Mary Dzindolet, Chair

B.A., Skidmore College; M.A.S., Louisiana State University; Ph.D., University of Texas.
marydz@cameron.edu
http://www.cameron.edu/~marydz/
Nance Boyer 1056
phone: (580) 581-2380

Mary Dzindolet earned a BS in Psychology in 1984 from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, a Masters in Applied Statistics in 1987 from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a PhD in Experimental Psychology in 1992 from the University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, Texas. She has been a full-time faculty member at Cameron University since 1993.

In the last year, she taught Social Psychology, Applied Quantitative Methods, Experimental Psychology, Advanced Social Psychology, Psychology of Interpersonal Communications, Group Dynamics, and Using Psychology to Promote Happiness.

Her research interests include group creativity, improving group performance, and reliance on automation. For more information about these research topics and a list of current publications and presentations, please see her webpage.

Ralph Alexander

B.A., Texas Christian University; M.Ed., Ph.D., University of Oklahoma.
ralpha@cameron.edu
Nance Boyer 1063
phone: (580) 581-2860

Dr. Ralph Alexander is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. He joined the department in 1984. He earned a B. A. from Texas Christian University, and his M.Ed. and Ph.D from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Alexander often teaches Abnormal Psychology, Personality, Counseling and Clinical Psychology, and Advanced Psychology of Personality.

John Geiger

B.S., Northeast Missouri State University; M.A., Ph.D., Northern Illinois University.
johng@cameron.edu
Nance Boyer 1037
phone: (580) 581-2940

John Geiger earned a B.S. in Psychology from Northeast Missouri State University in 1989, a M.A. in Cognitive Psychology from Northern Illinois University in 1993, and a Ph.D in Cognitive Psychology from Northern Illinois University in 1996.  My dissertation focused on the comprehension of procedural text and the effects of text structure and reader’s goal.  After graduation I taught at Cameron University for one year (1996-1997) before teaching at Marycrest International University in Davenport, IA for 4 years (1997-2001).  I then returned to Cameron University in 2001 and have taught here ever since.

Some of the courses I regularly teach include Cognitive Psychology, Psychological Research, Advanced Human Cognition, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences, and Psychology of Aging.  I have also taught workshops on Parapsychology and Personality Disorders.

My research interests include working memory, text comprehension, the situational models formed during reading, how people conceptualize and define insanity, and how personality affects computer usage.

Ricardo A. Jerez

B.S., M.S., Cameron University. Ph.D., University of Oklahoma.
ricj@cameron.edu
http://www.cameron.edu/~ricj
Nance Boyer 1043
phone: (580) 581-2363

Ric Jerez earned a BS in Psychology in 1991 from Cameron University, a Masters in Behavioral Sciences in 1992 from Cameron University, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 1999 from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.  He has been a full-time faculty member at Cameron University since 1999.  In the last year, he has taught Counseling Theories, Individual and Group Counseling, Basic Counseling Skills, Psychology of Divorce, Human Sexuality, Career Counseling & Lifestyle Development, & Practicum.  His research interests include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, clinical supervision, teacher-student relationships, and faith development.  Dr. Jerez dedicates much time to the promotion of appropriate teaching skills for children with ADHD.

Antonio Laverghetta

B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. at the University of South Florida.
alaverghetta@cameron.edu
Nance Boyer 1039
phone: (580) 581-2252

Antonio Laverghetta earned a Ph.D.in Experimental Psychology in 2002 from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.  His doctorate focused on the visual system of birds.  He was a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center for three years in Memphis, Tennessee.  While there he did neuroanatomical work specializing in the neural circuitry of the basal ganglia of birds and rats.  He has been a full-time faculty member at Cameron University since 2005.

Here at Cameron he has taught General Psychology (online), History of Psychology, Psychology of Learning, Sensation and Perception, Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Management, and Psychology of Religion.

He has also developed online courses including General Psychology and Psychology of Learning.

His research interests include factors related to student anti-intellectualism, epistemological predictors of political ideology, and factors related to college student stress.

Jenel Cavazos

Ph.D. University of Oklahoma
Nance Boyer 1003
Phone: (580) 581-5574
jcavazos@cameron.edu

twitter: @jenelcavazos

Jenel Cavazos earned a Ph.D. in Social Psychology in 2009 from the University of Oklahoma. Her dissertation focused on cognitive style and approach/avoidance motivation. Her current research is in the relationship between need for structure and terror management theory, looking at variables that might predict different responses to TMT manipulations. She spent one year as the Introductory Psychology coordinator at the University of Oklahoma before becoming an Assistant Professor and General Psychology Coordinator at Cameron University in the Fall of 2010.

