Alumni Showcase

HANNAH JACKLIN ’22

Q: Why did you pick psychology as your major?

A: I was considering several different degree tracks prior to coming to Liberty, but after taking AP Psychology in high school, I knew without a doubt that this was the field the Lord was calling me into after graduation. My B.S. in Psychology — Counseling degree includes some of my favorite fields of study while also providing me with a solid, biblical foundation on which I can understand how these elements relate to my faith and express God’s design of human beings.

Q: What has been your favorite class at Liberty?

A: Abnormal Psychology with Dr. Lahikainen. I learned so much from the class, like all the different psychological disorders. Not only that, but I also met friends there that I still have today. We are now in the same master’s program, which has made my transition into graduate school much easier. Dr. Lahikainen has been extremely influential in my academic and personal development and has always inspired and encouraged me. My favorite graduate class this year has been Counseling Techniques with Dr. John Thomas. I feel I’m learning skills I will use later in my practice.

Q: What has it been like to study and work at Liberty in the Department of Psychology?

A: I transferred to Liberty with a year and a half left of my undergraduate degree — I had a lot to learn about Liberty culture. Coming from the West Coast, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I moved to the South. What I almost instantly noticed was the warm and welcoming environment. From my dorm to my classes, I was welcomed with open arms. Something that made my transition easier was getting a job at the Department of Psychology. Not only did this give me an opportunity to be more involved at Liberty, but it also gave me the opportunity to develop beneficial relationships with my psychology peers and faculty, like Dr. Logan and Dr. Knox.

Q: What are your plans post-graduation?

A: My hope is to go on to get my doctorate in a trauma field. I’d like to work with survivors of human trafficking and military personnel suffering with PTSD. As a counselor, my deepest desire is to help people experience the freedom and mercy that God has given me. Thus far, Liberty has helped equip me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to achieve the goals that God has placed on my heart.

Q: What advice would you give to first-year psychology students?

A: My advice would be to work hard and learn as much as you can. It will make your transition into graduate school much easier. Above all else, get into a community — whether with your professors or others — with people who can mentor you. Your friends are amazing and definitely needed, but form relationships with those who can invest in and guide you. If you invest in your undergraduate career, it will be an incredible and life-changing experience.

MEDIA MATTERS

THE “MENTAL HEALTHY” PODCAST — Hosted by Kenyon Knapp

Listen in on deep analysis about how the pandemic has affected us all with a panel of experts on the “Mental Healthy” podcast — available on PodBean, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and more. This will be an exciting six-part series! The panel consists of various guests from around the country who are experts in their fields and have been studying the effects of COVID-19. You can also listen to Dr. Jack Underwood, assistant professor at Richmont Graduate University, who joins the show to discuss self-love — a compassionate process of developing and practicing self-acceptance and self-care.

RESEARCH WEEK AWARD

The Spring 2022 Research Week Team was honored to win 1st place in the Undergraduate Applied Poster Presentation and 1st place in the Undergraduate Applied Oral Presentation at Liberty University’s Research Week. Congratulations to Dr. Brian Kelley, faculty sponsor; Blake Fraser and Abigail Taber, graduate student leaders; and Anessa Reid, April Xu, David Blackwell, Jessica Minervini, and Sophia Swiatek, undergraduate team members/ presenters!

Their project, “An Analysis of Loneliness and the Contributing Variables Among College Students,” sought to better understand and define the experience of loneliness among college students. They developed a novel loneliness instrument, which was designed to measure how lonely someone is and the potential drivers of that loneliness, and implement a concept mapping tool to explore the top contributing variables of loneliness using implicit cognitive processes.

This research builds a foundation for developing personalized interventions to reduce loneliness among college students!

STUDENTS OF THE YEAR & OUTSTANDING YOUNG INVESTIGATOR

Congratulations to the following students for winning this year’s awards! Outstanding Students of the Year: Brittney Grupe and Hannah Mullins

Outstanding Investigator of the Year: Kinsey Painter