ORONO — Katelyn Kirk of Leeds graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maine on May 11. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with an abnormal/social concentration. She also completed a double major in history with a European concentration, and a minor in sociology.

As an undergraduate, Katie spent three years as a research assistant in Dr. Douglas Nangle’s Social Interaction Lab in the UMaine Psychology Department. In her role as a research assistant, she assisted in data collection, entry and analysis for various projects, and as a trainer for new research assistants. Katie’s role included being a senior research assistant on a doctoral candidate’s dissertation on romantic relationships. Her work in the lab warranted co-authorship on two research conference posters presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies conventions in 2011 in Toronto, and in 2012 in Maryland.

During her final semester, Katie concluded an independent research project to complete the Psychology Department’s Research Intensive Track capstone requirement. Her study assessed the association between depressive symptoms, excessive reassurance seeking and relationship quality in a male, college-age sample. At the same time, she completed her history capstone requirement during her final semester, in which she analyzed the events surrounding the violence between the Paxton Boys and the Conestoga Native Americans near the start of the American Revolution.

In the spring of 2011, Katie was inducted into Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology. As an active member, she participated in various community service projects including fundraising for the UMaine Child Study Center and campus clean-up for the “Maine Day” campus service day.

In 2012, Katie was elected as president of the UMaine chapter of Psi Chi for the 2012-2013 academic year. As president, Katie worked hard to increase active participation within the chapter, as well as implementing chapter activities. As president, she continued the tradition of “Maine Day” service, encouraged Psi Chi members to volunteer at Accepted Students Days and established a Psi Chi team for Relay for Life.

Katie was an active Mitchell Scholar and participated in a several Mitchell Institute sponsored programs. She was inducted into Golden Key International Honor Society in 2011, in which she participated in numerous service projects and fundraisers. In 2012, Katie was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta International Honor Society in History. In 2013 she was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Phi Beta Kappa Society.

Katie received the John W. Nichols Scholarship Award in Psychology in 2010, the Ronald F. Banks Scholarship Award in History in 2012 and the Richard M. Ryckman Award in Psychology in 2013. Katie was a presidential scholar for four semesters, and a dean’s list student from the spring 2010 semester through the spring 2013 semester.

In August, Katie will begin her Master of Arts degree program in forensic psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan. In preparation for her program, Katie minored in sociology in order to gain a foundation in criminology and the sociological perspective on deviant behavior.

At the same time, she enrolled in various electives including introduction to forensics and forensic anthropology, as well as spent numerous hours on ride-alongs with the UMaine Police and Orono Police departments. In addition, Katie spent a year working as a community support worker, implementing individualized treatment plans for children with behavioral and mental health needs in the greater Bangor area.