Psychology, Sociology, & Criminal Justice
Department Newsletter
2013-2014 Year
Volume 3, Issue 1
Editors: Rachael Aufdenkampe & Holly Evans
Advisor: Rebecca Brooks
What’s Happening in the Basement?
Society for Neuroscience Conference
by Alison Dailey
I
n November, five students from Dr. Zoladz’s
Behavioral Neuroscience Research Lab traveled to
San Diego to present one of their research studies
at the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) annual
conference. SfN is the world’s largest non-profit
organization dedicated to understanding the complexity
of the nervous
system, and
specifically, the
brain. Every year,
hundreds of the
organization’s
42,000+ members
come together to
present
unprecedented
research findings. I
took some time to
talk to one of the presenters, Rachael Aufdenkampe, a
senior psychology major and research assistant to Dr.
Zoladz.
You presented your project entitled “Stress
Administered Immediately Before Learning
Reduces False Memory Production & Selectively
Enhances True Memory in Females.” Tell us a
little about the study.
RA: The purpose of the study was to examine the
effects of brief stress prior to learning, and whether
that would facilitate memory production and reduce
the likelihood of a false memory being produced. Our
big thing with this study was the effect of the timing of
the stressor, which really has not been looked at before.
What was the best part about traveling to San
Diego and presenting at the conference?
RA: I really enjoyed the amount of traffic we got at our
poster and how interested other researchers were in our
study. It was a rewarding experience being able to
discuss our study with other researchers and hear what
they have to say about our research. San Diego was a
blast. The food, sights, culture, and shopping were
great! I’d go back in a heartbeat!
How important is it for students to be involved
with research while at ONU?
RA: Research has opened a lot of opportunities for me
while at ONU. Without being part of a research lab, I
would not have been able to further refine skills that
will prepare me for any graduate study or work. It’s
really great to have been able to present at two
international conferences and to be published before I
even receive my degree in May! That’s a huge resume
booster and a great conversation piece. Is it important?
I’d say definitely.
What are your plans after graduating from ONU?
RA: My plan is to attend law school in the fall. If that
does not work out, hopefully I can find a job. I
worked over the summer doing research in Cleveland
at the Cuyahoga County Probation Department, so I
would not be mad if I wound up back there. I also
want to travel and take cool pictures of things.
Save the Date: What’s Going on in the Department
North Central Sociological Association Conference (Cincinnati, OH) April 10-13
Ohio Council of Criminal Justice Education Annual Research Conference (Ashland University) April 25
Student Research Colloquium (ONU) April 25
Honor’s Day (ONU) April 26
Undergraduate Final Exams (ONU) May 5-9
A Quick Q&A With Our New Faculty Member, Dr. Ann Johnson
by Jennifer Cramer
Where did you grow up?
Dr. J: I grew up in Iowa on a farm.
Where did you go to school and what
degrees do you have?
Dr. J: I did my undergraduate and graduate
studies at the University of Notre Dame. I
received my undergraduate BA in
Psychology and English, my Masters in
Psychology, and my PhD in Clinical
Psychology.
What interested you in your career
choice?
Dr. J: I have always wanted to work with
children. I did an internship at a mental
health day treatment center, and that is when I decided
that I wanted to do research instead of clinical work. I
feel that the treatment program needs more research in
order to help these children.
Why did you choose to come to ONU?
Dr. J: The small class sizes were
appealing to me along with the campus
location. What really drew me in was the
students’ passion for their classes, and
desire to learn.
Do you have any advice to students
taking your class?
Dr. J: Participate actively and often, ask
questions, and stay engaged!
What is your favorite food?
Dr. J: Anything with sugar really, but if
I had to choose one it would be
chocolate.
What are your main hobbies?
Dr. J: I am a new mom, so my hobbies are caring for
my daughter, diaper changing, and running when I
have time. And reading. I really love reading!
What your favorite animal?
Dr. J: Penguins! I do not know why, I just like
penguins.
Looking to Join a Mental Health Related Organization?
