Give Sac State Day 2019

Gifts to our department ensure our students are successful inside and outside of the classroom. Your gift will send a student to present their original, innovative research at an academic research conference. It will make sure our students get to participate in this valuable professional development and networking opportunity, critical for realizing their future path in Psychology. Keep reading to hear our students' voices.

"Being given the opportunity to not only conduct my own research, but present at conferences as well, has made a huge difference in future opportunities I have been given. As an undergraduate, the goal of presenting at an academic conference for research motivated me to spearhead my own project; starting from a small idea all the way to disseminating the analyses I found, and sharing with others in my field the importance of my work. After graduation, I was applying for research positions, and because of all of my experience attending and presenting at conferences, I received a job offer as a professional researcher at a world renowned medical institute, focusing on autism research. Had I not received all of the research opportunities that I did as an undergraduate at CSU Sacramento, I would not have been qualified to work at the forefront of autism research on groundbreaking, nation-wide projects. It has also given me the confidence to present at international conferences, and apply to graduate school, because I know my research experience is unique and valuable.”

“Presenting at academic conferences has been vital to my growth and development in both my undergraduate and graduate careers, respectively. I love presenting at conferences since it has afforded me the opportunity to gain insight and knowledge regarding academic avenues, and niche-based interests in Psychology, as well to network and learn from professionals who share similar interests. Every time I attend a conference, I am reminded that while research in Psychology spans multiple arenas in the human context, at the end of the day, we share the common goal which is to benefit society through the power of applied research, to make a difference in our communities, neighborhoods, and schools!”

“Personally, attending conferences has been a rewarding experience for me because it has made me more comfortable speaking in public and sharing my interests with others. With presenting at conferences, I have found a greater confidence in speaking to faculty members from different schools. I look forward to attending conferences every year because I gain so much insight from others, which completely fosters my personal growth.”

"Presenting [at academic research conferences] provided me experience in explaining results of data analyses to different audiences, which has been valuable in job interviews and entering my career."

"I've been able to meet researchers from other universities and get ideas for my graduate work and professional opportunities."

"Balancing attending conferences on top of coursework in undergrad and grad school made me a better student because I worked hard to get to go experience them."

"Having the experience of conference attendance, presenting posters and symposia on my CV put me above other candidates in applying to graduate school and career jobs."

“Personally, attending conferences has provided me with an opportunity to manifest my skills and knowledge in a fashion that celebrates a culmination of my passion and dedication. Professionally, attending conferences has facilitated many opportunities for me to meet fellow students and professionals within my industry. Forming relationships with future employers and bonds with my cohort has been invaluable to my growth. Attending conferences allows one to be exposed to the edge of contemporary research and illuminates the myriad of content within the relative field.”