Statewide Social Psychologists’ Conference Comes to Corpus Christi for First Time
University-hosted conference to feature lectures by more than 20 professionals in the field
   
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will host the 2004 Social Psychology Conference on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 9-10 at theOmni Marina Hotel. The conference will feature keynote speaker Dr. Gary Stasser from Miami University in Ohio who will speak to the crowd of psychologists and graduate students about the challenge of working as a team in a multi-task environment.

The conference will also feature more than 20 professionals in the field of psychology. Some of the topics to be covered are: how on-line communication affects relationships, weight loss, dating and alcohol use, and the relevance of social psychology. Organizers are expecting up to 80 professionals and students from across the state to attend the two-day conference.

This is the first social psychology conference to be sponsored by the University, but administrators plan to hold more events and conferences of this nature as the Ph.D. clinical program in psychology is developed at A&M-Corpus Christi. The University currently offers an undergraduate program and master’s degree in psychology.

 “One of the University’s roles is to be a leader in the various academic disciplines we offer,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sandra S. Harper. “One way to do that is to host a statewide conference like this to bring in experts from around the state. Opportunities like these are extremely valuable, not only to our faculty, but also to our graduate students.”
 
The conference was organized by Dr. Steven Seidel, chair of the Psychology Department, and Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Mark Hartlaub to promote collaboration among colleagues and enhance A&M-Corpus Christi’s relationship with other universities.

“Opportunities like this are a great way to begin the semester; it gets you excited about teaching and research,” said Seidel. “Our goal is to have this conference be the model for conducting future conferences.”
 
Note to Media: The best photo opportunity time will be Friday, Jan. 9 from 9:50 a.m. to noon at the Omni Marina Hotel, 707 N. Shoreline, in the Marina View Room.