Central Connecticut State University

Psychology Department

This Website has been made for CCSU students and prospective students who are interested in the Psychology Department. Here, you will find pictures of full time professors and their respective backgrounds. This webpage is just an introduction to these professors, but for more information, please contact any of these professors or your advisor.

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	Carrie Andreoletti, Ph. D. received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and her Ph.D. in Social/Developmental Psychology from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. She joined the Central faculty in 2004 and has taught General Psychology, Lifespan Development, Adolescent Psychology, Death and Dying, and Adult Development and Aging. She is actively involved in the Gerontology Minor Program and hopes to get more students interested in pursuing careers in aging. Her research has examined the influence of physical appearance stereotypes on behavior as well as the influence of age stereotypes and beliefs about aging on memory. Dr. Andreoletti is currently working on a study to examine the content of compound stereotypes (e.g., gender, race, age) across the life span. In her free time, Dr. Andreoletti enjoys spending time in the great outdoors with her husband Dave, her son Malcolm (3 ½ years), and their dog Nigel. She also enjoys good food, good music, and good movies in the company of family and friends. Tips: Life doesn’t begin when you get your degree. Life is NOW so embrace the college experience. Get engaged in your classes and take responsibility for your own learning. You’ll get out of college what you put into it so work hard and take it seriously but have some fun too. Get involved in the greater Central community and take advantage of all that Central has to offer. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek advice from your professors.
	Carol Austad, Ph. D. received her Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in Clinical Psychology. She has worked at a state mental hospital, a health maintenance organization, private practice and came to CCSU in 1987. Dr. Austad teaches a variety of clinical classes including Abnormal Psychology, Stress Management, Clinical Psychology, Death and Dying, Short-term Psychotherapy and the Health Care System, and Theories of Psychotherapy, Counseling. Dr. Austad has also set up a fledgling biofeedback center at CCSU and hopes to make it grow into a thriving entity. Interested students should speak with Dr. Austad. Dr. Austad’s research interests include biofeedback, peace psychology, psychotherapy and evidence based mental health and the health care system. She is always appreciative of students who want to collaborate on research projects. Dr. Austad is also Co-coordinator of the CCSU Peace Studies Minor Program. In her free time, Dr. Austad likes to sail and hike. Tips: Come in and speak with the faculty members. Expand your consciousness by experimenting and exploring with new information. A good attention and concentration span and self discipline are important to academic success—as well as success in life. Limit your television watching! Most importantly, love your work.
	Laura Bowman, Ph. D. received her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Ohio State in 1983. While an undergraduate, Dr. Bowman participated in labs and research for experience, which included working with rats, short term memory, and social psychology research. For graduate school, Dr. Bowman attended Kent State University for cognitive psychology. Her dissertation was on self generated information versus non self generated info. Since 1989, Dr. Bowman has been a professor at CCSU. At CCSU, Dr. Bowman teaches Cognitive Psychology, research Methods I, II, and honors courses in social science. In her free time, Dr. Bowman enjoys hiking, "outdoor stuff", cross country and traveling. Tips: Participate in research, develop a relationship with professors, volunteer on research to practice and get practical applicable experience, and know about the field of psychology without making assumptions.
	Paul Chu, Ph. D. attended National Taiwan University, Louvain University and received his Ph. D. at the University of Brussels in Belgium. He has been teaching at CCSU since 1969. His extensive research includes attributes of self and extra sensory perception. Also, Dr. Chu is very interested in Chi qung, which enhances inner strengths by moving air flow to enhance internal organs (similar to tai chi). Some of the courses Dr. Chu teaches at CCSU include Motivation, Sensation and Perception, and Humanistic Psychology. In Dr. Chu's free time, he likes to travel (he has visited 64 countries), write calligraphy (Chinese Ink Art), Judge Poetry (the Connecticut Poetry contest), and play cards, mahjongg, and bridge. Tips for students: Continue advanced study, take experimental psychology courses, learn substance, and find out what it is. Don't take a lot of methodology classes, but instead, concrete classes that have a focus on biology and medicine.
