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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Psychology faculty members Michael Burman, Julie Longua Peterson and Jennifer Stiegler-Balfour organize sixth annual Mainely Data Conference

The University of New England’s Biddeford campus hosted the sixth annual Mainely Data and Some Theory Conference on May 2, 2015. The event, which is hosted by a different Maine-based institution each year, was organized by Assistant Professors of Psychology Julie Longua Peterson, Ph.D., and Jennifer Stiegler-Balfour, Ph.D., and Associate Professor of Psychology Michael Burman, Ph.D.

Held each spring, the Mainely Data conference provides an interactive forum for faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students in psychology (and related disciplines) to showcase research, exchange ideas and establish new collaborations.

This year’s conference brought together more than 90 faculty and students from institutions including Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, University of Maine, University of Maine, Orono, University of Maine at Presque Isle, Husson University and University of New England.

UNE faculty and undergraduate presenters included Burman with students Cassandra Simmons (Animal Behavior, ‘15), Kerribeth Szolusha (Neuroscience, ‘15) and lab technician Alex Deal; Patricia Long, clinical professor and chair in the Department of  Psychology, with student Benjamin Katz (Psychology, ’17); Peterson with students Victoria Bryan (Psychology, ‘15), Janelle Sherman (Psychology and English, ‘16), Alyssa Mazzariello (Psychology, ‘16), Jill Casazza (Psychology, ‘17),  Allison Symonds (Psychology, ‘18), and Lacey Durkee (Psychology, ‘18); and Stiegler-Balfour with students Lauren Hayden (Psychology, ’16), Jessica Hering (Health, Wellness, and Occupational Studies, ’15), Abby LaChance (Psychology, ’17), Zoe Roberts (Psychology, ’18), and Elizabeth Whitmore (Medical Biolog,y ’14).

Additionally, students Cassandra Connolly (Psychology, ’17), Rebekah Erwin (Animal Behavior, ’16), Melissa Klemt (Psychology, ’17), Amanda Salamone (Psychology, ’17) and Emily Vasseur (Elementary Education, ’17) also presented at the conference.

According to Stiegler-Balfour, over the last few years Mainely Data has seen an increase in popularity, and the quality of the presentations has been consistently excellent. Presentations at the 2015 conference explored new research findings across a variety of disciplines ranging from clinical and cognitive psychology to neuroscience and social psychology. Fifty projects were showcased throughout the day-long conference as either an oral presentation or during the poster session.

The conference was made possible through the generous support of the University of New England College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office, Office for Scholarship and Research and the Department of Psychology. 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.