About Me

I am a full Professor in the Department of Psychology at Radford University. I received my Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky under the supervision of Dr. Thomas Zentall. My research there focused on prospective and retrospective memory, as well as categorical learning, in pigeons. My postdoctoral training, with Dr. Raymond Kesner, was in Physiological Psychology at the University of Utah. My research interests have ranged from spatial learning in hippocampal-lesioned rats and pigeons to the role of the parietal and frontal cortices in implicit and explicit memory. Currently I am exploring the effects of chronic cannabinoid exposure during adolescence on adult learning and affect. The classes I teach generally involve either Learning, Physiological Psychology, Psychopharmacology, or Research Methods and Statistics.

Psychology Department Rat Lab

Classes

The Rat Lab facility is used to teach several classes in research (e.g., PSYC 434 (Learning), PSYC 478 (Physiological), and PSYC 491 (Special Topics).

Research Opportunities

There are three faculty actively engaged in research in the Animal Lab: myself, Dr. Jeff Willner, and Dr. Dayna Hayes. If interested you might discuss a PSYC 498, PSYC 697 or PSYC 698 with one of us.

Work Opportunities

We hire two Work Study students as Animal Care Technicians every semester. The two Technicians are responsible for daily animal care (e.g., feeding, watering, cleaning, health checks, and record-keeping). It is a good way to learn lab animal care skills that will serve you well if you’re interested in experimental psychology, medicine, lab animal research, or biology.