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Positive Psydays

We are currently updating the website and organizing the Fall 2021 schedule to accommodate possible COVID-19 modifications.

Positive Psydays Logo

Building a Positive Community

The purpose of Positive PsyDays (previously known as “Positive Fridays” or “TGIPF”) is to build community and share research knowledge from a positive psychological perspective among the master’s and doctoral graduate students in the Division of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences at Claremont Graduate University.

This student-run organization provides a platform for invited guests and CGU students/faculty to gather and discuss cutting-edge positive psychological research and applications. These events are highly encouraged for PhD and MA students working towards becoming the next generation of positive psychology leaders, researchers, practitioners, and evaluators–Positive Developmental, Positive Organizational, and Positive Health concentrations.

Positive PsyDays holds events several times throughout the academic year (about once a month). The events include (but are not limited to) a blend of formats, such as guest lectures, student presentations, Q&A panels, community-building activities, and volunteering opportunities with the Claremont community. Although most events and research topics may have a focus on topics within the field positive psychology, all concentrations are welcome!

Organizing Team

Faculty Sponsors

  • Professor Jeanne Nakamura, PhD
  • Professor Gloria Gonzalez-Morales, PhD

2021 – 2022 Positive Psydays Fellows

The Positive Psydays Fellows are selected each year by the positive psychology faculty prior to the start of the Fall semester. Fellows will serve for one full year and complete a variety of duties in support of the Positive Psydays program.

  • Jaymes Paolo Rombaoa (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Jaymes-paolo.Rombaoa@cgu.edu
  • Ellie Paulson (Positive Organizational Psychology). Email: Elizabeth.Paulson@cgu.edu
  • Clarisa Paschall (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Clarisa.Paschall@cgu.edu
  • Eli Waxler. (Positive Developmental Psychology) Email: Eli.Waxler@cgu.edu

Participating Faculty

  • Dr. Stewart Donaldson
  • Dr. Kendall Cotton Bronk
  • Dr. Saeideh Heshmati
  • Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
  • Dr. Jason Seigel

Founding Faculty

  • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
  • Dr. Becky Reichard

2021 – 2022 Schedule

Spring 2022

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 Kate McCombs, PhD (Brock School of Business, Samford University)
“Leadership, Well-being & Resilience During COVID-19”In this talk, Professor Kate McComb, will discuss the resilient effects of transformational leadership on employee well-being, as well as gender differences that where found in the study. Additionally, Professor McComb will discuss self-leadership and its importance during the COVID-19 pandemic especially as we continue to navigate a post-crisis world. Finally, the talk will include leadership strategies and skills that can enable our future business leaders to handle setbacks, maintain internal motivation, and remain calm, resilient, and optimistic in a time of crisis.Location: Zoom Room
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 Lauren Eales, Doctoral Candidate (University of Minnesota)
“Family Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study”Countless facets of family life changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This talk reviews models of family resilience, findings from a mixed methods study with a Midwestern cohort, and other correlates of psychological distress for parents and children during the first year of the pandemic.Zoom Recording Link 
Monday, February 28, 2022 Jesica Gall Myrick, Ph.D. (Pennsylvania State University)
“More Than a Meme: How Cat Videos and COVID Jokes Can Help Us Cope”Media use is often a villain in public discourse of society’s ills. Many people and public figures argue that media make us believe conspiracies, drive polarization, lead us to procrastinate doing more important tasks, keep us up too late, and even make us dumb. We could debate the merits of these various claims, but it is certain that these discussions also divert our attention from the ability of media to be used for good, to help us cope with the stressors of everyday life, particularly during a global pandemic. In this talk, I will discuss my research on cat videos and memes and how humor and connection via media may help us navigate the stressors of our current world.Zoom Recording Link 

Fall 2021

Friday, November 12, 2021 Christina Costa, Ph.D. Candidate (University of Michigan Ann Arbor)
“Neuro Narratives: An Autoethonographic Account of Resilience & Brain Cancer”In this talk, Christina costa will talk about her experience with being diagnosed with a brain tumor 2020. As a neurodivergent educator, Christina’s mission is to inspire others to celebrate neurodiversity and give hope to other brain cancer and tumor patients. Positive PsyDays is happy to provide this opportunity to listen to and engage with Christina about relevant positive psychology topics such as resilience, gratitude and well-being based on her personal & professional background.Location: Zoom
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Previous Positive Psydays

2020 – 2021

2020-2021 TGIPF Fellows

  • Jaymes Paolo Rombaoa (Positive Developmental Psychology) Email: Jaymes-paolo.Rombaoa@cgu.edu
  • Ellie Paulson (Positive Psychology) Email: Elizabeth.Paulson@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors:

  • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura

Spring 2021

Friday, April 23, 2021 Dr. Sophie Janicke-Bowles (Chapman University)
“Positive Media Psychology“
Friday, April 16, 2021 Dr. Sará King (Oregon Health Science University)
“The Social Science of Social Justice“
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Dr. John Coffey (Yale Child Study Center; Sewanee: The University of the South)
Positive Developmental Psychology Talk
Monday, March 8, 2021 Dr. Peter McGraw (Director, Humor Research Lab, University of Colorado, Boulder)
Overview and Group Discussion on the Scientific Study of Humor
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Dr. Tasha Straszewski (CGU Social Psychology Alumnus)
Q&A Session with CGU Alumnus, Dr. Tasha Straszewski
Friday, February 19, 2021 Dr. Alan Page Fiske (Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, UCLA)
“Kama Muta: The Wonderful Emotion You Don’t Know You Have“

Fall 2019

Thursday, October 29, 2020 Dr. Katya Pogrebtsova (Unity Health Toronto)
Positive Psydays Worker Wellbeing Lab Inauguration ft. a Keynote address on “Harnessing Appreciative Inquiry and Job Crafting for Belonging, Health, and Flourishing in the Workplace and Beyond“
Friday, October 9, 2020 Positive Connections at CGU
Social Networking event between Positive Psychology students

 

2019 – 2020

2019-2020 TGIPF Fellows

  • Jaclyn Gaffaney (Positive Organizational Psychology) Email: Jaclyn.Gaffaney@cgu.edu
  • Megan Benzig (Positive Organizational Psychology) Email: Megan.Benzig@cgu.edu
  • Biquan Wang (Positive Organizational Psychology) Email: Biquan.Wang@cgu.edu
  • Jaymes Paolo Rombaoa (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Jaymes-paolo.Rombaoa@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors:

  • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
  • Dr. Stewart Donaldson
  • Dr. Kendall Cotton Bronk
  • Dr. Saeideh Heshmati
  • Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
  • Dr. Jason Seigel

Spring 2020

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Panel of Applied Positive Psychologists from the University of Pennsylvania
Monday, April 6, 2020 Dr. Benjamin Houltberg (University of Southern California Marshall)
“Redefining High Performance: Better people, better communities, better performance”
Thursday, March 5, 2020 Tina Shah Paikeday (Russel Reynolds Associates)
“A Career Journey in Diversity and Inclusion”
Monday, February 24, 2020 Hunter Black (CGU Alumnus, People Science Team Lead at BetterUp)
Positive Psychology Practitioner Talk

Fall 2019

Friday, December 2, 2019 Dr. Brianna Booth (Stanford University)
“Positive Sexuality”
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (CGU emeritus faculty)
“The Future of Flow”
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Dr. Dr. Anissa McNeil (CEO, Education Works Consulting Firm Inc.)
“Advocacy in Youth Development”
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 Positive Psychology Faculty panel featuring:
Dr. Stewart Donaldson, Dr. Kendall Cotton Bronk, Dr. Jason Siegel, Dr. Jeanne Nakamura, & Dr. Saeideh Heshmati

 

2018-2019

2018-2019 TGIPF Fellows

  • Ximena Giesemann (Positive Developmental Psychology) Email: Ximena.Giesemann@cgu.edu
  • Ajit Mann (Positive Developmental Psychology) Email: Ajit.Singh.Mann@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors:

  • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
  • Dr. Jeffrey Yip

Spring 2019

Thursday, May 2, 2019 Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky (UC Riverside)
“Recent Insights from the Science of Happiness”
Tuesday, April 23, 2019 Dr. Susan Charles (UC Irvine, Emotion Research Lab)
“The Life Changing Moments for your Well-being are Happening Now”
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Dr. Michael Steger (Colorado State University, Center for Meaning and Purpose)
“The Positive Psychology of Meaning in Life”
Friday, February 22, 2019 Dr. Ronald Riggio (CMC)
“Early Life Predictors of Adult Success”

Fall 2018

Wednesday, December 5, 2018 Dr. Jeremy Hunter (Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University)
“How to Not Lose Your Mind in Three Easy Steps—Managing Yourself Through Crazy Times.” (in collaboration with Org Talks, The Marketing Club of the Drucker-Ito School of Management, and the Office of Alumni Engagement)
Friday, November 30, 2018 Dr. Piercarlo Valdesolo (Claremont McKenna College)
“Awe & Order”
Friday, October 26, 2018 Dr. Julie M. Albright (University of Southern California)
“We are Coming Untethered: Health and Wellness in an Untethered World”
Friday, September 28, 2018 Student Panel with Dwight Tse, Cordele Glass, Kathryn Doiron, and Jason Beck

