What does the SPSP student committee do? The student committee is responsible for the various events geared towards students at the annual convention (e.g., mentor lunches, student poster awards, Outstanding Research Award). Beyond the events at the convention, the student committee also works hard to make year-round resources available to committee members. One example is the technical report aimed at demystifying the academic job market that was compiled by the 2019-2020 student committee. Earlier this year, the 2020-2021 committee produced a parallel report on the non-academic job market. The committee also develops articles for the monthly SPSPotlight newsletter. Although this may not be an exhaustive list of the various responsibilities of the student committee members, it provides a glimpse of the yearly accomplishments of the committee members.
Who are the SPSP student committee members? The student committee is composed of seven members, each occupying different roles. Below we introduce the incoming student committee.
Fahima Mohideen, Rutgers University - SPSPotlight Co-editor
Hi everyone! I'm a third-year student in the PhD Psychology program at Rutgers University-Newark where I work with Dr. Samantha Heintzelman. My research interests lie at the intersection of social and positive psychology – I'm interested in studying well-being and meaning in life in individual and social contexts. In some of my current projects I explore the role of meaning in life & well-being in collective action, and social mobility among first-gen students. I'm really looking forward to working as a co-editor for the SPSP student newsletter and interacting with the student community!
Fun fact: I used to run a small book blog years ago. The coolest part of book blogging was receiving advance review copies from publishers, so I got to read books before their official release date!
Sharlene Fernandes, Georgia State University - SPSPotlight Co-editor
Hey everyone, I’m Sharlene! I’m currently a PhD candidate at Dr. Eyal Aharoni’s Cooperation, Conflict, and Cognition Lab at Georgia State University. My research interests include studying how antisocial personality traits are associated with moral judgments like punishing others during fair and unfair transactions. I’m also currently working on projects that examine how moral values and psychopathic traits contribute to criminal behavior. I’m excited to work as a co-editor for the (SPSPotlight) newsletter this year! If you have any ideas or suggestions for the newsletter, please feel free to send me an email. I’d be happy to hear from you.
Fun fact: I love beaches and trying cuisines from different cultures and countries.
Whitney Becker, North Carolina State University - Member-at-Large, Peer Advising
Hi everyone! I'm a second-year Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University working in Dr. Jeni Burnette's Mindset Lab. My research focuses on understanding how one’s mindset, and the stories one tells about challenging experiences, affect their mental health and well-being. I am also interested in understanding the impact of relationships and language on these belief systems at the individual, community, and system levels.
Fun fact: My brother and I were born on the same day, but he is five years older!
Troy Kearse, Howard University - Member-at-Large, DEI Chair
Hey guys! My name is Troy Kearse, a third-year PhD Student in Social Psychology at Howard University, and I'm a member-at-large for Diversity Initiatives. In my research, I seek to understand how HIV stigma impacts and shapes sexual health behaviors and prevention methods (e.g. HIV testing, PrEP use, condom use, etc.) of gay, Black men (or men who have sex with men) using an intersectionality framework. I also work with Dr. Jamie Barden in the Barden Lab where we investigate cultural differences in religious identity and gratitude behaviors. I look forward to working with the student committee to make the students of SPSP feel supported, included, and excited about the things that we plan to do for you all! I am especially interested in your ideas or goals that center around Diversity with SPSP. Let us know your thoughts!
Fun fact: I absolutely LOVE scary movies, haunted houses, and anything else that is either spooky/chilling.
Sydney Klein, University of Connecticut - Member-at-Large, Social Media & Abstract
Hi! My name is Sydney Klein and I am a first-year PhD student at UConn working with Dr. Alaina Brenick. My research takes a developmental approach to examining the ontogeny of bias discrimination and victimization experiences, as well as intervention and prevention strategies. A particular context of interest for me is media, and how children and adults process information online and the ways we can harness media as a potential avenue for intervention. Before starting at UConn, I completed a master's in psychology with a social focus at NYU. I can't wait to begin serving the SPSP student committee!
Fun fact: I participated in dance lessons from age 2-22 (ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hop hop, anything you can think of!). During undergrad I minored in dance studies and I am a published dance historian!
Shauna Bowes, Emory University - Member-at-Large, Professional Development & Writing Groups
Hi everybody! I'm a fifth-year Ph.D. student in Emory University’s clinical psychology doctoral program. I worked with the late Dr. Scott Lilienfeld and currently work with Dr. Arber Tasimi (Morality and Development Lab). I am interested in how personality intersects with beliefs. Specifically, I focus on intellectual humility and its potential implications for political polarization and conspiratorial ideation. I seek to examine what personological characteristics might improve our critical thinking and lessen extremism. I hope to understand the building blocks of irrational thinking and leverage intervention science to help people make changes. I am excited to have the chance to be on the SPSP student committee and serve this vibrant community!
Fun fact: I rescued a dog, Roxie, at the start of the pandemic, and I am passionate about all things related to dogs. Roxie is a pitbull-mastiff mix who is now almost 80 pounds!
Hannah Pearson, University of Hawai'i at Manoa - Member at Large, Mentoring Lunch
Hi everyone! I am currently a 2nd-year graduate student at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. I work with Dr. Joni Sasaki in the Religion and Culture Lab at UH. I am interested in how religion and culture impact our identity, thoughts, and behavior as well as how we interact with others in and out of our own religious and cultural groups. I'm excited to serve on the student committee this year!
Fun fact: I have a dog named Garu! He is 45% Chihuahua, 55% randomly mixed breeds, and 100% a good boy.
Garam Lee, Michigan State University, Vice-Chair
Hello everyone! I'm a third-year Ph.D. student in the educational psychology and educational technology program, working with Dr. Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia. With the goal of helping people unlock their full potential and lead a purposeful life, I am pursuing two broad lines of research. First, I study how interpersonal (e.g., stereotype threat) and intrapersonal interactions (e.g., identity exploration) influence one’s motivational processes. Second, I explore processes associated with the development of life purpose and the translation of life purpose into everyday behavior. I'm looking forward to learning more about you so that we can serve you even better this year!
Fun fact: I traveled from South Korea to Egypt by myself when I was 8 and stayed in a homestay for a year. I guess I needed to practice how to survive in a foreign country that young to be an international student now!
Stylianos Syropoulos, University of Massachusetts Amherst - Chair
Hi everyone! I'm a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the psychology of peace and violence program, in the social psychology division at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, working under the supervision of Dr. Bernhard Leidner. My research interests focus on understanding the antecedents of peace and violence. Specifically, I am interested in how individual differences in perceived safety, worldviews, and ideologies can increase support for conflict perpetuation. I am interested in increasing pro-environmental decision-making. I am honored to have the chance to serve the student body of SPSP as a member of the Student Committee for a second year, and I am looking forward to meeting and interacting with everyone.
Fun fact: I love otters!
H. Annie Vu, Rutgers University - Past-Chair
SPSP Elects New Student Leadership
Yuen J. Huo to Lead Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin as Editor