Check Out Active Minds!
by Kelsey Hoffman
Active Minds is a new and growing group on campus dedicated to raising awareness about mental health banishing
negative stereotypes and stigmas about mental illness. We have hosted several dinners and other activities this school
year to promote anti-stress skills, and to help freshmen feel more at home. We hope to have many more events in the
years to come, and hope that students will keep an eye out for them, so they can participate, too. We have recently
partnered with the Theta Chi Fraternity, and hope this will help us grow on campus, as well as get our message out to
more people. Anyone is welcome to attend our meetings and bring new ideas to the table. We hope to get more
members and reach as many people as possible. Help us erase the negative stigmas about mental health and spread
knowledge about this fascinating field. If you are interested in psychology, mental health, and helping others, this is the
perfect group for you!
What’s New With Dr. Zoladz?
by Alison Dailey
R
esearch in Dr. Zoladz’s human and rat labs
have been very successful in
the past years. Here, he
summarizes some of the
research that the members of his lab
have accomplished. Dr. Zoladz
states, “I was invited to be a session
moderator at a Gordon Research
Conference in Ventura, CA that was
held from January 5 - 10. At the
conference, I delivered a talk entitled
“The Neurobiology of Predator-Induced Fear,” and I
served as the moderator for the
session.”
Currently, the lab is conducting two
studies. The first study focuses on
transgenerational effects of stress on
rat offspring. The results of this
study could reveal implications of
how stress in everyday life may
influence biological children of
stressed parents. The second study is
in collaboration with Boyd Rorabaugh, a professor
from the College of Pharmacy, and focuses on the
effects of sleep deprivation on the heart.
Dr. Zoladz’s human lab is also researching how stress
affects learning and memory. He recently finished a
book chapter with three psychology students, senior
Andrea Kalchik, junior Chelsea Cadle, and 2013
graduate Sarah Lyle. The chapter entitled, “Amygdalainduced Modulation of Cognitive Brain Structures
Underlies Stress-induced Alterations of Learning and
Memory,” addresses how stress influences learning and
memory and the neurobiological mechanisms that
underlie such effects.
A Summer in Kosovo: An Interview With Tristin Kilgallon
I
by James Call
recently had the chance to sit down with
Professor Kilgallon to discuss his recent trip to
the country of Kosovo. He and ONU student
Jordan Turner traveled to Kosovo in July for
two weeks. While there they met with the
“Director General” of Kosovo Customs and toured
three separate border points points: Hani I Elezit,
Dheu I Bardhe, and finally Podujeva. The primary
reason for the trip was to tour facilities and interview
customs officials as part of a project designed to
monitor operations and make suggestions to improve
anti-corruption efforts.
While on the trip, Jordan and Professor
Kilgallon met up with some ONU
alumni: Liridon Hurohani (received his
L.L.M. in 2008) and Enver Krivaca
(received his LL.M. in 2011). They also
visited Gjilan, traveled to Macedonia,
and had the opportunity to socialize
with people from a local university.
Another notable event of the trip was a
function where Jordan and Professor
Kilgallon were able to socialize with
foreign aid workers who are trying to
build Kosovo’s infrastructure.
When asked if this was done as a part of his
research, Professor Kilgallon stated that when he
presented the information at the Ohio Council of
Criminal Justice Education (OCCJE) conference, more
questions were raised, and it was just easier to travel to
Kosovo to talk to the people in person. Sometimes
people are not willing to give information over the
Internet since they don’t know who is seeing it.
Also while there, both of them experienced
the culture of Kosovo. They also observed a
potentially troubling issue in the design of the system
with customs officials, and having agents act as
middlemen between the officials and the businesses.
This type of chain could lead to corruption very easily
on the part of the middlemen.
Many of the people at Kosovo Customs
actually hold a degree from institutions of higher
learning, but the average salary of Kosovo Customs
employees is just around $10,000 dollars. While some
even hold a Master’s degree, the problem of corruption
remains present.
