Psychology honor society recognized again as model chapter

The Northwest chapter of Psi Chi, pictured at its spring celebration in April, has been designated as a Model Chapter for 2024-25. (Submitted photo)

The Northwest Missouri State University chapter of Psi Chi, an international honor society of psychology, is a Model Chapter for 2024-25, marking the sixth time in eight years that the chapter has received the recognition.

Northwest's Psi Chi members volunteered at the New Nodaway Humane Society and hosted a Playtime With Puppies event, among other activities during the 2024-25 academic year. (Submitted photo)

Northwest Psi Chi members Emma Tabor and Tarah Jackson are pictured at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in Chicago. (Submitted photo)

Among more than 1,150 chapters throughout the world, the Northwest chapter is one of only 40 chapters to receive the Model Chapter status this year.

Hannah Nielson, who graduated from Northwest this spring with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, served as the organization’s president. A native of New London, Missouri, she will begin work in the fall toward a Master of Social Work degree at Saint Louis University and plans to pursue a career as an individual child’s therapist.

“It is an honor for Northwest’s Psi Chi chapter to be named a Model Chapter this year,” Nielson said. “Our officers and advisors put in a significant amount of hard work and dedication to create and plan many different activities for our members. This past school year, we wanted to focus on creating more activities that helped our members explore different areas of psychology and help prepare them for their future in the psychology field.” 

Psi Chi’s purpose is to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence in scholarship and to advance the science of psychology. Students must major or minor in a psychology program and be in the top 35 percent of their class, based on cumulative GPA, to be eligible for membership in the chapter. Being a part of the organization also helps students further their development as scholars.

“Being a Psi Chi member and officer for two years has greatly impacted me and helped prepare me for success after graduation,” Nielson said. “Being treasurer and president has helped me strengthen my leadership and communication skills, both of which will be important skills to have in graduate school and in my future career.”

Psi Chi annually honors chapters as recipients of the Model Chapter award, a recognition of healthy and active chapters that demonstrate communication and cooperation within their chapters and with the Psi Chi headquarters. Model chapters must meet nine objectives, which include inducting new members, voting in annual Psi Chi elections and fulfilling other chapter responsibilities.

In meeting their objectives, the Northwest Psi Chi chapter organized and participated in several events throughout the academic year that included an undergraduate research information session to help students learn about research opportunities, wellness fairs, volunteering at the New Nodaway Humane Society and an alumni panel session in collaboration with the University of Toronto Scarborough.

Additionally, in April, Northwest Psi Chi members Emma Tabor, Tarah Jackson and Gursheen Sood presented their research at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in Chicago. Psi Chi members also attended the 72nd Annual Nebraska Symposium on Motivation.

Dr. Keely Cline, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Jason McCain, assistant professor of psychology, are co-advisors of the Northwest Psi Chi chapter.

“Being honored with the Model Chapter award demonstrates that our student officer team is committed to upholding the ideals set forth by our international organization,” McCain said. “Their dedication and efforts to these ideals across the entire academic year led to the chapter receiving this award.”

Cline added, “Being recognized as a Model Chapter reinforces that we are living out the international organization’s mission of ‘Recognizing and promoting excellence in the science and application of psychology’ on our campus.” 

Click here to learn more about psychology programs at Northwest.