Roberts Wesleyan College, Undergraduate Psychology Program

09/26/2016

This past Saturday at RWC Homecoming, as part of the Celebrate Psychology celebration, we honored Dr. Frederick Coisman. Due to his vision for doctoral education and his past leadership of the Psychology Program, we are establishing a permanent scholarship in honor of him. Dr. Coisman retired in May of 2005 after more than 30 years of teaching at Roberts Wesleyan College. He was a beloved and dynamic teacher who exemplified what it means to be a true servant and Kingdom builder. Dr. Coisman was a champion for the underdog, and worked tirelessly to foster academic and life success in all of his students. We know that he had a profound impact on the lives of many students!

Our goal is to raise an endowment of $20,000, so that a $1,000 scholarship may be awarded annually to future PsyD students. We are confident that with many contributing we can raise the $20,000 necessary to activate the scholarship. You can make a gift online by going to www.roberts.edu/giving under the Make a Gift page, select designation to "Other Giving" and then "Frederick G. Coisman Scholarship", or by calling 585.594.6505. Thank you in advance for your partnership in establishing this lasting tribute to Dr. Coisman’s leadership and service at Roberts Wesleyan College.

09/09/2016

From Dr. Julie Grimm, Chair, Psychology Department

It's already the end of the second week of the semester! Time is flying by! We welcomed 17 new undergraduate students to our ranks, about 22 new master's students and 7 students in our new doctoral program in Clinical/School Psychology. We are so pleased to have these new faces join our program!

We are also very excited for Homecoming, as we are planning to "Celebrate Psychology and the new PsyD degree!" On Saturday, Sept. 24th from 3:00-4:00pm there will be a tent on the Carpenter Hall lawn where we will officially celebrate our entry into doctoral education with our alumni and friends. I hope you will think about joining us if you live in the area! The Psychology faculty will be there, including at least one of our emeritus faculty members -- Dr. Fred Coisman!

Here's hoping you have a wonderful weekend in this unusual extension of summer weather we're having!

God's blessings and peace--
Dr. G

06/30/2016

Message from Dr. Julie Grimm, Chair, Dept. of Psychology

As we look to the Fourth of July weekend, I'm thankful for freedom. Freedom that comes from living in this country, freedom because I work at an institution founded by a man who believed in freedom for all (B.T. Roberts), but most importantly, freedom that comes from Jesus Christ--the author of true freedom!

Praise God for the freedom that comes because of Christ's death on the cross!

Happy Fourth!
Dr. G

06/01/2016

Message from Dr. Julie Grimm, Chair, Dept. of Psychology

I am so excited to announce that we have been approved by New York State to offer a doctorate in Psychology! Yes, it's true, pending approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (anticipated the end of this month), we will be offering PsyD in Clinical/School Psychology starting this fall 2016!

The mission of our program is to prepare doctoral level practitioners of health service psychology who can ethically deliver effective, evidence-based psychological services in a variety of settings with diverse populations, and who can integrate the science and practice of psychology with principles of the Christian faith. The innovative curriculum blends the professional areas of clinical and school psychology, meets educational requirements for licensure as a psychologist in New York State, and includes the provision for meeting the requirements for New York State Certification in School Psychology.

Roberts is excited about the launch of this new doctoral program.
Yes, we are accepting applications for the fall! Details are available on our college website (www.roberts.edu). Additional questions may be directed to Darlene Heitz, Graduate Admissions Coordinator, 585-594-6009.

There is an information meeting scheduled for June 8th at Roberts if you know of anyone who would like to hear more about the PsyD program. They can register for this meeting on the Roberts' website or by calling Darlene Heitz.

As for me--today I am celebrating Psychology at Roberts!
God's peace--
Dr. Grimm

Christian college in Rochester, NY committed to preparing thoughtful, spiritually mature, service-oriented people who will help transform society.

04/14/2016

Message from Dr. Julie Grimm, Chair, Dept. of Psychology

Spring has finally come to Roberts Wesleyan College. Today promises a temperature in the 50's.....We're having a heat-wave...a tropical heatwave.... :-)

I love the springtime. The daffodils, crocus, budding trees, robins... It's that reminder of new beginnings that I frequently post about. One of my favorite authors of prayers, Dr. Ted Loder, writes this about spring....

"The willows are dripping honey color into the rivers, and the mother birds are busy in their manger nests, and I am learning again that 'for everything there is a season and a time fo every matter under heaven.'" (from "Guerrillas of Grace", 1981, p. 126)

A time for every matter under heaven.....This is the time of the year when students make their commitment to attend Roberts Wesleyan. I can't wait to meet my new psychology majors in the next few months. This is also the time of the year when my seniors begin to feel the reality of moving on. Graduation is only 4 weeks away! Colleagues retire and we say good-bye. Yes, a time for every matter under heaven.

Let's all commit to pray for such a time as this....the newness of spring, the new beginnings that our students face (those coming and those graduating), the new beginnings that our retiring colleagues face....I'm so grateful to serve a God who wants to walk along side our new beginnings with mercies that are new every morning. Great is HIS Faithfulness!

