NKU Psychology Alumni

08/25/2026

You never know who you might run into early on a Saturday morning at a cross-country meet. Dr. Robin Bartlett was thrilled to catch up with two former NKU alumni.

On the left is Tracy Scharf (class of 2002; BA in English) who was one of our former office assistants in the PSY department.

On the right of Dr. Bartlett is Cara (Kopp) Schultz (2003; BS in PSY) who went on to earn a master’s degree in school counseling at NKU.

Dr. Bartlett also ran into current adjunct professor Shannon Bentz at the meet, but didn’t get a picture with him…maybe next time.

05/25/2026

While the end of the semester is always a busy (and sometimes stressful) time, it also is a time to celebrate important milestones and accomplishments.

In April, Dr. Kathleen Fuegen received the student-nominated and selected Dr. George Goedel Faculty Mentor Award at the spring Psi Chi induction and awards ceremony. This is the second time Dr. Fuegen has received the award (first time in 2012).

In May, Drs. Kalif Vaughn, Mark Bardgett, Kinsey Bryant-Lees, Justin Yates, Robin Bartlett, and Brittany Smith attended the spring commencement ceremony to celebrate our graduating PSY majors!

05/14/2026

Consistent with a long-standing tradition, NKU faculty and students headed to Chicago, IL in April to present research at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Enjoy some photos from the conference!

04/25/2026

Congratulating Dr. Wood on receiving an award for his community outreach and engagement efforts!

We’re excited to celebrate Dr. Brandon Wood as the recipient of the Edith Rathbun Outreach and Engagement Excellence Award! 🌟👏
Dr. Wood is being recognized for his work strengthening youth mental health systems across Northwest and Appalachian Ohio. By partnering with local schools and districts, he’s helping students get the support they need, when they need it.
His work has also strengthened community partnerships and created meaningful opportunities for future school psychologists.
Congratulations, Dr. Wood, and thank you for the impact you’re making for students and families! 💙🎉

04/23/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Brittany Smith who received not only this STUDENT-NOMINATED AWARD but also the university-wide Excellence in Research & Creativity Activity Award this year, all while co-coordinating the Celebration of Student Research & Creative Activity! Congratulations Dr. Smith!

Congratulations to Dr. Brittany Smith, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology within the College of Arts and Sciences for winning the 2026 Institute for Student Research and Creative Activity's Faculty Mentor Award!