MacMurray professor earns doctorate

     Jacksonville – A member of the MacMurray College psychology faculty, assistant professor Jill Compton, has now earned the title of Ph.D. with the successful completion of her doctorate degree. Dr. Compton was promoted to assistant professor after successfully defending her dissertation on April 27.

     Dr. Compton completed her Ph.D. in psychology with a concentration in experimental psychology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.

     Dr. Compton’s dissertation was entitled “Women’s Experiences and Expectations of the Physician-Patient Relationship” and was funded by a grant from the University of Tennessee’s (UT) Dept. of Psychology. She said she was inspired to undertake research on the topic by a course entitled “Psychology of Women” that she took as an undergraduate student at Maryville University of St. Louis.

     “During more than one discussion in this class, women began talking about their experiences with their physicians. These discussions, although I was rarely a participant in them, really stayed with me over the years,” she said. “Because of these discussions, I felt compelled to undertake a more systematic study of women’s experiences and expectations of their relationships with their physicians.

     The dissertation focuses on women’s expectations about what will happen when they see a physician, their past experiences with physicians, and the women’s opinions of what, ideally, would transpire during the medical encounter.”

     A portion of her dissertation was presented at the annual conference of the Southeastern Psychological Association in April of 2005.

     Dr. Compton matriculated into UT’s program in the fall of 1999, after graduating with her B.A. in psychology and liberal studies from Maryville University of St. Louis. From the fall of 2000 until the summer of 2004, Dr. Compton taught part-time as an instructor at the University of Tennessee while working on her Ph.D. She taught both Psychology and Women’s Studies courses and came to MacMurray in the fall of 2004 as an instructor. With the completion of her degree, she has been promoted to Assistant Professor of Psychology.

     Dr. Compton belongs to several professional organizations, has presented her work at both regional and national conferences and has been published in the journals Sleep and Psychology of Women Quarterly.

     Dr. Compton is the daughter of Wanda and Daniel Compton and the granddaughter of Marie Banks and Doris Compton, all of Park Hills.

     Her future plans? “First, taking time off to spend with family and friends. I hope to also continue research on my dissertation topic,” said Dr. Compton.