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2024-2025
Committees
Collaborate
Committees are interest groups that focus on specific projects and explore shared passions within the field of psychology. Anyone is welcome to join a committee, even if you're not yet a member of Psi Chi or the Psychology Club. However, we do encourage regular committee members to become part of the club to stay more connected and involved in all the exciting opportunities we offer! Our current committees include Research, Psi Beta Day, Pre-Health, Journal, Community Service, Business, and Induction.​​
Research Committee
Head: Aaron Johnson & Leo Thom Kawile
In Research Committee, we create our own research project! We work together from forming a research question of interest, to literature reviews, coming up with methods, writing an IRB, a paper, and more! This is a great way to get a taste of research as you see many steps in the research process, seeing a project from start to finish. ​
Some recent activities we did:
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In '22-'23, we looked into emotional priming on everyday moral decision-making.
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In '23-'24, we explored the influence of positive social interactions on observers’ social and prosocial intentions.
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This year, we are starting a new project!
If you are interested in getting involved, start by joining the discord!
Psi Beta Day Committee
Head: Christian Lopez-Castro & Jason Rocker
Psi Beta is the community college counterpart of Psi Chi. Psi Beta Day is an exciting event where Psi Beta members visit UCSD to meet the Psychology department, learn about resources, and explore opportunities for transferring. This committee is dedicated to planning Psi Beta Day to warmly welcome potential incoming transfer students and provide personalized guidance to help them feel supported.
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Organizes engaging activities and events for visiting Psi Beta members.
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Collaborates with the Psychology department to highlight academic and social opportunities.
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Creates a welcoming environment to ease the transition for transfer students.
If you'd like to take part in making this day possible, join us today!
Journal Committee
Head: Louise Wang & James Cantrell
Journal Committee mainly compiles articles, reviews them, and publishes them into a journal. This journal is a way of recognizing the works of fellow students, and share insight from professors as well (there has been a few informational articles written by professors included in past journals). Committee members attend meetings, review articles, oversee editing, design journal graphics, contribute/solicit articles, meet with professors, and more!
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You can see some past journals here:
Business Committee
Head: Irene Lee & Minju Kim
Business Committee studies business psychology concepts and applies them to existing businesses. We seek to thoroughly study and engage in these concepts by partnering and outreaching with small businesses.​
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In '23-'24, we shared ways to enhance marketing with the business Dziner Eyez, such as adopting social media for advertising, and strengthening their logo and brand identity.
This year, we will follow up and support them in implementing any changes they wish to adopt. We also plan on reaching out to more small businesses!
If you are interested in joining, come join the Discord or email the Business Committee Head (see below) with any questions! Your major does not have to be business-related; as long as you have any interest or passion, that is enough.​​
Community Service Committee
Head: Sarah Segall & Oladele Hospidales
The Community Service Committee volunteers with various organizations around San Diego to uplift and support our community. It is our goal to assist others and to help ourselves grow in the process. Our events are also a great way to see if you enjoy volunteer work. We find the work we do to be very fulfilling, and we are always on the lookout for more opportunities.
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In the past, the committee has volunteered with the Elementary Institute of Science, the San Diego Food Bank, and the San Diego Rescue Mission. We have also done beach clean-ups. Our first event of this year was a breast cancer awareness walk! If you’d like to join the committee, join our discord or contact one of our committee heads!
Induction Committee
Head: Manasha Sahana-Vengat & Deborah Hughes
At the end of each school year, we hold an Induction Ceremony to recognize those inducted into Psi Chi, distinguished statuses of our members, celebrate the club's accomplishments, and share a tasty catered meal together. As it is a big event, much of the committee includes lots of planning and collaboration, including managing food, decorations, and other logistics. We have started planning for this event in the Winter Quarter.
Pre-Health Committee
Head: Cole Potrock & Jonathan Altamirano
The Pre-Health Committee is designed to explore the intersectionality between psychology and healthcare. From clinical psychology, social work, nursing to neurology, our goal is to educate and expose members to the many professions in healthcare that psychology can extend into. We hope you’ll join us for any of our upcoming information discussions, advising workshops, instructional sessions, and activities both on and off campus.