	Jim Conway, Ph. D. received his BA in Psychology at SUNY Binghamton with a minor in Management. Dr. Conway received his PhD in Industrial-Organization Psychology at UCONN. He then taught at Seton Hall for 6 years before coming to CCSU. Dr. Conway teaches General Psychology, I/O Psychology, and Graduate Research Methods; he also enjoys working with students on independent research and involving students in community projects. In his free time Dr. Conway plays basketball, teaches at his church, and plays with his two daughters and his dog. Tips: Be thinking about your goals and what you want to do when you are finished. Have a focus and get involved in internships, community experiences and individual studies.
	Joanne DiPlacido, Ph. D. received her Ph.D. from Boston University and had a post doctoral fellowship at the graduate center at CUNY. She taught as an adjunct during graduate school and one year at Haverford College. In 1997, Dr. DiPlacido came to CCSU and teaches Intro to Psychology, Health Psychology, Personality, as well as graduate classes that include Health Psychology, Psychology of Stress and Psychology of Women's Health. In her free time, Dr. DiPlacido likes spending time and connecting with friends, reading, watching movies and doing "outdoor stuff" Tips: There is a big transition from high school to college. The work and the hours that you have to put in is a full time job. There is a lot of sacrificing you will have to do. Prioritize and know that in the long run there will be a benefit. Don't be afraid of the faculty. Don't be hesitant. Let your professor(s) know of problems as soon as possible. Take advantage of all the resources on campus, such as events. Make a connection to Central and make Central your home. Time management is very important. To develop skills, the learning center offers a Methods of Inquiry course which goes over the basics such as reading a text and time management. Also, ask other students about professors before taking a class. Have fun and enjoy the experience!
	Francisco Donis, Ph. D., graduated from Brooklyn College, NYC, and has been at CCSU since 1994. He is the Director of the Laboratory for Comparative Psychophysics at CCSU. His research includes the study of memory and the acquisition of visual pattern identification in pigeons. His current work examines the study of distractor effects, and context superiority and inferiority effects in visual pattern recognition by pigeons and humans Tips: Don't wait until it is too late to see your advisor. Don't wait for registration to pick your classes, and lastly, don't procrastinate!
	Doug Engwall, Ph. D. received his degree from SUNY at Buffalo in 1975 with a degree in Biopsychology. When he graduated, he studied maternal behavior in rats (which he notes, was the last time he worked with rats). In 1975, Dr. Engwall came to Central to work on drug and alcohol issues. In 1980, he started a Drugs and Behavior course, which led to a study in 1988 about Drugs and Behaviors on campus. Since 1988, his survey has been implemented on all of the Connecticut State Universities. Dr. Engwall's interest in psychology focus on drugs and alcohol, eating disorders, stress, gambling, and high risk behaviors. Also, Dr. Engwall was the department chair of Psychology, as well as leading the Advising Center. However, after serving as head of the Advising Center for ten years; he missed teaching and came back to the psychology department. Dr. Engwall's personal interests include: playing instruments (his favorite is the string bass, but he also plays tuba, keyboards, guitar, and string instruments) and his involvement in church. Tips: Talk with the faculty more, go to office hours, and develop a connection so you have someone to go to when you need a reference.
	Marianne Fallon, Ph. D. earned my BA in Psychology at Bucknell University and my M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Toronto. She completed post-doctoral research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and at Brandeis University. In her research on language development, memory, and auditory perception, she's had the great pleasure of working with volunteers representing almost every age demographic, from 3-year-olds to 80-year-olds. She has also worked with deaf children (ages 4 through 16) who have cochlear implants (devices that transmit sound waves directly to the brain). Nowadays, the focus of her research is mainly on older adults' language development, auditory perception, and memory. "Working with older adults is a particular joy - they have fantastic stories to share about their lives and how their world has changed over the years. Some older adults have concerns about their memory, their hearing, and their ability to communicate, and my research helps shed light on some these issues. In collaboration with Dr. Carrie Andreoletti, we've established the Gerontology and Audiology lab, which is located in the Vance Academic Center. If you are interested in learning more about the lab, our research, or opportunities to become involved in research, please contact either Dr. Andreoletti or myself!" When not on campus, you can find Dr. Fallon desperately trying to keep up with a beautifully ferocious toddler - her daughter, Catherine. She also enjoys reading, woodworking, and singing in the New England Chamber Choir with her husband, Martin. Advice: Each course is an opportunity to develop skills. Yes, you will learn content, but you can also learn how to analyze and critically evaluate information, devise effective problem-solving strategies, master new technologies, hone oral and written communication skills, develop interactive skills with your peers and your professors, sharpen attention and focus, and enhance your long-term retention of information. In short, embrace your courses as a means of preparing you to meet life's challenges, whatever they may be.
