SVSU Psychology

05/27/2026

What exactly *is* a mental disorder?

Join us for June’s Food for Thought at Sage Branch Library featuring Travis Pashak, Professor of Psychology at Saginaw Valley State University and licensed clinical psychologist.

In this engaging lunchtime discussion, Travis will explore how mental disorders are defined and how society interprets and responds to them.

-Wednesday, June 3
-12:30-1:30 pm
-Sage Branch Library

Take a midday break, connect with others, and enjoy an interesting conversation in a relaxed setting.

Register here: https://www.baycountylibrary.org/event/food-thought-sage-115297

05/18/2026

Big thanks to Katie Bouldin, Career Navigator at Standish-Sterling Central High School, for inviting us to come join their “Lunch with a Professional” program! Professor Pashak had a nice time chatting with some of her students about careers in mental health. It was a great visit!

05/02/2026

Congrats to our FORTY-SIX psychology students who graduated at today’s commencement ceremony! We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see where your journeys lead next. It’s a great day to be a Cardinal!

05/01/2026

Students, you can receive a $5 e-gift card in exchange for briefly contributing to a psychological research study!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CardinalCampus

Members of the Department of Psychology’s Clinical Research Team are inviting you to participate in a study on college students’ resilience, wellbeing, and mental health concerns. The study is online, survey-based, and will take approximately 25 minutes. We would love to learn from your perspectives!

The study is IRB approved (ID #2381295-2), anonymous, and can be completed on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smart device. Thank you for your time and consideration! Click the link above to learn more and begin.

With finals week wrapping up, we thought this might be a good time to give one more reminder about the study. We are hoping to complete data collection in the next few days, but we still have over 100 gift cards to give away!

For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the study’s faculty advisor, Dr. Pashak at [email protected] or 989-964-2696. Congrats on finishing the Winter semester, and enjoy your spring and summer!

04/24/2026

Huge congrats to speakers from the Psychology Department at the Undergraduate Research Program's Student Showcase today!

Isabelle Branch and Rachel Peterhans delivered a talk on interactions of developmental assets and existential angst in young adult mental health, while Isaac Zamora-Ayres and Audrey Weiss presented on efficacy of critical pedagogy materials in psychopathology courses. There were many inspiring talks, performances, and posters throughout the day involving hundreds of students across various disciplines. Further, our own Dr. Weaver was featured in the morning discussion panel on AI in research!

We sincerely applaud all the fine scholars involved in today's event. Great work everyone!

04/20/2026

04/20/2026

We had a strong showing of students, alumni, and faculty at the Midwestern Psychological Association this past weekend in Chicago! Congrats to all on presenting your research and representing our program so well.




Isaac Zamora-Ayres, Audrey Weiss, Rachel Peterhans, Isabelle Branch, Paige Carstensen, and Travis Pashak presented a poster titled "Learning My Disorder Isn't Real: Critical Pedagogy in Abnormal Psychology."

Maia Clynick, Chalea Herron, and Keri Maricle delivered a data blitz talk titled "Are Dark Personality Traits Related to Belief in Astrology?"

Keri Maricle and colleagues at Oakland University presented a poster titled "Effects of Intimate Partner Violence-Related Strangulation on Vulnerable Women."

Travis Pashak led a roundtable discussion event titled "Levels of Labels: Conceptual Clarity in Community, Counseling, and Clinical Psychology."

04/04/2026

04/03/2026

The SVSU Department of Psychology is excited to announce Dr. Vang will join our faculty starting in the Fall 2026 semester!

Here is a quick introductory blurb from him:
"My name is Michael Vang, and I am originally from Fresno, California, where I received my B.A. in Public Health with a minor in Psychology in 2021 at the University of California, Merced. I then attended the University of Toledo, where I received my M.A. in Psychology in 2024 and my Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, with a focus in Social Psychology, in 2026. I also completed a minor in Quantitative Psychology. During my graduate school years, I taught a variety of courses across two campuses such as Social Psychology, Health Psychology, and Cultural Psychology. I have been fortunate to work under two incredible mentors, through which I developed two primary lines of research: (1) understanding how health communication strategies can improve patient motivation and treatment behaviors, and (2) examining how food parenting strategies influence both child and adult behaviors. My hobbies and interests include exercising, playing video games, exploring new food (particularly spicy food), and spending time with friends and family."

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Vang!