Department of Psychology
Studying psychology provides a better understanding of human nature and behavior. Missouri Western’s Psychology program includes a Bachelor of Science degree and minors in Cognitive Sciences and Psychology.
Missouri Western’s program provides a foundation in psychology as well as its many applications. Students receive a broad education in psychology that prepares them for careers and graduate school as well as a lifetime commitment to learning.
Psychology Department News
MWSU senior wins $3000 fellowship
April 23, 2024–Missouri Western State University’s Artemii Udovenko, a senior psychology major, was awarded one of eight national fellowships from the Alpha Chi National Honors Society.
Udovenko, from Vladivostok, Russia, was inducted into Alpha Chi in October 2023. Selection for this prestigious honor society requires students be in the top 10% of juniors, seniors and graduate students.
Candidates for the H.Y. Benedict Fellowship must be nominated by their advisor and submit an academic paper in their field of major. Udovenko was awarded for his honors thesis entitled, “Prejudice and comprehensibility of accented speech in hiring decisions.”
The fellowship honors Alpha Chi’s first president, Dr. Harry Yandell Benedict and provides $3,000 toward the first year of graduate study.
Udovenko is set to graduate Missouri Western in May and was recently accepted to the Ph.D. program in Management at the University of Memphis.
News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit ..2023 Alumni Award Winners Announced
July 28, 2023–The Missouri Western State University Alumni Association has announced the names of those who will be honored at the annual Alumni Award Banquet on Sept. 29 during Homecoming Week. For more information and to purchase tickets to the banquet, visit griff.vn/AlumHC.
Honorees are:
Distinguished Alumni Awards
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest award given to a Missouri Western alum. It recognizes living alumni for their career/professional achievements; civic contributions within their local community, state or nation; service to Missouri Western State University, and other qualities which elicit pride from others who attended Missouri Western.
LaVell Rucker ’03, Social Worker
As a non-traditional student, Rucker received her bachelor’s degree in social work from MWSU in 2003 followed by her master’s degree from the University of Kansas in 2004. She has been employed by St. Joseph School District as a school social worker addressing mental health needs and providing services to middle and high school students for 20 years.
Caring for others’ needs and seeing the value in all walks of life, Rucker has served on numerous boards making decisions to better families and the community. She currently serves on Mosaic Life Care’s Board of Directors, is a Black Archives Museum board member, an EMPAC (a political action committee) board member and a United Way Allocations committee ..Students present psychology research in Chicago
Justice Galloway (left) and Ashlyn George during their poster presentation.
May 9, 2023–Two Missouri Western State University psychology students presented their research at the Psi Chi division of the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago last month.
Ashlyn George, senior from St. Joseph, and Justice Galloway, junior from Atchison, Kansas, presented a poster titled “The relationship between gender role identity, personal care products, and brand loyalty in consumers,” sponsored by Dr. Teddi Deka, professor of psychology. They conducted their research in fall 2022 as part of the Psychology 303 (research team) class.
Co-authoring students who did not attend the conference were Rebecca Lewey, senior from Cameron, Missouri; Madison Brady, senior from Millersville, Maryland; Faith Vandel, senior from St. Joseph; and Jordan Hall, junior from St. Joseph.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.
Applied learning on display during last Gold Friday of semester
April 27, 2023–At Missouri Western State University, most classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday, with Gold Fridays set aside for applied learning opportunities outside the classroom. On the last Gold Friday of the spring semester on April 28, there will be three public events showcasing student projects by Missouri Western students.
Gold Fridays PORTAL Poster Showcase
10 a.m.Remington Hall Atrium second floor
Students who have participated in applied learning activities (research, internships, etc.) will display posters illustrating the results of these activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask the students questions about their posters.
Psychology Research Day
Check in starts at 11 a.m., program begins at 11:30 a.m.Eder Hall, room 101
Prospective students can get an immersive look at Missouri Western’s Psychology Program by participating in Research Day. Meet faculty, talk to current students and learn about their poster sessions, and tour the Psychology Lab. Complimentary lunch will be provided. Check-in will be 11-11:30 a.m. Students can pre-register at griff.vn/PsychDay.
Eighth Annual Griffon Film FestivalDoors open at 6 p.m., show begins at 7 p.m. Missouri Theatre, 715 Edmond Street, Downtown St. ..
Psychology professor elected secretary of national honor society
April 21, 2023–Dr. Teddi Deka, professor of psychology at Missouri Western State University, was recently elected national secretary of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society.
Dr. Deka continues as an advisor to the Missouri Western Lambda chapter of Alpha Chi and as secretary of the Northern Plains region.
Dr. Deka has taught in Missouri Western’s psychology department since 1997. She received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Ohio State University.
Alpha Chi is a national college honor society for college juniors, seniors and graduate students of all academic disciplines. The society was founded in 1922 to promote and encourage academic scholarship by recognizing high-achieving students.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.
Psi Chi honor society inducts two new members
March 22, 2023–Two Missouri Western State University students were recently inducted into Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.
Psi Chi is open to psychology majors or minors in the top 35% of their class. Inducted in a March 14 ceremony were Ashlyn George and Liz Williams, both senior psychology majors from St. Joseph.
