Rocky Mountain Psychological Association
Newsletter
Spring 2017
www.rockymountainpsych.com
Program Chair’s Message
provide feedback about the convention. We will continue to
be responsive to the feedback from convention attendees.
Anna Ropp
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Change #1: There will not be any 8 am sessions during the
conference. Our programming will officially begin at 9:10 am
on both Friday and Saturday.
We are looking forward to our 87th annual RMPA annual
convention in Salt Lake City! We had a total of 393 submissions
from academics in the rocky mountain region and around the
country, and, as a result, we were able to put together a strong
program of symposia, oral presentations, and poster
presentations.
The conference will begin on Thursday, April 6. Our PortenierWertheimer Teaching Conference will begin at noon on
Thursday, and Psi Chi’s programming for students will start at
the same time. Our regular conference officially begins at 5pm
on Thursday with an invited talk by David Raskin from the
University of Utah, followed by the teaching conference poster
session and our opening reception.
Our programming will continue on Friday, April 7 and Saturday,
April 8 with an exciting combination of invited talks, oral
presentations, poster presentations, and symposia. The
conference will conclude with the business meeting and
reception on Saturday, 5:30-7:00 pm.
Based on the feedback from attendees of last year’s
convention and the creativity of the program committee, we
made a few changes to the convention that long-time
attendees will likely notice. Our hope is that these changes will
help improve the conference, but please note that there will
be a post-convention survey again this year so that you can
Arizona
Colorado
Idaho
Montana
Change #2: We will not have a printed program at the
conference this year. We will have a conference app, and
details about the app will be available soon at
http://www.rockymountainpsych.com/program. There will
also be PDF version of the program available for download on
the same webpage for attendees who prefer to not use the
app. For frequent RPMA attendees who love the day-by-day
grid of the schedule with sessions and rooms, those will be
available online and in hard copy format at the conference. We
recognize that this change is a large one, and we hope that
having the program in these different formats is helpful.
Change #3: The oral sessions will have a maximum of 3 oral
presentations per hour, and a few sessions will have 2. There
will still be a maximum of 15 minutes per talk (12 minutes for
the talk + 3 minutes for questions and transition). This change
(from 4 talks per hour) allowed the program committee to
schedule many of the oral presentation sessions with talks that
are closely linked by topic. It also gives attendees the
opportunity to see oral presentations and poster
presentations in the same hour. Finally, it's consistent with
recommendations from disability-rights activists who
advocate for longer breaks during conferences. Please note
that many of the invited talks and symposia are still scheduled
for an hour or longer.
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming
Change #4: We have reserved a room in the conference hotel
for parents to have a moment with their young children. It will
be set up as a boardroom, and it will be available for parents
and young children. Reminder: All children under the age of 12
get conference registration for free, but we do need any
children at the conference or in this room to be registered for
insurance purposes.
Change #5: We've had practice rooms in the past, but this year
you will be able to check out a projector from the registration
desk to use in the practice room with your laptop. The practice
room, which will have a screen for projecting your talk, will be
available during the conference for anyone wishing to practice
their oral presentation.
We are excited to see what you think about these changes and
about the convention in general, and there will be an
opportunity for you to provide feedback after the conference
via a post-convention survey.
Congratulations to:
Roxanne Sullivan, Ph.D.
Bellevue University
President-Elect
This year, we are continuing our partnership with Open
Science Framework. To make your presentation available for
download to others, go to https://osf.io/view/rmpa2017/, and
click ‘Upload your poster or talk.’ Attendees will also be able
to download oral and poster presentations from other
presenters.
As a reminder, oral presentations will have 15 minutes for a
12-minute talk and 3 minutes for questions and a transition
between speakers. All oral presentation rooms will have a
computer, projector, and audio speakers, and presenters
should bring their talk on a USB thumb drive, as Internet access
cannot be guaranteed. Poster presentation sessions will be
for one hour, and at least one author is expected to be
available during that time to answer questions. Please
note that poster boards will be 6’ wide by 4’ high, and one
common poster size is 48” wide by 36” tall.
Bethany Fleck, Ph.D.
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Secretary
If you have any questions about the program, please
contact RMPA’s Program Chair, Anna Ropp at
[email protected]
We are looking forward to seeing our regular attendees in April
as well as welcoming new attendees!
