Health and Behavioral Studies News

Honors college accommodates nursing students

When fourth semester nursing student Elle Del Gallo was a freshman, she joined JMU’s Honors College for the additional academic opportunities it offered despite concerns about her ability to complete the requirements.

#CHBSChats with Danielle Valenti

#CHBSChats with Danielle Valenti (Coaching Education Minor/Psychology Major) - Our series of informal chats with students

Psychology student chosen to be a Madison Community Scholar

Junior psychology major Maria Castillo is taking advantage of every opportunity while in college and was recently named a Madison Community Scholar (MCS) for the 2019-20 school year.

CHBS faculty co-teach course on human trafficking

Nursing professor Erica Lewis and health sciences professor Katherine Ott Walter, are co-teaching a spring 2020 course through JMU X-Labs called, “Community Innovations: Addressing Human Trafficking.”

Health sciences student athlete excels athletically and academically

Kayla Connelly is a junior health sciences major with a pre-occupational therapy minor who doubles as a distance runner on JMU’s cross country and track team while maintaining exceptional grades.

Psychology student interns for Victim Witness Protection

Senior psychology major Riquoa Robinson spent 120 hours with Victim Witness Protection Program in Virginia’s Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney drawing connections between coursework and criminal justice realities.

#CHBSChats with Luke Vance

#CHBSChats with Luke Vance (Physician Assistant Program) - Our series of informal chats with students

William Evans receives Alger Family Faculty Endowment Award

The Alger award is given to one faculty member each year to recognize their achievement in engaged learning, civic engagement, and community engagement.

Wellness coalition promotes inclusiveness

The Shenandoah Valley Inclusive Wellness Coalition brings JMU personnel together with other professionals in the area to assist in developing wellness programs catering to individuals with disabilities.

VPAS and IIHHS Host Conference for Valley Caregivers

“The Confident Caregiver: A Family Caregiver Conference” held to recognize the contributions and importance of family caregivers.

BICSV and JMU T/TAC Hold Conference on Substance Abuse and Brain Injury

BICSV and T/TAC at JMU are pleased to announce a Nov. 8, 2019 conference exploring "The Vicious Cycle: Brain Injury & Substance Use Disorders"

Healthy Families program manager receives Governor’s Honor Award

Yvonne Frazier was recently presented with the Governor’s Award for Enhancing the Prosperity and Quality of Life in Rural Virginia.

#CHBSFacultyFocus with Debbie Sturm

Graduate psychology professor Debbie Sturm lives among students in a campus residence hall

Julie Strunk becomes a Fellow in the AAN

Julie Strunk, a professor in the School of Nursing, recently received the designation of a Fellow in the AAN. Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) is one of the highest honors a nurse can achieve.

Lyons receives Provost’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advising

Lyons received this award in recognition of the quality of information, advice and support that she consistently and accessibly provides to her advisees. 

CSPA grad selected as ACPA Diamond Honoree

JMU alumna, V. Leilani Kupo, has been selected as part of the Class of 2020 ACPA Diamond Honorees.

Occupational therapy alumna prepares students for advocacy

In September, students from JMU’s occupational therapy (OT) program had the opportunity to meet with elected officials and advocate for their profession during Capitol Hill Day.

Gus Bus students conduct video interview with NASA engineer

Students are learning to use the engineering design process to develop solutions to real-world problems faced by experts at NASA.

Psyc student completes prestigious internship

Junior psychology major Mallory Jungles completed a prestigious internship with the Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern California’s (USC) premiere lab for social and emotional neuroscience.

Debbie Sturm helps launch climate crisis mental health task force

Through the American Counseling Association (ACA), graduate psychology professor Debbie Sturm is part of an effort to help counselors address the mental health impact of the climate crisis.

#CHBSChats with Tara Riley

#CHBSChats with Tara Riley (Health Sciences) - Our series of informal chats with students

Veterans find new opportunities for service in PA program

Two students in JMU’s Physician Assistant (PA) program use their military experience to guide their studies and career plans.

