Neuroscience Minor at UNCA

10/17/2026

Our newest UNCA Psychology faculty member (and alum!) Dr. Kevin Riordan is bringing the Venerable Ani Choyang, a young Tibetan woman who trained to be a Bhuddist Nun under the guidance of the Dalai Lama to campus next month. She has also been trained in modern science at Emory, and Northwestern Universities, and she is going to give a public lecture Thurs. Nov 5, 4-6 PM, in the Highsmith Blue Ridge Room. It will be a combination of a talk/panel followed by optional meditation.

06/07/2026

Dr. Foo's new article, "MacGyver Neuroscience" is out in print. Former students, do you recognize these lab activities?

By Patrick Foo. Foo describes a “MacGyvered,” cost-effective set of eight laboratory exercises from a Neuroscience Minor program at a PUI.

05/12/2026

Nice article on the 2026 BOG Award, featuring Neuro Alum Taylor Gardner, who is pursuing a PhD at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Congratulations again, Dr. Foo!

At UNC Asheville, some of the most challenging subjects become the most rewarding thanks to faculty who know how to meet students where they are. For Patrick Foo, professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, teaching complex material isn’t about simplifying it—it’s about empowering students to kn...

02/23/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Foo for winning the 2026 UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award. WTG!
https://go.unca.edu/article/unc-asheville-professor-patrick-foo-receives-2026-board-of-governors-excellence-in-teaching-award/ #

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — February 20, 2026 — The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has selected 17 outstanding faculty members to receive the 2026 Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Patrick Foo, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, is the 2026 recipient for UNC Asheville.

12/07/2025

Another set of excellent posters at the Fall 2025 UNCA research symposium. WTG Neuro students!

09/03/2025

Dr. Foo is presenting a panel during the first day of the UNCA post-Helene conference this month on Sept. 24th at 1:30 PM in the Blue Ridge room in Highsmith. It is titled, "Neighborhood to Regional Responses After Helene" and will offer a dynamic systems view of small-to-large scale disaster relief efforts.

Drs. Cox and Chiang from Psychology are also hosting panels, and all are free and open to the public. They are also PAL-approved for current students.

https://www.posthelenesymposium.com/

Click on "search" to find our panel information.
Note: Visitor parking is now $3/car/day.

From September 24th to the 26th, the faculty of University of North Carolina Asheville will lead a campus-wide symposium to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene. Highlighting the themes of “Remembering, Rebuilding, and Reimagining,” the symposium will bring together members o...

05/03/2025

Dr. Foo is giving a free talk on Neuroscience and Meditation this upcoming Wednesday at the Big Asheville Science Salon. Talk starts at 7 PM, no cover, all ages welcome, and a food truck is on site. Location is the Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd. Asheville. There will be brain models passed around!

05/31/2024

Congratulations to Dr. Foo for winning a Distinguished Service Award, in part due to his contributions in co-founding the Neuroscience Minor at UNCA. Way to go!

Every year UNC Asheville celebrates the exceptional accomplishments of its faculty and staff members. Awards were given for service to the University, teaching, creativity and scholarship, as well as special recognition to faculty who were reappointed or promoted.

05/06/2024

Congratulations to Neuro Minor students Bruno, Rafael, Erica and Kaisa, who are headed to Medical school following graduation this month. We are so proud of you!

03/07/2024

So proud of Dr. Kaur's award and innovative teaching strategies at UNCA. Way to go!

Angel Kaur developed and designed board games for her students, just one of the unique strategies Kaur uses in her teaching that led to her receiving the 2023 Award for Education in Neuroscience from the Society for Neuroscience.