Missouri Western’s Department of Psychology offers a Bachelor of Science degree and minors in cognitive sciences and psychology. Students receive a broad education in psychology that prepares them for careers and graduate school as well as a lifetime commitment to learning.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.
MWSU senior wins $3000 fellowship
April 23, 2024–Missouri Western State University’s Artemii Udovenko, a senior psychology major, was awarded one of eight national fellowships from the Alpha Chi National Honors Society.
Udovenko, from Vladivostok, Russia, was inducted into Alpha Chi in October 2023. Selection for this prestigious honor society requires students be in the top 10% of juniors, seniors and graduate students.
Candidates for the H.Y. Benedict Fellowship must be nominated by their advisor and submit an academic paper in their field of major. Udovenko was awarded for his honors thesis entitled, “Prejudice and comprehensibility of accented speech in hiring decisions.”
The fellowship honors Alpha Chi’s first president, Dr. Harry Yandell Benedict and provides $3,000 toward the first year of graduate study.
Udovenko is set to graduate Missouri Western in May and was recently accepted to the Ph.D. program in Management at the University of Memphis.
News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit ..2023 Alumni Award Winners Announced
July 28, 2023–The Missouri Western State University Alumni Association has announced the names of those who will be honored at the annual Alumni Award Banquet on Sept. 29 during Homecoming Week. For more information and to purchase tickets to the banquet, visit griff.vn/AlumHC.
Honorees are:
Distinguished Alumni Awards
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest award given to a Missouri Western alum. It recognizes living alumni for their career/professional achievements; civic contributions within their local community, state or nation; service to Missouri Western State University, and other qualities which elicit pride from others who attended Missouri Western.
LaVell Rucker ’03, Social Worker
As a non-traditional student, Rucker received her bachelor’s degree in social work from MWSU in 2003 followed by her master’s degree from the University of Kansas in 2004. She has been employed by St. Joseph School District as a school social worker addressing mental health needs and providing services to middle and high school students for 20 years.
Caring for others’ needs and seeing the value in all walks of life, Rucker has served on numerous boards making decisions to better families and the community. She currently serves on Mosaic Life Care’s Board of Directors, is a Black Archives Museum board member, an EMPAC (a political action committee) board member and a United Way Allocations committee ..Students present psychology research in Chicago
Justice Galloway (left) and Ashlyn George during their poster presentation.
May 9, 2023–Two Missouri Western State University psychology students presented their research at the Psi Chi division of the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago last month.
Ashlyn George, senior from St. Joseph, and Justice Galloway, junior from Atchison, Kansas, presented a poster titled “The relationship between gender role identity, personal care products, and brand loyalty in consumers,” sponsored by Dr. Teddi Deka, professor of psychology. They conducted their research in fall 2022 as part of the Psychology 303 (research team) class.
Co-authoring students who did not attend the conference were Rebecca Lewey, senior from Cameron, Missouri; Madison Brady, senior from Millersville, Maryland; Faith Vandel, senior from St. Joseph; and Jordan Hall, junior from St. Joseph.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.
Applied learning on display during last Gold Friday of semester
April 27, 2023–At Missouri Western State University, most classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday, with Gold Fridays set aside for applied learning opportunities outside the classroom. On the last Gold Friday of the spring semester on April 28, there will be three public events showcasing student projects by Missouri Western students.
Gold Fridays PORTAL Poster Showcase
10 a.m.Remington Hall Atrium second floor
Students who have participated in applied learning activities (research, internships, etc.) will display posters illustrating the results of these activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask the students questions about their posters.
Psychology Research Day
Check in starts at 11 a.m., program begins at 11:30 a.m.Eder Hall, room 101
Prospective students can get an immersive look at Missouri Western’s Psychology Program by participating in Research Day. Meet faculty, talk to current students and learn about their poster sessions, and tour the Psychology Lab. Complimentary lunch will be provided. Check-in will be 11-11:30 a.m. Students can pre-register at griff.vn/PsychDay.
Eighth Annual Griffon Film FestivalDoors open at 6 p.m., show begins at 7 p.m. Missouri Theatre, 715 Edmond Street, Downtown St. ..
Psychology professor elected secretary of national honor society
April 21, 2023–Dr. Teddi Deka, professor of psychology at Missouri Western State University, was recently elected national secretary of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society.
Dr. Deka continues as an advisor to the Missouri Western Lambda chapter of Alpha Chi and as secretary of the Northern Plains region.
Dr. Deka has taught in Missouri Western’s psychology department since 1997. She received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Ohio State University.
Alpha Chi is a national college honor society for college juniors, seniors and graduate students of all academic disciplines. The society was founded in 1922 to promote and encourage academic scholarship by recognizing high-achieving students.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.
Psi Chi honor society inducts two new members
March 22, 2023–Two Missouri Western State University students were recently inducted into Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.
Psi Chi is open to psychology majors or minors in the top 35% of their class. Inducted in a March 14 ceremony were Ashlyn George and Liz Williams, both senior psychology majors from St. Joseph.
