About Us - Department of Psychology
To see our faculty members' academic degrees and professional accomplishments, choose a name below to visit the faculty profile page. But to see random facts about who they are as people and to find out about their research interests, keep reading...
- Robert Askew is an amateur art critic and hound aficionado who often brings his best friends--Fern and Ivy--to school with him. His research is concerned with pain and health.
- Michele Camden is a self-proclaimed theater nerd who dabbles in stage acting and scriptwriting. One of her current interests is animal-assisted therapy.
- Michael Eskenazi's top bucket-list item is to visit all 59 national parks in the country. He uses eye-tracking to examine word learning and reading.
- Chris Ferguson plays guitar and sings in a local band called Gods of Avalon, knows how to swordfight, and eats just about anything (jellyfish, python, etc.) except vegetables. His research focuses on whether playing violent video games makes people more aggressive, as well as, more recently issues related to crime, policing and race.
- Sarah Garcia enjoys traveling to places of historical art & culture. Her research focuses on non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive change in a variety of populations.
- Jessica Kissane, was a pre-law major before deciding teaching and psychology was her calling. She loves sports, music, and dance. Academic interests include adolescents and their development.
- Danielle Lindner was planning to become a high school music teacher before she decided to pursue a career in psychology, and she still spends much of her free time singing as both a cantor and choir member at her church. Her research focuses on body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.
- Nazike Mert, PhD. Psychology - Cornell University
- Matthew Vanaman, was a music major as a Stetson undergrad before becoming a social psychologist. When not studying why people get morally offended, he can be found playing music, enjoying the local movie theater, or hanging with his pets Ripley (think Lassie) and Sweet Jack the Cat (think Garfield looks with Odie personality).
C. Dwaine Cochran, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology 2013
Dr. Dwaine Cochran joined the Stetson faculty in 1967 and served as the chair of the Psychology Department from 1971 to 1994. He retired in 2014 after 47 years of teaching and service. A graduate of Georgia State University, Dr. Cochran received his MS and PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Georgia. Dr. Cochran taught a staggering variety of courses but is perhaps best known for the research courses -- Behavioral Statistics, Psychological Testing, Research Methods and Major Project. The C. Dwaine Cochran Showcase, dedicated in his honor, features a rotating exhibit of historical psychological instruments and materials.
Richard A. Kindred, PhD, Associate Professor Emeritus of Psychology 2013
Dr. Richard Kindred joined the Stetson faculty in 1973. He served as the chair of the Psychology Department from 1994 to 1999 and again from 2005 until he retired in 2013 after 40 years of service. Dr. Kindred taught an astonishing 36 different psychology or social science courses including Interpersonal Dynamics, Human Sexuality, our internship courses, and unique courses such as On Truth, Lies, and Secrets and Using Drama to Portray and Understand Dysfunctional Family Systems. Dr. Kindred's extensive teaching record is matched by his university service--a total of 36 different committee memberships and other appointments. The Psychology Department dedicated the A. Richard Kindred Resource Room to honor his long service and devotion to his students and to the university.
Cariella Nance, PhD, Associate Professor Emeritus of Psychology 2013
Dr. Carrie Nance retired in 2013 after 16 years of devoted service and teaching. A popular teacher of Introduction to Psychology, Theories of Personality, and Social Psychology. Dr. Nance also served on a variety of university committees such as the Diversity Council, Africana Studies Committee, ALANA Council, Sexual Harassment Committee and Health Professions Advising Committee. Dr. Nance's scholarly interests included social cognition, the intersection between psychology and law, and truth-telling and deception (and how to tell the difference between the two).
W. Dan Hale, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, 2012
In 2012, Dr. Dan Hale retired after 33 years in the Psychology Department. A popular teacher of Abnormal Psychology and Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Dr. Hale also introduced courses in Health Psychology and Adult Development and Aging into the curriculum. He is the author of two books: Building Healthy Communities Through Medical-Religious Partnerships with Richard Bennett, and Healing Bodies and Souls: A Practical Guide for Congregations with Harold Koenig. In 2009, Dr. Hale won Stetson's Hand Community Impact Award to recognize his accomplishments in serving the needs of others. He continues his work at Johns Hopkins University and has developed community-based disease prevention and disease management programs in the Baltimore area.
