Spring 2008

Department Opens the Anxiety and Stress Disorder Clinic

The University of North Carolina Anxiety and Stress Disorders Clinic (ASDC) is a specialty clinic that evaluates, treats, and studies anxiety-related problems. ASDC is one of the few clinics in the U.S. to offer intensive outpatient treatment for severe anxiety disorders. They also serve to train psychologists, educate the public, and update other healthcare professionals on the latest advances in knowledge and treatment of anxiety disorders.

The ASDC was founded in 2006 by Jonathan Abramowitz, Ph.D., ABPP, an internationally recognized expert on anxiety disorders, who also serves as the Clinic's Director. The Clinic is part of the UNC Department of Psychology. The visit the ASDC website, click here.

Fall 2007

Biological Program Changes Name to Behavioral Neuroscience

The Biological Psychology Program has changed their name to the Behavioral Neuroscience Program.  The new name more accurately reflects the research endeavors of our program faculty, the type of training received by our graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and is in line with the name used most frequently by other Psychology departments and Research Societies in our area.

Eric Youngstrom Appointed Associate Director for (CERT-BD)

Eric Youngstrom, Associate Professor in the Clinical Program, has been appointed Associate Director for the Center for Excellence in Research and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder (CERT-BD).

Spring 2006

Don Lysle Named Chair of the Psychology Department

Don Lysle, Kenan Distinguished Professor in the Biological Program, will become chair of the Psychology Department beginning July 1, 2007.

Jon Abramowitz Named Associate Chair of the Psychology Department

Jon Abramowitz, Associate Professor in the Clinical Program, will become chair of the Psychology Department beginning July 1, 2007.

Karen Gil Appointed Senior Associate Dean for the Social Sciences

Karen Gil, Gillian T. Cell Distinguished Professor in the Clinical Program, will become Senior Associate Dean for the Social Sciences beginning July 1, 2007.

Psychology Department Hires New Faculty

Welcome to Drs. Charlotte Boettiger (Biological Program), Sy-Miin Chow (Quantitative Program), Stacie Craft (Clinical Program/John Umstead Hospital), Enrique Neblett (Clinical Program), and Jason Vogler (Clinical Program/John Umstead Hospital). Drs. Boettiger, Chow, Craft and Vogler will be joining the Department in the Fall of 2007; Dr. Neblett will be joining the Department in the Fall of 2008.

View Photos from Commencement

Winners of the Baughman Award Announced

Leslie Vaughan, Cognitive Psychology graduate student, and Brad Fischer, Biological Psychology student, are the recipients of the 2007 Baughman Dissertation Research Award. These awards honor Earl and Barbara Baughman for their many contributions to the Department over the years. Baughman Awards provide some summer funding to students who are working on their dissertations. Leslie's dissertation is entitled "Executive function in daily life: Age-related influences of executive processes on instrumental activities of daily living"; it is being carried out under the advisorship of Kelly Giovanello, Assistant Professor in the Cognitive Program. Brad's dissertation is entitled "Interactive behavioral effects of morphine and glutamate receptor antagonists," and is being carried out under the advisorship of Linda Dykstra, William Rand Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor in the Biological Program and Dean of the Graduate School.

View Photos from the Staff Appreciation Luncheon

Steve Reznick Appointed Associate Dean for First Year Seminars & Academic Experiences

Steve Reznick, Professor and Director of the Developmental Program, will become Associate Dean for First Year Seminars and Academic Experiences, effective July 1, 2007.

Kelly Giovanello Receives Research Award

Kelly Giovanello, Assistant Professor in the Cognitive Program, was awarded the 2007 Gordon H. DeFriese Career Development in Aging Research Award from the UNC Institute on Aging. This annual award honors Dr. DeFriese's thirty-year distinguished career in the conduct and development of research to improve the quality of lives of older North Carolinians, and especially his unwavering commitment to developing and supporting the careers of his colleagues. The award is given to one junior faculty/staff member and one doctoral student from UNC Chapel Hill who demonstrate commitment to and outstanding promise in aging research.

Abigail Panter Receives Freshman Teaching Award

Abigail Panter, Associate Professor in the Quantitative Program, was awarded the J. Carlyle Sitterson Freshman Teaching Award by the College of Arts and Sciences. The Sitterson Award recognizes excellence in teaching to first-year students by a tenured or tenure track faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Mark Hollins Receives Teaching Award

Mark Hollins, Professor in the Biological and Cognitive Programs and Director of Graduate Studies in Psychology since 1995, was awarded the 2007 Distinguished Teaching Award for Post-Baccalaureate Teaching and Mentoring.  This award was first given by the University in 1995 to recognize the important role of post-baccalaureate teaching.

Barbara Atkins Receives Robert R. Cornwell Unsung Hero Award

Barbara Atkins, Student Services Manager, was awarded the University’s Robert R. Cornwell Unsung Hero Award. She received a plaque at a celebration on Monday, March 19, 2007. The award goes annually to a university employee who has provided significant service in support of the University over a long period of time and, generally, from a background and sometimes unnoticed position.