In March, a group of faculty, staff, and students from MSP attended the in Montgomery, Alabama. The symposium brought together a variety of individuals committed to social justice, civil rights, and education.

Very rarely have I experienced an event that affirmed I am in alignment with my true purpose. When Dr. Stogner first mentioned the Fred Gray Symposium, I was eager to attend. I felt honored to be in a room filled with people who used their personal gifts to change the world. I was inspired by how normal, everyday individuals committed themselves to making a difference. This conference allowed me to see roadblocks where I would normally see stop signs.

For me, traveling to Montgomery felt symbolic, as if I had been chosen by my ancestors to walk the same roads and acknowledge what I carry within me. I learned things about my history that I was never taught in public school. I felt new emotions. I thought about the people who came before me, and what it meant to sit in a room with Fred Gray, recognizing how his legacy informs the responsibility I now carry as a developing professional.

Ironically, the session that deeply stayed with me focused on justice and the responsibility I hold as a professional. During that session, I reflected on the many ways I intend to use my degree to create change. To my surprise, I was called to the front of the room to receive the Deborah Gray Champion for Justice medal. This moment solidified that I am on the right path and aligned with my destiny. It was truly an honor to be entrusted with such a meaningful duty to my community.

Another speaker expressed concern that conversations about race are being pushed out of classrooms and history books. Not surprisingly, this shift is occurring with the authority of national leadership, not because race has stopped mattering. Rather, telling a more accurate story about our nation can make people uncomfortable. When lived experiences challenge the preferred narrative, the response is often to remove the topic rather than explore solutions or spread awareness.

Although I learned a great deal at the symposium, one statistic in particular stayed with me. In Alabama alone, there are over 900,000 registered Black voters, yet more than half are labeled inactive or infrequent. This raises many questions: How many Black voters in Michigan are considered inactive or infrequent compared to other voters? Is there an issue with how the importance of voting is communicated? Is there a disconnect in access or ability to vote? Or is there another underlying reason that has not yet been identified? It made me wonder whether the system was designed this way? If so, why, and is there anything I can do to change it? I left with the understanding that the deeper work lies in addressing the barriers that limit full participation for some communities. This topic is urgent and current, particularly as the proposed SAVE Act introduces additional challenges that many are unaware of.

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Kierra Poydras is a graduate of MSP’s MA program and current student in the PsyD Program.听听

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The Psi Chi chapter at MSP is pleased to announce the chapter award winners for this year!听The purpose of the Psi Chi Professional Development Award is to promote Psi Chi members’ academic and professional excellence in psychology.听听This year, Psi Chi awarded ten grants:

Marwa Attia (PsyD 2)

Funding toward lodging costs for The Society for Personality and Social Psychology 2026 Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois where she co-presented the poster, Development and Validation of a Unidimensional Measure of Authoritarian Aggression.

Kalani Banks (MA 鈥�24, PsyD 2)

Funding toward transportation costs for the 2026 Midwestern Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois where she co-presented the presentations, Ethical Considerations in Couple’s Therapy听and Cell Phones and Marriage: Connection or Disruption?,听and the poster, Authoritarian Aggression and Support for Immigrant Surveillance and Deportation.

Lauren Dushane (MA ’21, PsyD 3)

Funding toward registration costs for the 2026 American Psychological Association Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. where she will co-present the poster,听ACT-Based Movement Therapy for Depression in Men with Parkinson鈥檚 Disease.听

Jifune Hermiz (MA 鈥�24, PsyD 2)

Funding toward registration costs for the Fourth World Congress on Existential Psychology in Denver, Colorado where she will present Between Two Worlds: Authenticity, Community, and the Mystery of Being a Middle Eastern American Therapist.听

Devon Kardel (PsyD 4)

Funding toward registration and transportation costs for the 2026 Midwestern Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois where she co-presented Liberatory Movement: Dance as a Pathway to Transformative Healing.听

Tasnia Khan (MA with ABA concentration)

Funding toward study materials for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Certification Exam.

Renelle Staebler Lamey (MA ’24, PsyD 2)

Funding toward registration costs for the University of Michigan Online Sexual Health Certificate Program.听

Reba Meagher (MA 鈥�23, PsyD 3)

Funding toward lodging costs for the 2026 Midwestern Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois where she co-presented Affirming Practice with LGBTQIA+ Clients Amid Political Polarization.

Desirae Peel (MA)

Funding toward registration costs for the 2026 Spring Meeting of Division 24 Society for Theoretical & Philosophical Psychology in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she will co-present Movement as Ritual, Resistance, and Becoming.