God's peace--
Dr. G

03/21/2016

Message posted on behalf of Professor Kim Prouty:

Happy Spring Y’all!

The sun is trying to peek through the snow clouds. Only in Western New York can you experience all 4 seasons within the same 24 hours! It is exciting that the days are becoming longer and everything is coming alive!

Our students have worked hard at finding internships that are expanding their understanding of ways psychology is applied in various work settings, and allow them to learn more about themselves! This semester we have students who are involved with the “BELL” program, campus safety, An off campus counseling center, a local church, along with gaining experience within schools. Internships are intended to assist in gaining experience and helping identify that “next step”. It is humbling to be able to walk this journey with such motivated and committed soon to be graduates.

On a personal note – I am enjoying being an “ahma” of our newest addition, Alexis June, born 11/20/15. I thought being a “grandma” was a joy – 2 grandchildren doubles that joy!

Have a blessed, relaxing and joyful Easter!

03/18/2016

Message from Dr. Julie Grimm, Department Chair

As I look to Easter and see the evidences of spring, I'm reminded of new beginnings. I'm so glad that I serve a God who allows new beginnings and fresh starts.

It's a busy time in the Psychology Department. Students are registering for classes and mid-terms have just passed. I think even the faculty are longing for the "breather" that Easter recess offers.

More than that, I'm looking for some time to slow down and reflect on the unspeakable gift that Easter represents. It's the most profound new beginning ever offered. Jesus died on the cross to give us pardon from sin and a new life with Him! Praise God for that new beginning so freely given!

May your Easter be restful and blessed! As for me, I'm going to be hugging my adorable grandbabies!

God's peace--
Dr. G

02/22/2016

Message from Dr. Keri Bassett:

In January, I got married to Scott Bassett, so I am now getting used to be being called Dr. Bassett, instead of Dr. Barnett. It has been an exciting change, although it is quite interesting to have two Dr. Bassett's teaching psychology at RWC!

02/10/2016

Faculty and students came to Dr. LaCelle's aide after he injured himself with his log splitter. Professors Bassett, Trask, and Stevenson helped with the splitting, while Dr. Stevenson's Development Psych class moved and stacked 17 cords of wood!

02/08/2016

Dr. Stevenson and Arianna Zimmer received training on the Science Department's new Mass Spectrometer. Soon Ariana will be authoring a paper on the oxytocin content of products peddled on the internet like "Liquid Trust" and Oxyluv".

02/08/2016

Message from Professor Prouty, Director, Graduate Psychology Field Education:

What a great start to a new semester! It is exciting to see the energy and enthusiasm that a new semester brings! I feel so incredibly blessed to be here at Roberts Wesleyan College. Coming to work every day with the people I work with just makes me smile. The best part about my job is working with the students who either are trying to find or are starting their internships. What they learn about the field and what they learn about themselves! We have a variety of internships for our undergraduates this semester! Some on campus, church, schools, agencies – Everyone has embraced opportunities to take what they have learned and use it to help others. God is so good!

01/22/2016

Message from Dr. Julie Grimm, Chair, Department of Psychology

I've spent the last couple of days thinking about the passing of a good friend and family member -- Dr. Ruth McIntyre Sittig. Dr. Sittig was also my sociology teacher at Roberts Wesleyan back in the 70's. Miss Mac, as we called her then, had a long history with the college, serving as Dean of Women, Registrar, and then Professor of Sociology when she retired in 1983. There are many things that are special about Miss Mac/Dr. Sittig, but the thing that keeps coming to mind is her love of people.

Miss Mac was a proponent for social justice before it was popular to use that term. That was clear from Day 1 in her Intro to Sociology course. She had spent time ministering/reaching out to children and their moms in a poor section of Brooklyn, NY as part of a sabbatical experience and her heart for people only grew as a result. Some of my last conversations with Miss Mac were about her fond memories of her sabbatical in Brooklyn and the subsequent trips she took there with Roberts' students. This kind of "mission" work has a way of changing lives (both for the missionary and the recipient of the mission work) -- I think that's why we promote those opportunities for students here at Roberts.

It's funny the things one remembers. Since learning of Miss Mac's passing, a song keeps going through my head -- a song that I remember Miss Mac playing in our sociology class. I can almost hear her now encouraging us to sing along with the record:

Up, up with people, You meet 'em wherever you go.
Up, up with people, They're the best kind of folks to know.

If more people were for people, All people everywhere--
There'd be a lot less people to worry about, And a lot more people who care.... (Paul and Ralph Colwell, 1965)

Google it! You can play it and hear the tune; you can also see more of the lyrics.

Miss Mac believed those lyrics -- she was passionate for people, particularly those in tough places. She really believed that "if more people were for people, ALL people everywhere, there [would] be a lot less people to worry about, and a lot more people who care....

I think Miss Mac got it right and I will miss her dearly.

God's peace--
Dr. G