Faculty + Staff

Education

• Ph.D. - Miami University

Teaching Interests

• Introduction to Psychology
• Statistics
• Psychology of Addictions
• Neuroscience

Research Interests

• biochemical and behavioral consequences of alcohol use and abuse 

Education

• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Creighton University School of Medicine (Clinical and Pediatric Psychology)
• Predoctoral Internship, Father Flanagan's Girls and Boys Town (Professional Psychology) - APA Accredited
• Ph.D., Indiana University - Bloomington (School Psychology) - APA Accredited
• M.Ed., St. Lawrence University (Counseling Psychology &Human Development)
• B.A., St. Lawrence University (English &Sociology) 

Certification

• Licensed Psychologist, State of Wisconsin)
• Nationally Certified School Psychologist (National Association of School Psychologists)

Teaching Interests

• Evidence-based Practices
• Developmental Psychopathology
• Child Clinical and Pediatric Psychology
• History of Psychology

Research Interests

• Behavioral Pediatrics (the intersection of primary care pediatrics and behavioral psychology)
• Pseudoscience in Psychology and Child Development
• Solving academic and behavior problems presented at home and school

Responsibilities

• Director, Human Development Center
• Chair, Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects

Biography

I am currently a Professor in the Psychology Department, Director of the Human Development Center, and Chair of the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects. In the Psychology Department, I teach courses in the graduate School Psychology Program involving developmental psychopathology and evidence-based interventions, and supervise the school psychology internship. I teach undergraduate courses in child and adolescent development and the History of Psychology, and supervise independent studies in child clinical and pediatric psychology. I am a licensed psychologist and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. My clinical and research interests involve an area of psychology referred to as behavioral pediatrics. Behavioral pediatrics is the intersection of primary care pediatrics and behavioral psychology. I specifically address routine problems of childhood and adolescence that have potentially negative consequences including enuresis (bedwetting), temper tantrums, and childhood anxiety. I'm also interested in helping parents and teachers solve problems involving Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), delinquency, and learning.

As Director of the Human Development Center (HDC), I oversee the clinical training of undergraduate and graduate students from multiple disciplines including psychology. Students working in the HDC provide clinical services to children, adolescents, and families in the region under the direct supervision of faculty and staff. Many undergraduate students from the Psychology Department gain valuable clinical and research experiences in the HDC providing academic (e.g., reading, math) assessments and interventions to children with identified learning and behavioral problems.

I received a BA in English and Sociology and an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology and Human Development from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. I received a Ph.D. in School Psychology from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. I have formal clinical training through Father Flanagan's Girls and Boys Town and Creighton University School of Medicine, both in Omaha, NE. Prior to coming to UWEC in 2008, I held clinical, research, training, and administrative positions at Girls and Boys Town and the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, ME.

Education

•  B.S., American Studies-Working in a Global Economy, UW- Stevens Point

Responsibilities

• Support for students, faculty and staff.
  
• Oversee all Departmental Events.
  
• Assist the Department Chair.
  

Education

• Ph.D., The Georgia Institute of Technology (Psychology)
• M.A., Appalachian State University (General Experimental Psychology)
• B.A., Maryville College (Psychology)

Teaching Interests

I love teaching because it offers me the opportunity to convey my passion for the field to students, whether they are already declared majors or minors or are taking an elective course.

My teaching interests focus on many aspects of human development and I most often teach courses such as Lifespan Human Development and the Psychology of Adulthood and Aging.

I also greatly enjoy teaching Introductory Psychology, which offers the opportunity to expose new students to the field and show them how an understanding of scientific methodology and psychology can be very useful in their own lives, regardless of their chosen life paths.

Recent opportunities have also allowed me to discover the joy of teaching research methods in psychology. Although methods is a challenging course, it is wonderful to be able to guide student projects from initial conception to completion at the end of the semester and watch students grow throughout the process.

Research Interests

My research interests relate broadly to developmental psychology and, more specifically, to cognitive aging and metacognition. I study adult age differences in the development and usage of learning strategies, memory confidence, and how these relate to memory performance. It is well-known that memory ability declines with age, so it is in our best interest to understand the context surrounding these changes and determine what means may be available to either lessen the degree of decline (e.g., exercise) or compensate for it (e.g., use effective learning and remembering strategies).

One of the best opportunities I have to engage students is through one-on-one interaction in my adult cognition lab. I involve students in every aspect of the research process in which they find interest, including discussing current literature, designing new studies, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting our findings to a broader audience. These experiences offer the potential of growth beyond that which is afforded by the classroom and can be foundational for those who are considering a graduate program in the social sciences. Students who are interested in this opportunity may email me or drop by my office to chat. 

Responsibilities

• Faculty sponsor of the UWEC Psychology club
• Administrator of UWEC's SONA system, which helps facilitate research with human subjects on campus 

Education

• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Psychology)

Education

• Postdoctoral, University of Michigan (Behavioral Pharmacology)
• Ph.D., University of Florida (Experimental Psychology)
• M.A., University of Florida (Experimental Psychology)
• B.S., University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Psychology - Behavior Analysis Emphasis)

Teaching Interests

• Principles of Learning
• Behavior Analysis
• Introduction to and History of Psychology

Research Interests

• Experimental Behavior Analysis
• Behavioral Pharmacology
• Behavioral Economics
• Increasing Adoptability Potential of Canines at the Humane Association
• Social and Environmental Sustainability Issues: Reducing food waste, increasing composting efforts, increasing appropriate recycling

Responsibilities

• President: Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis
• Board Director and Treasurer: Society for the Quantitative Analysis of Behavior
• Behavioral Pharmacology and Neuroscience Program Coordinator: Association for Behavior Analysis International
• Editorial Board: The Behavior Analyst
• Board Member: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
• Faculty Advisor: Food Recovery Network
• Faculty Advisor: Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology
• Faculty Advisor: Psychology Club 

Education

• Ph.D., Indiana University (Educational Psychology)
• M.A., Miami University (Developmental Psychology)
• B.A., Loras College (Psychology)

Teaching Interests

• Educational Psychology
• Child Psychology
• Psychology of the Exceptional Child
• Adolescent Development
• Applications of Psychology in Educational Settings

Research Interests

• Academic Motivation
• Disability Studies (attitudes and perceptions of disabilities in Higher Education)
• Perfectionism
• Self-Compassion
• Children's developing interests in math and science

Education

• Psy.D., Minnesota School of Professional Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
• M.A., Minnesota School of Professional Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
• B.S., University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Psychology)

Teaching Interests

• Mental health disorders, stigmas, and advocacy
• The diverse changes in development across the lifespan
• Exploring connections between the larger social group and the individual, particularly in the areas of mental health, discrimination, and prejudice

Research Interests

• The multidirectional impact of chronic pain and mental health
• The impact of interactions between chronic pain patients with healthcare providers on mental health, level of pain, trust in medical establishments, and likelihood of seeking out prompt medical care

Responsibilities

• Teach classes such as: Human Development across the Lifespan, Adolescence, Abnormal Psychology, Social Psychology, Psychology as a Discipline &Profession, and Introduction to Psychology
• Committee member of Psychology Department EDI Committee

Education

• Ph.D. Boston College (Psychology)
• B.P.S. Granite State College (Educational Psychology, self-design)

Teaching Interests

• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology

Research Interests

• Creativity
• Giftedness and talent
• Visual spatial abilities
• Mood repair 

Responsibilities

• Teaching
• Research
• Advising
• Service