Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Psychology Conference

Workshop Title - Cultivating Connection: Understanding the Person Before the Diagnosis
Sean Driscoll is a person in full long-term recovery of Bipolar Disorder with Psychosis who has dedicated his life to helping others at a young age. At the tender age of 16, Sean had 3 major hospitalizations at Sheppard Pratt after being diagnosed with Bipolar 1 with psychosis. From being a patient in a MD Early Intervention Program for people with psychosis and/or schizophrenia, to serving as a peer support specialist for 6 years, and is now training staff in the same program and four others across the state less than a decade after graduating the program as a patient, Sean has a story of courage and resilience accompanied by many full circle moments along the way. Beginning in January of 2023, after being impacted by the Aripiprazole Lawsuit for nine years, he discovered alternative methods to manage, control and turn off his mind when needed while harnessing the gift of feeling and learning balance to avoid mania and depression. He is 12 months+ medication free and created his own extensive self-care blueprint (including therapy and psychiatrist visits) to manage and control his mind and emotions absent of pharmaceutical medications. Along with his role at UMB, he works as a songwriter in the music business and is building his reputation as a public speaker and artist while serving his community in Baltimore. His story is a reminder that the road to recovery looks different for everyone, and of the importance in not putting limitations on the dreams and desires of patients we serve and people we encounter in life.

Workshop Title – Creating Posters for Research Presentations
Monika Conrad graduated from Harford Community College, has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Towson University, and an Experimental Psychology Graduate degree from Towson University.  She began teaching for Towson University at Towson University in Northeastern Maryland as an adjunct professor in 2015 and has been teaching full-time since the Fall of 2019.  Prior to her full-time role at TUNE, she was the memory care director and activity direction at the Lighthouse Senior Living in Middle River, MD. Monika has been active in organizing and participating in the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Psychology Conference since its inception.  

Oral Presentations: Students may submit abstracts for 10-minute oral presentation (with an electronic visual aid) that must follow the APA format. There will be two presentation styles: 

• Research proposal– including rationale based on literature review, hypothesis, proposed methods of research, and references 
• Completed research– including rationale based on literature review, hypothesis methods of research, completed research results, analysis, discussion, and references. 

Project: Students may submit a proposal to present a project they have completed related to psychology. Proposals should briefly describe the project (non-research related learning). If selected, your project presentation must be 10 minutes with visual aids. 

Posters: The number of posters will be limited to 15. If your poster is accepted, you are expected to have your poster on display for the entire day and be available to present/discuss the poster 11:30–11:50 AM. 

The maximum word count for abstracts, both poster and presentation, is 300; abstracts that exceed this limit will not be considered. 

If your abstract is selected and you confirm the selection, you are expected to register for the conference and present your project(s) in person. In the event that you cannot attend the conference, you are required to arrange for a substitute presenter (this could be one of your peers or your professor).