AUS chapter of international psychology honor society wins model chapter of the year

American University of Sharjah’s (AUS) Psi Chi Chapter was recently designated a Psi Chi Model Chapter 2021–2022 by Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.  

Established in Spring 2021, the AUS Psi Chi Chapter is part of an international network that recognizes academic excellence in university students who major or minor in psychology. The mission of the chapter is to recognize and promote excellence in the science and application of psychology by highlighting the work of psychology students and faculty on campus, introducing the AUS community to psychology experts and inviting them to campus for lectures and events, and creating a community of high-achieving psychology students to support one another. It is also a member of the Psi Chi’s International Partners and Leaders (IPALs) Program, which connects Psi Chi chapters, building professional and personal connections. The AUS chapter works in partnership with Florida State University through IPALs, and also worked on Psi Chi’s 2021–2022 International Collaborative Exchange research project. Currently, there are 40 members in the AUS Psi Chi Chapter, with new members joining every year.

“We really worked hard in raising the profile of our chapter and what we do internationally and on campus. Our active presence and induction of new members, publication in Psi Chi’s magazine, Eye on Psi Chi, participation in Psi Chi Board of Directors elections, organization of on-campus activities and demonstration of effective leadership and team-led engagement all led to our selection. We are proud of what we have achieved,” said Alaa Ibrahim Itani, a fourth-year psychology major and active AUS Psi Chi Chapter member, who also served as its president until April 2022.

The chapter also provides academic support to all psychology students. Members are eligible to apply for research grants and conference travel grants, and to submit their work for publication in the peer-reviewed Psi Chi journal. Being a member of Psi Chi provides students with formal global acknowledgment of their academic success and provides chapter officers with invaluable leadership experience.

“Before being elected President of the AUS Psi Chi Chapter, I had limited experience in leadership. Being part of this chapter nurtured my leadership potential, and pushed me and my team to take initiatives and become active contributors to the chapter. I learned that being a good leader amounts to little without a competent, dependable and supportive team who lift each other up, and I could not have asked for a better team of officers than students Haneen Maree, Neda Fadavi, Selena Atari, Maryam Alfalasi and Zainah Al Jundi. Reflecting on this experience, I feel excited for what is to come. I am now more confident in myself, and I believe that when you let your own light shine, you give others the courage to do the same,” said Itani.

Reflecting on the win, Dr. Brien Ashdown, Associate Professor in Psychology and faculty advisor of the AUS Psi Chi Chapter, said: “This is a big honor, especially for the student leadership team of  2021–2022. There are more than 1,100 chapters of Psi Chi around the world, and this honor puts our chapter  in the top three percent of all Psi Chi chapters. This is a huge achievement for the very first year of the chapter! All AUSers should be proud of this recognition. It is evidence of the amazing things that happen on our campus.”

Psychology is a discipline that can be applied to all aspects of everyday life, looking into internal and external factors that affect people, how they think, behave and develop. The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BAPSY), offered through the AUS College of Arts and Sciences, provides students with a broad knowledge of the field of psychology as well as a solid foundation in research, analysis and ethics. The BAPSY is rounded out with a wide range of complementary liberal arts electives, ensuring graduates are fully equipped to apply their new knowledge and skills in a varied range of professions and sectors, including the health, business, government, social and education sectors.

For more information about the psychology program at AUS, visit www.aus.edu/cas/department-of-international-studies/bachelor-of-arts-in-....