Samantha Wiechert听(MA)

Funding toward registration costs for the EMDR Skills for Trauma Treatment continuing education course.

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The 2026 Community Impact Award for Equity & Inclusion was presented to PsyD student Dennis Brown (MA with ABA 鈥�23), who stood out in his commitment, advocacy, contributions, and impact related to equity and inclusion.

Dennis has demonstrated a clear and sustained commitment to advancing equity and inclusion through his clinical work, research, leadership, and community engagement. His efforts consistently center marginalized and underrepresented populations, particularly Black communities and youth in underserved areas. For example, during his internship with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, he provided psychological services to youth ages 5-17 in an underserved Detroit community, utilizing trauma-informed and community-centered approaches. His outreach work at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Counseling Center further reflects this commitment. There he engaged in campus programming and built relationships with diverse student organizations to increase awareness and access to mental health services.

Dennis’ research agenda is also deeply rooted in equity. His dissertation examines intergenerational trauma and Black identity during emerging adulthood, amplifying the lived experiences of a population often underrepresented in psychological research. Additionally, his conference presentations and publications address culturally adapted therapies, internalized oppression, and racial trauma, demonstrating his ongoing efforts to bridge research and practice in ways that are culturally responsive and socially impactful. Dennis’ work reflects a long-standing and evolving commitment to equity and inclusion rather than short-term involvement.

When asked about receiving the award, Dennis said, 鈥淗ere I am, days later, still in shock to receive this award for equity and inclusion. I鈥檒l continue holding safe spaces and advocating for equitable change in our community, because it starts with one person to create change for many. Thank you.鈥�

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桃色视频 is committed to contributing annually to assist in student scholarships and aid. Scholarship and financial assistance funding is supported by gifts from alumni, family, and friends. Generally, funds are disbursed in the form of tuition credit.

This academic year we are pleased to announce the following recipients. Sampada Fotedar (PsyD 1) was awarded the Aombaye Ramsey Diversity Award. 听Beatrice Di Cintio (current MA) was awarded the Sidney Berkowitz Scholarship for Clinical Excellence. The honorees have written acceptance statements for their scholarship awards.

The Cereta Perry Scholarship is awarded to an incoming student at the start of the academic year. Click here to learn more about this year’s recipients Fatou Dieng (MA) and Sampada Fotedar (PsyD 1).

Aombaye Ramsey Diversity Award (ARDA)

The ARDA was created in 2004 to honor former faculty member Dr. Aombaye Ramsey鈥檚 lifelong commitment to social justice. This award supports a PsyD student who shares that same commitment to advocate on behalf of diversity issues. Priority will be given to applicants who belong to an ethnic, racial, or cultural group traditionally underrepresented in the field of psychology.

With intense honor and gratitude, I want to thank MSP for choosing me as a candidate for the Aombaye Ramsey Diversity Award. This award, created to honor Dr. Aombaye Ramsey鈥檚 lifelong commitment to social justice, holds immense significance for me. As an Indian psychology student, I witness everyday how psychology is viewed from a western lens, and at times, can lack cultural inclusivity. These observations motivate me to advocate for social justice and multicultural equity in psychology. It not only provides me with financial assistance, but also inspires me to continue my commitment to promoting diversity in mental health.听 I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the selection committee and my supporters for their belief in my potential. This award provides a vital opportunity to advance my studies and strengthen my commitment to advocating for underrepresented communities.

Sidney Berkowitz Scholarship for Clinical Excellence (SBSCE)

The SBSCE was established in Fall 2022 to honor Dr. Sidney Berkowitz, a beloved former faculty member who was an esteemed clinician and long-time supporter of MSP. This award is presented to a student who demonstrate excellence in clinical work and shows a commitment to clinical practice using humanistic value/principles.听

Receiving the Sidney Berkowitz Scholarship for Clinical Excellence is a profound honor, and one I hold with deep gratitude. I understand that Dr. Sidney Berkowitz was a true embodiment of humanistic psychology, and that his life’s work profoundly impacted countless lives. To be selected as the Master’s recipient of an award bearing his name feels not only like recognition, but like an affirmation of the path I know I am meant to walk.

For me, this was never a career change, it was a realization. A coming home to something I had always felt called toward. I came to the 桃色视频 drawn to a form of therapy grounded in relationality, and shaped by the most human of questions, those of meaning, grief, loss, and recovery. MSP has been my home for the past eleven months, and I take great pride in that. I am deeply grateful to its inspiring faculty, my supervisors, and my peers, whose compassion and wisdom have shaped me profoundly.

