CMU’s First Psychology Lab Created in Late Dr. Anson’s Honor BY GRACE UNNVIK
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sychology faculty and students have been hard at work since the start of the semester, clearing out a cluster of offices on the fourth floor of T. Berry Smith Hall. Inside those offices will be the home of Central Methodist University’s first-ever psychology lab, which will allow students to conduct experiments and studies in psychology and social sciences. The lab was the dream of the late Dr. Jackie Anson and will be dedicated in the beloved professor’s honor. Anson passed away in November of 2020. Anson was very passionate about research. Her close friend and colleague, psychology professor Dr. Elizabeth Gold, said that Anson wanted a research lab to attract students to CMU, as well as a place for current students to work on their own projects. “She was looking for a place that research activities could call home,” Gold said. “Her dream was to formalize our commitment to doing research in the psychology major.” Before Anson’s passing, she and Gold worked on a proposal that they presented to the Board of Trustees. They were given approval to begin working on and funding the lab. At this point, the funding of the lab has come from people who have generously donated in Anson’s honor. Dr. Christopher Arnold began working at CMU in August as assistant professor of psychology and has taken the initiative to help guide the opening of the lab. He’s been working closely with three students who are interested in conducting their own research in psychology and social sciences.
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Although the lab is not yet fully set up, Arnold and the students have already planned a couple of studies they wish to conduct once the lab is up and running. Arnold said that the lab still needs to lock down consistent annual funding for a couple of computer programs that are important to psychology research, such as MTurk, which would allow students to survey hundreds of people from all over the world for their studies. Gold is hoping to officially dedicate the lab, which will be called “Dr. Jacqueline M. Anson’s Social Science Lab,” next fall. Anson’s close friends and family will be invited to the dedication, since it was their donations that helped create the lab. To contribute to the lab, go to www.givetocentral.org and note "Dr. Anson lab" in memo line.