Treating the community

UPCARE Scholars are learning about chronic disease management, preventive care and hospital transition management in a rural setting.

National association recognizes JMU doctoral student

International student Ph.D. candidate Lakshmi Magudilu Srishyla Kumar has received two awards from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) this year.

Psychology student’s field placement becomes post-graduation job

JMU alumna Haley Brill (’18) completed her field placement in fall 2018, and is currently working as a full-time parole officer with the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC).

Combining her loves

Karah Nazor (’99) is a Teacher at Sea participant who has swum the English Channel.

Psychology learning community hosts reunion during homecoming

Paul Pohto (’14) was part of the PLC during his time at JMU and came up with the idea to host a PLC Reunion during Homecoming weekend.

#CHBSChats with Anna Cantalina

#CHBSChats with Anna Cantalina (Communication Sciences and Disorders) - Our series of informal chats with students

Eat up during the holidays, but keep an eye on nutrition

Overindulging can be hard to resist, but there are ways to enjoy holiday eating and still maintain a healthy diet.

JMU School of Nursing to grow, address catch-22 situation

Starting in January, the program will admit 23 additional students each semester for a cohort of 113, a 25 percent increase.

Paynter uses analysis, creativity and precision to tell a story

Distinguished alumna Sarah Paynter (’17) has made the most of her experiences since leaving JMU, demonstrating what it means to follow a passion and contribute to the world.

#CHBSChats with Alvin Osorio

#CHBSChats with Alvin Osorio (Kinesiology) - Our series of informal chats with students

Inter-professional study abroad in Rwanda

Seven communication sciences and disorders (CSD) and two social work students traveled to Rwanda to complete a cross-cultural comparison of service delivery to at-risk infants in both the U.S. and Rwanda.

CHBS welcomes new associate dean and director of IIHHS

JMU welcomes professor Linda Plitt Donaldson to the College of Health and Behavioral Studies (CHBS) as Associate Dean of CHBS and Director of the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services (IIHHS).

Interprofessional group receives grant for youth programming

Funding will provide weekly programming and a summer day camp for youth from underserved populations by pairing youth who are at risk with youth with disabilities who will be co-mentored by JMU students.

Psychology students build new skills as RBTs

Over the summer, psychology students Paige Casey and Kyle Cooper had the chance to work with Continuum Autism Spectrum Alliance as Registered Behavior Technicians.

#CHBSChats with Shay Lumpkin

#CHBSChats with Shay Lumpkin (Psychology) - Our series of informal chats with students

Students enhance their healthcare education through AHEC Scholars Program

In the effort to transform healthcare in the state, the AHEC (Area Health Education Center) Scholars program gives students in health-related majors additional training.

Kinesiology welcomes Maureen Pfahler

With 12 years of teaching experience, Maureen Pfahler (’06) returns to her alma mater as a kinesiology instructor and acting director of Empowerment3.

#CHBSFacultyFocus with Suzanne Grossman

#CHBSFacultyFocus with Suzanne Grossman (Health Sciences) - Get to know CHBS faculty

Psychology welcomes new faculty

Psychology welcomes Giselle Hendy and Ben Blankenship.

Engagement mini grant funds training for cohort

When Carlie Madsen, a student in the online MS-SLP program, found the application for the engagement mini grants offered by the SGA, she knew that it was an opportunity she couldn’t resist.

JMU expert busts flu myths

James Madison University researcher Audrey Burnett recommends getting a flu shot soon as it take a couple weeks for the vaccine to take effect.

Psychology alumnus appointed Vice Chancellor of HR at Minnesota State

Psychology alumnus Eric Davis (’92) served in the Air Force, worked as Chief of Staff at the Minnesota DOT and currently serves as Vice Chancellor of HR at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Battling hopelessness in Hurricane Dorian's aftermath is key

While the physical trauma is easy to spot, other types of trauma are not so visible, says JMU Graduate Psychology Professor Lennie Echterling.

JMU dietitian offers healthy summer eating tips

Now that summer is in full swing, here are some thoughts JMU dietetics professor Jennifer Walsh has on healthy eating.

