2008 Psi Chi National Elections: Candidates for Southeastern Regional Vice-President
1/31/2008
This year's candidates for the position of Psi Chi Southeastern Regional Vice-President for the 2008-2009 Psi Chi National Council are
Maria Lavooy, PhD, University of Central Florida at Cocoa, and
Christina Sinisi, PhD, Charleston Southern University (SC). Their biographical and position statements are as follows.
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Maria Lavooy, PhD
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Christina Sinisi, PhD
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Biographical Statement
Maria J. Lavooy was accepted as a member of Psi Chi in May, 1978, while earning an undergraduate degree in Biology, with a minor in Psychology and honors in Biopsychology. These interests led her to Miami University, Ohio, where she earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology. She was the installation officer and advisor of the College of St. Elizabeth’s Psi Chi chapter where she taught for seven years before coming to the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 1995. She is the recipient of UCF’s Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, serves as the coordinator of the UCF Cocoa Campus Honors Program, and acts as their Psi Chi advisor. After serving on the Southeastern Regional Vice-President’s (VP) steering committee for three years, she was appointed as VP for that region for the 2007-2008 academic year.
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Biographical Statement
I became chapter advisor for Charleston Southern University in the Fall of 1999. Since then, this small chapter has won Academic Club of the year (or runner-up) here on campus four times. We have also won Regional Chapter of the Year in 2003 and the Ruth G. Hubbard Cousins Award in 2004. I personally received the Southeastern Advisor of the Year award in 2004 as well. Since receiving that award, I have served on the Southeastern Steering Committee. In doing so, I have assisted the Vice-President in selecting students to win research awards as well as running the Hospitality Suite and planning future events. This past spring, I attended the first Biennial Psi Chi Leadership conference and led a discussion concerning the successful small chapter. Because of these experiences, I am familiar with the national office and leadership and would look forward to working with these wonderful people!
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Position Statement
I became a member of Psi Chi during my undergraduate years. This marked the beginning of a long and gratifying affiliation with Psi Chi. I have been proud to serve as an installation officer and advisor at the institutions at which I have taught. With almost twenty years of experience serving as an advisor, I was asked to be a member of Psi Chi’s Southeastern Regional Vice-President’s steering committee. After three years in that capacity I was appointed to serve as the Southeastern Regional Vice-President for the 2007-2008 academic year. While in these positions I have tried to give back to Psi Chi, and its members, a little of what they have given me over the years. I ask that you help me continue my service to Psi Chi by electing me to serve as your Southeastern Regional Vice President.
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Position Statement
Psi Chi has become an integral part of my career and my life. Advising our local chapter has been very fulfilling to me. I have acted as an advocate for Psi Chi at the state level, giving presentations to the South Carolina state psychological association twice outlining what Psi Chi has to offer. I would love to take that advocacy to a broader level. Some of my ideas include establishing a state-wide and perhaps a regional database of advisors. T his database could be available as a chat group where advisors could offer and solicit advice. Also, I would like to establish a tradition of emailing the advisors on a more personal level at least twice a year. Another database for chapter presidents might also be recommended. Psi Chi has a very strong presence at the Southeastern Psychological Association Conference and I would be honored to continue in that tradition.
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How Does My Chapter Vote?First, chapters should plan to organize a chapter meeting where all members can be present when the candidates for office are announced. Use this meeting time to read the candidates’ background information. Have your chapter make an informed decision about selecting which candidate your members think would best benefit Psi Chi in the upcoming year.
After your chapter has made a decision on the candidate(s), your Psi Chi Chapter President, with assistance from the faculty advisor as needed, can access the electronic ballot by logging in as a chapter administrator between February 1 and March 15 on the Psi Chi website at
www.psichi.org/chapters/login.asp.
If your chapter has lost its chapter administrator login information, it can be emailed to your chapter’s current email contact by going to
www.psichi.org/chapters/login_forgot.asp.
A menu of administrator options will appear after successfully logging in, and a new section named “Ballots/Voting” will appear at the top of the list of options. Click on the “Ballots/Voting” link to continue. This section will only be visible February 1–March 15, 2008.
You will then be presented with your chapter’s ballot(s). All active chapters will have a ballot and be able to vote for the Psi Chi National President-Elect position. Chapters in the Midwestern, Southeastern, and Southwestern Regions will also be able to vote for their respective region’s vice-president.
Select the ballot you want to cast a vote for, choose the candidate your chapter has selected, and click on the “Submit Ballot” button. A confirmation screen will appear with your candidate selection and, if necessary, allow you to cancel your vote and resubmit it if you made an error. Just as with mail ballots, once you submit your vote, you cannot edit or change your vote.