Letter of Nomination: Lori Barker-Hackett, PhD
Cal Poly State University, Pomona
An advisor who encourages, stimulates, and maintains excellence in scholarship of the individual members and advances the science of psychology is one who is deserving of receiving recognition for upholding Psi Chi’s purpose. Our chapter is fortunate to have Dr. Lori Barker-Hackett as an advisor who is not only a mentor, active participant, and instructor, but also a leading professional in the realm of psychology. We will illustrate the manner in which Dr. Barker-Hackett implements Psi Chi’s purpose in our chapter, as well as in the field of psychology.
Dr. Barker-Hackett has been the advisor for the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Psi Chi Chapter for the past four years. In all four years she has encouraged excellence in scholarship of Psi Chi members by informing students about graduate schools, motivating students to attend conventions, and inspiring students to take active involvement in research.
For the past six years, Dr. Barker-Hackett has co-instructed a grad school workshop in Psi Chi for students interested in applying to graduate schools. She has presented on every aspect of preparing and applying to graduate schools. Dr. Barker-Hackett has taken Psi Chi students to the Western Psychological Association convention for the past three years, and has had Psi Chi students present joint projects on every occasion. Each year she has recruited 20 to 25 students to attend the convention.
Our advisor also stimulates excellence in scholarship of students by serving as a role model. She gives guidance, support, and ideas to all students who are in need of assistance with their research projects, classes, and/or everyday life situations. Her guidance technique carries the perfect balance between aggressive and passive methods. In other words, she gives students liberal space to generate and develop their own ideas, but when necessary intervenes and suggests insightful and beneficial contributions. Due to Dr. Barker-Hackett’s excellent advising techniques, she was voted Psi Chi Professor of the Year in 1994–95, and was granted the “Advisor of the Year” award by the Office of Student Life at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1997.
The manners in which Dr. Lori Barker-Hackett maintains excellence in scholarship of students is by actively and consistently implementing all of the concepts mentioned above, and by keeping herself, along with others, well informed of all events and knowledge pertaining to Psi Chi and the field of psychology. This information is attained through attending numerous conferences across the country on multiple topics. The significance of obtaining recent knowledge in the domain of psychology is important to Dr. Barker-Hackett in her life as a professor, researcher, advisor, and clinician.
Dr. Barker-Hackett has made considerable contributions to the advancement of science in psychology through the research she has done, which includes the following:
1. The relationship between stress and sociocultural orientation among ethnic minority freshmen
2. Mental health and help-seeking behavior among ethnic minority adolescents
3. Coping strategies used by ethnic minority adolescents
4. A cross-cultural study of body image and eating disorders
5. Evaluation of the Cal Poly Pomona Child and Family Services Mobile Unit, a community outreach program
6. A study of school-based clinics: who uses them and who doesn’t
In all but two of these projects, Dr. Barker-Hackett has involved Psi Chi members in order to provide them with practical research experiences. Moreover, Psi Chi members have done conference presentations on these studies. In doing research, Dr. Barker-Hackett’s main goal is to conduct studies that produce results that can be directly applied to helping improve people’s lives. In particular, her focus has been on ethnic minority adolescents. She is interested in understanding the problems they experience and in program development to meet the particular needs of this population. One study that she did, which has had the most impact, is the one on school-based clinics. She published an article on this topic which individuals have looked to in support of the present big movement in child/adolescent health, which is to have comprehensive services available to students at school.
In closing, students at California Polytechnic State University feel that Dr. Barker-Hackett is meritorious of the Regional Faculty Advisor Award. Her dedication, enthusiasm, optimism, and support have inspired a myriad of students to become actively involved in psychology. She has upheld Psi Chi’s purpose and is the epitome of what a Psi Chi advisor should be.
—Submitted by Heather Stephens, President, and Laura Rios, Secretary