Psychology honor society receives fourth recognition as Model Chapter

Aug. 31, 2022 | By Kourtnie Stenwall, communication assistant

Northwest Missouri State University’s chapter of the Psi Chi international honor society of psychology has been designated a Psi Chi Model Chapter for 2021-22, marking the fourth designation in five years for the chapter.

Dr. Keely Cline, an associate professor of psychology, serves as co-advisor of Northwest’s Psi Chi chapter. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

“Being one of only 28 chapters to receive the award is such a privilege, and it’s great to have our hard work acknowledged in this way,” said Hannah McCain, who served as the 2021-22 president of Northwest’s Psi Chi chapter and graduated last spring with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. “I am happy to see Northwest’s chapter receive this award again, and I want to say it wouldn’t have been possible without our faculty advisors, Dr. Keely Cline and Dr. Bradlee Gamblin, as well as the rest of our officer team.”

Psi Chi annually recognizes just 3 percent of its chapters as Model Chapters, a designation of healthy and active chapters working within the communities they serve. Model Chapters were recognized by meeting nine objectives that included inducting new members and keeping their officers updated and trained. The Northwest chapter was previously recognized as a Model Chapter during 2017-18, 2019-20 and 2020-21.

McCain said her time in Psi Chi connected her to peers in similar degree programs as well as faculty and advisors. As an officer, she honed her leadership skills and expanded her network, which benefitted her during her time at Northwest and after graduating.

“Psi Chi is a great resource for its members during their time in school and even after graduation,” McCain said. “Psi Chi members are members for life, so they have unlimited access to Psi Chi’s resources. This includes things like scholarships, research grants and information about relative job openings through Psi Chi’s career center.”

Psi Chi’s mission is to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence in scholarship, to advance the science of psychology. Undergraduate and graduate students must major or minor in a behavioral sciences program and be in the top 35 percent of their class based on GPA to be accepted into Psi Chi.

“Psi Chi membership looks great on a student’s résumé, but the benefits do not stop there,” Dr. Keely Cline, an associate professor of psychology and the co-advisor of Northwest’s Psi Chi chapter, said. “Membership promotes connection with fellow students and fellow students and faculty in the disciplines of psychology and behavioral sciences at Northwest, while allowing students to gain valuable learning experiences and possibly assume leadership roles.”

Students interested in joining Psi Chi can apply by clicking this link. Applications are open until Sept. 15.

For more information, contact Cline at kcline@nwmissouri.edu or Dr. Jason McCain, assistant professor of psychology, at jmccain@nwmissouri.edu.