La Salle University Psychology Department

We want to make sure everyone is aware that the Annual Diversity Forum will take place TONIGHT, Wed 11/9 5-7:30pm in Founder’s Hall. The topic of discussion is Racial Trauma. We are thrilled to have as our speaker Dr. Howard Stevenson, who is a nationally recognized clinical psychologist and researcher on negotiating racial conflicts and a leading expert on the topic of racial trauma. Dr. Stevenson is the Executive Director of Racial Empowerment Collaborative at the University of Pennsylvania, designed to promote racial literacy in education, health, and community institutions. There will be a student poster session 5-6pm with a light dinner and then the speaker 6ish-7:30pm.

Dear Colleagues,
I am sad to share that John J. “Jack” Rooney, ’46, psychology professor at La Salle University for more than 6 decades, has died. Dr. Rooney was born on March 19, 1923, and passed peacefully on October 24, 2022, at the age of 99. Dr. Rooney was the beloved husband of the late Marion (nee McGlinn). He was Father of John J., the late Marian Rooney (Keith), and the late Mary Theresa Lynch (Vincent). Dr. Rooney was Grandfather of Caitlin Rooney, Jonathan Lynch (Victoria), Benjamin Lynch, and Daniel Lynch and Great Grandfather of Nolan Lynch and Connor Lynch. He was Step Grandfather of Cameron Fiske (Nikki) and Trevor Fiske (Melissa) and Great Step Grandfather of Madison Fiske. He was brother of the late Gerald Rooney.
Dr. Rooney grew up near 20th Street and Lehigh Avenue, in the shadow of Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium, home of the Athletics. His father would charge spectators a couple pennies for access to the rooftop of their home to watch Athletics’ games. Consequently, Dr. Rooney loved baseball. He eventually published a book, Bleachers in the Bedroom: The Swampoodle Irish and Connie Mack.
Before he became a professor at La Salle, he was a student there. Dr. Rooney enrolled in 1940 at the age of 17, partly because he was unable to secure full-time employment in a factory that had a minimum hiring age of 18. He majored in chemistry. Like many of our current students, Dr. Rooney kept odd jobs during winter and summer breaks to finance his education at La Salle.
Service in the U.S. Navy as an aviation cadet during World War II interrupted his studies. His military service inspired his interest in psychology. Dr. Rooney returned to La Salle after the war and graduated in 1946. He initially taught chemistry but moved into the psychology department in 1948, while earning his master’s and doctoral degrees at Temple University. Dr. Rooney loved La Salle. He never even considered teaching anywhere else.
At La Salle, Dr. Rooney chaired the Department of Psychology twice and served as president of the Faculty Senate. In 2009, Dr. Rooney received the John J. Finley, ’24, Award from La Salle University’s Alumni Association. The Finley Award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding service to La Salle or the Alumni Association.
Dr. Rooney helped launch La Salle University’s graduate program in pastoral counseling (PAC) in the summer of 1979, a joint effort of the Religion and Psychology Departments. The program was intended for students seeking “education and training in counseling that is informed by a sensitive understanding of the faith orientation in people’s lives.” In 1980, he helped develop concentrations in psychological counseling and marriage and family therapy. In the fall of 1987, Dr. Rooney helped the Psychology Department add a graduate program in “Human Services Psychology (HSP)” and served as its director. The program’s goal was to help students acquire the knowledge and skills required for competence in counseling, clinical practice, and related areas of applied psychology. In anticipation of the implementation of licensure for professional counselors and marriage and family therapists in Pennsylvania, Dr. Rooney changed the title of the HSP program to “Clinical Counseling Psychology (CCP)” in 1996. Dr. Rooney served as the director of this program until he retired. At the time he retired, he was still very energetic and could be seen sprinting up and down the Wister Hall staircase to stay fit. Dr. Rooney was also active in various psychological professional societies over the years and authored numerous articles and books.
The date and time of the services have not been finalized. Once they have been set, they will be posted at http://www.jacobfruth.com/obituary/john-rooney-iii-phd.

Inauguration of Dr. Daniel J. Allen as President of La Salle University.

La Salle University's Psychology Department has an opening for Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program! For more information, see https://lasalle.peopleadmin.com/postings/3974

We are starting the semester with some good news! We have two new directors and four new faculty members joining us this year. I’d like to introduce one of our new faculty members now!

Elizabeth Goetter is the new Director of the Doctor of Psychology Program in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Goetter holds a BS in Psychology with Honors, Magna Cum Laude, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Drexel University. Dr. Goetter completed an internship at the University of California, San Diego/VA at San Diego and a Post-doc at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical Center in Boston. Most recently Liz held a joint appointment as Director of Clinical Services at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. A dedicated educator, while in Boston she also served as an adjunct instructor at Northeastern University and Simmons College. Dr. Goetter’s areas of expertise include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, specifically, the treatment of PTSD, Social Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and complicated grief. She is also an expert in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. Dr. Goetter is the author or co-author of over 40 peer-reviewed articles and chapters. She has served on the editorial boards or as an ad hoc reviewer for respected journals focused on CBT, Mood Disorders, and Anxiety Disorders. Dr. Goetter is the recipient of several awards for her work.

We look forward to having Liz as part of our department!