Over the last ten years laws have been crafted
to stop corruption, but they have been ineffective at
best. Professor Kilgallon’s theory for this
ineffectiveness is the lack of suitable pay
for the employees, resulting in
unhappiness and dishonesty at work.
Some solutions that Professor Kilgallon
identified included getting the citizens on
board with the laws, and giving people
jobs worth losing so that they work hard
to keep in a corruption-free manner. To
get the citizens on board, corrupt officials
need to be charged, prosecuted, and fired
when brought forward. All of this would
be possible by initiating a positive public
relations campaign to rehabilitate the image of Kosovo
Customs. The courts are also in need of reform. They
undermine the authority of the Director General,
reinstate the corrupt officials back into office, and
prosecute the whistleblowers that turn them in.
This trip was more of a fact-finding mission
to address questions raised at the OCCJE conference
last year. Professor Kilgallon was excited to have a
student with him in Kosovo as well as at the
conference. It was exciting for him to provide Jordan
with the experience of traveling to a developing
country as well as presenting their research.
North Central Sociological Association
Regional Conference to be Held in April
by Holly Evans
Once a year, sociologists from around the country flock to Midwest to attend the North Central Sociological
Association (NCSA) conference to present their research, network, and be among their peers. This April, three ONU
professors along with three undergraduate students from the Department of Psychology, Sociology, and Criminal Justice
will be attending the conference.
Department chair Dr. Bob Carrothers will be presenting on Native American mascots as sacred symbols. He
also serves as an NCSA Officer. Professor Becky Brooks will also be in attendance, presenting her research on the health
habits of Allen County, Ohio, residents at a roundtable session. Working on a grant from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), her primary focus for her presentation this April will include the recent analysis and
results of the mail survey used to complete the project.
Presenting in a different roundtable session are Dr. Keith Durkin and undergraduate students Andrew Gray,
Holly Evans, and James Call. Their current research focuses on applying social learning theory to variables of the Global
Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN) assessment. The GAIN is the primary assessment tool used in the Hardin
County, Ohio, juvenile drug court.
Dr. Kraynok’s Sleep Research
by Kyle Dexter
Dr. Megan Kraynok will be attending the National Sleep Conference in June with two of her research
assistants, Caia Smith and Lauren Guerriero. The group of sleep researchers have big plans for their trip to Minneapolis
for the conference. All three of the researchers representing Ohio Northern will be presenting research at the
conference. While in Minneapolis, the group plans to have some fun as well by attending a restaurant called Hell’s
Kitchen. The restaurant is known for its homemade cuisine and sauces including mustard, ketchup and peanut butter.
For more information on the sleep conference you can visit www.sleepmeeting.org. Dr. Kraynok will be presenting
“College students seeking sleep instruction to improve their own sleep,” Caia Smith will be presenting “Impact of peer
habits and sleep problems on drug use,” and Lauren Guerriero will be presenting “Adolescent substance use as a sleep
aid linked to poor mental health.”
Dr. Kraynok is also a member of the Ohio Adolescent Health Partnership. The focus of this group is to make
substantial improvements in several areas of adolescent health by 2020. The areas included are behavioral health, injury
and violence prevention, reproductive health, nutrition and physical activity, and sleep. Dr. Kraynok is working with the
sleep sub-committee that is focusing on several ways to improve sleep such as shifting school start times as well as
educating parents and students on sleep. One of Dr. Kraynok’s main roles in this process is the use of her Sleep On It
course as a base to develop a sleep class that can be easily taught at colleges and universities statewide.
Hey, Bears! Tell Us About Yourself!
Chelsea Cadle, Junior
Major: Psychology,
Behavioral
Neuroscience
Minor: Biology
by Alison Dailey
What has been your
favorite class in the
Psych/Soc/CJ
department, and why?
C: My favorite courses
have been Social Psychology and Physiological
Psychology. I found Social Psych extremely interesting;
I still go back and read over my notes. Physiological
Psych was extremely informative and gave me a great
appreciation for the complexity of the brain, as well as
an excellent foundation for my biology minor.
What extracurricular activities are you involved in
on campus?
