biography Page

The Social Research Center

Research Staff of 2006-2007

Researcher and Professor of Psychology:

Dr. Suzanne C. Thompson, Pomona College

Dr. Suzanne C. Thompson is a professor of psychology at Pomona College and an adjunct Professor of Psychology at Claremont Graduate University. She joined the Pomona College faculty in 1982. Dr. Thompson earned her bachelor's degree from Loyola Marymont, her M.A. from California State University, Los Angeles, and her Ph.D from University of California, Los Angeles. Throughout her career, Dr. Thompson has focused her research on issues of social psychology, health and medicine, and environmental psychology. Her most recent professional articles and chapters have focused on caregivers of stroke patients, stereotype and menopause, coping with chronic illness, and personal control in adaptive functioning. She currently teaches Research in Environmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Research Design and Methodology, and The Psychology of Health and Medicine. An expert in social psychology, she has written numerous publications and designed research scales for use in social psychology. Dr. Thompson has made available her desire for decision control scale, appearance primary and secondary control scale, risk response summary scale, measure of primary and secondary central and consequence-related control and HIV , and her perceived control for cancer patients scale. Dr. Suzanne C. Thompson can be contacted at Suzanne.Thompson@pomona.edu .

Teresa Robbins is a doctoral candidate in the Applied Social Psychology doctoral program at Claremont Graduate University. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from Drake University in 1999, and a M.A. in Applied Social Psychology from Claremont Graduate University in 2002. Her research interests are centered around ethnic identity and intergroup relations, specifically ... Her dissertation research examines the effects of ethnic identity development and school interracial climate on student outcomes. Teresa previously held a 2-year position as student representative for the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. She also has taught at the community college level for the past three years. In her spare time, Teresa likes to hike, read, and listen to live music. Teresa can be contacted at Teresa.Robbins@cgu.edu .

Research Assistants:

Amelia Gonzalez, Claremont Graduate University

Chris is a first year in the Applied Social Psychology program at Claremont Graduate University. Chris majored in Psychology at UCLA, took time off to work in the San Francisco Bay Area at PayPal and eBay, then returned to get his master's degree in Experimental Psychology at CSU, Northridge. His research interests are predominantly in the area of interpersonal relationships (marriage, dating, friendships, family). He is especially interested in how issues related to sexuality, communication, conflict, dissolution, culture, and health can influence interpersonal relationships and perceptions of those relationships. His career goals are to ultimately become a professor of psychology and conduct research related to interpersonal relationships. On his free time, Chris enjoys traveling, video games, reading (non-fiction), music, film, performance art, and cooking. Chris can be contacted at Christopher.Lamb@cgu.edu.

Christine Calderon is from Hemet, California and is a junior at Pomona College (class of 2009). She is majoring in psychology with specific interests in clinical and developmental psychology. After graduating from Pomona, she plans on attending a doctoral graduate program in order to pursue a career in clinical psychology. Outside of academics, Christine plays for the Pomona-Pitzer softball team. She also enjoys dancing and spending time with family and friends. Christine can be contacted at Christine.Calderon@pomona.edu .

Bonnie Hernandez , Pomona College

Alison Ryan, Claremont McKenna College

Mackenzie Smith, Pomona College

Past Research Assistants:

The Social Research Center *Research Staff of 2006-2007*
Welcome! Dr Thompson's research is made easier with a research team. A little bit about each team member can be found below. Enjoy reading about us!

Researcher and Professor of Psychology: *Dr. Suzanne C. Thompson, Pomona College*
	Dr. Suzanne C. Thompson is a professor of psychology at Pomona College and an adjunct Professor of Psychology at Claremont Graduate University. She joined the Pomona College faculty in 1982. Dr. Thompson earned her bachelor's degree from Loyola Marymont, her M.A. from California State University, Los Angeles, and her Ph.D from University of California, Los Angeles. Throughout her career, Dr. Thompson has focused her research on issues of social psychology, health and medicine, and environmental psychology. Her most recent professional articles and chapters have focused on caregivers of stroke patients, stereotype and menopause, coping with chronic illness, and personal control in adaptive functioning. She currently teaches Research in Environmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Research Design and Methodology, and The Psychology of Health and Medicine. An expert in social psychology, she has written numerous publications and designed research scales for use in social psychology. Dr. Thompson has made available her desire for decision control scale, appearance primary and secondary control scale, risk response summary scale, measure of primary and secondary central and consequence-related control and HIV , and her perceived control for cancer patients scale. Dr. Suzanne C. Thompson can be contacted at Suzanne.Thompson@pomona.edu .

Research Team Leader:
*Teresa Robbins , Claremont Graduate University*
Teresa Robbins is a doctoral candidate in the Applied Social Psychology doctoral program at Claremont Graduate University. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from Drake University in 1999, and a M.A. in Applied Social Psychology from Claremont Graduate University in 2002. Her research interests are centered around ethnic identity and intergroup relations, specifically ... Her dissertation research examines the effects of ethnic identity development and school interracial climate on student outcomes. Teresa previously held a 2-year position as student representative for the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. She also has taught at the community college level for the past three years. In her spare time, Teresa likes to hike, read, and listen to live music. Teresa can be contacted at Teresa.Robbins@cgu.edu .

