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Five Benefits of Mental Health Counseling Mental health counselors are a vital part of our society. They help people deal with the stresses and strains of everyday life and provide a confidential, safe space to discuss whatever is on their minds. Here are five reasons why mental health counselors are so important. 1. Counseling can...

While invented in the late 1950s, virtual reality technology is at a new level of cultural awareness thanks to the accessibility of personal VR systems like Oculus and Meta’s creation and promotion of the virtual “Metaverse.” Assistant Professor of Cognitive Science Jared Branch, Ph.D., is utilizing VR technologies at Avila University to understand how the...

Avila Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science Jordan Wagge, Ph.D., received a $267,741 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant from the Division of Undergraduate Education to fund, evaluate, and enhance the activities of the Collaborative Replications and Education Project (CREP). “CREP is a group I have worked with since 2014; I became executive director in 2019...

Eleanor Dick has a fascination with human behavior and a love for research. Her passion and curiosity brought her to Avila to pursue a Master of Science in Psychology. What surprised you about Avila or the psychology program? I am surprised by how close I am to my classmates and professors. I didn’t anticipate developing...

Megan Deaver attended Avila University as an undergrad and loved the small environment and “culture of caring.” She decided to earn her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology. Deaver graduated with her MSCP in 2017. She is now a Private Practice Licensed Professional Counselor and Avila University Adjunct Instructor. Why was Avila and their counseling...

Avila University Welcomes its 105th Graduating Class During commencement exercises on May 14 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, the Colleges of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Science & Health, and Professional Schools held individual graduation ceremonies for undergraduate and graduate degree earners throughout the day to fulfill social distancing requirements. “It is wonderful for...

In addition to being a full-time professor of psychology and cognitive science at Avila, Jordan Wagge, Ph.D., is also, among many things, the Executive Director of CREP (Collaborative Replication and Education Project) and, most recently, a podcast star. She led a conference session titled “Our Students Can Be Our Scientists,” which highlighted the following:  Students...

Jennifer Attila came to Avila to earn her Master of Science in Psychology. She started rapidly developing new health symptoms, which complicated her studies. She was diagnosed with Dystonia. “Upon consulting with my teachers I chose to complete my MS in Psychology and it was the best decision of my life,” said Attila, MSP ‘12....

Iri Torres came to Avila as an international student to earn her Master of Science in Psychology and pursue a career in research psychology in the United States. Torres is currently a Psychometrist at the KU Alzheimer’s Research Disease Center. Why was Avila and their program the right fit for you? Avila has a flexible...

Hope Davis fell in love with psychology in high school and never looked back. She chose Avila’s Master of Science in Psychology because she was looking for a smaller campus community. What surprised you about Avila or the psychology program? Once you take one class from a professor, they are unlikely to forget you and...