Biola University’s Rosemead School of Psychology celebrated its 50th anniversary in February. Rosemead faculty, staff, and students gathered together to commemorate the school’s long-standing commitment to training depth-oriented psychologists who understand and embody the integration of psychology and theology.

“Rosemead’s 50th anniversary weekend was well attended and included alumni from the seventies to current Rosemead students,” said Tamara Anderson, interim dean of Biola’s Rosemead School of Psychology. “There was much reconnecting, reminiscing, and catching up on current professional work that Rosemead alumni are doing, not only in the U.S. but around the world.”

On Friday, Feb. 15, founding dean and psychologist Bruce Narramore was honored at a celebration dinner where participants had the chance to hear about Rosemead’s past, present, and future. A picnic-style celebration lunch was hosted the following day on Saturday, Feb. 16.

“The highlights of the weekend were honoring Bruce and Kathy Narramore and meeting the families of alumni,” said Anderson. “Rosemead now looks to the future and the next 50 years. The legacy continues.”

Notable and respected psychologists including Biola alumna, psychologist and author Doreen Dodgen-Magee (Psy.D. '92), Rosemead Professor of Psychology Earl Bland, Professor of Counseling Psychology at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology Roy Barsness, and Professor of the Integration of Psychology and Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary’s School of Psychology Brad Strawn provided continuing education units (CEU) on Saturday, Feb. 16 during two different breakout sessions.

A continuing education session led by Dodgen-Magee explored how technology is shaping client engagement and how to best care for clients in light of technological changes. Bland, Barsness, and Strawn hosted a Psychology Symposium, which introduced a new model of constructive dialogue that connects psychoanalytic practices with the faith of both the clinician and patient.

Rosemead was founded in 1968 and became the first independent professional school of psychology in the nation recognized by a regional accrediting association. From its beginnings in the city of Rosemead, Calif., Rosemead primarily focused on training clinical psychologists from a Christian perspective. Rosemead merged with Biola University in 1977. Since, Rosemead founded the Institute for Research on Psychology and Spirituality. Today, Rosemead is a top psychology school with leading undergraduate and graduate programs that train aspiring psychologists through the integration of psychology and theology.

Learn more about Rosemead School of Psychology programs.

Written by Irene Pan, media relations intern. For more information, contact Jenna Loumagne, manager of media relations, at (562) 777-4061 or jenna.loumagne@biola.edu.