Who We Are — Current Student Perspective
Julia Ramos de Camargo
Psychology Senior
“My journey in Stetson’s Department of Psychology began in Fall 2023, when I enrolled in Introduction to Psychology with Professor Medlin as a Discovery major. That class sparked my interest in the human brain and ultimately led me to declare Psychology as my major, later adding Biology to complement my growing interest in neuroscience.
Since then, the department has shaped nearly every part of my undergraduate experience. I joined Professor Garcia’s neuropsychology lab as a Research Assistant, gaining experience with trans-cranial electrical stimulation, neuropsychological assessment, and human-subject research. Through courses with faculty such as Professor King, I continued developing my interest in behavioral neuroscience, and I later had the opportunity to serve as a Teaching Assistant for Professor Askew. I also interned with Stetson’s Brain Fitness Academy, where working with older adults experiencing cognitive decline deepened my interest in aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
In Summer 2026, I was selected for the Johns Hopkins BSI-SIP, where I conducted Alzheimer’s disease research examining synaptic vulnerability and amyloid pathology and presented my work at the program’s research symposium. Back at Stetson, I am continuing to grow as a researcher through my senior research while also serving in leadership within Psi Chi and supporting other students through teaching apprenticeship and mentorship.
As an international student from Brazil, I am especially grateful for the professors who have challenged, encouraged, and believed in me throughout this journey. What began with one introductory psychology course has grown into a defining part of my Stetson experience and has helped shape my goal of pursuing graduate training in neuroscience and psychological research.”
Audrey Best
Psychology Senior
The Stetson Psychology Department has been at the heart of my academic and personal growth. As a work study student in the department since my first year, I have had the privilege of forming close relationships with faculty and staff who continually invest in my development. They check in on my progress, hold me accountable to my goals, and help me turn them into achievements. The department’s supportive and intellectually engaging environment has shaped not only my skills but also my sense of purpose.
Through this foundation, I have thrived both within psychology and across campus. As a dedicated member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, I have served first as Vice President and now as President, promoting professional development and student engagement among psychology majors. My studies in psychology have strengthened my ability to think critically, interpret human behavior, and analyze complex problems, all of which have been essential to my leadership roles and will continue to strengthen the foundation for my academic journey and professional aspirations in law.
Beyond the department, I have remained deeply engaged in Stetson’s prelaw and global communities. I serve as President of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, where I have expanded our organization’s reach through philanthropy, networking opportunities such as an LSAT partnership with Testmasters, and collaborations with Stetson Law. I am also a Coach for Model United Nations, where I mentor students in diplomacy and international relations, and will take over fully as Head Coach in spring 2026. As a World Ambassador, I help welcome international students and promote cross-cultural understanding on campus.
Academically, I have served as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Robert Askew in Behavioral Statistics, where I supported students in mastering statistical concepts, data analysis, and interpretation. Through this experience, I strengthened my own understanding of quantitative reasoning, learned how to communicate complex ideas clearly, and developed patience and leadership in an academic setting. I also served as a Research Assistant for Dr. Steven Smallpage in the Political Science department, where I studied susceptibility to misinformation. Working closely with these professors also gave me valuable insights into how research and data can inform decision-making, a skill that will be vital in my future legal studies.
The Psychology Department’s mentorship and support have been instrumental in all of these experiences. Through their encouragement and guidance, I have grown into a more thoughtful leader, researcher, and future law student committed to combining psychological insight with legal reasoning to serve others.
Leonardo Giorgioni
Psychology Senior
"Coming from the European education system, I was eager to experience the renowned American undergraduate education that so many of us work hard to pursue. I applied without a clear idea of where to go or what my future goals looked like. It wasn't until I applied to Professor Garcia’s tDCS lab and held an interview with her that I realized neuropsychology might not be the right fit for me. Professor Garcia then introduced me to Professor Askew, a Quantitative Psychologist who became both a mentor and a friend.
The psychology department has provided me with countless opportunities to explore different career paths, from receiving direct mentorship from Stetson graduate students to gaining hands-on lab experience with faculty members.
Currently, I’m working in Professor Eskenazi’s lab on eye tracking and preposition stranding research, Professor Garcia’s lab on trans-cranial direct current stimulation, and assisting Professor Askew with behavioral statistics as a teaching assistant. These experiences have equipped me with the tools to cultivate my skills independently and apply them in practical settings. I now encourage others to take full advantage of these opportunities."