About Us - Department of Psychology

Stetson University Psychology Department: About Us

Who We Are — Current Student Perspective

Elodie Foster

 

"My involvement in Stetson’s Psychology department did not start until my sophomore year at Stetson. I entered as a Health Sciences major, not having a clue what I wanted to do as a career. As an elective, I took a Cognitive Psychology class with Dr. Eskenazi, discovering a real passion and interest in the topic. As a result, I decided to add a major in Psychology.

The psychology department and faculty have provided me with so many opportunities to explore career paths and gain experiences beyond the classroom.  I value the small class sizes that Stetson has so much, as they create a close-knit community.

 I have been fortunate enough to form close relationships with multiple faculty members who have been so important in my education and personal development. I have been a research assistant in the REAiD lab with Dr. Eskenazi, a research assistant in Professor Garcia’s neuropsychology lab, an intern and research coordinator at the Brain Fitness Academy, and a teaching assistant for Dr. Askew. I have cultivated a wide skill set through the mentorship that these faculty members provided. Through these opportunities, I have learned a lot about the ins and outs of research, been involved in publications, and developed skills in data analysis and interpretation.

Now as a senior, I am planning on continuing my studies and sourcing work in a research lab. The guidance and help that I have received from faculty members within the department has helped me tremendously in navigating and preparing for my career path. The Psychology Department has done so much for me the past few years, and I encourage students to continue to take advantage of all the opportunities that are made available."

~ Elodie Foster, Psychology Senior

Elodie Foster playing tennis

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.
  • Kyle Dickey is currently undergoing a crash course in developmental psychology with his newborn daughter Claire. His research focuses on counterfactual thinking - the "if only..." and "what if..." thoughts that we often have."
  • 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.
  • Camille King has completed three Tough Mudder races and has promised herself to do at least one every five years until she's not able to anymore. She studies the neural basis of taste functions in rats. 
  • 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.
  • Rick Medlin grew up on the Stetson campus (his childhood home was where the Lynn Business Center is now) and has taught in the Psychology Department since 1981. He studies the development of homeschooled children. .
  • Scott Semenyna  grew up on the Canadian prairies cultivating an appreciation of mountains, a love of good steak, and a curiosity for understanding people from all walks of life. His research uses evolutionary and culturally informed frameworks to understand the origins and consequences of sex and sexual orientation differences in personality, cognition, and behavior.   

Our adjunct faculty bring real-world experience from clinical practice and scientific research into the classroom. Select a name to send an email.

Emeriti Faculty