Alumni and friends are an integral part of the Department of Psychological Sciences. Their service on boards and in alumni organizations, and their generous financial support is vital to the department.
The generosity of our departmental alumni and community help make several fellowships and programs possible. These funds also support the department's missions of research, teaching, and outreach.
SUPPORT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXCELLENCE
Established by friends of the Department of Psychological Sciences to provide unrestricted support to the Department of Psychological Sciences in the College of Arts and Science. The Department pursues its mission of improving lives through acclaimed faculty and graduate and undergraduate students who conduct research that helps us to understand human behavior. Our diverse range of research projects include a focus on the causes and consequences of drug addiction and alcoholism, depression and other psychological disorders, memory decline in aging, prejudice and group dynamics, scholastic achievement in youth, and how to achieve the “good life” across the lifespan. The Department prepares students for the work force through first-rate instruction in one of the most popular undergraduate degrees at MU. Finally, the Department provides high quality psychological treatment to clients and trains students to provide such services. Gifts to this fund are much appreciated for their ability to support different aspects of our mission and may include, but not be limited to, student scholarships, program support, and faculty development.
GIVE TO THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXCELLENCE FUND
UNDERGRADUATE HONORS CAPSTONE TRAVEL FUND
Students completing Honors Capstone projects in the Department of Psychological Sciences gain the distinction of graduating with departmental honors while gaining invaluable research experience with a faculty mentor conducting original research. Over the course of two semesters, students design their own studies, collect and analyze data, submit a poster proposal to a professional conference, and write a journal-length manuscript. In late-spring, students travel to the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) in Chicago to present their work. There, students have the opportunity to present the results of their hard work, as well as to attend scientific seminars, network with faculty and students from other universities, and explore Chicago. This fund will provide the financial backing for the students’ trip to Chicago for MPA, including staying at the conference host hotel for 2 nights and driving transportation to and from Chicago.
SUPPORT GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH
JOSEPHINE MITCHELL SMITH SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Josephine Mitchell Smith trained under Max Meyer and made seminal research contributions to understanding the sensory abilities of the blind. Dr. Smith served as interim head of the Department of Psychology in 1929, and her niece endowed a fund that provides awards to graduate students in the Department of Psychological Sciences. Gifts to this fund honor this tradition of supporting graduate students, and provides funding to graduate students during the summer months when many do not otherwise have financial support. This enables them to continue their research scholarship and progress toward degree completion. Support is awarded to those students in need who exemplify excellence in research achievements (e.g., publications, presentations and submitted grants) on their path toward completing degree requirements.
GIVE TO THE JOSEPHINE MITCHELL FUND
LIZETTE PETERSON-HOMER GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP FUND
The Department of Psychological Sciences has established the Lizette Peterson-Homer Graduate Fellowship Fund to honor the former Curators’ Professor’s (1951-2002) devotion to teaching and mentoring. The memorial fund will provide financial assistance for graduate student development in these areas: research activities, specialty training at other institutions and travel to professional conferences. In awarding the funds, special consideration will be given to graduate students who are pursuing study in the area of pediatric psychology and especially in child injury-prevention research, an important yet under-funded area to which Lizette Peterson-Homer was deeply committed.
GIVE TO THE LIZETTE PETERSON-HOMER FUND
MARK H. THELEN OUTSTANDING CLINICAL GRADUATE STUDENT AWARD
The Mark H. Thelen Outstanding Clinical Graduate Student Award honors Dr. Mark Thelen (December 13, 1935 - September 18, 2017). Dr. Thelen was a beloved and well-respected member of the University of Missouri Department of Psychological Sciences. He successfully balanced the many roles of an effective clinical psychologist – as an active scholar, devoted mentor to numerous clinical graduate students, and caring therapist. Dr. Thelen also served for many years as director of the PhD program in clinical psychology.
The Thelen Award is made to clinical graduate students whose achievements exemplify the goals of psychological clinical science, including:
- advancing clinical science research and theory through scholarly research in clinical psychology and its integration with other relevant sciences,
- applying clinical science to human problems in responsible and innovative ways, and
- disseminating clinical science to policy-making groups, psychologists and other scientists, practitioners and consumers.
SUPPORT DEPARTMENT RESEARCH, ENGAGEMENT, AND CLINICAL SERVICE
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES CLINIC FUND
The Psychological Services Clinic (PSC), within the Department of Psychological Sciences, is driven by a commitment to public service. We are committed to (1) provide high-quality, affordable, and evidence-based mental health services to Columbia, MO and the surrounding communities, (2) provide high-quality training for MU doctoral trainees in clinical psychology and related disciplines, and (3) support research that advances understanding and promotion of psychological health. The PSC offers clinical services and research on a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, conduct problems, substance use and addictions, borderline personality disorder, academic difficulties, and relationship distress. With a generous fee assistance program, we offer services to individuals and families who otherwise would not be able to afford mental health care. Donations to this fund will help support the PSC’s mission to provide affordable, evidence-based care to the community and to advance research and training in mental health services.
GIVE TO THE PYSCHOLOGICAL SERVICES CLINIC FUND
MISSOURI CENTER FOR ADDICTION RESEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT
Missouri faces considerable challenges with addiction and substance abuse that touch us all. This includes pervasive problems with opioids, alcohol, and nicotine. Addressing current challenges of addiction, and importantly, preventing the next substance abuse epidemic, requires innovative approaches to understanding both causes and treatment. It requires a cooperative multidisciplinary effort to generate knowledge and put that knowledge in the hands of people who can help.
GIVE TO THE MISSOURI CENTER FOR ADDICTION FUND
Questions? Contact Advancement
Kristen Maier
Executive Director for Advancement
College of Arts and Science
maierk@missouri.edu
573-882-5518
Meichelle Foster
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Corporate Relations
fosterma@missouri.edu
(573) 882-5394