Psychology Scholarships and Funding Opportunities

Central Michigan University and the Department of Psychology offer funding opportunities through grants, awards and scholarships. Please review the application forms for specific criteria and contact us at 989-774-3001 or psy@cmich.edu if you have any questions.

Grants and awards

Joanna M. Russ Memorial Grant

The School Psychology Program in the Department of Psychology invites applications for the Joanna M. Russ Memorial Undergraduate Research and Presentation Grant. This grant is made possible by the family and friends of Joanna M. Russ to support her research interests. These grants provide funding to offset costs associated with a student's research or creative project or presentation of the results of such project. Activities considered for support include printing of questionnaires, postage, copying costs, supplies, project-related travel, and travel to a professional conference to present the results. Grant funds may not be used for wages or promotion/advertising.  

Criteria: Undergraduate student supervised by a faculty member for research being conducted. Recipients must present their work at the annual Student Research and Creative Endeavors Exhibition (SRCEE), held at the end of the spring semester. See application form for additional details about project eligibility.
Award Amount: Varies

Grant Application

Additional grant opportunities

Scholarships

Please use the following scholarship application form for all of the department scholarships.

Scholarship Application

Anne Miller-Quimper Memorial Award

The Anne Miller-Quimper Scholarship Award was established in 1991 by friends and family in memory of Anne Miller-Quimper (1940-1980), an alumnus of the school psychology program, to support thesis and dissertation research of school psychology graduate students.

Criteria: Scholarship awarded annually to support thesis or dissertation research.

  • Graduate students (specialist or doctoral) in the school psychology program.
  • Study involves working with children from birth to age 5, children or youth from diverse ethnic, racial, or low-income backgrounds, or studies involving students with low-incidence disabilities.

See application form for additional details about project eligibility.

Award Amount: Varies

Alphonsus P. Niec, Ed.D.,​ Memorial Award for Applied Research in Child & Family Intervention

Criteria: Student must be enrolled in a masters or doctoral program within the realm of human services or social and behavioral sciences (e.g., clinical psychology, school psychology, education) at Central Michigan University.

  • Student must have a cumulative GPA in their program of at least 3.70.
  • Student must be engaged in research likely to have a positive impact on the lives of at-risk children and families in at least one of the following domains: behavioral functioning, emotional or relationship functioning, and school adjustment/achievement.

See application form for additional details about project eligibility.

Award Amount: Varies

D. Louise Sharp Memorial Fund

This scholarship was established in 1993 by family and friends of D. Louise Sharp.  Louise was a professor of Psychology and the Dean of Women at CMU from 1940-1966.  Her many responsibilities also included advisor to Student Senate, Associated Women Students Organization, Panhellenic Council and Chairperson of the Student Social Activities Committee.  She was elected President of the Michigan State Association of Deans and Counselors and was active in the American Association of University Women.  Louise was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi and Phi Kappa Phi honorariums, and was listed in "Who's Who of American Women" and "Who’s Who in American Education."  Her book, Why Teach? was in its sixth printing and was selected by the United States Information Agency for its overseas program.  Dr. Sharp was among 20 women honored at CMU in the Women’s Studies Project for the Centennial exhibit and publication entitled She Made A Difference.  Louise passed away in 1993.

 Criteria:  Undergraduate student majoring in Psychology

  • Recipients in their final semester of study who require less than twelve (12) credit hours to graduate are eligible to receive this award despite their part-time enrollment status.

Award Amount: Varies

Dr. Angela Freymuth Caveney Dissertation Endowment

Established in 2020 by Dr. Angela Freymuth Caveney ’96, ’98, ’02 and Mr. Forest Caveney in the Department of Psychology within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Award will be used to facilitate graduate research in clinical psychology and behavioral neuroscience by providing funding for dissertation research.

Criteria:  Graduate students in good standing within either the clinical psychology or behavioral neuroscience programs and admitted to doctoral candidacy

  • Candidates must have a dissertation proposal that has been approved by the full dissertation committee.

Award Amount: Varies

Carl and Sharon Johnson Scholarship

Established in 2019 by Carl Merle Johnson and Sharon Bradley-Johnson, both retired Central Michigan University Psychology Professors. The award will support a non-renewable scholarship for at least one undergraduate student annually. Recipients will be enrolled in a qualifying major or minor within the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences’ Department of Psychology. Recipients will be pursuing the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) curriculum, and will have at least half of the curriculum completed. 

Criteria:  Undergraduate student with a major or minor in Psychology who is also pursuing the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) curriculum with 50% of the curriculum completed 

Award Amount: Varies

Dr. George Ronan Research Fellowship

This scholarship was established in 2022 by family, friends, and peers of Dr. Ronan. The award honors Dr. George Ronan, a CMU Professor who led the establishment of the clinical psychology Ph.D. program. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1972-1975, he earned his Ph.D. from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1985. In 1989 he accepted a faculty appointment at Central Michigan University where he spent the remainder of his career. Dr. George Ronan joined the clinical psychology Psy.D. Program in 1989. He participated in the first successful APA CoA program site visit in 1990. He served as the Director of the Psychological Training and Consultation Center (PTCC) from 1995 thru 1999 and was instrumental in transitioning the PTCC from Sloan Hall to the Carls Center for Clinical Care and Education. He subsequently served as Director of Clinical Training (1999 to 2005) and spearheaded the transition of the clinical program from an APA-accredited Psy.D. to an APA-accredited Ph.D. Program, graduating the firsts Ph.D. student in 2000. George’s research primarily focused on the assessment and application of social problem-solving skills within a variety of clinical contexts. For many years clinical students rotated through his applied research lab that focused on violence reduction and provided clinical services to people court-ordered to participate in a Violence Reduction Protocol. He co-authored books, book chapters, and manuscripts, as well as supervised dozens of student theses and dissertations, primarily stemming from his research on aggression, violence, and other areas of problem-solving.

His mentees have had successful careers as psychologists and faculty at institution around the country. Many have settled in communities around Michigan where quality mental health services would otherwise be difficult if not impossible to reach.

George and his wife Donna also co-owned Ronan Psychological Associates, a group private practice they opened in 2003. George was very active in his professional life. He was known for the vision, energy, and enthusiasm he brought to CMU, and garnered the esteem of his colleagues and students. George passed away in 2023.

Criteria:  Enrollment in Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program with a minimum GPA of 3.0

Award Amount: Varies

James and Catherine Steinmetz Graduate Scholarship

The James and Catherine Steinmetz Graduate Scholarship was established by Joseph E. and Sandra S. Steinmetz in honor of Joseph's parents. Joseph E. Steinmetz, Ph.D., earned a B.S. in Psychology (1977) and an M.A. in Experimental Psychology (1979) from Central Michigan University.​ He has held numerous faculty and administrator appointments, including executive vice president and provost at The Ohio State University and, most recently, chancellor of the University of Arkansas.

Criteria: The Steinmetz scholarship is awarded to graduate students in experimental psychology, studying neuroscience, within the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences.

Award Amount: Varies

McNair Scholars Program

Criteria: The McNair Scholars Program is for low-income and first-generation college students and/or underrepresented students interested in getting a Ph.D. The McNair program helps students get into graduate school through providing a research experience, GRE training and professional development.

Deadline: October

Wilbert Wright Endowed Memorial Award

Criteria:  Scholarship awarded to a first-generation college student with a major in psychology.

  • First-generation college student with full-time enrollment status.
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA.
  • Intended for purchase of textbooks or other non-tuition expenses.

Deadline: March
Award Amount: Varies

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Scholarships and Awards

Additional funding opportunities available to students within the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences can be found on the college's Scholarships & Awards website.