No stranger to undergraduate research, Courtney Stevens, a senior psychology major and kinesiology minor in the Honors-in-Major Program, has received multiple grants from the University of New Hampshire’s Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research. Her study of Dr. Gehring, a Maine psychotherapist who practiced at the turn of the twentieth century, took place over a year’s time and culminated in an oral presentation at Cheiron: The International Society for the History of Behavioral and Social Sciences professional conference in summer 2009. While there she was grateful for the opportunity to meet many of the historians whose articles she read in class.
After graduating from UNH with a B.A. in May 2010, the Lebanon, NH, native plans to get a doctorate in clinical health psychology. “Without doubt, my involvement in undergraduate research contributed to my success in the grad school application process,” Courtney says. Working on this project taught her a great deal about the entire research process, from grant writing to archival research to presenting and publishing her work. “At every place I’ve interviewed, the admissions committees have been very impressed with my level of undergraduate research,” says Courtney. Beyond graduate school, she is uncertain of her career plans, but she does know that she wants to study health behaviors and develop interventions to promote maintenance of and long term adherence to health behaviors such as exercise.
A professor of psychology and affiliate professor of history, Dr. Ben Harris has taught at UNH since 2001. As Courtney’s professor and academic adviser, he knew of her interest in psychosomatics and introduced her to Dr. Gehring as a potential research subject during her sophomore year. Dr. Harris enjoyed working with Courtney on this project and says he gained “new insights into the topic” as a result. Working with Courtney on her Inquiry article was an equally positive experience. “It was my pleasure to offer some advice in the initial stage and on the final draft,” says Dr. Harris.
Read Courtney Stevens’ research article Mind-Body Medicine A Hundred Years Ago: An Eclectic, New England Approach to Psychotherapy >>