C: I am currently the Vice President of Psi Chi, a
member of ONU Women's Swim Team, a member of
Dr. Zoladz's human research lab, and for my first two
years at ONU I was a member of the Delta Zeta
Sorority.
What kind of research are you conducting in Dr.
Zoladz’s lab?
C: In the lab we focus on the complex effects of stress
on the different stages of learning. Through work in
the lab, I was able to coauthor a book chapter with Dr.
Zoladz and a few other members in the lab, which
Myahrissa Ramsey,
Sophomore
Majors: Psychology &
Criminal Justice
by Kateri Kenney
What do you plan on doing
with your degree?
M: My end plan is to be in the
FBI profiling.
What was your favorite class for your major or
majors? Why?
M: Mental Health and Social Policy. I loved it because
it was so interesting and all about mental health policy.
My professor, Dr. DeLong was a psychologist to sex
offenders. So he frequently told stories of offenders
and it was just a very interesting class.
If you had to pick a favorite professor, who would
it be? What qualities about the professor do you
admire?
James Lee,
Sophomore
Major: Criminal
Justice
Minor: Russian
by: Kateri Kenney
What do you plan on
doing with your degree/
What are your plans after
college?
J: My plans after college are applying to local and state
law enforcement as well as applying to any federal law
enforcement agency I can think of. My ultimate goal is
to work in federal law enforcement and work in a unit
that fights against human trafficking.
What was your favorite class for your major or
majors? Why?
J: My favorite class I have taken so far is a class I am
taking now. I am currently taking Criminal
Investigation. The class is based around the job and
techniques that will be used during a criminal
investigation, and that alone is a really large portion of
focused on our research area.
What are your graduate/career plans?
C: I plan on attending grad school and working toward
a PhD degree in clinical psychology with a focus in
Neuropsychological Assessment.
M: Dr. DeLong! He is such a great professor. He
knows exactly what to say to relate the information to
you and make it so you understand it. He incorporates
humor into his lectures and makes class very enjoyable.
What has been the most interesting topic that
you’ve learned about in your classes?
M: My favorite thing I learned about is Mental Health
Policy. I loved learning about the different mental
health diseases and how they affect people.
What are you involved with on campus/
organizations you are in?
M: I am a member of Delta Zeta, & Psi Sigma, which
is the psychology club.
What is your favorite part about going to Ohio
Northern?
M: The close-knit bond of the campus. The campus is
so small, you just feel so comfortable and so at home
here with everyone. You can trust everyone and it
sounds so cliché, but it really is a home away from
home. I love how small the class sizes are and I could
never imagine going anywhere else.
what I will be doing in my career. The reason I like the
class so much is that fact that it is going to be a big part
of my job and the information in interesting to me and
is fun to learn.
Favorite Professor? What qualities about the
professor do you admire?
J: My favorite professors are Professor Tristin
Kilgallon and Dr. Keith Durkin. They have both done
so much for me in different ways since I have been
here at ONU. Professor Kilgallon has been my main
professor that I have had for many of my major classes.
His experience as an officer in Philadelphia has given
students a first hand account of what it is going to be
like for those of us who want to wear the uniform. He
tries to give us all the knowledge he has that he knows
will be worth learning and using when we go where he
has gone. Dr. Durkin is my academic adviser. He has
made my time at ONU easy and tries to relate the
things I am doing to things I was used to in the
military. He has a way with students that make us feel
equal to him and that we are ready to do the work with
him so that he knows we will be ready in the future.
Q: What are you involved with on campus/
organizations you are in?
J: I am involved in a lot on campus. I am the Treasurer
and a brother of Delta Sigma Phi, I am the VP of
Community Service and Philanthropy for the Inter
Fraternity Council, I am the president of the ONU
Lion's Club, I am the Vice President of the Ohio
Northern Veteran's Organization, and I am the Chair
of the Veteran's Week Planning Committee.
What is your favorite part about going to Ohio
Kelsey Hoffman, Junior
Majors: Psychology and
Theater
by Kateri Kenney
What is your favorite
psychology class?
