Aja Molinar
Aja is a junior at Wichita State University majoring in Psychology. She is a member of the McNair Scholars Program, and plans on applying to doctoral Clinical Psychology programs in the fall, where she would like to focus on anxiety and depression. With the advisory of the McNair Scholars Program and her mentor, she is currently researching differences in perceptions toward cell phone interruptions, and how anxiety may play a role in that perception.
Apart from conducting research, her inspiration for psychology is stimulated through volunteering. She has volunteered through Amedisys Hospice and the Mental Health Association as a Compeer friend, in which she provides companionship for an adult living with mental illness. The friendship obtained through Compeer has helped secure her enthusiasm for helping others, and has shaped her goal of becoming licensed to practice psychology.
Aja will be addressing the invasion of cell phones in our private lives, and how
face to face communication is threatened by cell phone interruptions. Face to face
communication is an important aspect of human connection, and human connection is
an important aspect of living. Not only will this be stressed, but curiosity will
be used to recognize the dilemma and discuss how creative solutions can be used to
balance interpersonal connection and advanced technology.