The Department of Psychology is inviting all of its graduates back to campus to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first graduating class of psychology majors on Saturday, May 3. The milestone reunion will begin at 11:00 a.m. and continue throughout the day.

The celebration will include campus tours, a luncheon, academic seminars, Mass in St. Dominic Chapel, and a retrospective of the department.

The day will conclude with a reception commemorating the retirements of three faculty members. Dr. Theodore N. Bosack, professor and department chair; Dr. John J. Colby, professor; and Dr. George A. Raymond, associate professor, all plan to retire following the 2007-08 academic year. Bosack and Colby joined the department in 1967, while Raymond came to PC in 1970. The reception will be held in Slavin Center '64 Hall.

“Among them, they have taught more than 200 semesters of psychology at PC, and thousands of students have benefited from their knowledge and dedication,” Dr. Thomas J. Guilmette, professor of psychology, said of the retiring professors. “They have been instrumental in the growth of the department to the point where psychology is now one of the most popular majors on campus.”

Since the College’s first psychology majors graduated four decades ago, the department has seen exponential growth. The first graduating class in 1968 was composed of four students, and the department had only three full-time faculty members.

In comparison, the Class of 2008 will have more than 50 graduates, and the department has grown to 10 full-time faculty members. Also, more than 600 students enrolled in PC psychology courses in academic year 2006-07, and the department offers 10 sections of Introduction to Psychology alone.

The cost of the luncheon will be $10 and the retirement reception is $45—with $20 of that going towards the department’s fund-raising efforts. Proceeds will assist in raising funds for equipment and research needs of newly hired child, cognitive, and biopsychology faculty who will be joining the department in September. 

For more information on the celebration or to make a contribution, contact Alyssa Snizek, assistant director of alumni relations/young alumni in the Office of Institutional Advancement, at 401-865-2165 or alyssa.snizek@providence.edu. Donations also may be made at www.givetopc.org and specifying the Department of Psychology in the “Comments” section.