Student Spotlight

Sean Mitchell

Sean Mitchell is an undergraduate Psychology and Spanish major from Round Rock, Texas. Sean has been working in research in psychology since the beginning of his sophomore year. His current research interests are in correctional and forensic psychology with a focus on suicide in the offender population. He is currently working in Dr. Robert Morgan's forensic and correctional psychology research laboratory as a research assistant. He has been assisting with data collection using a semi-structured interview of offenders at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice parole office in Lubbock, Texas. Additionally, Sean has assisted with data collection at a Kansas State Prison and at Sunrise Canyon Hospital. He has also been working in Dr. Kelly Cukrowicz's suicide and depression research lab since fall 2010. Both Dr. Morgan and Dr. Cukrowicz have allowed Sean the opportunity to conduct his own research in each of their labs. His research has focused on the relationship between criminal thinking and suicide.

This summer Sean has been accepted into the American Psychological Association's Summer Science Fellowship hosted at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. This is a prestigious fellowship and Sean was selected as one of the 12 students to participate out of an applicant pool of 300. Through this fellowship Sean will be afforded the opportunity to enhance his development as a researcher by participating in psychological research with Dr. June Tangney. He will work in her Human Emotions Research lab doing research with offenders. Sean is planning to apply to doctoral programs in clinical psychology.

Lambda of Texas chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Inducts New Members

Photo Courtesy Michael with Party Time Photos Lubbock TX

On Thursday, April 28, the Lambda of Texas chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious of the national academic honorary societies, inducted its newest set of members. Established in 1779 at the College of William and Mary, Phi Beta Kappa is dedicated to excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. To be invited for membership into the society, undergraduate students must have records of outstanding performance in the liberal arts and sciences. Minimum requirements include a strong grade point average, satisfactory completion of at least two math courses at or above the level of Math 1320, satisfactory completion of at least the fourth semester or above of another language, and satisfactory completion of at least two 3000 level courses outside the student's major. The reviewers look for indicators of strong interest in the liberal arts and sciences such as participation in Honors courses, undergraduate research, service learning, and study abroad programs, as well as indications of cultural and intellectual interests, scholarly achievement, and good character.

We are proud to present this list of faculty, named by the 2011 inductees as making significant contributions to their  academic  research, and service experiences at TTU.

Texas Tech was granted the right to shelter a chapter in October 2006 and held its first induction ceremony in April 2007. Each April, outstanding new students are invited to membership. The majority of the students come from the College of Arts and Sciences, with others coming from the Honors College or the College of Visual and Performing Arts. In 2011, the Arts & Sciences students who were inducted into the Lambda of Texas chapter were:

Dr. Rashid Al-Hmoud (Economics and Geography) Dr. Christina Ashby-Martin (Honors College) Dr. John Beusterien (Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures) Dr. Dominick Casadonte, Jr. (Chemistry) Dr. Nathan Collie (Biological Sciences) Dr. Stefano D'Amico (History) Dr. Michael Dini (Biological Sciences) Dr. Charles Grair (Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures) Dr. Jeff Larsen (Psychology) Dr. Isis Leslie (Honors College) Dr. Ron Milam (History) Erin McCrory (Graduate Instructor, Psychology) Dr. Carmen Pereira Muro (Classical And Modern Languages and Literatures) Dr. Marjean Purinton (English, Honors College) Ambassador Tibor P. Nagy Jr., Vice Provost for International Affairs Dr. William David Nes (Chemistry) Dr. Timothy Nokken (Political Science) Dr. Christine Robitschek (Psychology) Dr. Brenda Rodgers (Biological Sciences) Dr. Lorum Stratton (Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures) Dr. Aliza Wong (History) Dr. Alice Young (Psychology)