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Psychology

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The Department of Psychology provides students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of behavior and experience from a variety of theoretical perspectives. The psychology faculty specialize in a wide variety of areas, including neuroscience, clinical/counseling, community, health, cognition and perception, social, developmental, and educational psychology. 

Students who major in psychology will develop an understanding of the theories and methods that guide the science and practice of psychology. Courses integrate readings from major theoretical perspectives and diverse methodological approaches, while engaging students in discussion of theoretical and applied issues. Psychology majors receive rigorous training in the research methods used by psychologists and can further enhance their research skills through participation in faculty-mentored research teams. The department also offers several courses of general interest to non-majors and students with interdisciplinary interests, including neuroscience, health equity, urban studies, gender and sexuality studies, and educational studies. 

The psychology major prepares students for post-baccalaureate employment, graduate or professional training in psychology, health professions, business, law, and education.

Faculty offices are housed in Clough Hall. Facilities include several laboratories, focusing on Computational and Applied Neuroscience, Cognition and Aging, Memory, Vision, Behavioral Neuroscience, Child and Community Narratives, Children’s Literacy, and Social Cognition.

 

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Internships

Psychology internships are offered for academic credit and are designed to provide students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in their particular area of interest.

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Faculty-Student Research

The Department of Psychology has a strong history of preparing undergraduate students to pursue psychology Ph.Ds, and the major reason for this success is our 30+ year history of involving students in faculty research.

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Psi Chi National

Both graduate and undergraduate students may become members of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology.

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Faculty & Staff

Jason Haberman
Associate Professor of Psychology
Amanda Hasselle
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Kiren Khan
Associate Professor of Psychology
Rebecca Klatzkin
Professor of Psychology, Chair of Neuroscience
Kailey Lawson
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Geoffrey Maddox
Associate Professor of Psychology
Natalie Person
Professor of Psychology; Dean for Community Engagement/Executive Director of the Turley Memphis Center
Sierra Peters
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Laura Shanahan
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Elizabeth Thomas
Professor of Psychology
Marsha Walton
Professor Emeritus of Psychology
Matthew Weeks
Associate Professor of Psychology, Chair of Psychology
Julia Wefferling
Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology
Katherine White
Professor of Psychology, Winton M. Blount Professor of Social Sciences

Departmental News and Events

Six graduating seniors’ portraits are being added to ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ College’s Hall of Fame on the second floor of Southwestern Hall. The honorees are Jasmine Jeffries, Olivia Mack, Joshua Morris, Ariyana Muesse, Jude Shive, and KK Sowers.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ College first-year student Adaria Crutcher was one of six students nationwide recently honored by the Tommie Smith Youth Initiative at a gala held in Atlanta, GA.
Dr. Kailey Lawson, assistant professor of psychology at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ College, has been selected for the SAGE Emerging Scholar Award from the Society of Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP). She will be recognized at the annual SPSP meeting in February 2026.