Assistant Professor of Psychology Noelle Wiersma recently chaired a research-paper session on sexual abuse at the 81st annual convention of the Western Psychological Association. In addition to facilitating the session's introduction and the discussion of participating psychologists' papers related to sexual abuse, Wiersma presented her research paper, "Partner Agreement Regarding the Sequelae of Childhood Sexual Abuse for Primary and Secondary Survivors."

Wiersma holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is a 1990 graduate of Whitworth University, where she received a bachelor's degree in psychology and French.

Wiersma's research interests include secondary sexual trauma - studying how sexual abuse and assault affect a victim's friends and family members; qualitative research methods; the mentoring of gifted women and women in science; children's social and moral development; and children's literature. Wiersma's other professional interests include providing counseling and psychotherapy services.