JMU Center Engages Women and Girls in Wellness Activities

JMU’s Morrison Bruce Center seeks to engage women and girls in healthy physical activity opportunities.

Horst, Finney and Fulcher collaborate on webinar

Professors Sara Finney, Jeanne Horst and Keston Fulcher collaborate on webinar

Area youth to participate in inclusive sports festival

More than 100 central Shenandoah Valley youth have registered to participate in wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, pickleball and other activities.

Finney and Horst Speak at Carnegie Mellon University

Professors Sara Finney and Jeanne Horst traveled to Carnegie Mellon University from May 5-8 to participate in the 2019 Summit of the Empirical Educators Project

The healing power of magic

Magician Kevin Spencer is a pioneer in the use of magic tricks for physical and psychosocial rehabilitation, and focuses his research on how teaching magic can be a fun, motivational way to aid in patient recovery.

Psychology instructors combine classes to discuss research

To liven up class material, Julia Dobner-Pereira and Christian Haase, graduate students in the CIPSYD program, brought their PSYC 101 classes together to recreate an academic conference.

#CHBSChats with Andi Diamond

#CHBSChats with Andi Diamond (Physician Assistant - Health Professions) - Our series of informal chats with students

The importance of interprofessional education in healthcare

More than 90 students participated in an interprofessional education (IPE) event hosted by Health Professions

Helping children on the autism spectrum

Senior communication sciences and disorders (CSD) major Maci Letsky completed immersive internships during two consecutive summers with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Aspire.

Nursing introduces perioperative elective

Perioperative nurses work with surgery patients, surgeons and anesthesiologists; most significantly, they work “behind the red line,” where only those having surgery or performing surgery are permitted.

EVENT: Youth Igniting Change Summer Institute 2019

Join us June 17 - 21 for our 5th annual Youth Igniting Change Summer Institute for rising 9th-12th graders. More information and registration included.

Students participate in health policy summit

Every semester, JMU’s Health Policy Collaborative provides a forum for students to engage with compelling public health issues while exploring how legislative advocacy can improve wellness, work and quality of life for m

#CHBSChats with Katelin Curd & Jacqueline Billy

#CHBSChats with Riley Smith (Communication Sciences and Disorders) - Our series of informal chats with students

#CHBSChats with Riley Smith

#CHBSChats with Riley Smith (Communication Sciences and Disorders) - Our series of informal chats with students

CCN: a canvas of intergenerational caring

Students who participate in the Caregivers Community Network are finding that art is a fun way to ‘connect, create, and contribute’

Inclusive recreation in action

On February 21, more than 200 students participated in Paralympic Skill Lab (PSL) where they learned to play wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and goalball alongside Paralympic and other distinguished athletes.

2019 CHBS mini-grant recipients announced

Congratulations to the recipients of the recent mini-grant competition to support faculty development.

#CHBSChats with Cam Sutton

#CHBSChats with Cam Sutton (Kinesiology) - Our series of informal chats with students

#CHBSChats with Janae Brown

#CHBSChats with Janae Brown (Social Work) - Our series of informal chats with students

#CHBSChats with Grace Cuevas

#CHBSChats with Grace Cuevas (Social Work) - Our series of informal chats with students

Department of Health Professions welcomes new academic unit head

Recent rapid growth in CHBS’s health programs lead to the creation of a new academic unit in 2018. A search successfully identified Kirk Armstrong as the head of the new Department of Health Professions.

Graduate turns thesis into successful career

Rachel Gregory (’16) graduated with a Master of Science degree in nutrition and physical activity. Since then, she has started her own successful business and published a book; all based on her graduate school research.

JMU assessment and measurement faculty partner with Carnegie Mellon

JMU faculty have formed a strategic partnership with colleagues at Carnegie Mellon

Students work together to provide healthcare at homeless shelters

For the past year, students in the nursing, physician assistant and dietetics programs have volunteered with the mobile healthcare service that provides treatment to the local homeless population.