Leticia Arellano-Morales For Leticia Arellano-Morales, professor of psychology at the University of La Verne, music, cultural events and plays are some examples of “something for me that has nothing to do with the brain.” To help satisfy her thirst for music and culture, Arellano-Morales took the African drumming class at ULV and learned to play the djembe. It proved to be a great stress relief and a lot of fun, she says. While she hasn’t played much since that class, she says she would like to learn to play the congas. She also enjoys traveling to explore new places and get away. “The nice thing about traveling is you soak in all aspects of the culture,” she says. She loves the water, and half joking says it’s because she’s a Pisces. Arellano-Morales especially enjoys tropical places and is a fan of snorkeling. She says she learned to snorkel earlier in life, but never learned properly and therefore couldn’t appreciate it before. “Down under the water it is so silent and peaceful,” says Arellano-Morales, who recently snorkeled in Cancun. “To be in close proximity to those beautiful fish is surreal.” One of five siblings, Arellano-Morales traveled with her family during the summers as a child. Recently she and one of her sisters started traveling together again during the summer as “a chance to reconnect.” Most recently they took a trip to the Dominican Republic. But because her sister is also a psychologist, she says it is often hard to leave the profession at home. Arellano-Morales has a passion for reading and a passion for movies. In an attempt to connect psychology to everyday life, Arellano-Morales often uses clips from movies in her classes. A big fan of movies of all types - except Westerns, she avoids those - Arellano-Morales enjoys renting movies as well as going to the theater. She says she is always watching for something she could use in her classes. “Now students know I love movies, and they’ll recommend movies,” she says. As a teacher, Arellano-Morales says she has high standards, but is also very flexible and committed to helping her students learn. “I don’t consider myself a true lecturer,” she says. “I like to get the class involved.” She says she does so by posing controversial questions in class. “I’m not afraid to approach controversial or sensitive subjects,” she says. “I don’t shy away from them.” Arellano-Morales finds human behavior to be the most interesting aspect of psychology. She enjoys trying to understand why people do, say or think the things that they do. Looking back to her childhood and early adulthood, Arellano-Morales says, “I’ve always gravitated toward people and found myself in helping situations.” Arellano-Morales enjoys the fact that “the University is committed to understanding different aspects of diversity.” She helps research with the Institute for Multi-Cultural Research and Campus Diversity on campus. “I work with a phenomenal staff, all committed to social justice,” she says. “Members of the Institute have helped to spearhead diversity efforts.” She recognizes that the student body is very unique, and appreciates the fact that as a small campus she gets to know her students. “That opportunity is not afforded at large institutions,” she says. RETURN TO FACULTY LISTmailto:ARELLANL@ulv.edu?subject=HELLOHome.htmlshapeimage_2_link_1
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