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Great Plains Students' Psychology Convention Schedule
GPSPC Event information
Our Keynote Speaker for the Great Plains Students' Psychology Convention this year is Dr. Laura A. King from University of Missouri, Columbia in Missouri. Dr. King is a Personality and Social Psychologist who has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. We are grateful that Dr. King agreed to be our Keynote Speaker at Great Plains this year where she will be talking about how to find meaning in life.
In this engaging and thought-provoking talk, Dr. Laura King, an acclaimed psychologist and expert in the science of well-being, explores one of humanity's most enduring questions: How do we find meaning in life? Drawing on her groundbreaking research in the areas of meaning, happiness, and purpose, Dr. King weaves together psychological theories, philosophical perspectives, and empirical findings to illuminate how we create meaning in our everyday lives. She will discuss how our personal values, relationships, and even moments of adversity contribute to a sense of purpose, and how cultivating meaning is deeply connected to well-being. Through stories, research insights, and practical strategies, Dr. King invites us to reflect on how we can live more fulfilling lives by aligning our choices with what truly matters. Whether you’re seeking clarity on your life’s purpose or simply curious about what makes life meaningful, this talk promises to inspire and empower you to embrace life with greater intention and joy.
Keynote Speaker
Name: Laura A. King, Ph.D.
Title: Curators' Distinguished Professor of Psychological Science, University of Missouri,
Columbia
Speaker Information: Laura lives with her wife, Lisa, and their son, Sam who is a student at the University
of Pittsburgh. She enjoys morning runs with the family dog, John, and hosting extravagant
dinner parties.
Finalized Schedule of events
Friday, March 21, 2025
Event |
Time |
Location |
| Visiting High School student activities hosted by UCM Psi Chi and Psychology Club Organizations | 10:00am - 12:00 pm | Union 219 & 234 |
| Registration for Presenters and Attendees | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm | Union Atrium |
| Welcome Session - UCM President Dr. Roger Best | 1:15 - 1:30 pm | Union Auditorium |
| Keynote Speaker - Dr. Laura King (Mizzou) | 1:30 - 2:30 pm | Union Auditorium |
| Oral Session 1a | 2:45 - 3:30 pm | Union Auditorium |
| Oral Session 1b | 2:45 - 3:45 pm | Union 235 |
| Oral Session 2 | 4:00 - 5:00 pm | Union Auditorium |
| Poster setup | 12:00 - 5:00 pm | Union 238 |
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Event |
Time |
Location |
| Registration | 7:30 - 8:30 am | Union Atrium |
| Donuts and Coffee for Students | 8:00 - 8:30 am | Union 240 |
| Planning Meeting for Faculty | 8:00 - 8:30 am | Union 219 |
| Oral Session 3a | 8:30 - 9:30 am | Union 237A |
| Oral Session 3b | 8:30 - 9:30 am | Union 235 |
| Poster Session | 9:45 - 10:45 am | Union 238 |
| Oral Session 4a | 11:00 - 11:45 am | Union 237A |
| Oral Session 4b | 11:00 - 11:45 am | Union 235 |
| Awards Ceremony, Lunch, and Thank You Video | 12:15 - 2:00 pm | Union 240 |
Great Plains 2025 Moderator and Judge Information
Dr. David Kreiner
Professor
Psychological Science, UCM
kreiner@ucmo.edu
Dr. Kreiner's Experimental Psychology Lab
Dr. Kreiner earned a B.A. in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Human Experimental Psychology from the University of Texas–Austin. He has been teaching at UCM since 1990. His research interests include language, memory, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. He regularly teaches General Psychology, Orientation to Psychology, Research Design & Analysis I and II, Cognitive Psychology, and History of Psychology.
Affiliations and Organizations:
- Psi Chi Faculty Advisor, UCM
- Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA: Divisions 2 and 3)
- Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science (APS)
- Fellow of the Psychonomic Society
- Fellow of the Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA)
- Current Member of the American Psychological Association's Committee on Associate and Baccalaureate Education
Dr. Adam Runyan
Assistant Professor
Psychological Science, UCM
Great Plains 2025 Conference Coordinator
arunyan@ucmo.edu
Dr. Runyan's Research Lab - NeuroCALL
Dr. Runyan earned his B.S. in Psychology from South Dakota State University in 2015 before graduating from UCM in 2017 with a M.S. in Psychology. He went on to earn a M.A. in Behavioral Neuroscience (2019) before graduating with his Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2022. He regularly teaches Research Methods, Physiological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Brain and Behavior, and General Psychology. Dr. Runyan loves teaching and mentoring students and is looking forward to attending GPSPC with UCM students for many years to come!
Affiliations and Organizations:
- Psi Chi Faculty Advisor, UCM
- Psychology Club Faculty Advisor, UCM
- Americal Psychological Association (APA)
- Society of Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)
- Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP)
- Sociaty for Psychophysiological Research (SPR)
- Society of Biological Psychiatry (SOBP)
Dr. Alan Strathman
Department Chair and Professor
Psychological Science, UCM
astrathman@ucmo.edu
Dr. Strathman has been a psychology professor for almost 30 years. He loves teaching general psychology and theories of personality. His main research interests are in the area of time perception, more specifically, examining how immediate and distant consequences of behavior influence decision making.
Affiliations and Organizations:
- Americal Psychological Association (APA)
- Association for Psychological Science (APS)
Ms. Nikole Wright-Montgomery
Assisstant Instructor
Psychological Science, UCM
rnwright@ucmo.edu
Mrs. Wright-Montgomery (WM) earned her M.S. in Pychology at UCM in 2020. Her research interests include multiple components of Health Psychology. WM regularly teaches General Psychology, Lifespan Development, Positive Psychology, Orientation to Psychology, and the Psychology of Drug Addiction.
Affiliations and Organizations:
- Psi Chi
- American Psychological Association (APA)
Dr. Hyeyeon 'Ellie' Hwang
Associate Professor
Psychological Science, UCM
hhwang@ucmo.edu
Dr. Hwang received her M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Western Michigan University and her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from New Mexico State University. Her primary research goal is to identify and explore new approaches and theories to solve societal problems focusing on sustainability, education, and discrimination. She teaches courses including Social Psychology, Research Design & Analysis I and II, Psychology of Women, History of Psychology, and Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Affiliations and Organizations:
- Association for Psychological Science (APS)
- Society of Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)
- Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP)
Dr. Kim Stark
Professor
Psychological Science, UCM
stark@ucmo.edu
Dr. Stark earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Southern Illinois University-
Carbondale and is a licensed psychologist in the state of Missouri. She teaches General
Psychology, Orientation to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and a Professional Development
course for our majors. She also does part-time private practice with Country Crossroads
Counseling. She enjoys mentoring students in their professional development and collaborating
on research projects related to well-being, professional issues in psychology, and
the teaching of psychology.
Affiliations and Organizations:
- American Psychological Association (APA)
Dr. Ken Carter
Professor
Psychological Science, UCM
kcarter@ucmo.edu
Dr. Carter earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Kansas. His graduate training included emphases in human memory and neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. Dr. Carter teaches courses including Physiological Psychology, Research Design & Analysis I and II, Sensation and Perception, and Human Sexuality.
