Department of Psychology

The focus of psychology is the scientific study of behavior. Psychology is studied as a science with the implication that there is a commitment to rational thinking and empirical analysis of the problems encountered in describing and explaining human behavior.

An integrated 4-part curriculum provides students with a broad introduction to the field, emphasizing the understanding and design of research. Depth of study is offered in the junior and senior years. A wide range of subfields of psychology are offered from courses that emphasize our biological heritage (e.g., physiological psychology) to those that examine basic human functioning (e.g., cognitive psychology, social psychology) and those that have a distinct applied orientation (e.g., counseling, behavior modification). There are also opportunities for students to engage in independent research, thesis research, or to participate in internships in various clinical settings. The curriculum can be structured to prepare students for graduate education or to include applied clinical coursework and experiences that would allow graduates to seek employment in a variety of human services agencies.

Students who major in psychology find primary employment opportunities in personnel management, elementary and secondary high school education, social work, software and other product development. Higher level psychological professions, such as counseling psychotherapy, university instruction, psychological research (in industry, universities, and research centers) and various administrative mental health positions generally require a master’s degree or preferably a doctorate in psychology. The department also offers a graduate program in psychology leading to a Master of Arts degree with distinct Clinical and Research options.

Faculty and Fields of Interest

Heloisa Alves, BA 2000 Brandeis University, BA 2001 Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, MA 2006 Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, PhD 2012 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, Brain Imaging Techniques, and Human Performance

Brian Ayotte, BS 2001, MS 2003 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, PhD 2007 West Virginia University, Health Psychology, Interpersonal Relationships, Cognition, and Problem-solving in Older Adults

Rowland Barrett, 1978-79 Graduate Program Mental Retardation, National Institute of Mental Health, 1978-79 University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Merek Program, PhD 1978 University of Pittsburgh, Autism Disorders, Child Development, Clinical Techniques

R Thomas Boone, BS 1987 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MS 1995 PhD 1996 Brandeis Univeristy, Nonverbal Communication of Emotion, Developmental Social Processes, Cooperative Processes, Communication of Trustworthiness

John K. Conboy (emeritus)

Donald P. Corriveau (emeritus), BA 1973 Providence College, MA 1975, PhD 1978 University of Rhode Island

Paul A. Donnelly (emeritus)

Melanie DuBard (Program Director, Applied Behavioral Analysis), BA 1999 Ithaca College, MA 2002 PhD 2004 University of Southern Mississippi, Developmental Disabilities, Autism, Applied Behavior Analysis, Consultation, Treatment Integrity, Assessment and Treatment of Severe Problem Behavior

Barry Haimson (emeritus)

Patrice Hartnett Lifespan Development (Child and Adolescent), BS 1983 Bucknell University, MA 1984, PhD University of Pennsylvania, Comparative Cognition

Mahzad Hojjat (Chairperson), BA 1992 University of Connecticut, MS 1994, MPhil 1995, PhD 1998 Yale University, Satisfaction, Conflict, Betrayal, Resilience, and Forgiveness in Friendships and Romantic Relationships

Mary Kayyal, BA 2006, MA 2009, PhD 2014 Boston College, Emotion Perception, Emotion and Moral Judgments, Development of Emotion Categories Across Cultures

Trina Kershaw, BA 1998 Widener University Pennsylvania, MA 2002, PhD 2006 University of Illinois Chicago, Skill Learning and Transfer, Problem-solving, Individual Differences

Raina Lamade, BA 2000 Queens College NY, MA 2004 Columbia University, PhD 2015 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Clinical and Forensic Psychology: Psychological Assessment, Violence Risk Assessment, Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Offenders, Management of Serious Mental Illness within Criminal Contexts, Malingering, Trauma and Post-traumatic Growth, Public Opinion and Policy, Military and Veterans

Robin Locke Arkerson (Program Director, Master’s in Research Psychology), BA 1992 Boston University, MS 1999, PhD 2005 University of Wisconsin, Developmental Psychopathology, Emotional Development, Biological Psychology

Josh Masse, BA 2002 Stonehill College, MS 2006, PhD 2009 West Virginia University, Childhood Externalizing Disorders, Evidence-based Treatments, Clinical Training, Treatment Dissemination and Implementation

Theodore E. Powers (Program Director, Master’s in Clinical Psychology), BA 1980 Columbia University, PhD 1985 McGill University, Clinical Training, Personality, Motivation

Andrew J. Revell, BS 1996 Truman State University, MS 1998 Southern Illinois University, PhD 2006 Pennsylvania State University, Lifespan Human Development, Neuropsychology of Aging, Health Risk Indicators, Multivariate Measurement, Gerontology

Elizabeth F. Richardson, Professor of Psychology (2008), BA 1991 Indiana University, MA 1995, PhD 1997 Louisiana State University, Health Psychology, Adolescent and Young Adult Risk Behaviors, Clinical Research

Anna Schierberl Scherr, BA 2003 Colby College, MA 2010, Health Psychology Certificate 2012, PhD 2014 University of Connecticut, Health Behavior Change, Enhancing Treatment Outcomes for Eating Disorders and Obesity, Clinical Supervision

Amy M. Shapiro (Dean, Honors College), BS and BA 1988 Tufts University, PhD 1992 Brown University, Human Learning and Memory, Educational Technology, Memory Errors

Judith E. Sims-Knight (emeritus)

Nicholas Zambrotta, BA Eckerd College 2005, BA 2008 Salve Regina University, MS 2013 Barry University, PhD 2019 University of Rhode Island, Political Psychology and Political Polarization, Morality, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Psychology of Peak Performance, Behavioral Health, Structural Equation Modeling

Student Learning Outcomes

Our department has adopted the Student Learning Goals as described in APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major:

Knowledge Base in Psychology
Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking
Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World
Communication
Professional Development