Seton Hall Psychology Professor Gives Keynote Lecture at Nationally Attended Conference

On March 2nd, 2024, Psychology Professor Amy Hunter, Ph.D., presented her keynote lecture “Sleep as a Superpower: Why Quality Sleep is Critical” at the Eastern Psychological Association conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Currently, Hunter serves as the President of the Eastern Psychological Association. During the conference, Hunter gave a keynote address, discussing the role that sleep plays in having a successful life along with the socio-economic challenges that can interfere with having healthy sleeping habits. When discussing the power that sleep has over productivity, Hunter stated, “Sleep is essential for healthy physiological and psychological functioning, with studies linking sleep to functions as diverse as learning and memory, immune function and cellular maintenance." In sharing this lecture, Hunter hopes to bring awareness to the hazardous effects of sleep deprivation, as well as to bridge the gap between sleep inequality and productivity levels.

Thanks to contributions from the Student Government Association, eight students were also able to attend the EPA conference alongside Hunter. Many of the students are members of Psi Chi: The International Honors Society for Psychology. Due to inclusive efforts, students were able to increase involvement in professional speaking engagements by presenting their own papers at the conference. Student presenters included: Emily Balda, Nico Caruso, Naomi Denovellis, Gabriella Gil, Julia Wszolek, Sanjana Malhotra, Angel Moore, Kaitlynn Russell, Melanie Touchard, and Julia Wszolek.

Along with engagement from students, the conference was widely attended by other members of Seton Hall’s faculty, including, Gregory Burton, Ph.D., Paige Fisher, Ph.D., Fanli Jia, Ph.D., Amy Joh, Ph.D., and Susan Nolan, Ph.D., were among some of the faculty in attendance who also presented their work. Participation in conferences such as the Eastern Psychological Association, not only promotes a wide level of engagement across the entire field of Psychology, it also introduces students to scientific insights from world-renowned scientists. At these conferences, students are given the platform to share their ideas and gain professional development from those at the top of their careers. After attending this conference, not only were students feeling inspired to learn, but faculty were feeling excited to share their discoveries in their classrooms and in their labs. To further support students, this was the inaugural year that the EPA offered a diversity travel fund, to increase participation with minoritized and underrepresented individuals.

Hunter’s Presidency is the second for the Psychology Department. Professor Nolan was President during the 2015 meeting. In addition, Fisher, Goedert, Jia, Joh, and Lloyd currently hold or have held roles in the EPA, either on the Governing Board or as Program Chairs.

Categories: Health and Medicine, Research