Chair's Reflections Dr. Lynnette Zelezny

Welcome to the Psynapse, the first newsletter highlighting the Department of Psychology at California State University, Fresno.

It’s been a banner year. As one of the largest departments on campus we now serve 1,100 undergraduate majors in psychology. Our impressive faculty has grown in number and outstanding accomplishments. And the Psi Chi Honors Society is more active than ever, many Psi Chi members served as student reporters on many of the features in this newsletter.

Highlights in this issue include:

The grand opening of our high profile Autism Institute under the Direction of Dr. Amanda Adams
$4.5 million grant for a collaborative biomedical/behavioral grant from the National Institute of Health: Dr. Lynnette Zelezny serves as Project Director for Behavioral Research and Training and Dr. Amanda Mortimer is conducting research on Alzheimer’s and Care Giving
MBRS grant received by Dr. Lorin Lachs to investigate the Effect of Multi-sensory Information on the Perceptual Learning of Speech
The publication of numerous books and papers including: SPSS Dymystified by Dr. Ron Yockey, and Career Journeys in Social Psychology edited by Drs. Robert Levine, Aroldo Rodrigues, and Lynnette Zelezny
Two prestigious Provost Awards: Dr. Robert Levine for Outstanding Teaching, and Dr. Michael Botwin for Outstanding Service
Dr. Robert Levine was also recognized by the Western Psychological Association for Outstanding Teaching
Promotion of Dr. Karen Carey who, upon the retirement of Dean K.P. Wong, was appointed to serve as the Interim Dean of Science and Mathematics at CSU Fresno and later appointed Dean of Graduate Studies
Emeritus status for Dr. Thomas Breen who has been a professor in our department for 42 years
Establishment of an endowed scholarship in honor of our beloved colleague in Social Psychology, John Thomas, who died tragically of brain cancer last year

Please note there are many events planned this year on our calendar, which we invite you to attend including special lectures by B. F Skinner’s daughter, Dr. Julie Vargas, Feb 19, 2008 in the University Business Center and an alumni lecture on the Psychology of Religion by Dr. Ara Norenzayan on April 8, 2008 in the University Business Center. We also encourage you to keep in touch with us. Share your news about work and/ or personal achievements and check out our online alumni survey.