For 12 Elmhurst University students, attending the Tri-State Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference late last fall gave them the chance to share their research and discuss their experiences while exploring potential career paths and academic opportunities.

“I had such an amazing experience presenting my research and having discussions with students from other schools,” said Haley Allenspach ’26, who will start an honors project this spring as a follow-up to her work from the fall. “I enjoyed getting to ask questions during the career panel, and learning about opportunities that I didn’t even realize were out there.”

Inspired by their experience at the Tri-State conference, the Elmhurst students will present extensions of their work later this spring at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association in downtown Chicago. By actively participating in conferences like these, Elmhurst students are seizing opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills, and to make connections that will give them a professional edge in careers, graduate school or whatever they pursue after graduation.

During the daylong Tri-State conference, held at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Allenspach and nine other students presented their research and fielded questions from fellow psychology students and faculty members. Andrea Aldrete ’25, Maria Molina ’25 and Ansley Hirth ’25 joined Allenspach on their research, “Fathers Score Higher on Well-Being Than Mothers: A Replication in Three Samples.”

“I absolutely love presenting my work at conferences because of the great questions I receive from others and getting to think about things from a new perspective,” Allenspach said.

Beth Barnes ’25 and Maia Paderon ’25 researched the topic “Self Concept Clarity is Related to Well-Being: A Student Sample Replication.” It was Paderon’s first time presenting her research in a conference setting.

“Tri State helped me get over my nerves about talking to peers and professionals in the field,” she said. “Discussing my research with people was actually really fun, as well as answering their questions.”

Other student presenters included:

• Angela Gallo-Birkley ’25 and Izabella Krolicki ’25, “Life Satisfaction is Related to Strong Social Connections: A Replication in a Student Sample”
• Phoenix Bierbrauer ’25 and Ryan O’Neill ’25, “Disabled Students Report Lower Well-Being Than Non-Disabled Students”

Associate psychology professors Elizabeth Majka and Josh VanArsdall led the trip, which was funded in part by the Honors Program. They also represented Elmhurst’s industrial/organizational psychology master’s degree program at the conference’s graduate school fair.

During the graduate fair, students learned about Ph.D., doctor of psychology and master’s programs. Students were able to ask current graduate school students about their experiences and learn about social work and school psychology. The conference also featured a panel discussion on career options, for students interested in entering the workforce immediately after completing their psychology undergraduate degree.