Missouri Western’s Department of Psychology offers a Bachelor of Science degree and minors in cognitive sciences and psychology. Students receive a broad education in psychology that prepares them for careers and graduate school as well as a lifetime commitment to learning.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.
MWSU senior wins $3000 fellowship
April 23, 2024–Missouri Western State University’s Artemii Udovenko, a senior psychology major, was awarded one of eight national fellowships from the Alpha Chi National Honors Society.
Udovenko, from Vladivostok, Russia, was inducted into Alpha Chi in October 2023. Selection for this prestigious honor society requires students be in the top 10% of juniors, seniors and graduate students.
Candidates for the H.Y. Benedict Fellowship must be nominated by their advisor and submit an academic paper in their field of major. Udovenko was awarded for his honors thesis entitled, “Prejudice and comprehensibility of accented speech in hiring decisions.”
The fellowship honors Alpha Chi’s first president, Dr. Harry Yandell Benedict and provides $3,000 toward the first year of graduate study.
Udovenko is set to graduate Missouri Western in May and was recently accepted to the Ph.D. program in Management at the University of Memphis.
News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit ..2023 Alumni Award Winners Announced
July 28, 2023–The Missouri Western State University Alumni Association has announced the names of those who will be honored at the annual Alumni Award Banquet on Sept. 29 during Homecoming Week. For more information and to purchase tickets to the banquet, visit griff.vn/AlumHC.
Honorees are:
Distinguished Alumni Awards
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest award given to a Missouri Western alum. It recognizes living alumni for their career/professional achievements; civic contributions within their local community, state or nation; service to Missouri Western State University, and other qualities which elicit pride from others who attended Missouri Western.
LaVell Rucker ’03, Social Worker
As a non-traditional student, Rucker received her bachelor’s degree in social work from MWSU in 2003 followed by her master’s degree from the University of Kansas in 2004. She has been employed by St. Joseph School District as a school social worker addressing mental health needs and providing services to middle and high school students for 20 years.
Caring for others’ needs and seeing the value in all walks of life, Rucker has served on numerous boards making decisions to better families and the community. She currently serves on Mosaic Life Care’s Board of Directors, is a Black Archives Museum board member, an EMPAC (a political action committee) board member and a United Way Allocations committee ..Students present psychology research in Chicago
Justice Galloway (left) and Ashlyn George during their poster presentation.
May 9, 2023–Two Missouri Western State University psychology students presented their research at the Psi Chi division of the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago last month.
Ashlyn George, senior from St. Joseph, and Justice Galloway, junior from Atchison, Kansas, presented a poster titled “The relationship between gender role identity, personal care products, and brand loyalty in consumers,” sponsored by Dr. Teddi Deka, professor of psychology. They conducted their research in fall 2022 as part of the Psychology 303 (research team) class.
Co-authoring students who did not attend the conference were Rebecca Lewey, senior from Cameron, Missouri; Madison Brady, senior from Millersville, Maryland; Faith Vandel, senior from St. Joseph; and Jordan Hall, junior from St. Joseph.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.
Applied learning on display during last Gold Friday of semester
April 27, 2023–At Missouri Western State University, most classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday, with Gold Fridays set aside for applied learning opportunities outside the classroom. On the last Gold Friday of the spring semester on April 28, there will be three public events showcasing student projects by Missouri Western students.
Gold Fridays PORTAL Poster Showcase
10 a.m.Remington Hall Atrium second floor
Students who have participated in applied learning activities (research, internships, etc.) will display posters illustrating the results of these activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask the students questions about their posters.
Psychology Research Day
Check in starts at 11 a.m., program begins at 11:30 a.m.Eder Hall, room 101
Prospective students can get an immersive look at Missouri Western’s Psychology Program by participating in Research Day. Meet faculty, talk to current students and learn about their poster sessions, and tour the Psychology Lab. Complimentary lunch will be provided. Check-in will be 11-11:30 a.m. Students can pre-register at griff.vn/PsychDay.
Eighth Annual Griffon Film FestivalDoors open at 6 p.m., show begins at 7 p.m. Missouri Theatre, 715 Edmond Street, Downtown St. ..
Psychology professor elected secretary of national honor society
April 21, 2023–Dr. Teddi Deka, professor of psychology at Missouri Western State University, was recently elected national secretary of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society.
Dr. Deka continues as an advisor to the Missouri Western Lambda chapter of Alpha Chi and as secretary of the Northern Plains region.
Dr. Deka has taught in Missouri Western’s psychology department since 1997. She received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Ohio State University.
Alpha Chi is a national college honor society for college juniors, seniors and graduate students of all academic disciplines. The society was founded in 1922 to promote and encourage academic scholarship by recognizing high-achieving students.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.
Psi Chi honor society inducts two new members
March 22, 2023–Two Missouri Western State University students were recently inducted into Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.
Psi Chi is open to psychology majors or minors in the top 35% of their class. Inducted in a March 14 ceremony were Ashlyn George and Liz Williams, both senior psychology majors from St. Joseph.
Missouri Western’s Department of Psychology offers a Bachelor of Science degree and minors in cognitive sciences and psychology. Students receive a broad education in psychology that prepares them for careers and graduate school as well as a lifetime commitment to learning.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.