	Carolyn Fallahi, Ph. D. is a child and family therapist with a specialization in attachment issues and childhood abuse. She graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia, and has worked in both inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and private practice for most of her adult life. In addition, during that time she taught at many different colleges as an adjunct professor. In 2002, she decided to pursue a career change began full-time at CCSU. While at CCSU, Dr. Fallahi has taught Introduction to Psychology, Lifespan Development, Child Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology for Graduate Students, Psychopathology, Introduction to Clinical Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and the Psychology of Diversity. Dr. Fallahi conducts research in the teaching of psychology and attachment theory. In her personal time, Dr. Fallahi enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children (ages 18, 15, and 12), watching movies (Bridget Jones' Diary, Freaky Friday) and traveling. Tips: Dr. Fallahi is very approachable, so just come in and talk. Working ahead of time is the key to success. Joining in on research with the faculty will help improve your credentials in order to get into graduate school and get great letters of recommendation.
	Carol Ford, Ph. D. received her Masters from St. John's in clinical psychology, and her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland (her dissertation was "Dogmatism as a defense mechanism across the lifespan). Before coming to CCSU in 1969, Dr. Ford taught one year at Hartford Community College. In her free time, Dr. Ford likes to read fiction and watch intellectual films. Tips: If you want to go to grad school, go right away. Get to know the field of psychology. In order to be a psychologist, you need more than a bachelors degree. Most importantly, READ!
	Marc Goldstein received his undergraduate degree in psychology at Syracuse University and his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. Dr. Goldstein’s professional interests are in community and environmental psychology and he does a lot of consultation work with non-profit agencies in CT regarding program evaluation. He is married (his wife teaches in West Hartford) and has 4 sons, three of whom are currently in college (Quinnipiac University Law School, UConn, and Swarthmore College). His personal interests include: amateur radio (K8LSB), bicycling, hiking and listening to bluegrass and electronic music. Tips: Get to know at least one faculty member well and connect with them about school and personal aspirations. Take some courses in areas that you don’t know much about, particularly the fine arts, since it will help you gain appreciation of them. You will probably not have many other chances in your life to do this. If you can, spend a semester or year studying abroad. It will be a life-changing experience.
	Steven Horowitz, Ph. D. is originally from Virginia. He received his Ph. D. from the University of Utah where he studied experimental human psychophysiology (making inferences of mental invents). Dr. Horowitz's dissertation focused on the detection of deception using a polygraph. He has been at CCSU for thirteen years and teaches Research Methods I, II, Learning and Memory, Exploring Psychology, History and Systems and Psychology and the Law. In his personal life, Dr. Horowitz is married with two children and is on the New Britain Board of Education. He is Learning Tai Chi and says that it is invigorating and helps him focus. Tips: It is not enough to do well in classes, but get involved with the discipline and find a way to spend extra time with favorite faculty by doing an internship, research, or independent study. Get to know faculty, because you need to do other things to succeed than just going to class. Also, finding a job in your area of study is excellent if you are looking into graduate school.
	Laura Levine, Ph. D. has a joint degree in Developmental and Clinical Psychology. She has worked as a clinician, doing psychotherapy with children and adults. In 1994, she joined the faculty at CCSU. Her research has focused on self and gender development in toddlers, and the impact of media use, such as television viewing and instant messaging, on attentional abilities. On campus, Dr. Levine is involved in the Center for Teaching Excellence and Leadership Development and has been pursuing research on the scholarship of teaching and learning. She is also active in the Committee on the Concerns of Women. Her out of classroom interests include reading novels, walking and getting together with friends. Tips : Look into internships, service learning opportunities and coop placements. It is important to “try out” a career before you commit to it. Try to find a career that has some flexibility to it. You may not want to do the same things at age 50 that you enjoy at age 30.
	Charles Mate-Kole, Ph. D. is a clinical neuropsychologist. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Leicester, England, UK, in 1986 where he studied the neuropsychological changes associated with cerebral revascular surgery. Dr. Mate-Kole has research interests in the areas of traumatic brain injury, memory and attention training in older adults, neurocognitive rehabilitation, dementia and atypical aphasias. In addition to his work in the Department of Psychology, Dr. Mate-Kole is the Director of the CCSU Center for Africana Studies and the Coordinator of the CCSU African Studies Committee.
