EXCEL Scholar: Kelly Egan ’03 Explores Field of Psychology through Genetic Engineering Research, Nursing Home Internship

Psychology major Kelly Egan ’03 (Vernon, N.J.) is exploring the field of psychology in depth this year through a research project on genetics and an internship in a nursing home.

Egan completed the first of two semesters as an EXCEL Scholar with John S. Shaw, associate professor and assistant head of psychology, in a project examining how people make decisions about genetic testing and how they feel about genetic engineering and cloning. In EXCEL, students collaborate closely with faculty on research while earning a stipend.

Egan also completed an internship on Wednesdays at Praxis, a long-term care facility for Alzheimer’s and other patients in Easton. She assisted patients with physical fitness and art activities. Egan will continue to volunteer there next semester.

“Both my EXCEL position and this internship are allowing me to gain true experience and apply training I have received in the classroom,” says Egan. “I’m not positive about my career plansthat’s part of the reason I’m so excited about this experience, because I have been given the opportunity to learn about new areas.”

Egan notes that the advances in genetic technologies have great impact on people’s lives. Her EXCEL work gives her the opportunity to determine how people are reacting to these technologies.

Also, since those methods are becoming more accessible, it’s important to understand how people determine whether to participate in genetic tests and treatments for themselves and their children, Egan says.

“I have really been enjoying doing work in this area of psychology,” she says. “This opportunity is allowing me to become knowledgeable about an area with which I have not had much prior experience.”

“Kelly has been a true partner in our research this fall,” says Shaw. “Together we designed an experiment to identify specific situational factors that may influence whether or not people want to engage in genetic testing. We collected data from over 140 participants, and we plan to submit a manuscript for publication this spring. Kelly has assisted in every phase of the research, and her insights have contributed immensely to the success of our project. Kelly also works with me as a lab assistant for Psychology 110, and she has been an excellent mentor to the students in the course.”

Egan’s work at Praxis was part of Lafayette’s experientially based course Advanced Applied Psychology. The student spent one full day a week at Praxis, which she feels provides a more genuine experience than would shorter blocks of time.

Egan assisted Kevin Shulte, director of therapeutic recreation, who coordinates the residents’ daily group activities while working one-on-one with a number of residents.

“The group activities range from art, music, and pet therapy to cookie bakeoffs and miniature road trips,” says Egan. “The one-on-one tasks include giving manicures, simply talking with the residents, and helping those with particular talents to demonstrate and practice them as long as possible.”

Egan also attended “care conferences,” in which one representative from each department meets with family members to discuss the patient in question. “I found out about the technical side of things, too, which gave me a different perspective than I had otherwise,” she says.

“I think one of the interesting things I learned was that even though all the residents at Praxis have Alzheimer’s disease, they still have their own personalities. There is a stereotype that everyone acts the same way, but that’s not [the case].”

Shulte says Egan has a great attitude. “We’ve never had a bad Lafayette student here,” he adds. As a psychology major, Egan got a firsthand look at what the disease process does. She knows what she’ll be dealing with if she works with these sorts of patients again.”

Egan interned at NewBridge Services in Pompton Plains last summer, where she worked with mental health clients doing group therapy sessions. She says the Praxis internship has helped solidify her career plans.

“I’ve decided that I want to work in a healthcare setting. Although working with Alzheimer’s patients is not necessarily what I want to do, I think it was good because I got to see how the administration interacts on different levels of healthcare.”

Egan plans on attending graduate school for speech-language pathology in the future.

“Lafayette has been a great place for me to explore a number of different areas that I am interested in for life after college,” says Egan. “The professors are extremely supportive and have offered guidance throughout this exploration.”

“Beyond academics, there is a lot of support from the psychology department. It’s like a big family — I just feel very comfortable there,” she adds.

Egan is a member of Psychology Club and the Psi Chi national psychology honor society, and is a psychology lab assistant. She also plays intramural volleyball and is an usher at Lafayette’s Williams Center for the Arts.

Kelly Egan ’03 and John S. Shaw, associate professor of psychology, review research project on genetics.