The Robert Hendersen Leadership Award
Named after the Psychology Department’s longest-serving and most transformative Chair, the Robert Hendersen Leadership Award recognizes students who demonstrate effective leadership and commitment to others in their campus, community, or work environments, and whose engagement in these activities has drawn upon or enriched their knowledge of psychology.
Each academic year, a single student will receive this award following careful consideration of all candidates. The winner will be formally recognized by the Psychology Department at an event during the winter semester.
In order to be eligible for the Robert Hendersen Leadership Award, candidates must (a) have declared a major in psychology or behavioral neuroscience, (b) be of junior or senior standing, (c) have a GPA of 3.5 or above, and (d) be currently enrolled at Grand Valley State University.
Applications for the 2024-2025 Academic Year
If you are a student who meets the above eligibility criteria and you would like to apply for this award, click or tap the following link for instructions and additional information. Please note that completed applications are due by 11:59pm on Friday, February 14th.
If you know a student who you think would be a good candidate for this award and you would like to nominate them, click or tap the following link for instructions and additional information. Please note that nominations must be received by 11:59pm on Friday, January 17th.
2025 Recipient of the Robert Hendersen Leadership Award
Arnica Sheaffer
How did you become interested in psychology?
I have always been interested in psychology and the way that people experience the world around them. I came into Grand Valley as a Psychology major and have fallen more in love with the discipline as I continue my education. I took Dr. Galen’s PSY 101 course in my first semester, and after this experience, I knew that I wanted to do research and be a professor. Since then, I have worked tirelessly at achieving this goal so that I can contribute to the growth of the field, which continues to inspire me.
How have your leadership opportunities enriched your experience as a student?
Being an SLA facilitator for PSY 101 has enriched my student experience in many ways. I have been doing SLA essentially the entire time I have been at Grand Valley, and it is harder to separate myself from that experience than to find ways it has impacted me. Not only have I been able to sit in on PSY 101 each semester, but I have found a deep passion for teaching and enhancing others' learning experiences at Grand Valley. Without SLA, I would not have been able to formulate connections and relationships with my students and the faculty in this department, who have made Grand Valley feel like home. Overall, SLA has enriched not only my education but has also opened my eyes to a world of possibilities and further enriched my life.
What are you planning to do after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to attend a Clinical Psychology PhD program. I will be applying for programs in the fall and don’t know where I will attend. In general, I am passionate about research surrounding non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors in individuals, specifically those who have borderline personality disorder. I want to understand better how people's emotions and ability to regulate those emotions are linked to the engagement in harmful behaviors. I hope to be able to conduct research on this topic while being a professor of psychology and inspire others as I have been inspired within this department.