Westminster Students Excel in Psychological Science and Public Health Research

Westminster College is proud to highlight the recent academic achievements of two of its standout students, Alyssa Hays, ’24 IND, and Kaitlyn Halamicek, ’26 ΚΑΘ. Both have not only demonstrated exceptional dedication to their education but have also brought attention to the College through their exceptional academic work.

Alyssa Hays’ National Conference Presentation

Recent graduate Alyssa Hays of Vandalia, Missouri, achieved a significant milestone when she presented at the prestigious Association for Psychological Science (APS) annual convention this spring. The convention, which took place May 23-26 in San Francisco, is renowned for showcasing the latest in psychological research from around the world.

Hays is one of the first Westminster students to present at the APS convention. Her project, titled “Using a Virtual Reality-Based Nature Simulation to Facilitate Emotion Regulation in Adults: Investigating the Role of the Process Model,” explored the innovative use of virtual reality to aid emotion regulation across different age groups.

The study involved community members and several faculty and staff participants, leveraging Westminster’s Psychology Lab that was newly enhanced recently with virtual reality technology through an initiative by Dr. Ryan Brunner, Associate Professor of Psychology.

Under the guidance of Dr. Abby Coats, Professor and Chair of Psychology, Hays developed her original research during a year-long internship that focused on emotional regulation. The project was funded by the Provost’s Academic Research Award, underscoring the College’s commitment to supporting student research endeavors.

Coats predicts Hays, who  is now working with youth as a community support specialist at Compass Health Network in Warrenton, Missouri, could have a promising career in developmental psychology. She reflects, “Alyssa is a mature, empathic, open-minded, and intelligent person who showed these qualities at Westminster through both her excellent academic performance and her leadership in the classroom and among her peers.”

Kaitlyn Halamicek’s Prestigious Internship and Blog

Another remarkable achievement comes from Kaitlyn Halamicek of St. Louis, Missouri, who secured a prestigious internship this summer in her hometown at Washington University. This research opportunity marks a first for Westminster’s Department of Psychology, highlighting Halamicek’s outstanding academic and professional promise.

“In her two short years at Westminster, Kaitlyn has made an impact on the psychology department. She has started working on multiple research projects already and encouraged her peers to join her,” Coats says. “I’m so excited to see what the future holds for her.”

Halamicek recently documented her experiences and insights gained from the internship through a blog associated with Washington University’s renowned public health program. Her post titled “Insights into Emotional Regulation: My Involvement in Public Health Research“ provides a detailed account of her work and contributions to the fields of psychology and public health research.

Westminster College’s Commitment to Academic Excellence

These accomplishments by Hays and Halamicek reflect Westminster’s dedication to fostering academic excellence, providing students with opportunities to engage in pioneering research. The College community celebrates their success and looks forward to their future contributions to the field of psychology.

Coats says, “The Department of Psychology at Westminster is unique and provides a lot of opportunities for students to learn research skills early on, even as first-year students. It’s honestly why I joined the faculty 15 years ago.”

For more information on the Department of Psychology at Westminster, please contact Abby.Coats@WCMO.edu.