Most importantly, I am grateful to my clients, who have offered me some of the most transformative lessons I will carry throughout my career. At the heart of my work is a sincere belief that every person deserves to be truly seen and that when a client feels genuinely met with honesty and understanding, something healing naturally follows.

As I continue this journey, I am committed to honoring Dr. Berkowitz’s legacy through kindness, humility, and curiosity; both as a clinician and as a human being. This award deepens my commitment to that calling.

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Have you ever attended an event expecting to get one thing, only to leave with a conviction you didn鈥檛 know you had? This happened to me in March of 2026 when I attended the in Montgomery, Alabama. I had never heard of the symposium or Fred Gray, but when I saw an invitation to attend, I took advantage because I was interested in learning about what they had to offer to my studies at MSP. Little did I know I鈥檇 be taking a trip down through the history of the United States and how its policies affect us thus affecting our mental health.

Fred D. Gray is a lawyer who was at the center of some of the most important civil Rrghts cases in the country鈥檚 history, including but not limited to Gomillion v. Lightfoot and Williams v. Wallace. I enjoyed learning this information because it fed into my past life of criminal law and precedent that I dealt with quite a bit in undergrad. I will admit, as the symposium went on, and I saw that it was heavy on history, civil rights, and law, I began to question how this was relevant to me as a future clinician. As I listened to the presenters who were everywhere, from lawyers to activists, something stood out to me. I can help the cause by being the person that the activists and lawyers come to in order to work through the grief and sorrow of a seemingly never-ending fight. A fight that has continued through generations. A fight that requires us all to do our part to keep the wheels turning in the right direction. Once I had this epiphany, I started to consider what everyone was saying through my current lens of a future clinician versus my past lens as a criminal justice student.

People like myself, psychology students and future clinicians, can benefit from experiences such as attending the Fred D. Gray Symposium. Though not directly related to psychology, there is so much cultural competency that can be gained from being in those rooms, meeting with the people who are doing the work and are committing their lives to seeing it through. I was able to connect with other students in attendance and discuss research and how it will benefit the human race, even if it is focused on one particular group of people to begin with. I was able to receive support and encouragement to keep going in my educational endeavors. I was encouraged to give back to those who follow in the path behind me while still driving forward to achieve my goals.

I received a 鈥淒eborah Gray Champion for Justice鈥� medallion for being a student who is pressing forward the fight for equality and being in support of the current, ever-present civil rights movement. In that moment I wasn鈥檛 really sure how I felt about it, but being a young, African American woman from the east side of Detroit, Michigan, I grew to understand what it meant, at least for me. It means that I am a part of the movement. The work that I do can and will have an impact, no matter how small I think it to be. The contributions that I plan to make to the field will come from a no-name student who has unlimited potential to become one of the greatest names mentioned in the evolution of the field of psychology. I am somebody. I matter. My voice is necessary in this fight to move us all forward. The shadow box that we received along with this medallion will rest on the wall where my diplomas hang because it is also a part of my journey. It serves as a reminder that my contributions are a part of the whole, and we all are responsible for our parts. 听 听

Jennifer T. Thomas-Sopekan is a current MSP student pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis. This is her second year on the 3-year part-time track. At the time of this blog post, she is in the process of applying for practicum sites for the 2026-2027 school year, after which she will graduate upon successful completion of the program. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Wayne State University and a master鈥檚 in Forensic Psychology with a Law Enforcement concentration from Argosy University. She came to MSP because it was a school that specialized in psychology with an emphasis on treating the whole of a person. She is a wife, mother of two, and seeks to make a deep, philosophical change in the field of psychology with听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听research and a dedication to her clients.听

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Getting started with research can feel intimidating, especially if you have never done it before. I remember feeling the same way at the beginning of my own journey. It is easy to assume you need a fully developed idea or some big, groundbreaking plan, but research rarely starts like that. More often, it begins with something much smaller: a spark of curiosity, a question that keeps tugging at you, or even a paper you wrote for class that you wish you could take further. Here are five tips for getting started in research:

Tip 1: Review your Existing Papers and Projects – One of the best ways to start is by looking at the work you have already done. Most of us have written papers or completed assignments that point toward themes we care about. Go back through your past classes, look at the topics that drew you in, and make a list of the ideas that still feel meaningful. You might find that you already have the beginnings of a project without realizing it.

Tip 2: Talk to People About Research Interests – Talking to others about your research interests and hearing about their research journeys can be incredibly helpful. Research is not something we are meant to do alone. Conversations with professors, librarians, or fellow students can help you refine your interests or discover opportunities you did not know existed. Faculty often have research teams or ongoing projects that align with student interests, and more advanced students can offer insight into how they got involved themselves. Sometimes one conversation can shift everything.

