycle of biological and behavioral factors, dieters and weight loss researchers know, the more weight you’ve lost, the harder it is to keep it off. But eating disorder research has largely overlooked this influence, and Dr.Michael Lowe, a professor of psychology at Drexel University, has published a flurry of research studies showing that needs to change.

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    • Q&A With Paul Thomas Clements: Talking Tragedy on Roosevelt Boulevard

      July 22, 2013

      Last week, a mother and her four young sons were crossing Roosevelt Boulevard when a speeding car—driven by an alleged drag racer—crashed into the family. The oldest boy, Saa'yon Griffin, was the only survivor. Paul Thomas Clements says that what young survivors and their caregivers need most after a tragic loss is honest communication.

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    • Grad Profile-Adrienne Juarascio

      March 29, 2013

      Grad student Adrienne Juarscio has devoted her time at Drexel to developing new and more effective treatments for eating disorders. She'll receive a prestigious award in her field this summer in recognition of her work.

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    • QandA-Christine Nezu

      January 28, 2013

      Drexel's Dr. Christine Nezu shared her thoughts regarding personality disorders and the diagnostic changes currently under review by the American Psychiatric Association.

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  • 2012