GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College Assistant Professor of Psychology Kristel M. Gallagher, Ph.D., culminated an active summer with the receipt of a research award and grant from two national organizations, along with two publications.
Gallagher’s research award was presented by the American College Health Association for her recent work on the health behaviors of Thiel College students who are the first in their family to attend college. Funded by a GNC Research Institute grant, Gallagher’s research was recognized as the top research poster presentation at the college health association’s national conference in June, which hosts around 2,000 college health professionals from across the United States.
With expertise in psychology as it applies to health, Gallagher also co-authored an invited chapter in “The Wiley Encyclopedia of Health Psychology.” The chapter, detailing the health outcomes associated with low health literacy, was written with University of Florida Psychology Professor Amber Emanuel, Ph.D., and will be released later this year.
Gallagher was also awarded a grant from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, a division of the American Psychological Association, to develop a teaching resource for college instructors on the implementation of social-emotional learning techniques in the classroom. Along with her collaborator, University of Wisconsin at Superior Psychology Professor Shevaun Stocker, Ph.D., Gallagher used the funding to create an instructor’s manual for this anxiety-reduction program that will be freely available online from the Office of Teaching Resources in Psychology in the coming months.
Rounding out her summer, Gallagher also published an article in the journal College Teaching describing her classroom research that examines how the stories and jokes used by professors in their teaching can enhance student test performance.
“It certainly has been a busy few months, with the support of my Thiel College family playing a huge role in my success,” Gallagher said. “Now I’m just thankful to have my students back – they motivate and inspire me each and every day.”
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.