2025 Conference Recap
The 6th annual Western New York Undergraduate Psychology Conference will be held on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 in Davis Hall on the University at Buffalo’s North Campus. There were 50 student posters and 5 oral presentations. Approximately 200 students, faculty, and guests from 12 different institutions (Alfred University, Buffalo State University, Cornell University, D’Youville University, Daemen University, Houghton University, Keuka College, Roberts Wesleyan University, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Brockport, SUNY Fredonia, and the University at Buffalo) were in attendance!
Photo credit: Dr. Wendy Quinton
Presentation Award Winners
The award for the “Best Oral Presentation” goes to…
Jana Alexandrine B. Ausa
for their presentation
“Smash or Pass?: How Personality Relates to Amount and Type of Pornography You Consume and the Fantasies You Have”
(SUNY Fredonia, Faculty Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth A. Mahar)
The award for the “Best Poster Presentation” goes to…
Erim Buyuk
for their presentation
“Interpersonal trauma and co-use: trauma’s relationship with substance use and disconstraint”
(University at Buffalo, Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Read)
The award for the “Best Poster Presentation Runner-up” goes to…
Tiago Mortellaro
for their presentation
“Ingestive behaviors in response to caffeine are unique compared to other bitters”
(University at Buffalo, Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ann-Maire Torregrossa)
Thank you to our conference judges!
Dr. Amy Button-Ervin (Alfred University)
Dr. Rebecca Houston (Rochester Institute of Technology)
Dr. Hannah Kim (Houghton University)
Dr. Nicholas Koberstein (Keuka College)
Cassondra Lyman (Cornell University)
Dr. Elizabeth Mahar (SUNY Fredonia)
Dr. Michael MacLean (Buffalo State University)
Dr. Dani McMay (SUNY Fredonia)
Dr. Matthew Paul (University at Buffalo)
Dr. Dennis Poepsel (Daemen College)
Dr. Kathleen Parks (University at Buffalo)
Dr. Marjorie Prokosch (Rochester Institute of Technology)
Dr. Timothy Pruiit (University at Buffalo)
Dr. Manpreet Rai (D’Youville University)
Dr. Howard Reid (Buffalo State University)
Conference Schedule
Saturday, April 5th, 2025
08:30 – 09:00 am: Check-in Time
09:00 – 09:10 am: Opening Remarks
09:10 – 10:10 am: Poster Presentations: Session 1
10:10 – 10:20 am: {Break}
10:20 – 11:30 am: Oral Presentations
11:40 – 12:40 pm: Lunch {provided for registered attendees}
12:50 – 01:50 pm: Poster Presentations: Session 2
01:50 – 02:00 pm: {Break}
02:00 – 02:45 pm: Keynote Speaker
02:45 – 03:00 pm: Closing Remarks and Awards
*All times are EST
A list of presentation titles and presenters can be found here.
Keynote Speaker
Stontay Barnes, MA
Ms. Shontay Barnes received both her Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Psychology and Social Sciences Interdisciplinary from the University at Buffalo in 2015. As a Daniel Acker Scholar and Ronald E. McNair Scholar, she accessed many opportunities to build community through academic research, internships, and study abroad programs. She was also a Charles Haynie Memorial Student Award recipient in 2014. She received her master’s degree in psychology in 2017, also from the University at Buffalo. Since 2019, Shontay has worked at Via Evaluation, a local women-owned consulting firm in program evaluation, receiving a promotion from Research Associate to Evaluation Project Manager in 2022. The primary focus of her professional work is on criminal justice reform, through evaluating reentry and treatment court programs in the NYS Unified Court System. She supports her local community by volunteering with several organizations and as a Rising Leaders (Class of 2022) Chair with Leadership Buffalo.
About the WNY Undergraduate Psychology Conference
The goal of this conference is to provide an affordable and convenient opportunity for undergraduate psychology students to present their scientific findings at a research meeting. This conference is specifically designed to be open and inviting to undergraduate students and is a great transition to larger national conventions. Additionally, this conference provides an opportunity for local WNY students and faculty to meet and network.
Registration costs
Registration is free!
Presentation formats
Students can give one of two types of presentations: 1) a poster presentation or 2) an oral presentation (10 minute maximum). Presenters must indicate which presentation format they would prefer in their abstract submission. For more details on the presentation formats and requirements, visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
Deadlines
The deadline for abstract submissions has past. We are no long accepting submissions.
General registration is now open! Due to limited space, registration is required in order to attend the conference. The deadline for general registration is March 28th, 2025. Register here.
Past Conferences
Question? Contact us
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