ASU Department of Psychology

08/19/2026

Chelsea Rivas, central Arizona director for Sen. Mark Kelly, and members of the senator’s staff recently visited a women’s health research laboratory at ASU to see firsthand how researchers are advancing our understanding of women’s health, memory, aging and neurodegenerative disease. 🔬

Organized by Bimonte-Nelson laboratory doctoral student Matt Oevermann, the group toured the Behavioral Neuroscience of Menopause, Memory, and Aging Laboratory, led by ASU President’s Professor Heather Bimonte-Nelson, and learned about ongoing research examining the brain and ovaries, including work related to hysterectomy, memory and aging. Project collaborator Associate Professor Jason Newbern shared data showing how different types of menopause can affect the brain, while Assistant Professor Jessica Verpeut showed examples of brain tissue studied in her laboratory and explained how these procedures can inform the effects of aging.

The visit grew out of Oevermann’s recent trip to Washington, D.C., where he met with Kelly’s staff to advocate for the importance of rodent research and share the impact of ASU research across Arizona. Oevermann serves as the nationally appointed graduate student representative on the American Psychological Association’s Committee on Animal Research and Ethics.

The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of federal research funding in advancing women’s health, expanding the understanding of neurodegenerative disease, as well as supporting student training in these areas.

Thank you to Rivas and members of Kelly’s staff for visiting and learning more about this work! 🔱

08/12/2026

08/05/2026

Congratulations to our 2025–26 Samuel Leifheit Service Award faculty recipient, Mary Davis! 👏

After 31 years of dedicated service to ASU's Department of Psychology, Professor Davis, now Professor Emeritus, was recognized for the countless ways she has gone above and beyond in service to others. As former Associate Chair, Director of Faculty Success, leader of the Psychology Honors Thesis Seminar Sequence, and a trusted mentor to students, faculty and staff alike, Davis's leadership and compassion have inspired generations throughout her career.

Thank you, Mary!

07/31/2026

Congratulations to our 2025–26 Samuel Leifheit Service Award staff recipient, Wendi Simonson!

As student support coordinator, Simonson went above and beyond to support students in the master's degree in addiction psychology program. She was always ready to answer questions, talk through challenges or simply listen.

Thank you, Wendi, and all of our academic advisors for everything you do to support psychology and neuroscience students.

07/30/2026

Calling all parents of curious kids! 📣 The Child Study Lab is now enrolling for the 2026–27 school year.

Housed within Arizona State University's Department of Psychology, the Child Study Lab is a preschool community where children ages 15 months to 5 years learn through exploration, play and discovery. Families also benefit from research-based early childhood education practices in a nurturing, engaging environment.

Classes are available in part-day and full-day schedules, depending on your child's age. The new school year begins Aug. 25.

Learn more and enroll: psychology.asu.edu/childstudylab

Questions? Email [email protected].

About the Child Study LabEstablished by the Department of Psychology in 1972, the Child Study Lab (CSL) is a preschool community where children and families explore, create, learn and grow. Staff from other early education programs throughout Maricopa County also visit the CSL to study quality pract...

07/27/2026

Congratulations to ASU Foundation Professor Steven Neuberg, recipient of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The society's highest honor recognizes a lifetime of distinguished contributions to research on evolution and human behavior. Neuberg was honored for his groundbreaking research on stereotypes, prejudice, stigma and discrimination, his role in bridging social psychology and evolutionary behavioral science, and his longstanding commitment to mentoring the next generation of junior faculty and graduate and undergraduate students.

“I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to create a life and support my family by doing and teaching science about human nature with so many smart, interesting, and creative students and collaborators. I feel blessed,” said Neuberg.

Neuberg is the fourth Arizona State University faculty member to receive the award, giving the university more recipients than any other institution worldwide.

07/24/2026

New research by Department of Psychology graduate student Olivia Law, Assistant Professor Jessica Verpeut and Professor Jonathan Gewirtz suggests opioid withdrawal may also affect the brain's support cells, offering new insights into addiction and recovery.

These findings could help identify new therapeutic targets for opioid addiction and withdrawal.

Read more in ASU News: news.asu.edu/20260715-science-and-technology-study-uncovers-another-way-opioid-use-withdrawal-affect-brain

07/23/2026

Sometimes, all it takes is the chance to see what's possible. 🔬💫

This summer, teens impacted by foster care, incarceration or homelessness explored neuroscience, astrophysics and college life through the Mind in Motion workshop.

Department of Psychology Assistant Professor Jessica Verpeut partnered with First Star ASU Academy program coordinator Aryza Olague and astrophysics PhD student Hailey Nelson to create an experience that expands access to higher education and STEM opportunities.

"Being in a research university environment made me feel like — this is who I am. This is where I belong."

For Tristen McKenna, the path was clear — he would become a welder when he graduated from high school."My family never pushed for college," said McKenna, a senior in Arizona's foster care program. "They wanted me to go to a trade school — not college."But last week, McKenna was one of 20 teens w...

07/15/2026

The social connections teens build today become the foundation for relationships throughout life.

Department of Psychology researchers are studying how AI may shape those critical experiences.

Adolescence is a critical period where teenagers learn relationship skills such as emotional regulation, conflict resolution, perspective-taking and boundary-setting.

Yet, how does the use of AI-powered conversational tools impact this kind of learning?

Associate Professor Thao Ha from the ASU Department of Psychology and colleagues caution that lack of safeguards and careful design in AI lead to two significant risks.

Learn more: https://news.asu.edu/20260629-science-and-technology-ai-companionship-poses-risks-teen-development-study-shows

07/13/2026

When an older adult experiences changes in memory, mood or behavior, addiction isn't always the first explanation that comes to mind.

But alcohol and prescription drug misuse among older adults is on the rise, and it's often overlooked.

In this Q&A with ASU News, Department of Psychology Professor Michelle Shiota explains why, shares warning signs to look for and offers advice for families concerned about a loved one.

🔗 Read more: news.asu.edu/20260623-health-and-medicine-why-addiction-older-adults-growing-and-hard-detect