	Marisa Mealy, Ph. D. received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and her Ph.D. from New Mexico State University. She has lived in 5 different countries (Chile, Ecuador, Finland, New Zealand, and the USA) and taught psychology courses at New Mexico State University, Brookdale Community College in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Central Connecticut State University. Her research interests focus on topics related to cross-cultural psychology and intergroup relations. In her personal time, she loves to travel (39 countries and counting), read, watch movies (especially independent or “foreign” films), be outdoors, hang out with her 2 miniature pinschers, eat pescatarian food from different countries, and just about anything else that sounds like fun. Tips: Try to get involved with research and/or internships that go along with your interests. Not only does this provide you with real life experience and facilitate the learning process, but it also helps you to develop a connection with faculty members and/or mentors with similar interests. Consequently, you often have a clearer idea of what you want in psychology and are able to obtain better letters of recommendation for work or graduate school.

	Lauren Perdue, Ph. D. received her Bachelor degree at Trenton State (now the College of New Jersey. Her majors at Trenton State were Art and Psychology. She has worked as an art therapist and in Outpatient Rehabilitation. She received her Doctorate degree from SUNY in Social Psychology. Dr. Perdue has been at CCSU since 1992, and while here, she has also done research in eating disorders, self concept and Identity development, and sexual identity development. Her interests are focused on how sexual identity development is internalized and directed towards other women and how women take care of themselves Tips: Be good in math, science and writing, because these are elements in succeeding in a doctorate program. Enjoying writing and finding a good editor/proofreader us also important. Know that mathematics and statistics are another language.
	Moises Salinas, Ph. D. is originally from Mexico. He received is Bachelors at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. His main research is on stereotypes and education. In Dr. Salinas' free time, he likes to go to the park, the movies and use his play station with his children (two boys and a daughter). Tips: College is an opportunity for growth and to explore new things. In order to be successful, you must do things different than others, have a passion and follow your heart.
	Bradley Waite, Ph. D., chairs the Department of Psychology. He completed his undergraduate degree at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Psychology became Dr. Waite's academic love after brief flings with chemistry, writing and the law. For graduate school, he went to Kent State University in Ohio to study with Dr. Stephen Levin, a psychologist and media researcher who conducted some of the early studies of the impact of Sesame Street on children. He also worked with Dr. Michelle Paludi on media and gender studies. After earning his MA and while finishing his Ph.D. in Experimental and Developmental Psychology at Kent State, Dr. Waite accepted a faculty appointment at Wright State University near Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Waite came to CCSU in 1988. His research focus is on the impact of media use, on aggression, and on the process and experience of research participation. He teaches courses in developmental psychology, media psychology and research methodology. In Dr. Waite's free time, he likes to bicycle, cross-country ski, listen to music and read. Tips: Work hard, don't give up on your dream, because there is a way to get there. Take courses and do things that interest you, otherwise you will be disappointed and dissatisfied.
	Rebecca Wood, Ph. D. received her undergraduate degree from the University of Utah. She also participated in research at University of Minnesota, and earned her Ph. D. in Developmental Psychology from UCONN. Her Post doctorate work was completed at the UMASS Medical School/Eunice Kennedy, Shriver Center. She started at CCSU in the fall of 2003. Her focuses are on communication development in infancy, the caregiving behavior of adolescent parents, and cognitive training for elderly individuals with dementia. Dr. Wood enjoys the visual and culinary arts, and she refers to herself as a movie buff. Tips: For transfer students, make sure everything transfers and meet with your advisors to make sure you are on track. If involvement is important to you, get involved with campus life. Freshmen-getting adjusted to college is hard, especially learning study skills and getting sleep. Always think of the next step and don't lose sight of your goal. It is ok to take time off from school and come back, because your goal should be not just passing and getting a degree but getting an experience and preparing for the future.

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This Page was made in May, 2004 by Victoria A. Kowalski, Class of 2004. Any Questions, Comments or Concerns should be directed to the Psychology Department at CCSU. If you would like to update this page, please contact Dr. Goldstein, advisor on this project.