About The Southern Minnesota Conference on Psychology (SMCP)

The Southern Minnesota Conference on Psychology is an annual conference hosted by the Department of Psychology at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The goal of the conference is to promote psychology and highlight student research from a variety of disciplines within the field of psychology. The conference is intended to involve a wide audience of students, faculty, and community professionals.

2025 Southern Minnesota Conference

The 2025 SMCP will be held on Thursday, April 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Centennial Student Union, Room 253/254/255 on the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus. 

The 2025 SMCP theme is "Recognizing Skills for Success."

Additional information for SMCP 2025:

  • This year’s conference is student-focused with speakers and panelists in the morning describing how the skills they learned studying psychology here at Minnesota State University, Mankato have prepared them for their careers.  
  • A lunch will be provided for attendees. During lunch, there will be a short ceremony celebrating Psychology students and faculty, and other department accomplishments.  
  • In the afternoon, students will present their research in a poster session, along with additional break-out groups, a panel, and psychology demonstrations. Attendees will be able to learn more about psychology and undergraduate research in these interactive and hands-on sessions. 
     

Registration Details

Coming Soon

Course Registration Details

Minnesota State University, Mankato students can attend the conference and enroll in a 1-credit Psychology course (PSYC 490 or 590). Students seeking course credit must receive permission to register for the course (contact Dr. Lisa Perez at lisa.perez@mnsu.edu to request permission to register AND to receive a syllabus describing course guidelines). 

Additional registration questions can be sent to Dr. Karla Lassonde at karla.lassonde@mnsu.edu.

 

For More Information

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Karla Lassonde, at 507-389-5827 or at karla.lassonde@mnsu.edu.

 

Undergraduate Research Presentations, 2025 Southern Minnesota Conference on Psychology

Student Author(s) Faculty Mentor Poster Title
Michelle Aouga Felix Pambuccian "College Outcomes for Commuter and Residential Students at MNSU"

Mayson Bolme, 
Harley Vannurden

Karla Lassonde "Correcting Psychological Misconceptions through Social Media Engagement"
Allison Chaffee &
Lylah Thao
Joseph Wohkittel "Sex-based Differences in Self-ratings of Leadership Behaviors"
Ashley Cridlebaugh Joseph Wohkittel "Examining the Relationship Between Athletic Participation and Academic Success in Athletes and Non-Athletes"
Paige Goodnight,
Abby Heisinger
Emily Stark "Critical Thinking in the Workplace"
Megan Hagel Emily Stark "Career Beliefs of Psychology Majors"

Abby Heisinger, Allison
Chaffee, Ava Stier, Eleanor 
McParland, Minji Shim,
Rin Shigemura, Mooyoung
Lee, Jenna Hoyum, Sadie
Williams, Jack Mullvain, Jaylene
Perez, and Will Anderson

Brad Arsznov "Re-examining Resiliency, Mindfulness, and Seasonal Affective Disorder Related to Stress"
Ariana Jacobs Joseph Wohkittel "Re-examining Social Media Use and Mental Health: Comparing Social Media Use Across Platforms"