Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference

Psychology students and faculty from the School of Psychological Sciences made an impressive showing at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference (RMPA) in Boise, ID, in March, delivering high-quality presentations across cognitive psychology, neuroscience, memory, psychology and the law and educational psychology. Honors students and post-baccalaureate researchers, including Mo Awan, Adrianna Soto-Confer, Hadley Everdeen, Clay Wollard, Jasmine Vork, Joanna Pugliese and Jae Fast, as well as graduate students Mariah Serna, John Darag, Shahin Ahmed and Kale Hubert, stood out for their strong scientific rigor and confident presentation skills, showcasing research developed through close faculty mentorship and hands-on lab experience.

Faculty mentors for students included Elise Allen, Cassie Bergstrom, Ryan Darling, Nancy Karlin, Joanna Lewis, Stephanie Linley, Kevin Pugh and William Douglas Woody. Their collaborative work highlighted key topics such as neuropsychopharmacology, cognitive flexibility, cognitive load, visual imagery, self-efficacy and motivation, cost perceptions, the misinformation effect and decision-making.

Their success reflects UNC’s commitment to research-driven undergraduate and graduate training and the strength of its growing psychological science program. The conference was a resounding success, thanks to the dedicated leadership team. Nancy Karlin and James Kole, serving as program chairs, led the scientific program; M. Todd Allen and Theo Karipidis reviewed submissions for the convention.