GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College psychology students hosted a “Cat Yoga” session in the David Johnson Memorial Chapel on October 20, blending wellness, stress relief, and community service.
The event was led by seniors Aidrianna Green ’26, Cody Maxwell ’26, and Emily Ripple ’26, along with faculty advisor Kristel Gallagher, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology.
The group, which named themselves “Ally Cats,” organized the event as part of the Senior Seminar in Psychology service-learning project. Each semester, psychology majors in this capstone course identify a community need and design a project to address it using psychological concepts and research.
The Ally Cats partnered with Canine Partners Program, Inc., a volunteer-run rescue and rehabilitation organization, to provide the cats for the yoga session. The event combined yoga with the calming presence of adoptable cats, promoting relaxation, emotional regulation, and mindfulness while also increasing the cats’ chances of finding permanent homes. As a show of appreciation, the Thiel Psychology Program donated $50 to support Canine Partners Program’s ongoing rescue and rehabilitation work.
Cat Yoga served as a hands-on example of how psychology can be applied beyond the classroom. The project connected areas such as comparative psychology, psychophysiology, and anthrozoology to real-world experiences that benefit both people and pets.
This event was one of five senior service-learning projects presented this semester. Other projects explore topics such as cognitive decline in older adults, stress management through vision boards, the foster care system, and the challenges students face when balancing extracurricular activities.
Through these experiences, psychology seniors gain practical skills in organization, leadership, and civic engagement while using their academic background to make a meaningful impact on the community.
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.