K: Intro to Counseling with
Dr. DeLong.
Why did you decide to
major in Psychology?
Holly Evans, Junior
Majors: Forensic Biology and
Sociology
by Rachael Aufdenkampe
What do you plan on doing with
your degree?
H: My ultimate goal is to work as a
special agent in the FBI in either
investigations or counterterrorism.
What was your favorite class for
your major or majors? Why?
H: Criminology and Criminal
Investigation. Criminology really opened my eyes to the
theory-based, social science side of crime and reasons
why it is committed. It was also the class that led me to
declaring my Sociology major. On the other hand,
Criminal Investigation is a totally different kind of
course. It offers the best of both worlds, talking about
both forensic investigative techniques as well as others
that don’t necessarily include the hard sciences (such as
interrogation).
If you had to pick a favorite professor, who would
it be? What qualities about the professor do you
admire?
H: Dr. Durkin. He’s seen and done a lot in regards to a
Northern?
J: My favorite part of going to ONU is that I have been
able to create friendships and connections with the
people here. These people are going to be with me for
the rest of my life and I will never forget what I have
learned and gotten from them. Be it my professors or
my brothers from my fraternity, or the friends I have
made that are just your everyday student. This has been
one of the best decisions I have ever made.
K: I want to have a career where I can help people
and I would like to become a counselor.
What is your favore thing you have learned or
are learning in Psychology?
K: Why people do the things they do and how
they interact with society.
What organizations are you in?
K: I am in Alpha Xi Delta and I am the treasurer
of Active Minds.
What do you do in your free time?
K: I like to shop, read, and hang out with my
sisters in Alpha Xi Delta.
variety of criminal cases. He’s very interested in
deviance and how sociological theory can explain why
people do what they do. That’s the kind of stuff I like
to study. He’s also just a super hyper person and always
so upbeat. You truly can’t fall asleep in one of his
classes between his crazy stories and running back and
forth. It’s basically like watching a tennis match.
What has been the most interesting topic that
you’ve learned about in your classes?
H: Dr. Carrother’s Social Problems class in general
gives a whole new light to a variety of modern issues
(gay rights, gun control, abortion, etc.) from a
sociological, theory-based perspective. It’s definitely a
class you want to take.
What are you involved with on campus/
organizations you are in?
H: I’m a sister of Alpha Xi Delta, on the club softball
team, participate in Habitat for Humanity, and I’m the
Vice President of the Association of Future Forensics
Professionals.
What is your favorite part about going to Ohio
Northern?
H: I went to a super small high school, so Northern
was the perfect size so the adjustment wasn’t very had
at all for me. The campus is far enough away from
home without being too far to make going home a
hassle. I also love the small town atmosphere of Ada.
The Joke’s On Us: Psychology, Sociology, and Criminal Justice
by Coral Shuster
Psychology
A psychotherapist returned from a conference in
the Rocky Mountains, where the delegates spent
more time on the icy ski slopes than attending
lectures and seminars. When she got back, her
husband asked her, "So, how did it go?" She
replied, "fine." …. "but I've never seen so many
Freudians slips."
How many psychologists does it take to change a
lightbulb?--Just one, but the lightbulb has to
WANT to change.
Sociology
They say the difference between psychologists
and sociologists is that while they were both
unhappy as children, one blamed his parents, the
other blamed everyone else.
“With friends like Durkheim, who needs
anomies?”
Criminal Justice
Adam was about to be put to death for his 1998
conviction. He climbs on the electric chair and is
about to be shocked, when the chaplain asks, “Do
you have any last requests?” Adam looks at him
right in the eye and says, “I am so scared, all I ask
of you is to hold my hand!”
A policeman had the perfect spot to watch for
speeders, but wasn’t getting any. He then
discovered a problem—a 10-year-old boy was
perched along the road ahead with a hand painted
sign reading “RADAR TRAP AHEAD.” The
officer then found a young accomplice to the boy
down the road with a sign that read “TIPS,” and a
bucket full of cash.