Spring 2017
Two positions are up for election next year; PresidentElect and Treasurer. Nominations from the floor will be
accepted at the Annual Business Meeting on Saturday of
the Convention.
Rocky Mountain Psychological Association
www.rockymountainpsych.com
Page 2
RMPA 2017 CONVENTION
INFORMATION
If you are driving from the airport, take Interstate 80 East (City
Center/Ogden/Provo) to Exit 121 for 600 South. Take 600
South and turn left on State Street, and then left on East South
Temple Street. The Radisson (215 W. South Temple) will be on
your left.
If you are driving from points East (Colorado, etc.) on I-80, take
Exit 125 (700 East) and head north (right). Turn left at E. South
Temple and head west. The Radisson will be on your left.
If you are driving from points North (Idaho, etc.) on I-15, take
Exit 306 (600 South) and head north. Turn left on State Street,
and then left on East South Temple Street. The Radisson (215
W. South Temple) will be on your left.
APRIL 6-8, 2017
Radisson Hotel Downtown
215 West South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Hotel Direct: 801-531-7500
Toll Free Reservations: 1-800-333-3333
www.radisson.com/salt-lake-city-hotel-ut-
MAPS: Red Dot indicates
Radisson Hotel
84101/utasaltlk
Convention Manager
A
Steve Barney
[email protected]
435-586-7955
R
I
P
O
R
T
Department of Psychology
Southern Utah University
351 W. University Blvd
Cedar City, UT 84720
Lodging
Radisson Hotel Downtown. Reservations should be made by
calling either calling the hotel reservation number at 1-800333-3333 by March 5, 2017. Please specify that you are
attending the RMPA annual meeting in
order to get the special rate.
Single/double rooms are $139 (king or
two double beds). You can also register
for the hotel through a dedicated link
for RMPA which is listed on the home
page of the RMPA website. Amenities
for the convention include free WiFi in
all areas of the hotel.
Transportation
There is a $5.00 light rail (TRAX) that goes directly from the
airport to within one block of the hotel. See TRAX map on the
last page of this Newsletter. Taxi from airport to hotel is
approximately $25.
Arizona
Colorado
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming
Salt Lake City at a
glance:
Live music is plentiful in Salt Lake City with variety to
please most tastes. The Utah Symphony Orchestra
(http://www.utahsymphony.org/) is a world class
symphony that calls Abravanel Hall home. On April 7 and
Salt Lake City is a beautiful, modern city nestled in the
foothills of the impressive Wasatch Mountains. With
peaks rising to almost 12,000 feet above sea level it is not
uncommon for the mountains to receive 500 inches of
powdery snow each year. Home to the 2002 Winter
Olympic Games, Salt Lake is famous for having the “Best
Snow on Earth” and is a paradise for winter enthusiasts
with six world class ski resorts within a 30 minute drive.
Salt Lake’s granite cliffs and soaring peaks are also a
mecca for rock climbers, mountain bikers, hikers,
anglers, golfers, and other outdoor thrill seekers. Settled
in 1847 by Mormon pioneers, Salt Lake City is the
worldwide headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, and is the location of cultural and
educational sites such as the world famous Family
History Center and Genealogical Museum, Temple
Square, and the Mormon Pioneer Memorial Monument.
This spring, the RMPA Annual Meeting will be held at the
Radisson
Hotel
Downtown
(https://www.radisson.com/salt-lake-city-hotel-ut84101/utsaltlk) located in the heart of Salt Lake City, near
Temple Square and within a block of two world class
shopping/entertainment complexes; the City Creek
Center (http://www.shopcitycreekcenter.com/), a 2015
Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award winner, and
the Gateway (http://www.shopthegateway.com/aboutthe-gateway/the-gateway), a large open air retail,
residential and office complex with over 100 stores,
movie theaters, musical stages, and restaurants. Salt
Lake City is also the home to the NBA’s Utah Jazz
basketball team (http://www.nba.com/jazz/). Home
games are played in the Vivint Smart Home arena,
located half a block from the conference hotel. The Jazz
play a home gain against the Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday, April 7.
