Psychology honor society recognized as Model Chapter

Northwest Missouri State University’s chapter of the Psi Chi international honor society in psychology has been designated a Psi Chi Model Chapter for 2019-20.

“It is a great honor of our achievement,” Dr. Keely Cline, an associate professor psychology and the co-advisor of Northwest’s Psi Chi chapter, said. “Our officers have really worked hard to be active on our campus and to build our chapter. This is a great foundation for the continued work that we will do.”

Each year, 50 chapters are recognized as Model Chapters, a designation of healthy and active chapters working within the communities they serve. The selected chapters must meet nine objectives that include inducting new members and voting in annual Psi Chi elections. The Northwest chapter also was recognized as a Model Chapter during 2017-18.

The Northwest chapter stays active by hosting events such as a Halloween mixer for students and faculty and a movie night with Active Minds, a mental health awareness organization on the Northwest campus, featuring a film about the stigma surrounding mental health.

Psi Chi’s mission is to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence in scholarship while advancing the science of psychology. Membership is open to graduate and undergraduate students who major or minor in psychology and meet minimal requirements.

Psi Chi President Adam Stricker says the organization has helped him enhance his leadership and social skills through interactive activities and discussion.

“Not only am I participating in a great group of highly intelligent individuals, but I am also constantly learning and growing from it as well,” Stricker, a senior psychology and human services major from Chillicothe, Missouri, said. “Everyone brings so much to the table and provides such great insight into things that I have never really thought of before. We encourage each other to do the best we can.”