Committee Heads
Aaron Johnson
Research Committee Head
Major: Clinical Psychology
Graduation Year: 2025
Career Goals: Psychiatry
Hobbies: Browsing YouTube, rock climbing, surfing. Listening to people talk about their passions!
Leo Thom Kawile
Research Committee Head
Major: Psychology B.S.
Graduation Year: 2025
Career Goals: Professor and/or Researcher
Hobbies: I play screamo and emo punk music. Ask me about punk music at UCSD! I enjoy playing video games like Smash Bros/Street Fighter.
Christian Lopez-Castro
PBD Committee Head
Major: Social Psychology & Sociology
Graduation Year: 2026
Career Goals: Research or Teaching
Hobbies: I could stay at the beach for hours on end doing absolutely nothing but admiring the view. I love watching sitcoms and reality TV! Modern Family and Survivor supremacy!
Jason Rocker
PBD Committee Head
Major: Psychology
Graduation Year: 2026
Career Goals: Higher Education & Student Affairs
Hobbies: In my free time, I love checking out new coffee spots, catching sunsets at the beach, hanging out with friends, and exploring new places. I’m always up for an adventure!
Louise Wang
Journal Committee Head
Major: Business Psychology & CBN
Graduation Year: 2026
Career Goals: I’m looking for a career in Program Mgmt, specifically for neuroscience-focused biotech.
Hobbies: I like reading, trying new cooking recipes, going to the beach, eating new and comfort dishes, as well as playing mahjong!
James Cantrell
Journal Committee Head
Major: Clinical Psychology; Minor: Cognitive Science
Graduation Year: 2028
Career Goals: Psychology Professor
Hobbies: Hiking, camping & rock climbing!
Sarah Segall
CS Committee Head
Major: Psychology, B.S.
Graduation Year: 2026
Career Goals: Research or Teaching
Hobbies: I love reading, hiking and anything nature-related, thrifting and all things fashion, interior decorating, trying new things (like paddle boarding or kayaking) and new foods, and spending time with my 15 year old dog.
Oladele Hospidales
CS Committee Head
Major: Psychology
Graduation Year: 2026
Career Goals: Clinical Psychology
Hobbies: I like listening to music, finding new shows and movies, trying new things to eat, gaming, video/music editing, and exercising.
Cole Potrock
Pre-Health Committee Head
Major: Clinical Psychology (pre-med)
Graduation Year: 2025
Career Goals: Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, or Pediatrician
Hobbies: I enjoy cooking, rock climbing, music, theater and video games.
Jonathan Altamirano
Pre-Health Committee Head
Major: Psychology w/ spec. in Human Health (Pre-Med)
Graduation Year: 2026
Career Goals: Psychiatry
Hobbies: Playing tennis and soccer, watching the NFL, NBA, and MLB, going to the gym, listening to music, biking, and trying new coffee!
Major: Major: Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
Graduation Year: 2027
Career Goals: Ph.D.
Hobbies: Drawing, Pickleball, Studio Ghibli, Sudoku, Music
Minju Kim
Business Committee Head
Major: Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
Graduation Year: 2025
Career Goals: Ph.D.
Hobbies: I like to learn new things, pick up new skills, read books (particularly philosophy), vigorously consume mints, and learn more about the human condition.
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Irene Lee
Business Committee Head
Manasha Sahana-Vengat
Induction Committee Head
Major: Business Psychology
Graduation Year: 2025
Career Goals: Social Media Marketing
Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy doing art, going to the gym, reading, writing, listening to music, shopping, fashion, cooking, and watching tv shows.
Major: Clinical Psychology, B.S.; Minor: Classical Studies, Literature of the World
Graduation Year: 2025
Career Goals: I would love to be a pediatric clinical neuropsychologist and eventually teach as a professor.
Hobbies: I love hanging out with friends and making as many new memories as I can before I graduate!
Deborah Hughes
Induction Committee Head