Tip 3: Explore Research Opportunities at MSP – It also helps to explore the research happening around you. Reviewing the Faculty Research and Research Teams page can show you where your curiosity overlaps with ongoing work at MSP. Even if there isn鈥檛 a current opening on a team, meeting with faculty to talk about shared research interests and get their recommendations is still a starting place. If you are thinking about turning a class paper into a conference proposal, the recording of the is a great place to start. It walks you through the entire process and makes it feel a lot more doable.听

Tip 4: Explore Conference Opportunities – As you continue exploring, take a look at the current list of . This is updated regularly with new opportunities and deadlines, so check back weekly in the Friday Opportunities emails. Reading through themes and calls for proposals can spark new ideas and help you see where your interests might fit in the broader field. Sometimes seeing the range of topics others are presenting helps you imagine yourself in those spaces too. Also, you can review past 桃色视频 Research and Scholarship Reports to see where others have presented previously and where you might present.听

Tip 5: Join Professional Associations – Another valuable step is joining professional organizations. Groups like the , the , one or more of APA鈥檚 , the , and the often share information about research opportunities, grants, webinars, and conference submissions. Even as a student, being connected to these communities helps you stay informed and inspired, and student membership rates are usually reasonable

Finally, and most importantly, give yourself permission to be curious and start small. You do not need to be an expert. Research grows as you do, and every step you take teaches you something. What matters most is your willingness to explore, ask questions, and follow the ideas that feel meaningful to you. Over time, that is exactly how you find your research voice.

Nosa Obaseki is a PsyD 3 student currently serving as MSP’s Research Graduate Assistant.

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The Psi Chi chapter at MSP is pleased to announce the chapter award winners for this year!听The purpose of the Psi Chi Professional Development Award is to promote Psi Chi members’ academic and professional excellence in psychology.听听This year, Psi Chi awarded eight grants:

Siba Alzohaili (PsyD 3)

Costs towards registration, travel, and poster printing costs for the APA Division 32 Society of Humanistic Psychology Conference in Atlanta, GA, where she co-presented the poster, Decolonial Therapy Practice: A Social Intervention with Manda Harp (PsyD 3), Ray Kaidbay (PsyD 3), and Leila Bazzi (PsyD 3).

Marwa Attia (PsyD 1)

Costs towards registration and poster printing costs for the APA Division 32 Society of Humanistic Psychology Conference in Atlanta, GA, where she presented the poster, Holistic Healing: Integrating CBT & Medication for a Person-Centered Approach to Chronic Pain & Mental Health.听

Dalia Boussi (MA)

Costs towards professional association memberships for the American Psychological Association, APA Division 32 Society for Humanistic Psychology, and the Michigan Psychological Association.听

Courtney Cabell (MA 鈥�21, PsyD 4)

Cost towards lodging for the APA Division 32 Society of Humanistic Psychology Conference in Atlanta, GA, where she co-presented five conference presentations, including her dissertation, Black Women and Indirect Exposure to Police Terror Against Black People.

Ray Kaidbay (PsyD 3)

Cost towards registration for the 2025 Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters conference, held virtually, where she presented the poster, Empirically-Derived, Personal Theory of Therapeutic Change.

Devon Kardel (PsyD 4)

Costs towards registration and travel for the 2025 Midwestern Psychological Association Meeting, where she co-presented the professional development session, Facilitating Healing through Embodiment of Bodywork Therapies with Qandeel Minal (MA ’21, PsyD 4).

Renelle Staebler Lamey (MA ’24, PsyD 1)

Cost towards registration for the Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 2 online continuing education course from The Gottman Institute.

Quentessa Tuff (MA)

Costs towards professional association memberships, including the Association of Black Psychologists.

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桃色视频 is committed to contributing annually to assist in student scholarships and aid. Scholarship and financial assistance funding is supported by gifts from alumni, family, and friends.听

This academic year we are pleased to announce the following recipients. Ray Kaidbay (PsyD 3) was awarded the Jill Benton Humanistic Psychology Scholarship. Jane Halpert (current MA) and Robert Flewelling (MA ’09, PsyD 3) were awarded the Sidney Berkowitz Scholarship for Clinical Excellence. The honorees have written acceptance statements for their scholarship awards.

Jill Benton Humanistic Psychology Scholarship (JBHPS)

This scholarship honors Jill Benton, former MSP librarian and alum, and her commitment to humanistic psychology. The JBHPS supports a PsyD student who is committed to advancing the science and practice of humanistic psychology as demonstrated by excellence in scholarship.