Transportation around the city is easy with Trax
(https://www.rideuta.com/Rider-Tools/Schedules-andMaps), the light rail system that services all portions of
the Salt Lake Valley and beyond. There are two Trax stops
within half a block of the hotel. In addition, Salt Lake has
a successful non-profit bike sharing program
(https://greenbikeslc.org/) with stations located in
several convenient locations.
Spring 2017
8, the orchestra will be playing Elgar’s Pomp and
Circumstance March No. 1, among other pieces. The
concert will be conducted by Thierry Fischer and features
Fumaiki Miura on the violin. The Depot is a 1,200 seat
venue for rock concerts. They boast touring bands like
Lany, Dinosaur Jr., The Cult, Squeeze, Ani Difranco, and
Pennywise. Rumor is that a Led Zeppelin cover band will
be playing the weekend of the conference. Tickets are
about $13.00. There are also several acoustic studios and
blues clubs that dot the downtown area. For the younger
crowd…and young at heart, the downtown area contains
several dance clubs. Area 51, Club Sound, The Red Door,
Club X, and Sky SLC are among the favorites. For country
swingers, or wanna be country swingers, the famous
Westerner is a short cab ride away. Alternative hot spots
include Club JAM, The Sun Trapp, and club Try-Angles.
Real
Salt
Lake
(http://www.rsl.com/),
the 2009 Major League
Soccer Champions, has
home games at the Rio
Tinto
Stadium
in
Sandy, 10 miles south
of the Radisson, and the Salt Lake Bees
(http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t561) a Triple A
baseball club affiliated with the California Angels makes
Smith’s Ballpark located on 13th South it’s home. For
those
techies,
there
is
The
Leonardo
(http://www.theleonardo.org/), a science, technology,
and art museum with great exhibits and activities for
kids. On the University of Utah campus, you can find the
Utah Museum of Fine Arts, the Utah Museum of Natural
History, and Rice Eccles Stadium.
Rocky Mountain Psychological Association
www.rockymountainpsych.com
Page 4
If you are traveling with children, the Utah’s Hogle Zoo
(https://www.hoglezoo.org/) is worth a 10 minute Trax
ride, as is the Tracy Aviary (http://tracyaviary.org/), the
Imagination Palace (www.imaginationplace.com) is a
music and movement education center, and the
Loveland
Living
Planet
Aquarium
showcases
(http://www.thelivingplanet.com/)
ecosystems from around the world. Thanksgiving Point
(http://www.thanksgivingpoint.org/) has a wonderful
Museum of Natural Curiosity, an I-Max Theater, and the
Museum of Ancient Life where your little one can roam
among cretaceous habitats and check out the working
paleontology lab. In the Junior Paleo Lab, children can
participate in workshops
where they can learn to
make a cast of a dinosaur
fossil, prepare a fish
fossil, or identify myriad
species of dinosaurs.
In Salt Lake City, you are
never far from your next great meal. There are a
surprisingly diverse array of restaurants and pubs within
walking distance from the Radisson Downtown. The
Copper Canyon Grillhouse and Tavern is located in the
lobby and offers great selections at a reasonable price.
The Redrock Brewing Company, a local microbrewery
and restaurant is a local favorite, as is the Naked Fish
sushi bar. The Tuscano’s Brazilia n Grill offers unlimited
meat selections and Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops is a
great place for a hearty meal. For more refined tastes,
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar is one block
away. Authentic pizza and Italian foods are found at
Settebello Pizzeria and a darn good Pastrami Burger can
be had at Crown Burger. The Rumbi Island Grill is a fun
tropical experience, and Bruge’s Waffles and Frites
boasts the best French Fries in the State...and the waffles
are wonderful. A series of comprehensive dining guides
catered to all tastes will be available at the registration
desk in April.
If you feel like going shopping or if you are looking for a
place to hang out, Salt Lake’s mall City Creek Center) is
the place to be. It is located within a block from the
Radisson Hotel. You
can find stores like
Macy’s, Michael Kors,
Nordstorm, Pandora,
and many others. The
mall has everything to
offer from books to
eyewear to sporting
good and athletic wear. If you need a break from
shopping, it has dining places and events almost every
weekend or you can enjoy a frozen yoghurt by one of the
many water fountains.
