Letter of Nomination: Michael Hall, PhD
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Dear Committee Members:
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Chapter of Psi Chi National Honor society, proudly nominates Dr. Michael Hall for the Psi Chi Regional Faculty Advisor Award. Dr. Hall has been advisor of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's chapter of Psi Chi since the fall of 1999. Before Dr. Hall was involved in this program, our chapter lacked a sense or organization and general knowledge about the organizations goal and purpose. Passionately, Dr. Hall explained to the members and officers that Psi Chi can play a key role in assisting our members in to being admitted into graduate school and makes them aware of different career opportunities there are in the different fields. This year, our group of officers, lead by Dr. Hall, organized guest speaker's that were from various fields of our student s interest, created a study group for those who are taking or planning on take both GRE', as well as initiating a tutoring program for underclassmen. People who have successfully passed their psychology courses will have the option to tutor other students who might be having trouble in that same course. By igniting this program, Dr. Hall has found an important connection between the undergraduates, freshman and sophomores and our organization. If students were able to get involved their first two years of college and witness others getting the benefits that they would like. This all leads to more recruitment of new members. Our Chapter of Phi Chi NTIS increased our membership recruitment by 60% this fall with the help and nagging of our beloved advisor.
As if this wasn't enough, Dr. Hall also schedules meetings at mental health facilities in our area so we can see first hand, what is going on. Speakers don't always give an elaborate visual perspective so that someone might be able grasp the overall concept. With our occasional fields trips, students have firsthand sight, knowledge and sometimes expenence working in their areas of interest.
Along with all of these responsibilities, Dr. Hall creates time to assure that Psi Chi has regular meeting scheduled for members, community service events planned, and still maintains his regular workload. It is amazing that with all of these tasks Dr. Hall still strives to do one more task for our group of students. Dr. Hall makes appointments with all of our members, if needed, to walk them through the graduate application process, to write letters of recommendation, or just chat about what is new in psychology. His nondomineenng demeanor always students to easily approach him with questions and ideas and Dr. Hall lives up to his end of the bargaining by listening and being patient with everyone who walks though his door.
Dr. Hall has also been involved in Psi Chi at the Regional level. Last year, Dr. Hall was one of two steering committee members for Psi Chi's portion of the WPA convention. He participated in putting together the Psi Chi symposium and also gave a talk on applied careers in psychology. In addition to the above, he evaluated the Psi Chi student abstracts and was involved in choosing the award winners. In an additional portion of the Conference, Dr Hall also participated in the graduate school exchange and thus helped to promote the graduate school program at UNLV. Dr Hall is committed to encouraging student research at both graduate and undergraduate level and his involvement at WPA is only one of the many ways in which he supports
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Chapter of Psi Chi NUS feels honored to have such a devoted advisor that strives to allow our club to uphold and go beyond the mission of the Psi Chi National Honor Society.
Sincerely,
Amanda Haboush, Psi Chi President
Irma Corral, Psi Chi Historian