On Thursday, Nov. 13, Professor of Psychology Dr. Erika Langley presented a talk on her area of expertise — the psychology of humor. Langley lectured on how humor affects emotion and interpersonal relationships for the event, hosted by Whitman’s Psychology and Mental Health Society.

President of the Psychology and Mental Health Society Lauren Worley organized the event and hopes to schedule more events in the future. Founded in fall of 2025, Langley’s lecture was one of the Society’s first events. 

“We are a new club at Whitman, and are currently working on planning our long term goals for the year, but expect some big things coming from the Psychology Society,” Worley said. 

“The mission of the Whitman College Psychology Society is to advocate for and educate about mental health. While nurturing curiosity about the mind and behavior, the Society promotes wellness and personal growth through community service, guest speakers and other educational opportunities,” according to the club’s page on Involve. 

Prevention Specialist and Psychology Society Advisor Michelle Shin shared the ways that she is involved with the Psychology Society.

“I support the Psychology Club through advising them in their work, which can include directing them towards certain resources or events they may want to include in their meetings and activities.” Shin said.

Shin is working to bring public health initiatives to Whitman’s campus.

“My goal is to promote better public health at Whitman, whether that be through education or programming that engages the campus community in practicing healthy behaviors,” Shin said. “Some of the things I do are leading Wellness Wednesday tabling, which we hold as a space for students to come and learn about a new wellness topic each week and engage with an activity to solidify their knowledge.”

Partnering with Dr. Langley and other psychology-oriented students, professors and advisors on campus, the newly formed Psychology Society is set to bring mental health initiatives to the student body and create a strong web of connections in all sectors of the field. 

Dr. Langley, who spoke as one of the first lecturers for the group, began teaching at Whitman in Sept. 2024. Langley sees Walla Walla as a place where she can set down roots. 

“I grew up in a small town, so it’s reminiscent of that. I feel comfortable,” Langley said. “I like being able to know people around and integrate into a community. And I love that you don’t have to pay for parking, and there’s no traffic.” 

Starting off as a professor, Langley is dedicated to equipping students with the shortcuts that she didn’t receive during her academic journey, while creating a community in her classroom where all students feel comfortable. Langley shared her favorite part of being a professor. 

“I think when students have an audible ‘aha’ moment, and I’m like, ‘I got you!’ You see it,” Langley said. “When I can see that they’ve learned something or they make the connection without me having to do it for them I’m like, ‘yes!’ Because that’s what it’s all about — actually learning.” 

Langley’s dedication to making sure her students understand concepts originates from her own academic journey. 

“I definitely went through school and I was like ‘just get the grade,’ and I really did myself a disservice. So now when I teach I’m like, ‘what did you really learn? Can you apply this to your life?’” Langley said.

Receiving her PhD in Social Psychology from Arizona State University and becoming the first in her family to receive a doctorate, Langley is interested in the positive side of psychology. Her research focuses mainly on the mechanisms of humor and relationships.

“I encourage students to allow themselves flexibility in thinking about what psychology is,” Langley said. “Clinical psychology is not the only option.” 

The Psychology Society may be a new group on campus, but club leaders are committed to inviting professionals to share their work and dedication to the field.

“Throughout the year we plan on featuring psychology professors, psychologists and mental health professionals in our series,” Psychology Society President Lauren Worley said. 

Society leaders encourage club members to explore the field of psychology and cultivate the understanding that psychology is not a singular discipline, but instead is a vast field including a variety of subjects and research topics.