Psychology Major Presents Research at Numerous National Conferences

Psychology Major Noah Lorincz-Comi

by Kristin Distel

Psychology major Noah Lorincz-Comi has achieved a remarkable list of credentials during his undergraduate career at Ohio University.

A rising star in the field, Lorincz-Comi credits OHIO’s psychology faculty with helping him to reach his goals and present his work on a national scale.

His list of publications and presentations is extraordinary:

• Primary Investigator on a grant-funded project (Knowledge and Usage of Coping Strategies to Manage Stress in College Freshmen with and without ADHD) – provided by the Provost Undergraduate Research Fund
• First author on a poster presented at the 2016 Ohio University Student Expo
• First author on a poster presented at the 21^st annual conference on Advancing School Mental Health in San Diego
• First author on a poster presented at the 50^th annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies conference in New York City
• Co-author on a poster presented at the 20^th annual conference on Advancing School Mental Health in New Orleans
• Co-author on a paper presented at the 21^st annual conference on Advancing School Mental Health in San, Diego
• Co-author on a poster presented at the 21^st annual conference on Advancing School Mental Health in San Diego
• Co-author on a poster presented at the 2016 Ohio University Student Expo
• Co-author on a poster submitted for acceptance to the 51^st annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies conference in San Diego

“I was largely interested in how behavioral issues can negatively affect academic, social, and other outcomes of children and teens. Some of my posters were about these outcomes for children who display a given behavior, and some were about tools teachers can use to track students’ behavior,” he explains.

A ‘Tremendous’ Support System

Lorincz-Comi especially credits Dr. Julie Owens, Dr. Steve Evans, graduate student A. Raisa Ray, and former graduate student Alex Holdaway with helping him “tremendously” and opening doors that led to his many successes, both in the classroom and on the professional conference circuit.

“They have introduced me to everything positive that I have done with my psychology major. Without these individuals, I would not have experienced all of the great things that I have since I began as a freshman,” he remarks.

Lorincz-Comi states that fantastic opportunities for research and conference presentations are available to any psychology student who demonstrates a willingness to become involved. Becoming involved, he explains, is as simple as approaching a faculty member or graduate student and asking to help with their research projects.

Meaningful, rigorous coursework also helps students like Lorincz-Comi meet their academic and career goals. He cites “Abnormal Psychology” and “Disorders of Childhood” as his favorite classes, noting that they have given him “a comprehensive understanding of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of various psychological disorders.”

“The faculty are very supportive of students who are interested in furthering their career in psychology […], and they really take time to develop relationships with students and invest in them. This has been my experience—I would like other students to also have this experience,” he remarks.

Meeting Longstanding Goals, Setting New Goals

Lorincz-Comi, who is considering applying to master’s degree programs in the near future, decided to major in psychology when he was in middle school. It was at this early stage that he developed a keen interest in the human mind and interpersonal behavior.

Lorincz-Comi, whose career interests involve international relations and development, exemplifies the flexibility of OHIO’s psychology degree.

“[My career] may not involve psychology,” he says, “but I think that what I have learned in my time as an undergraduate will benefit my other future endeavors.”

‘Psychology Department Does a Lot to Encourage Students’

To future OHIO students who are considering a major in psychology, he expresses the importance of becoming involved and demonstrating a willingness to learn.

“Sometimes I think that undergraduates want to get more involved but don’t know what to get involved in,” he remarks.

Opportunities for undergraduate involvement range from working as a counselor at Camp Boost to helping children manage ADHD in OHIO’s Center for Intervention Research in Schools. These opportunities are aimed toward helping students become acclimated to their chosen career and gaining clinical, hands-on experience.

“The Psychology Department does a lot to encourage students to get involved as much as they can and opens so many doors for them,” Lorincz-Comi remarks.