“I am deeply honored to receive the Jill Benton Humanistic Psychology Scholarship. This award holds profound meaning for me not only as a student of humanistic psychology but as someone striving to embody its principles in every facet of life.

To be recognized for aligning with the values of empathy, authenticity, and respect for the whole person is both humbling and inspiring. The scholarship will support my continued education and growth as a humanistic therapist, allowing me to engage more fully with my clients and community.

As I look ahead to my practicum and future clinical work, I carry with me the spirit of Jill Benton鈥檚 legacy of compassion, inquiry, and dedication to human potential. I am committed to contributing to the field with the same openness, courage, and heart.”

Sidney Berkowitz Scholarship for Clinical Excellence (SBSCE)

The SBSCE was established in Fall 2022 to honor Dr. Sidney Berkowitz, a beloved former faculty member who was an esteemed clinical and long-time supporter of MSP. This award is presented to master and doctoral students who demonstrate excellence in clinical work and show a commitment to clinical practice using humanistic value/principles.听

“Pursuing clinical psychology is a career change for me, and receiving the Sidney Berkowitz Scholarship for Clinical Excellence feels like meaningful affirmation that I鈥檓 on the right path. I am honored and grateful to be recognized with this award. [Dr.] Sidney Berkowitz鈥檚 emphasis on thoughtful, client-centered care aligns with the values I hold in my own work. I came to MSP drawn to a form of therapy grounded in relationality and shaped by human questions of meaning, grief, loss, and recovery. I鈥檝e been deeply influenced by the exploratory nature of my classes, as well as the compassion and insight of both my peers and the school’s outstanding faculty.听

In my current work as a student therapist, it is a privilege to build relationships with clients and accompany them as they explore what matters most. After graduation, I hope to join a welcoming, inclusive group practice where I can support people facing a range of struggles. Entering the field and dedicating myself to this work will be a dream fulfilled. This award strengthens my commitment to that goal and serves as a personal reminder of the importance of humanistic psychology in a world that too often seems intent on stripping away our shared humanity.”

“To be one of the recipients of the Sidney Berkowitz Scholarship for Clinical Excellence is a great honor and one of the most meaningful accomplishments of my professional life. Being recognized by the 桃色视频鈥檚 esteemed doctoral program faculty as a student who is both engaged in outstanding clinical work and embodies humanistic values is a distinguished privilege and affirmation that I am developing into the clinician I have long desired to become. Being a part of the larger 桃色视频 community has been a prominent part of my professional identity since my time in the Master’s program in 2008. During my first tenure at MSP, I had the distinct pleasure of interacting with Dr. Berkowitz on a couple of occasions. I remember him for his engaging, caring, and warm persona, and from him, I learned the importance of how our personal presence with a client in the therapeutic space is of the utmost importance, and this notion has been foundational to my efforts towards becoming a humanistic psychologist ever since. To be recognized by my teachers as the standard-bearer for this sort of clinical work amongst my many wonderful and skilled peers at MSP is incredible. Receiving this scholarship is further motivation for me to continue modeling humanistic values as a person and a professional, and as I move into my career in private practice in the near future, I intend to continue to exemplify these principles and carry on the legacy of both Dr. Berkowitz and the 桃色视频.”

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This year in honor of Native American Heritage Month, MSP’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance (IDEA) created a weekly spotlight honoring members of the Native American and Alaska Native communities. Each week of November, IDEA sent a community email highlighting a Native American trailblazer in the field of psychology. Here we have pulled together those spotlights into a post to reflect on the important contributions of these individuals to the profession.听

Carolyn Lewis Attneave, PhD

Week one’s spotlight focused on (1920-1992). Dr. Attneave is the founder of . The mission of The Society of Indian Psychologists is “to advocate for the psychological well-being of American Indians and other Indigenous peoples and to advance knowledge pertaining to Indigenous psychology.”

Her book听Family Network: Retribalization and Healing听is available in the Moustakas Johnson Library for members of the MSP community who are interested in reading it.听

Marigold Linton, PhD

Week two’s spotlight highlighted .听 Dr. Linton attended the University of California, where she became the first Native American to earn a doctorate degree in psychology in the United States. Dr. Linton is a founding member of the and the .听

Arthur McDonald, PhD

Week three’s spotlight featured . Dr. McDonald was the first Native American man to receive a doctorate degree in psychology. He played a major role in establishing the (INPSYCH) and as a result of this work was awarded the American Psychological Association’s Presidential Citation.听

Melissa Tehee, PhD, JD

Week four’s spotlight highlighted . Dr. Tehee is the director of the , based out of Utah State University. She also oversees the , a research lab using the to emphasize culturally appropriate practice in psychology.听

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