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Letter from the Chair

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Letter from the Chair


Welcome to the Winter 2024 edition of our departmental newsletter! My name is Lara Mayeux, and I am an associate professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology. I write this welcome letter while curled up by a fire on a bone-chilling January day—technically the first day of the Spring 2024 semester, but a “snow day” for us at OU due to the dangerously cold temperatures. I hope all of you have been able to stay safe and warm.

The Fall semester brought plenty of exciting news. I’m especially grateful to share with you the creation of the Drs. Carol and Robert Terry Endowed Scholarship in Psychology, made possible by our own lecturer Carol Terry and Professor Emeritus Robert Terry. It is impossible to quantify the impact that these two dedicated mentors have already had on the OU community through their teaching, service, and scholarship. This award will deepen that impact even further, providing financial support for Psychology majors who might not otherwise be able to remain at OU. On behalf of the department, I extend them my sincerest gratitude.

We continue to host Lunch Bunch speakers as part of our series on health-related research. Sponsored by a generous grant from Cigna Health Care, this speaker series allows us to highlight the work of local and regional scholars engaged in cutting-edge research on aspects of health and well-being. In the Fall, we welcomed Dr. Bandt Wiskur (OUHSC), who presented research on fear of COVID-19 among health professionals, and our own Dr. Huajian Cai, who shared his research on links between filial piety and well-being. This Spring we will host Dr. Larry Mullins (OSU), who will share his research on coping and adaptation among families with a child with a chronic health condition, and Dr. Erin Vogel (OUHSC), whose research focuses on social media effects on youth tobacco use.

Thank you for your continued support of our Department. If you don’t already, please follow us on social media. We maintain active LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X accounts, where we share more about the accomplishments of our faculty and students as well as departmental events. And as always, if you are in a position to provide financial support, we welcome your gift. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you’re interested in learning more about how your contribution to our department can make a difference.

My best wishes to you for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2024!

Sincerely,

Lara Mayeux