Graduate Programs in Psychology

Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology

Psi Chi is the International Honor Society in Psychology, founded in 1929 to encourage excellence in scholarship and advance the science of psychology. Membership is open to graduate psychology students who meet the minimum qualifications.

Psi Chi provides academic recognition to its inductees, and stimulates professional growth through special programs and fellowships. National and regional conventions are held annually in conjunction with the psychological associations and research competitions.

Psi Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and an affiliate of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society. The organization functions as a federation of chapters located at more than 1,000 senior colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and has a national office in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A National Council, composed of psychologists and Psi Chi members elected by the chapters, guides the affairs of the organization and sets policy with the approval of the chapters. Psi Chi's sister society is Psi Beta, the national honor society in psychology for community and junior colleges.

Members can read about their colleagues' accomplishments and contributions to the organization in Eye on Psi Chi, the quarterly society magazine.

Now accepting applications for membership. Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7 and completed at least 9 units of graduate courses. Existing members can transfer membership to the GSEP chapter.

To learn more about Psi Chi, contact us at psichi@pepperdine.edu, or your campus VP.

Stay updated about chapter events and connect with fellow members by joining our group on Facebook.

 

2012-2013 Chapter Officers

President

Elaine Scarberry, ElaineScarberry@gmail.com

Elaine Scarberry is in her final year of the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Pepperdine and is excited to take on the role of President of Psi Chi for this year.  She currently works as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant for Dr. Barbara Ingram and is doing her clinical practicum at Hope Gardens Family Center.  In her spare time she advocates for social justice and has a passion for bringing this work to the entertainment industry.

Vice President, Encino Graduate Campus

Nimalee Wickremasinghe, ndwickre@pepperdine.edu

 

Nimalee is earning her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine's Encino campus. Her primary focus is trauma, and she provides crisis intervention for survivors of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence through Valley Trauma Center. Additionally, she serves as Chief Research Assistant for the Cognitive Behavioral/Dialectical Behavior Therapy Clinic at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, and as a Graduate Assistant in the Academic Advising department at the West L.A. campus. In her spare time, Nimalee enjoys choral singing and traveling. She is looking forward to an exciting year serving Psi Chi!

Vice President, West Los Angeles Graduate Campus

Jeffrey Thompson, Jeffrey.G.Thompson@pepperdine.edu

 

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jeff Thompson is a man who wears many masks.  When he's not juggling his classwork, he can often be found in Hollywood performing with various improvisational comedy troupes.  And when school and comedy get tiring, he likes to take a seat and relax in his office chair while he runs a nonprofit organization for improvisers and comedy outreach.  When he's not doing that, he's either eating, playing music, or sleeping.  

Vice President, Malibu Campus

Shannon White, Shannon.White@pepperdine.edu

 

Shannon White is in the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy program at the Malibu campus.  Shannon is from Edmonds, Washington where she worked as a Clinical Research Associate at Seattle Children's Hospital doing research in childhood obesity.  In her spare time she enjoys playing soccer, reading and spending time with friends and family.  She is looking forward to a great year with Psi Chi!

Vice Presidents, Irvine Graduate Campus

Manal Shehadi, meshehad@pepperdine.edu

 

Manal Shehadi is a student in the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Irvine. She plans on graduating in May 2013. She is currently doing her clinical training at Outreach Concern. She has a passion for research and practice and wishes to integrate the two in the future. She states that she is very excited to serve on this year's Psi Chi board. 

Zeina Shanata, Zeina.Shanata@pepperdine.edu 

 

Zeina Shanata is a student in the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy program at the Irvine campus.  She is currently doing her clinical training at Pepperdine’s PRYDE program working with at-risk youth and their families. As a former college athlete, Zeina is extremely passionate about the opportunities sports can provide for children and adolescents and looks forward to combining her love of athletics as a positive resource for at-risk/underprivileged youth.

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Robert deMayo
email: robert.demayo@pepperdine.edu

For more information, please visit Dr. deMayo's Faculty Biography page.