In the News

Developmental Psychology class cadets at Augusta Correctional Center

VMI Psych Class Visits Correctional Center

Lt. Col. Sara Whipple, associate professor of psychology, wanted to provide a way for the students in her Developmental Psychology course to connect the knowledge they have learned in class to a real world environment, so she recently took them on a field trip to Augusta Correctional Center.

John Wang ‘22

Family Inspiration Leads to Law School Aspirations

John Wang '22 is a psychology major who grew up in Taiwan and California. After graduation, he hopes to go to law school like his uncle, John Kao '91. On post, Wang currently serves as an assistant investigator for the OGA.

Photo of VMI cadets posing in front of conference at the 2021 SoCon Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF).

“SURFers” Share Research Projects

Maj. Sarah Patterson and Maj. Blain Patterson from the Department of Applied Mathematics had the privilege of accompanying 11 cadets as they presented their research on a variety of topics, ranging from identifying glycans with neural networks to women in counterterrorism.

Josie Freeman '23 works on her laptop computer

SURI Project Seeks Motivation for Memes

“Memes are just an interesting concept.” That’s what Josie Freeman ’23 has to say about her Summer Undergraduate Research Institute project, “Motivation for Memes.”

Participants in the College Orientation Workshop (COW) program work on their physical fitness in Cormack Hall.

Psychology Professors Investigate the Success of College Orientation Workshop

For over three decades, the College Orientation Workshop (COW), a program meant to encourage high school-age minority males to attend college, has been held on the VMI post each summer. The program is led by Gene Williams ’74, the first African-American to serve on the VMI BOV.

Miyah Boyd pauses with her robot on the porch of Moody Hall.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

BeanBot Research Bridges Psychology, Robotics

This summer, Miyah Boyd ’20 learned how to program a robot, but her ultimate goal is to provide a companion for people with autism and social anxiety disorder.

Maj. Matt Jarman demonstrates a defensive move during his modern warriorship class. – VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

Modern Warriorship

A new course in the psychology department emphasizes mental toughness in addition to physical fitness.

Sam Hudson '17 shows a flash card to a research subject.

Project Explores How Exercise Affects Self-Control

Summer Undergraduate Research Institute project looks at how physical exertion affects self-control.

VMI: Forging 21st Century Leaders