Dr. Cavazos teaches General Psychology, Lifespan Development, and Social Psychology. She also serves as Faculty Advisor for Psi Chi/Psychology Club.

Dr. C's Students at Cameron University 

Cameron University Department of Psychology

Joanni Sailor

B.A. and M.A. Midwestern State University, Ph.D. Capella University
jsailor@cameron.edu
Nance Boyer 1041
phone: (580) 581-2854

Joanni Sailor earned a B.A. in Psychology in 1984 and a M.A. in Psychology in 1986 from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, and a Ph.D. in Family Psychology in 2006 from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Her master’s thesis was a quantitative research project entitled, “Self-handicapping: A protective view”.  Her doctoral thesis was a qualitative research project entitled, “A Phenomenological Study of Falling out of Romantic Love as Seen in Married Couples”.  She has taught as an adjunct at Cameron off and on since 1991.  She has been a full-time faculty member at Cameron University since 2009.

Dr. Sailor has practiced as a mental health professional since 1986, became a licensed marital & family therapist (LMFT) in 1991, and has experience with both inpatient and outpatient mental health services.  She currently serves on the Licensed Marital & Family Therapist Advisory Board for the state of Oklahoma, on which she also holds the office of secretary.  She also serves on that same board’s testing sub-committee and participates in administering the oral exam for LMFT licensure candidates.  In addition, Dr. Sailor is an Oklahoma state approved LMFT supervisor.

As full-time faculty, Dr. Sailor has taught Theoretical Foundations of Marital & Family Systems, Assessment of Marriage & Family, Marriage & Family Counseling, Theories of Marriage & Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention, and Ethical Principles in Counseling. A new course, Systems Theory is soon to be introduced.

Her research interests include marital & couple issues, effects of divorce on family, and various relational dynamics including dyads and larger systems.

Jeff Seger

B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Oklahoma State University
jseger@cameron.edu
Nance Boyer 1043
phone: (580) 581-8035

Dr. Jeff Seger earned a B.S. in Psychology from Oklahoma State University in 2003, a M.S. in Lifespan Developmental Psychology from Oklahoma State University in 2007, and a Ph.D. in Lifespan Developmental Psychology from Oklahoma State University in 2011.

Dr. Seger’s research interests include adult retrospective reports of early television viewing and psychological flow states in videogame play.

Dr. Seger teaches General Psychology, Applied Quantitative Methods, and Human Development.

Thom Balmer

B.A. Howard Payne University, M.Div. Southern Seminary, M.A. Hardin-Simmons University, Ph.D. Capella University
tbalmer@cameron.edu
Nance Boyer 1060
phone: (580) 581-2567

Thom D. Balmer earned a B.A. in Sociology and Biblical Studies in 1979, a M.Div. in Psychiatric Chaplaincy in 1984, a M.A. in Family Therapy in 1987, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Studies in 2011. His doctoral thesis was a qualitative research project entitled, “A Phenomenological Study of Spiritual Values in Secular-Based Marriage and Family Therapists.”  He has taught for over 18 years at several universities including East Central University, Southeastern State University, Southern Nazarene University, and Cisco Junior College.  He joined the faculty at Cameron January 2012.

Dr. Balmer has practiced as a mental health professional since 1982, became a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in 1986 and a licensed marital & family therapist (LMFT) in 1991, and has experience with both inpatient and outpatient mental health services. He has served on the Licensed Marital & Family Therapist Advisory Board for the state of Oklahoma, and provides consultation and trainings on ethical issues. Dr. Balmer is an Oklahoma State approved LPC and LMFT supervisor, and holds credentials as a clinical member and approved supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

As full-time faculty, Dr. Balmer has taught professional counseling courses, marriage and family therapy courses, general and advanced psychology courses, ethics courses, crisis intervention courses, and human sexuality courses throughout his career.

He has extensive experience working with couples, families, and military personnel suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.  He enjoys assisting fellow veterans in attaining proper compensation and medical services from the Veterans Administration.  He is a state certifies services officer with the American Legion Post #72.  He served with the 82^nd Airborne as a 4.2 Mortar man from 1973 to 1975.

Her research interests include trauma resilience, trauma recovery, post-traumatic stress disorder among military personnel, and spirituality and counseling.  He has an article that will be published in the Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health concerning spirituality and secular-based family therapists in late 2012 or early 2013.