Your Committee
Hampshire College Members
- Melissa Burch – Prospective Committee Chair
- Faune Albert – Prospective Committee Member
Description of Division III Advanced Independent Project
For my Division III project, I will conduct a qualitative study on how hospice workers use ritual in end-of-life care. Through interviews with hospice professionals, I aim to explore the role that rituals play in supporting both patients and caregivers, how these practices vary across different cultural and religious traditions, and how they help individuals navigate grief and emotional labor in hospice settings. My research will integrate psychology, cognitive science, and creative writing to examine how rituals provide structure, meaning, and comfort in the dying process. By focusing on the perspectives of hospice workers, I hope to contribute to a broader understanding of the psychological and cultural significance of ritual in end-of-life care, highlighting the need for culturally inclusive bereavement practices in hospice settings. This work will culminate in an academic paper analyzing my findings, an accessible blog post to bridge research and public understanding, and a conference poster to present at a psychology conference, ensuring that my research reaches both scholarly and general audiences.
Advanced Educational Activities (AEA’s)
| Term: | 2025S |
| Course: | TA-CS-4 |
| Title: | Psychology Of Early Literacy |
| Name of Evaluator: | Melissa Burch |
| Title of Evaluator: | Associate Professor of Cognitive Development |
Explain in detail what you plan to do to satisfy the first Advanced Educational Activity requirement for Division III:
As a teaching assistant for Psychology of Early Literacy with Melissa Burch, I will support students in understanding the cognitive and developmental processes involved in learning to read. My responsibilities will include facilitating discussions, providing feedback on student work, and assisting with research-based assignments. I will help students engage with key topics such as language acquisition, memory, and the social factors influencing literacy development, drawing connections between psychological theory and real-world applications. Additionally, I will support students in critically evaluating research on early literacy and assist in developing their own analytical skills. This experience will further develop my teaching and mentorship abilities, reinforcing my commitment to making psychological research accessible and applicable to diverse audiences
ltural significance of ritual in end-of-life care, highlighting the need for culturally inclusive bereavement practices in hospice settings. This work will culminate in an academic paper analyzing my findings, an accessible blog post to bridge research and public understanding, and a conference poster to present at a psychology conference, ensuring that my research reaches both scholarly and general audiences.
Advanced Educational Activities (AEA’s)
| Term: | 2025S |
| Course: | TA-CS-4 |
| Title: | Psychology Of Early Literacy |
| Name of Evaluator: | Melissa Burch |
| Title of Evaluator: | Associate Professor of Cognitive Development |
Explain in detail what you plan to do to satisfy the first Advanced Educational Activity requirement for Division III:
As a teaching assistant for Psychology of Early Literacy with Melissa Burch, I will support students in understanding the cognitive and developmental processes involved in learning to read. My responsibilities will include facilitating discussions, providing feedback on student work, and assisting with research-based assignments. I will help students engage with key topics such as language acquisition, memory, and the social factors influencing literacy development, drawing connections between psychological theory and real-world applications. Additionally, I will support students in critically evaluating research on early literacy and assist in developing their own analytical skills. This experience will further develop my teaching and mentorship abilities, reinforcing my commitment to making psychological research accessible and applicable to diverse audiences.