UNL Department of Psychology

Congratulations to everyone honored at the Department Awards Ceremony last month! We are so proud of the caliber of faculty and students that make up this amazing department. Also a big thank you to Dr. Sarah Evans for her work in organizing the ceremony.

Check out a showcase of the recipients: go.unl.edu/psycawards2026

Nebraska College of Arts and Sciences

Congratulations to Hillary Schwarb who has earned a University of Nebraska Collaborative Initiative grant to investigate healthy aging with colleague Madhur Mangalam of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO)!

Decline in balance and memory in older adults frequently co-occur but are typically studied and treated independently. This collaborative project seeks to remedy this gap by leveraging strengths in cognitive neuroscience here at UNL and biomechanics at UNO into a comprehensive investigation of a unified, brain-centered framework for understanding concurrent declines in mobility and cognition as we age.

Details: go.unl.edu/byna

Huge congratulations to our Psychology majors, minors, and graduate students who graduated on Saturday! We are so proud of you, and we can't wait to hear about all of the great things you will accomplish.

Recent grads: We'd love to know what your next steps are! Whether you're starting a new job, continuing your education, or still exploring options, you can help us keep up-to-date about our Psychology grads here: https://nebraska.12twenty.com/Login

And a special shoutout to our Psychology graduate students. Thank you for all of your hard work and your contribution to our department!

Master of Arts (MA)

- Jacey Lynn Anderberg, Yankton, SD
- Lucia Marie Fetkenhour, Rochester, NY
- Carolina Garcia, Sioux Falls, SD
- Molly Kathryn Griffin, Wadsworth, OH
- Elizabeth Malousek, Ashland, NE
- Theresa Ngan Hoang Nguyen, San Diego, CA
- Meghan Kathleen O’Brien, North Kingstown, RI
- Kara Louise Stevens, Oshkosh, WI

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

- Amanda Elizabeth Baildon, Suffield, CT; Dissertation: A Daily Assessment of Food and Alcohol Disturbance and Alcohol Intoxication as Predictors of Sexual Violence Victimization. Advised by Professor Sarah Gervais

- Alexi Noelle Cranford, East Peoria, IL; Dissertation: The Relationship of Concussion and Alcohol Use: An Investigation into Intervening Cognitive Mechanisms. Advised by Professor Dennis McChargue.

- Isabel Renata Kees Kuebler, Brookings, SD; Dissertation: Glucose on the Brain: Relationships Among Glucose Sensing Melanin-concentrating Hormone Neuronal Activity, Sugar, and Drug Intake, and Brain Glucose. Advised by Professor Ken Wakabayashi.

- London Maria Wolff, Portland, OR; Dissertation: Unleashing Stress: The Effects of Training, Bond Strength, and Stress on Pet Dog Behavior. Advised by Professor Tierney Lorenz.

Congratulations again, Huskers!

Congratulations to Manda Williamson!

Congratulations to our faculty and staff being recognized for their achievements during the 2025-2026 academic year! 👏

Details: go.unl.edu/nb7c

UNL Department of English University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Mathematics University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Physics and Astronomy Nebraska School of Biological Sciences UNL Anthropology University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of History University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute for Ethnic Studies Nebraska Department of Sociology UNL Department of Psychology

Why is arachnophobia so common? 🕷️ 👀

An interdisciplinary team of faculty and students, powered by an NU Collaboration Initiative grant and the Community for Arthropod Research, Education and Materials Innovation (CAREMI), is using eye-tracking technology to investigate.

go.unl.edu/3bik

Nebraska School of Biological Sciences
UNL Department of Psychology

Rural drug addiction project expands collaborations, reach Now into its second phase, the Rural Drug Addiction Research Center is expanding both its collaborations with partners and the reach of its research.

Congratulations to Dr. Stevens for his second Family & Friends Recognition Award! We appreciate all you do in the psychology department, and the amazing research you are contributing to the field!
P.S. Check out Dr. Stevens' Canine Cognition and Human Interaction Lab

Thank you for showing your 💕 and supporting our students during !

Nebraska College of Arts and Sciences
N Fund

is next week!

Support our students by:

✅ giving
✅ sharing
✅ glowing

go.unl.edu/psycglowbigred

Nebraska College of Arts and Sciences N Fund