Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Psychology Conference Held at Harford

The Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Psychology Conference (MAUPC) presented by Harford Community College, Towson University Northeastern Maryland, and Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), was held on April 12 in Edgewood Hall on Harford’s campus in Bel Air.

“The Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Psychology Conference (MAUPC) of 2024 hosted attendees from all over the mid-Atlantic region, and presenters included students from Frederick Community College, Cecil College, CCBC, UMBC, and Harford Community College. Students were given the opportunity to share research proposals or present a project they completed for their classes. This provided students with a great opportunity to hone their presentation skills and share their knowledge with their peers,” said Nicollette Krenzien, M.A., Assistant Professor of Psychology, Harford Community College.

Student presenters at the conference’s morning session included Sherley Sharan, Harford Community College, “Harmony in Conformity: Exploring Cultural Influences on Social Behavior;” Brinn Piccicuto, Towson University, “Validity and Reliability of the Add Health Parent Mental Health Questionnaire for Predicting Depression in a Sample of Older Adult Women;” Ana Morlier, Frederick Community College, “Shojo Manga: Fact or Fiction;” Kennedy Hardenbrook, Harford Community College, “Jonestown vs. Scientology.”

Student presenters at the conference’s afternoon session included Harley Halsey, Frederick Community College, “Gender Nonconformity Through the Lifespan;” Emilee Jumper, Cecil College, “A Study on the Ideal Age to Start Wearing Makeup;” and Kensington Boyanich, Jeniya Brooks, Samantha Burns, Madison Coons, Eva Fazio, Angelina Graziano, Grayson Mallon, Courtney Sosa and William Stevens, Harford Community College, “What’s the Hoot about Owl City?”

Poster sessions were conducted by Heather Sten, Cecil College, “Man’s Best Friend Saves Lives: Emotional Support and Their Effects on Mental Health, Suicidal Ideation, and Overall Life Improvement;” Kenadie Lyon-Messick, Cecil College, “Killer Post: Is Body-Positive Content or Body-Neutral Content More Beneficial to People in ED Recovery?;” and Esther Lim Park, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, “How Korean American Parents’ Maintenance of Cultural Heritage Practices Shape Their Adolescents’ Critical Consciousness: The Mediating Role of Ethnic Identity Exploration.”

Jim Kuterbach, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harford Community College; Josephine Lewis, Ph.D, Professor of Psychology at the Catonsville campus of the Community College of Baltimore County; and Chloe Callahan-Flintoft, Ph.D., Research Psychologist at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, conducted a panel discussion on careers in psychology.

Workshops included “Transferring and Scholarships,” presented by Jacob Zoch, Financial Aid Specialist, Harford Community College; “Creating Posters for Research Presentations,” by Monika Conrad, MA, Towson University in Northeastern Maryland; and “Cultivating Connection: Understanding the Person Before the Diagnosis,” by Sean Driscoll, CPRS, MEIP and CSC, Peer Support Trainer/Consultant at University of Maryland, Baltimore.

The Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Psychology Conference was open to all interested in psychology. Participants who attended conference workshops gained knowledge beneficial to their own advancement and observed research conducted by their peers. Presenters gained valuable experience in preparation and research for the conference and from presenting.