For those adventurous souls, Utah is the home to 15
National Parks and Monuments, and 44 State Parks
(https://stateparks.utah.gov/), all within a day’s drive of
downtown Salt Lake City. Finally, the namesake for the
area, The Great Salt Lake is the largest salt-water lake in
the Western Hemisphere, and the 8th largest terminal
lake in the world. Home to numerous species of
waterfowl and shore birds, the lake is a sailor’s paradise
and, for the extra hearty, a place for a quick dip in the
salty water. Because of the salinity and mineral content,
it is impossible to sink, unless you are really trying.
We want to personally invite you to come to Salt Lake City
and enjoy the down home feel in this cosmopolitan place.
If you are familiar with Salt Lake, there are many hidden
gems waiting for you to explore.
See you in Salt Lake!
Arizona
Colorado
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming
RMPA Convention at a glance:
RMPA Distinguished Lecture
To Boldly Go (Beyond Content): Skills & Learning
RMPA Alumni Address
The Opportunistic Generalist, or: How I
Stopped Worrying and Learned to Give
Psychology Away
Regan A. R. Gurung
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
Teaching Conference Keynote
Address
Can psychology Survive in a
Postmodern World
Scott Bates
Utah State University
RMPA Diversity Address
Minority Stress and Non-believers in the
United States
Melanie Brewster
Columbia University
Jane Halonen
University of West Florida
Psi Chi Keynote Address
Meaning in life: What’s it all about?
Worth Publishing
Distinguished Lecture
Ready or Not: Supporting Underprepared
Students in Psychology
Clara E. Hill
University of Maryland
Deborah M. Licht and Misty G. Hull
Pikes Peak Community College
Spring 2017
Rocky Mountain Psychological Association
www.rockymountainpsych.com
Page 6
RMPA Special Invited Speaker
Gardner Memorial Lecture
Can we Really Standardize Assessment and
Accreditation? Lessons from Europe
Sign Language Studies Lead to Studies of
Captive Chimpanzee Care
Susan Nolan
Seton Hall University
Siniša Lakić
Mary Lee Jensvold
University of Banja Luka
Central Washington University
RMPA Past President’s Address
Opening Keynote Address
Reflections on the Science and
Applications of Credibility Assessment
RMPA Presidential Symposium
What We Hope Happens: The Beneficial
Effects of the Introductory Psychology
Course and Majoring in Psychology
R. Eric Landrum
Boise State University
Regan A. R. Gurung
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
David Raskin
Eric Amsel
University of Utah
Weber State University
RMPA Invited Speaker
GI Joe Meets Barbie: Disordered Eating is
Not Just a “Female” Issue
Earn up to 11 APA Approved CE Credits at this
year’s Annual Meeting of RMPA in Salt Lake City.
Mary Pritchard
Boise State University
Arizona
Colorado
Idaho
APA Approved CE Credits
Now Available at RMPA
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming
RMPA FUTURE CONVENTION SITES
2018 / 2019 / 2020
Denver, Colorado
Denver Marriott Tech Center
April 12-14, 2018
April 4-6, 2019
April 16-18, 2020
RMPA recognizes that you have a variety of choices when arranging
accommodations for the RMPA Convention. RMPA has made a major
commitment to the conference hotel in order to secure the meeting
space necessary to hold the sessions and has negotiated the lowest
possible price for its membership. Please select accommodations
from the designated convention hotel when planning your trip.
Fall 2016 RMPA Trivia Question:
Where were the furthest North, South, East and West locations of the
RMPA Convention?
Answer:
North: Butte, Montana
South: Tucson, Arizona
East: Greeley, Colorado
West: Reno, Nevada
Thanks to SUU !
The Rocky Mountain Psychological Association would
like to express its sincere appreciation and thanks to the
Southern Utah University for providing student
assistants for this year’s convention. Special thanks to
Steve Barney, Convention Managers, who coordinated
that effort.
The Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Newsletter is published twice
a year, Fall and Spring, and posted on the RMPA website
www.rockymountainpsych.org. Please direct any inquiries to the Editor,
Robert Rycek, RMPA Secretary, at [email protected]
Spring 2017
RMPA will again feature a friendly
competition
between
participating
institutions in PSYCH BOWL 2017… A
Psychology Quiz Bowl. Contact Dr. Rick
Miller at [email protected] for
details and to register your team today!
Registration should be completed prior to
the conference.
