The psychology students at Pacific Union College, with the support of their faculty mentors, have received 10 Psi Chi Regional Research Awards over the past 10 years. During this time, PUC earned the 2nd highest number of awards of all schools in the western region and the seventh highest number of awards across all regions in the United States! There are about 10 PUC students who are a part of Psi Chi. “These awards are a true testament to the hard work our faculty and students do every day,” said Damaris Perez, chair of psychology and social work. “We are committed to teaching and supporting our students and their pursuit of research endeavors. We take great pride in their accomplishments and hope to continue reaching these milestones.”

“I am an MSW intern at Child Protective Services in Sonoma County. In my internship, I carry child welfare cases and also help to support foster families. My social work professors at PUC were very influential in helping shape the type of social worker I am becoming. Their passion for social justice, their keen insights they provided in the classroom, and their strong sense of integrity left a huge impression on me and I often find myself asking ‘What would my PUC professors tell me to do in this situation?’ when I am faced with making hard decisions at my internship. The things I learned in classes also helped me gain a strong knowledge base, which made returning to graduate school a lot easier. I will always be grateful to my professors and to the PUC department of social work for helping pave my path to success.”