Psychology Graduate Student Association (PGSA)

The Psychology Graduate Student Association (PGSA) is a student run organization that is designed to facilitate graduate training in psychology at Idaho State University. All matriculated psychology graduate students are automatically members of PGSA. PGSA has an important formal function: namely, to appoint student representative to various department committees. Currently, PGSA students serve as representatives during Faculty meetings, Clinical Training Committee (CTC) meetings, and Experimental Training Committee (ETC) meetings. If elected by PGSA, student members of departmental committees have full voting rights on all programmatic issues.

PGSA students serve as representatives of multiple professional organizations, such as the Council of University Directors of Clinical Programs (CUDCP), the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS), the Association for Psychological Science Student Caucus (APSSC) and the Idaho Psychological Association (IPA).

A four-person board is elected every spring semester to serve as student representatives of PGSA for the following academic year.

For the 2023-24 school year, they are:

President: Sierra Baca-Zeff
Vice President: Hannah Lesnick
Secretary: Alicyn Ager
Treasurer: Lauren Elmore

PGSA also pursues other aspects of student affairs as it so chooses. There are currently four student-run committees:

The Fundraising Committee organizes the annual fundraiser sponsored by PGSA. Funds raised during the fundraiser, along with dues, allow PGSA to reimburse students for professional development-related travel (i.e., conferences). Past fundraisers have included Bingo and Texas Hold ‘Em nights.

The Grievance Committee hopes to address any student or faculty issues in a timely, open and fair manner if they should arise. Student representatives on the    grievance committee also speak on behalf of students at the annual departmental Town Hall meeting.

The Philanthropy Committee is dedicated to keeping PGSA students actively involved in the community around them through volunteerism. Recently, some committee members donated time and labor to the Habitat for Humanity organization.

The Social Committee plans events throughout the year to foster camaraderie among PGSA members, their families and the psychology faculty. Events in the past year have included potluck dinners and holiday parties to SuperBowl celebrations.

Overall, PGSA serves both formal and informal functions to facilitate a positive graduate experience at Idaho State University.