Faculty & Staff

The faculty and staff of the Department of Psychological Science are committed to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of their professional lives. This is accomplished not only daily in the classroom and laboratory, but also in the execution of both basic and applied research activities with our students. Students regularly participate in faculty sponsored research activities. Many of these efforts result in professional publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and/or presentation at professional conferences in the psychological sciences. The faculty also actively supervise many students in applied settings where students participate in the practice of psychology.

The discipline of psychology is, by definition, broad and interdisciplinary. Defined as the science of behavior and conscious experience, the field of psychology spans the social and developmental sciences, the biological and biomedical sciences, and the disciplines related to mental health. Serious efforts have been made to employ doctoral level faculty members representative of the various specialties within psychology who have a strong commitment to teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department is currently staffed by psychologists specializing in behavioral psychology, behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology, social psychology, human sexuality, cognitive psychology, counseling psychology, developmental psychology, experimental psychology, and neuropsychology.

The faculty and staff members within the Department of Psychological Science have been recognized for their accomplishments by winning such local honors as the Distinguished Professor Award, Excellence in Teaching Award, Excellence in Research and Publication Award, and the Presidential Staff Award. No other single department within the University has been so highly decorated.  In fact, the department received the first Department Program Excellence Award in 1999-2000. The department received the award again in 2010-2011. Several of our faculty have gained international reputations as experts within their fields.

Department of Psychological Science

Meet the Team

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H.L. "Lee" Gillis, Ph.D.

H.L. "Lee" Gillis, Ph.D.

Chair, Department of Psychological Science
Education

A.B., Davidson College

M.A., Middle Tennessee State University

Ph.D., University of Georgia

Biography

Professor of Psychology (1986)

Distinguished Professor 1992-1993

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Mia West

Mia West, B.A.

Administrative Assistant
Education

B.A., Valdosta State University

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Tsu-Ming Chiang, Ph.D.

Tsu-Ming Chiang, Ph.D.

Department of Psychological Science
Education

B.S., Chung Yuan Christian University

M.S., Ph.D., University of Wyoming

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Walter Isaac, Ph.D.

Walter Isaac, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology
Education & Bio

B.S., University of Georgia

M.A.,Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Research

Comparative psychology using House crickets

Perception and learning paradigms with pharmacological and environmental manipulations

Behavioral research studying tardigrades

Teaching

PSYC 2300 - Science of the Mind

PSYC 2800 - Research Methods

PSYC 3300 - Behavioral Neuroscience

PSYC 4300 - How the Brain Tastes Wine (and more)

PSYC 4920 - Capstone: How Brains Taste Food

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J. Noland White, Ph.D.

J. Noland White, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology
Education

B.S., M.S., Georgia College & State University

Ph.D., University of Tennessee

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Kristina Dandy, PhD

Kristina Dandy, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology
Education & Bio

B.A., Christopher Newport University

M.S., Ph.D., Texas Christian University

Research

Learning

Teaching

PSYC 2060 -- Drugs and the Brain

PSYC 2700 -- Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

PSYC 3100 -- Learning

 

 

 

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Diana Young, Ph.D.

Diana Young, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychology
Education

B.A., University Of California San Diego

M.S., Ph.D., University of Georgia

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Whitney L. Heppner, Ph.D.

Whitney Heppner, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychology
Education & Bio

B.A., Murray State University

M.S., Ph.D., University of Georgia

Postdoctoral Fellowship, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Research

Social Psychology and Wellness (SPaW) Lab, Undergraduate Research Lab

Mindfulness and meditation

Self-regulation and health behaviors

Positive Psychology

Teaching

PSYC 2700 -- Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

PSYC 2800 -- Research Methods in Psychology

PSYC 3500 -- Social Psychology

PSYC 4920 -- Senior Seminar in Positive Psychology

 

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Ashley Taylor, Ph.D.

Ashley Taylor, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychology
Education

B.A., Washington University in St. Louis

M.S., Ph.D., University of Michigan

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Eric Rindal, Ph.D

Eric Rindal, Ph.D

Assistant Professor of Psychology
Education & Bio

B.S., Valparaiso University

M.S., Ph.D., Kent State University

Research

Memory

Misinformation

Psychology & Law

Courses

PSYC 1101 General Psychology

PSYC 2800 Research Methods

PSYC 3100 Psychology of Learning

PSYC 3400 Cognitive Psychology

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Stephanie Jett, Ph.D.

Stephanie Jett, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Psychology
Education

B.A./B.S., M.S., University of South Alabama

Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi

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Taylor Elsey, Ph.D.

Taylor Elsey, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Psychology
Education & Bio

Clemson University, B.A.

University of Kentucky, M.S., Ph.D.

University of Kentucky, Teaching Post-Doctoral Scholar

Research

Sleep

Romantic relationships

Attachment theory

College teaching and learning

 

Teaching

PSYC 1101 -- Introduction to General Psychology

PSYC 2800 -- Research Methods in Psychology

PSYC 4950 -- Psychology of Sleep

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Tracy Butts, M.S., Department of Psychological Science

Tracy Butts, M.S.

Lecturer
Education & Bio

B.S., M.S., Georgia College

 

Research

Child and adolescent development

Teaching

PSYC 2103 -- Introduction to Human Development

PSYC 3200 --  Abnormal Psychology

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William F. McDaniel, Ph.D.

William F. McDaniel, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus of Psychology
Education

Distinguished Professer 1986-1987

B.S., Duke University; M.A., Appalachian State University; Ph.D., University of Georgia

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John F. Lindsay Jr, Ph.D.

John F. Lindsay Jr, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus of Psychology
Education

Distinguished Professor 1989-1990

A.B., Western Kentucky State College

M.S., Georgia College & State University

Ph.D., University of Georgia