Research Assistants: *Amelia Gonzalez, Claremont Graduate University*
	Amelia Gonzalez earned her B.A. in psychology at California State University , Los Angeles in 2006. She is currently in her first year of the doctoral program at Claremont Graduate University in the Applied Social Psychology Program. Her research interests include health behavior, specifically dealing with reproductive health. Amelia is interested in the development of STI, HIV/AIDS, and teen pregnancy intervention and prevention programs that will be effective in working with an adolescent Latina population. In her free time Amelia enjoys spending time with family and friends, painting, and traveling. Amelia can be contacted at: Amelia.Gonzalez@cgu.edu.
*Chris Lamb, Claremont Graduate University*
Chris is a first year in the Applied Social Psychology program at Claremont Graduate University. Chris majored in Psychology at UCLA, took time off to work in the San Francisco Bay Area at PayPal and eBay, then returned to get his master's degree in Experimental Psychology at CSU, Northridge. His research interests are predominantly in the area of interpersonal relationships (marriage, dating, friendships, family). He is especially interested in how issues related to sexuality, communication, conflict, dissolution, culture, and health can influence interpersonal relationships and perceptions of those relationships. His career goals are to ultimately become a professor of psychology and conduct research related to interpersonal relationships. On his free time, Chris enjoys traveling, video games, reading (non-fiction), music, film, performance art, and cooking. Chris can be contacted at Christopher.Lamb@cgu.edu.
*Sarah Ting , Claremont Graduate University*
	Sarah Ting joined the Social Research Center with Dr. Thompson in Fall 2004. She is a fourth year student originally from Massachusetts enrolled in the doctoral program in Applied Social Psychology at Claremont Graduate University . She received her bachelor's degree in Psychology and French Studies from Smith College in 2003 and her Master of Arts in Psychology from Claremont Graduate University in 2005. Sarah's research interests include substance abuse treatment and prevention, perceptions of control, health related decision-making, attitudes, and social influence research. For fun, her hobbies include playing tennis, going to the beach, and traveling. Sarah can be contacted at Sarah.Ting@cgu.edu.
*Christine Calderon, Pomona College*
Christine Calderon is from Hemet, California and is a junior at Pomona College (class of 2009). She is majoring in psychology with specific interests in clinical and developmental psychology. After graduating from Pomona, she plans on attending a doctoral graduate program in order to pursue a career in clinical psychology. Outside of academics, Christine plays for the Pomona-Pitzer softball team. She also enjoys dancing and spending time with family and friends. Christine can be contacted at Christine.Calderon@pomona.edu .
*Christina Castillo, Pomona College*
	Christina, born and raised in Pomona, California, is a junior at Pomona College (class of 2009). She is a Psychology major with specific interests in clinical and social psychology. After graduating from college she plans to get her masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and eventually open up her own private practice. Along with her academic interests, Christina spends a lot of her time with family and friends and enjoys listening to music, dancing, and exercising. Christina can be contacted at Christina.Castillo@pomona.edu .
*Bonnie Hernandez , Pomona College*
Bonnie Hernandez, from Calimesa, California, is a junior at Pomona College (class of 2008). She is majoring in Psychology, with particular interest in clinical psychology. After graduating from Pomona she intends to seek relevant job experience before applying to graduate programs. In addition to her academic interests, Bonnie also enjoys dancing, playing card games and backgammon, and spending time with her family and friends. Bonnie can be contacted by email at Bonnie.Hernandez@pomona.edu.
*Rebecca Payne, Pomona College*
	Rebecca Payne is a junior at Pomona College. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, she is pursuing a double major in Mathematics and Psychology. She is interested in clinical and health psychology, and plans to get her Ph.D. in clinical psychology after graduating from Pomona. Rebecca can be contacted at Rebecca.Payne@pomona.edu .
*Alison Ryan, Claremont McKenna College*
Alison Ryan is originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She is a sophomore at Claremont McKenna College (class of 2009), pursuing a dual major in Psychology and Legal Studies. She holds interests in social and health psychology research, and desires to pursue a Ph.D. in quantitative psychology after finishing her B.A. In her spare time, she likes to read, hike, run, and watch hockey. Alison can be contacted at Alison.Ryan.09@claremontmckenna.edu.
*Mackenzie Smith, Pomona College*
	Mackenzie, born and raised in San Marino, California, is a sophomore at Pomona College (class of 2009). She is double-majoring in Psychology and Anthropology with specific interests in clinical and health psychology. After graduating from college she plans to get her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Along with her academic interests, Mackenzie spends a lot of her time working out with the Pomona-Pitzer softball team. Mackenzie can be contacted by email at Mackenzie.Smith@pomona.edu.

Past Research Assistants: *Iris Beltran, Pomona College, 2002* *Laura Bishop, Pomona College, 2002-2003* Michelle J. Bovin, Claremont Graduate University, 2001-2005 Erin Carter, Pomona College, 2004-2005 **Jackie Chen, Pomona College, 2006-2007 Brenda T. Dougan, Claremont Graduate University, 2001-2004 Kelsey Ferguson, Pomona College, 2002-2003 Elizabeth Hoyt, Pomona College, 2003 Ashley Jackson, Pomona College, 2004-2005 Kelly Lowenberg , Pomona College, 2003-2004 Peter Marks, Pomona College, 2004-2005 Desiree Montes, Pomona College, 2002-2005 Angela Niermann, Pomona College, 2004-2006 Sharon Ostermann, Pomona College, 2004-2006 Aria Rafzadeh, Claremont McKenna College, 2005 Stephanie Rohde, Pomona College, 2003 Jonathan Ross, Pomona College, 2006-2007 Michele Schlehofer, Claremont Graduate University, 2002-2007 Jessica Skenderian, Claremont Graduate University, 2006-2007 Jennifer Sumner, Pomona College, 2003-2006 Peter Tauber, Pomona College, 2004-2007 Claire Tebet, Pomona College, 2002-2003 Sharone Trifskin, Claremont Graduate University, 2002-2005 Andrew Vonasch, Pomona College, 2004-2006 Molly Waring, Harvey Mudd College, 2002-2003 Loryana Wurzman, Pomona College, 2005 The Social Research Center Back to the top**