 

2017-2018

2017-2018 TGIPF Fellows

  • Jordan Boeder (Positive Developmental Psychology) Email: Jordan.Boeder@cgu.edu
  • Elyse Postlewaite (Positive Developmental Psychology) Email: Elyse.Postlewaite@cgu.edu
  • Greg Hennessy (Positive Organizational Psychology) Email: Greg.Hennessy@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors:

  • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
  • Dr. Jeffrey Yip

Spring 2018

Friday, April 20, 2018 Dr. Leah Weiss (Stanford University)
“How We Work“
Thursday, April 5, 2018 Kevin Campbell (Talent Management Consultant and Executive Coach, Gallup)
on working at Gallup and results of the Gallup State of the American Workplace survey
Friday, March 9, 2018 Dr. Howard Gardner (John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor, Harvard University)
Question & Answer Session
Friday, January 19, 2018 Dr. Charles T. Hill (Whittier College)
“What Matters in Intimate Relationships?“

 

Fall 2017

Friday, December 15, 2017 Semester’s End Rest & Recovery Event
Friday, November 17, 2017 Dr. Mary Gauvain (UC Riverside)
“From Developmental Psychologist to Water Scientist and Back Again: The Role of Interdisciplinary Research in Developmental Science”
Friday, October 20, 2017 Dr. Loren Dyck (University of LaVerne)
“Positive Emotions in the Workplace”
Friday, September 29, 2017 DBOS student speaker panel:
Maria McManus, Jason Beck, Dana Wanzer, Nina Sabarre, Ajit Mann, and Dwight Tse

 

2016-2017

2016 – 2017 TGIPF Fellows

  • Vitoria De Valentim Meira (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Vitoria.DeValentimMeira@cgu.edu
  • Nikki Mere (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Nikki.Mere@cgu.edu
  • Stephanie Reynolds (Positive Organizational Psychology). Email: Stephanie.Reynolds@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors

  • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
  • Dr. Jeffrey Yip

Spring 2017

Thursday, April 20, 2017 Dr. Kristin Neff (UT Austin)
“Self-Compassion“
Thursday, March 9, 2017 Dr. Richard Lerner (Tufts University)
“Character Development among Youth”
Monday, February 27, 2017 Alumni Panel
Mike Warren (Institute for the Study of Human Flourishing)
Katherine Buttitta (Boston Children’s Hospital), and Brenda Miranda (Child Trends)

Fall 2016

Monday,
November 14, 2016		 Dr. Barry Schwartz (UC Berkeley)
“Satisficing, Maximizing, and the Paradox of Choice“
Monday,
September 26, 2016

Positive Fridays Kick-off Event

 

2015-2016

2015 – 2016 TGIPF Fellows

  • Anne Brafford (Positive Organizational Psychology). Email: Anne.Brafford@cgu.edu
  • Noreen Cortez (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Noreen.Cortez@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors

    • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
    • Dr. Jeffrey Yip

Spring 2016

Friday, May 13, 2016 Final Celebration and MA Thesis Presentations
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 Positive Psychology Alumni Panel
Friday, February 26, 2016 Dr. Shelly Gable (UC Santa Barbara)
“Good News! How Capitalizing on Positive Events Builds Personal and Interpersonal Resources ”
Friday, February 12, 2016 Dr. Sarah Pressman (UC Irvine)
“The Role of Smiling in the Happiness-Health Connection ”

Fall 2015

Friday, November 20, 2015 Dr. Vicki Zakrzewski (Greater Good, UC Berkeley)
“Positive Education“
Friday, October 30, 2015 Dr. Jane Dutton (University of Michigan)
“Positive Identity Infusions: A Tool for Building Thriving and Engagement in Organizations”
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 Broaden & Beer Social Hour
Monday, October 12, 2015 Dr. Sophia Janicke (co-sponsored w/ DBOS)
“Positive Media Psychology“
Friday, September 18, 2015 Positive Friday Kick-Off Event

 

2014-2015

2014 – 2015 TGIPF Fellows

  • Thiraput (Poom) Pitichat (Positive Organizational Psychology). Email: thiraput.pitichat@cgu.edu
  • Caleb Mitchell (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Caleb.Mitchell@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors

    • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
    • Dr. Becky Reichard

Spring 2015

Thursday, June 4, 2015 Dr. Tim Kasser (Knox College)
“Overview of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Aims in Life”
Friday, May 15, 2015 Student Speakers: Celebration and Presentation of Student Research
“Rhonda Rodgers: Mental and Emotional Self-Management Outcomes of a Short-format Intervention”
“Derrick McLean: A Different Kind of Passion”
Monday, April 13, 2015 Dr. Pam King (Fuller Theological Seminary)
“Examining Spirituality in the Lives of Exemplars ”
Sunday, April 12, 2015 Kickball Event: Positive Peering Picnic and Kickball
Monday, February 23, 2015 Dr. Darcia Narvaez (University of Notre Dame)
“Identifying Baselines for Human Flourishing and Development”
Friday, February 6, 2015 Positive Fridays and Org Talks Welcome New Professor: Dr. Jeff Yip (Boston University)
“Developmental Networks: A Relational Perspective to being well and doing good”

Fall 2014

Monday, December 15, 2014 Study Break: Decorate Cookies and Relax Together
Friday, November 21, 2014 Dr. Sonja Lyumbomirsky (UC Riverside)
Q&A session Regarding Happiness Research
Sunday, November 16, 2014 TGIPF! Nature Hike: Going Up Mount Baldy
Friday, November 7, 2014 Dr. Kim Cameron (Ross School of Business, University of Michigan)
“Leadership’s positive impact on organizations and energizing the working environment“

 

2013-2014

2013 – 2014 TGIPF Fellows

  • Brittany Diaz (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Brittany.Diaz@cgu.edu
  • Val Dubon (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Val.Dubon@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors

  • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
  • Dr. Becky Reichard

Spring 2014

Fall 2013

 

2012-2013

2012 – 2013 TGIPF Fellows

  • Heejin Kim. Email: Heejin.Kim@cgu.edu
  • Susan Mangan. Email: Susan.Mangan@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors

  • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
  • Dr. Becky Reichard

Spring 2013

Friday, May 17, 2013 Petit Conference: Student Panel and Posters
Friday, April 12, 2013 Lisa Kamen
director of“Where is your Heart”
Saturday, March 16, 2013 Tree Planting: Angeles Forest Restoration
Monday, March 4, 2013 Dr. Acacia Parks (Hiram College)
“Positive Interventions”
Thursday, February 28, 2013 Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (CGU)

Fall 2012

Friday, December 7, 2012 Au Revoir, Fall Semester: A Final(s) Savoring Event
Friday, November 16, 2012 Drucker EVC Club
Positive Psych and Entrepreneurship
Friday, October 19, 2012 Civic Engagement Panel

 

2011-2012

2011 – 2012 TGIPF Fellows

  • Vanessa Kettering (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Vanessa.Kettering@cgu.edu
  • JP Dulay (Positive Organizational Psychology). Email: John.Dulay@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors

  • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
  • Dr. Becky Reichard

Spring 2012

Fall 2011

Friday, December 2, 2011 Dr. Reed Larson (University of Illinois)
“Beyond the Individual: Peer Interactions as a Forum of Positive Development”
Dr. Larson is Former President of the Society for Research on Adolescence and is a lifespan scholar who has done influential work on adolescent daily life and development, the family, and aging, including both basic and applied research. His research, supported by NIH, NIMH, and NICHD, has been summarized in scores of articles in Developmental Psychology, Child Development, Applied Developmental Psychology, and the major adolescence journals, and books including Being Adolescent and Divergent Realities.

 

2010-2011

2010 – 2011 TGIPF Fellows

  • Julia Koch (Positive Developmental Psychology). Email: Julia.Koch@cgu.edu
  • Michael Corden (Positive Organizational Psychology). Email: Michael.Corden@cgu.edu

Faculty Sponsors

  • Dr. Jeanne Nakamura
  • Dr. Becky Reichard

Spring 2011

Friday, May 6, 2011 Poster Session
Friday, April 8, 2011 Positive Psychology Interest-Groups Event
Friday, February 25, 2011 Mashi Rahmani, PhD (CEO of MMC, Inc.)
“Application of Positive Psychology in the Workplace“
Friday, February 11, 2011 Dr. Paul J. Zak (CGU)
“Neuroeconomics Meets Positive Psychology”

Fall 2010

Friday, November 19, 2010 Dr. Shane J. Lopez (Gallup Organization; Resident Director of Clifton Strengths School)
“The Economics of Wellbeing”
Dr. Shane J. Lopez examines the measurement of wellbeing (youth and adult) as well as its economic implications.

Dr. Lopez is Senior Scientist in Residence at the Gallup Organization and Resident Director of the Clifton Strengths School. He specializes in hope and strengths enhancement for students from preschool through college graduation, advocating a whole-school strengths model that also builds the strengths expertise of educators, parents, and youth development organizations. He was also architect of the Gallup Student Poll.
Friday, October 8, 2010 Dr. James Avey (Central Washington University)
“Positive Psychological Capital”
Friday, September 10, 2010 Positive Friday Kickoff Event