Psi Chi USM Gulf Park

05/05/2026

Get ready for a game-changing year! 🎉 Our new officers for '26-'27 are officially sworn in and we're wrapping up the semester with a bang! 🎓 Congratulations to everyone on an unforgettable semester - we can't wait to see what the future holds! Stay tuned for exciting updates this Fall... 😉 💛⚫️💛⚫️💛

05/04/2026

All Gulf Park Psychology students need to check their emails and fill out the program satisfaction survey! This will be your chance to voice any concerns you may have about our program and any requests you may have!

05/01/2026

Back and better than ever, your treasurer, Kirstyn Folmer!

As a dedicated scholar and emerging leader, Kirstyn Folmer is a proud member of Psi Chi as well as Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society. She is currently pursuing a double bachelor's degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice with a minor in English and is on track to graduate in December 2026.
With an impressive 3.8 GPA and recognition on the President’s list for the last two semesters, Kirstyn exemplifies academic excellence. She is also an award-winning author of creative nonfiction and actively conducts undergraduate research on the effect of high school extracurricular involvement on depressive symptom expression in young adults.
Beyond the classroom, she is deeply committed to service - volunteering with the Mental Health Association of Southern Mississippi and contributing to community outreach efforts that support mental health awareness and care. Kirstyn is also certified in Mental Health First Aid.
As a first-generation college student, Kirstyn is passionate about continuing her education. She plans to pursue a Ph.D in school/clinical psychology with an emphasis on adolescent development, followed by postdoctoral training in clinical psychopharmacology.
When asked about her academic focus on Psychology, Criminal Justice, and English, she said, “I am passionate about mental health and helping adolescents through difficult moments in their lives. I hope to be published one day on the developments I’ve made on adolescent psychosocial development, so I’m making sure to get the training I need now to succeed.”

05/01/2026

Meet your new elected Social Media Chair, Sarah Duke!

Sarah is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in psychology at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park campus with a minor in management. As a first-generation college student and an active parent, her journey has been shaped by determination and a strong desire to create a better future for her children and herself. Graduating alongside her children stands as both her greatest motivation and one of her proudest achievements.

She has been actively involved on campus through organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa, SCLA, Phi Kappa Pi, and Psi Chi. She also serves as a Study Abroad Peer Advisor, helping guide and support fellow students who are interested in international education opportunities. In addition, she recently participated in a study abroad program in London. This experience helped broaden her understanding of diverse cultures and allowed her to build meaningful connections.

Following graduation, Sarah plans to pursue a Master's degree in Marriage and Family therapy. She stated she is most excited about supporting Psi Chi and making a meaningful difference in and out of the classroom.

05/01/2026

Meet your new elected Secretary, Dakota Billiu!

Dakota is currently a junior at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park campus, studying psychology. She is involved in research in the metacognitive research lab while being involved in Psi Chi. Through her academic and extracurricular involvement, she has developed a strong interest in understanding human behavior and cognitive processes.
After earning her bachelor's degree, Dakota plans to apply to either law school or a master's program in counseling psychology. When asked why she chose psychology as her major, she stated," I've always had an interest in how mental processes work and how that knowledge can be used to improve the quality of life."
Dakota is excited to serve in her role and looks forward to helping strengthen the Psi Chi community while creating a supportive and engaging environment for members.

05/01/2026

Meet your new elected Vice President, Abby Shaw!

Abby is currently a Junior at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park campus. She is involved in many organizations, such as: Psi Chi, Golden Eagle Gulf-Coastal Connections, and The National Society of Leadership and Success.
After earning her bachelor's degree, Abby plans to pursue her Psy. D. in Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Counseling.
When asked why she chose Psychology as her major, she stated," Romance is a beautiful emotion that can be complicated to convey to a person. The way that a person communicates their love language to another person is often lost in translation between thoughts and how those actions are interpreted."
Abby stated she is looking forward to growing the chapter on the coast and bringing people together.

05/01/2026

Meet your new elected President, Milton G. Irias-Banuelos,
Milton is a Junior at The University of Southern Mississippi- Gulf Park campus. He is an active member of Psi Chi and the Gulf Scholars Program. Milton is currently developing his research project, Eco-Anxiety to Action: Helping Students Cope and Take Control, and has studied the effects of Quetiapine on Insomnia. Milton plans to pursue graduate studies in Clinical Psychology and Neuropharmacology. Milton stated," I chose Psychology because my interest is in understanding how brain chemistry influences behavior and health."
When asked what he is looking forward to as President, he stated," I am excited to serve as President while growing the chapter and bringing the students together on the Gulf Coast."

05/01/2026

Meet your newly appointed Student Advisor, Madison Perkins!

Madison proudly represents the Gulf Park campus at The University of Southern Mississippi. After starting as Vice President, she became our chapter's President and has fostered a community with the psychology students at Gulf Park while representing Psi Chi's core mission values. She is involved in many on and off-campus organizations, such as: Psi Chi, Sigma Alpha Pi, Phi Sigma Pi, SCLA, APA, and the Mississippi Division of the International Association for Identification. This past semester, Madison also began her internship at the Mental Health Association of South Mississippi, where she conducts outreach to help support the homeless and mentally/physically disabled communities. She is set to graduate in the Spring of 2027, and Madison will pursue her Psy.D in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Forensics. Her top choices for programs are the University of Denver, Adler University, and Northern Arizona University.

When asked what she is most excited about for this position, Madison stated," I am fortunate and blessed that Dr. Agler chose me to work alongside her to help guide our chapter's leaders to success. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as President, and I look forward to helping our chapter grow on and off campus in ways it has not before."

05/01/2026

Standby for the new fall 26' officers announcement!

Send a message to learn more

05/01/2026

Our supply drive ended on a pawsitive note! Thank you to those who donated. 💙