猫咪社区 (SCCC) Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Deborah Phillips-Lanza recently presented her research at the American Psychological Association (APA) national conference, held in Washington, D.C. The presentation comes as Lanza celebrates another significant professional achievement: earning her Ph.D. in Psychology from Grand Canyon University.
Lanza presented 鈥淪elf-Compassion, Shame, and the Cycle of Self-Handicapping鈥� as part of the APA鈥檚 Division 32 鈥� Society for Humanistic Psychology. Conducted in collaboration with colleagues from Grand Canyon University, the research examines the relationship between self-compassion, shame, and self-handicapping among college students. The study explores whether greater self-compassion can reduce behaviors that interfere with student success and whether shame helps explain the connection between the two.
Self-handicapping can include behaviors such as procrastination, avoiding challenging tasks, or creating obstacles that provide an explanation for potential failure. The research considers how shame may contribute to these behaviors by causing students to view setbacks as reflections of their self-worth rather than as a normal part of learning and growth. The findings may help inform educational and counseling approaches that encourage self-compassion, resilience, and healthier responses to challenges, ultimately supporting greater student engagement and success.
Lanza鈥檚 research reflects a longtime professional commitment to understanding the factors that influence students as they transition to college. As Associate Professor of Psychology and Program Coordinator for SCCC鈥檚 Foundations for Success Program, her work focuses on first-year student success, student development, and the social-emotional and psychosocial factors that shape the college experience.
Earning her doctorate is the latest milestone in Lanza鈥檚 academic and professional career. Her research focuses on the psychological aspects of learning and the college transition, particularly the social-emotional dynamics that can influence student persistence and achievement. She also holds a Master of Arts in Education, earned with highest honors, Summa Cum Laude.
She started at the college in 2007 as an adjunct and in 2008 as a full-time faculty member, and has served for 18 years. Lanza has contributed extensively to the College's academic life and to initiatives supporting student success. Her career has included leadership roles in Academic Standards, assessment, tenure and promotion, diversity initiatives and SCCC鈥檚 Middle States Commission on Higher Education self-study process. She has also served as a Psychology Club advisor, Certified Academic Advisor and, most recently, as a panelist for SCCC鈥檚 2026 Sustainable Pedagogies: Motivating the Modern Student discussion. Lanza was also the former Dean at Stevens Institute.
Her professional accomplishments extend beyond SCCC. Lanza is a recipient of the Southern Poverty Law Center鈥檚 Teaching Tolerance Project award, the SCCC Idea and Inquiry Award, and the Stevens Campus Service Award. She has contributed to numerous publications, including the ninth edition of John Gardner鈥檚 Your College Experience: Strategies for Success, and has presented her work at conferences ranging from Oxford University to national and regional higher education and psychology conferences.
Through her teaching, research, and service, Lanza has remained focused on helping students successfully navigate college and achieve their educational goals. Her presentation at the APA national conference and completion of her doctorate further builds upon that commitment, bringing nationally recognized research and scholarship directly into her work with SCCC students.