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Marquis Scholar Heather Wood ’04 (Hamilton, N.J.) is conducting yearlong honors research that explores the thoughts and attitudes of college students toward mental illness and therapy.
“I have noticed through interaction with my peers that there is to some extent an aversion to seeking therapy,” says Wood, a double major in psychology and English. “I hope that through this research, I will find ways to improve attitudes, thereby encouraging people to seek help if they have a problem.”
Wood spent a semester abroad in Florence, Italy, and used her Marquis Scholarship to travel to China during the January interim session. Marquis Scholars also participate in cultural activities in major cities and on campus, and mentoring programs with Lafayette faculty.
During the fall, Wood researched and learned about attitudes associated with individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses, and conducted a literature review of research dealing with the topic. This spring, she has developed an investigation and designed a study to test hypotheses.
“I am particularly interested in examining the stigma associated with mental illness and how we can alleviate this problem through various educational methods,” she explains.
Alan Childs, professor and department head of psychology, is Wood’s adviser for the project. She asked Childs to work with her because he creates a scholastic atmosphere full of debate and cooperative learning, she says.
“Dr. Childs is very knowledgeable in social psychology and health psychology. I feel very confident that by working with Professor Childs, my thesis will be work I do to the best of my ability,” Wood says. “I really enjoy being able to work one-on-one with a faculty member. That’s one of the really good things about Lafayette.”
“Heather has eagerly accepted the challenge of finding and reading a fairly large body of literature and then analyzing it in the effort to form her own approach to a research project,” Childs says. “I have great expectations for her research.”
The work will be presented to psychology faculty for approval and the awarding of honors in the major. Wood says that with the help of Childs, she is confident that it will pass muster. She also says that the small size and caring faculty of Lafayette provide the campus with a good academic environment.
“In my three years here, I have gotten to know almost all of the psychology professors, and I would feel comfortable stopping by any professor’s office for information or guidance,” Wood says. “I don’t think you can find that at many schools.”
“Lafayette provides bright and motivated students such as Heather the opportunity to work on a complex independent research project with the direct guidance of a faculty member,” Childs adds. “It also provides top-notch library services and excellent computer resources for this kind of project.”
Wood is planning on heading to graduate school after graduating from Lafayette in May. She would like to go into clinical psychology, which deals with mental disorders. She says the field combines practical psychology applications with research, a combination that is appealing to her.
She is a member of the Psi Chi psychology honor society, the Psychology Club’s leadership council, and the club field hockey team. She is also a psychology lab assistant and was a writing associate and tutor in the psychology department. She is former director of alumni and family relations for the Alpha Phi sorority. She is a recipient of Lafayette’s Gilbert Prize, awarded annually to students who have demonstrated superiority in English.
Wood is a graduate of Hamilton Township High School West.
Honors thesis projects are among several major opportunities at Lafayette that make the College a national leader in undergraduate research. Lafayette sends one of the largest contingents to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research each year. Forty-two students have been accepted to present their work at the next annual conference in April.
Chosen from among Lafayette’s most promising applicants, Marquis Scholars have distinguished themselves through exceptional academic achievement in high school. They receive a special financial aid award and distinctive educational experience and benefits, including a three-week, Lafayette-funded study-abroad course during January’s interim session between regular semesters.