Rocky Mountain Psychological Association
www.rockymountainpsych.com
Page 8
RMPA’s Network of Institutional Representatives
RMPA local institutional representatives serve as liaisons between RMPA and their
Department. Local representatives receive information about association activities and
the annual conference. Local representatives are invited to moderate sessions, propose
program events, publicize the conference at their institution, and encourage their
colleagues and students to attend.
If your institution does not have a local rep, and if you would like to volunteer to
serve in that role, please contact Rick Miller, RMPA's Local Representatives Coordinator
at [email protected] .
Those institutions currently represented are listed below and on our website at:
http://www.rockymountainpsych.org/
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Kansas
Montana
Missouri
Local Representatives
Northern Arizona University
Nora Dunbar
Point Loma Nazarene University
Kim W. Schaeffer
Adams State College
Colorado College
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University – Pueblo
Denver University
Front Range Community College
Metropolitan State College – Denver
Naropa University
Regis University
United States Air Force Academy
University of Colorado – Boulder
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
University of Colorado-Denver
University of Northern Colorado
Western State Colorado University
Robert M. Demski
Emily Chan
Susan Becker
Deana Davalos
Karen Yescavage & Krista Bridgmon
Ruth Chao
Laura Manuel
Aaron Richmond
Susan Burggraf & Kathleen Gregory
Rona McCall
Michelle Butler
Diane Martichuski
Lori James
Joan Bihun
Nancy Karlin & Doug Woody
Susan Coykendall
Boise State University
BYU – Idaho
Northwest Nazarene University
University of Idaho
Charles Honts
Brady Wiggins
Elizabeth List
Steve Meier
Fort Hays State University
Janett Naylor
Montana State University
University of Montana
University of Montana – Western
Michael Babcock
Allen D. Szalda-Petree
Mark Krank
Washington University
New Jersey
Centenary College
New Mexico
New Mexico State University
San Juan College
University of New Mexico
Western New Mexico University
Nebraska
Bellevue University
Chadron State College
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Nevada
University of Nevada – Reno
University of Nevada – Las Vegas
North Carolina
Western Carolina University
South Dakota
Black Hills State University
Texas
Texas A&M-Kingsville
University of Texas-Pan American
Utah
Dixie State College
Snow College
Southern Utah University
University of Utah
Utah State University
Utah State University - Eastern
Utah Valley University
Weber State University
Washington
Eastern Washington University
Central Washington University
Pacific Lutheran University
Wyoming
Casper College
CANADA
British Columbia
North Island College
Arizona
2016-17 RMPA Executive Committee
President
Eric Landrum
Boise State University
[email protected]
President-Elect
Susan Becker
Colorado Mesa University
[email protected]
Past President
Michelle Butler
U.S. Air Force Academy
[email protected]
Secretary
Robert Rycek
University of Nebraska at Kearney
[email protected]
Treasurer
Courtney Rocheleau
Metropolitan State College of Denver
[email protected]
Historian/Archivist
Richard Miller
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
[email protected]
Mark McDaniel
Jeremy Houska
Steven Elias
Ron Salazar
Elizabeth Browning
Jennifer Coleman
Program Chair
Anna Ropp
Metropolitan State University of Denver
[email protected]
Roxanne Sullivan
Mary Jo Carnot
Bill Wozniak
Judith Sugar
N. Clayton Silver
Winford Gordon
Diversity Chair
Nikki Jones
Colorado Mesa University
[email protected]
Nathan Deichert
Rick Miller
Peter Kranz
Kristine J. Olsen
Nick Marsing
Steve Barney
David Strayer
David Stein
Heath Earl
David Yells
Theresa Kay
Convention Coordinator
Nancy Karlin
University of Northern Colorado
[email protected]
Mahlon Dalley
Danielle Polage
Michelle Ceynar
Teaching Conference Coordinator
William Douglas Woody
University of Northern Colorado
[email protected]
Shawn Powell
John Marton
Colorado
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming
Go to Airport Station take Trax train #704 (Green Line) toward West Valley Central Station
After 6 stops exit train at Arena Station, Head East half a block on the South Side of the South
Temple
Fare is $2.50 one-way
https://www.rideuta.com/Rider-Tools/Schedules-and-Maps/704-Green-Line
Spring 2017
Rocky Mountain Psychological Association
Page 10
www.rockymountainpsych.com