Students present research about Thiel College reading lists at psychology conference

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College psychology majors Amanda Hautmann ’17, Mandy Slupek ’17 and Nicole Johnston ’16 presented their research into gender bias in Thiel College course texts on April 23 at the Laurel Highlands Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference.

The presentation at the University of Pittsburgh Greensburg culminated a semester-long independent study mentored by Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Department Chair Greg Butcher, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Psychology Kristel Gallagher, Ph.D.

The presentation was titled “What type of Bias is Present in Required Readings at Thiel College?” and focused on gender bias in academic course texts. The students examined 281 course syllabi from across many institutional disciplines.

“These students stood out from the crowd at the event. From the time the doors opened for the poster presentations, they had a captive audience of folks interested in both how they conducted their research and their results,” Gallagher said. “I am confident that they represented Thiel well. Other institutions in our area got a chance to see a small sample of the kind of high-quality research our students are capable of conducting. These three students consistently came to the table with ideas and solutions that are representative of what we aim for at a liberal arts institution.”

The  group was the first from Thiel College to present at the conference.