Alumni from the MS in Psychological Science Program

Our students are very successful post-graduation, with 35.5% of graduates in the last five years gaining admission to a doctoral program and the remaining 64.5% securing a research industry position, working for a government or non-profit agency, serving as a research consultant, working as adjunct faculty, or entering a non-PhD graduate program.
 

Where our recent Psychological Science graduates are:

Our Alumni:
 

Akera Williams

Akera Williams works for the Department of Correction Center in Chattanooga, ,TN, She applies her research expertise and knowledge within the study of Psychology and Law in her work as a correctional counselor to support justice-involved individuals.  

Aubrey Henriksen

Aubrey Henriksen earned her M.S. in Research Psychology from UTC in 2018, focusing on evaluation methods, statistics, and applied research. Her thesis on play behaviors in children’s museums led her to develop a new behavioral assessment tool. While in grad school, she put research into action by establishing a grant-funded evaluation department at the Creative Discovery Museum, conducting impact studies, training professionals, and creating a regional skill-sharing network for museum evaluators. After graduating, she taught research methods and early childhood development as an adjunct before shifting into market research. Now a Senior Market Research Analyst at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, she uses research design and data analysis to guide strategic decisions and product development, continuing her passion for championing data-based decision making. 

Talley Bettens

Talley Bettens graduated from the Psychological Science program in 2021. During her time at UTC, she worked with Dr. Amye Warren and was lab manager of the Psych-Law Lab. She additionally served as the graduate coordinator and an instructor for research methods lab, and taught Introduction to Psychology. Talley is currently working on her doctorate in Criminology, Law & Society at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and continues to teach research methods for UTC during summer semesters. Her research examines wrongful convictions, confessions, guilty pleas, and adolescent legal decision-making. Her work at UTC prepared her for her PhD by providing her with multiple opportunities to conduct research and teach, while also developing her analytical, presentation, and critical thinking skills.  

Brandi Mangan

Brandi Mangan is the Lead School Psychologist for Bradley County Schools where her team works tirelessly to ensure the rights of children with special education needs. Brandi also has the distinct honor of working as an adjunct professor at UTC, teaching classes for which she has a deep passion. She also works with graduate students from the School Psychology program at UTC daily and frequently reflect on the many lessons she learned while working with Dr. Amye Warren during her time in the Psychological Science MS program. Finally, Brandi is currently working on her Ph.D.  

Dr. Jill Shelton

Dr. Jill Shelton is a UC Foundation Professor of Psychology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) the Director of their Psychological Science MS program, and the Director of the Cognitive Aging, Learning, and Memory lab. She also serves on the Governing Board of the Psychonomic Society, which is the leading international scholarly organization for the scientific study of Cognitive Psychology. Dr. Shelton earned her BS and MS degree in Psychology from UTC and  earned a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Louisiana State University. Dr. Shelton worked on the NIH Aging Training Grant during  her post-doctoral fellowship  at Washington University in St. Louis, and her research focused on examining changes in memory and attention in cognitively healthy older adults and individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. As a Cognitive Scientist, Dr. Shelton uses behavioral and eye-tracking methods to investigate how cognitive and motivational processes influence people’s ability to complete their goals. She is particularly interested in maximizing success in college students through experiential learning opportunities and encouraging effective  behavioral strategies. Additionally, Dr. Shelton has been a member of the low vision/blind community since childhood, and she engages in scholarship and community outreach that focuses on empowering disabled individuals.  

Dr. Julie Buck

Dr. Julie Buck is a child and adult eyewitness memory consultant. She has testified as an expert witness or consulted on over 100 cases in 18 states and in federal courts. After receiving a M.S. degree in Research Psychology at UTC, Dr. Buck received a Ph.D. in social psychology from Florida State University. She was a professor for 10 years, with research expertise and publications focusing on child witness suggestibility, juror reactions, and eyewitness identifications. Her research has been published in journals including Law and Human Behavior, Journal of Applied Psychology, Applied Cognitive Psychology, and Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses relating to her areas of expertise.  

Dr. Kerry Hofer

Dr. Kerry Hofer is a Principle Associate at Apt Global Inc. She has almost 20 years of experience conducting rigorous research in early childhood settings. Dr. Hofer has in-depth knowledge of large-scale childcare programs, including public state-run prekindergarten programs and Head Start/Early Head Start, as well as more informal care settings.  She has worked with early educational programs and staff across the country.  Dr. Hofer has been a key member on several large-scale projects funded by organizations such as the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institutes of Health, primarily focusing on analytic techniques with quantitative data. The majority of her research involves rigorous quantitative evaluations of early educational programs and practices targeted at children from impoverished families, focusing on program impact and model delivery. Dr. Hofer has spent the majority of her career evaluating the implementation and impact of early education and care initiatives. This includes directing the Early Learning Study @ Harvard (ELS@H), a longitudinal study following a state-representative sample of young children, and supporting the Massachusetts Department of Education’s development of a new statewide continuous quality improvement framework. Prior to joining Abt, Dr. Hofer was a Senior Associate at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody Research Institute. There, she worked on several large-scale federally funded grant projects focused on early education initiative evaluations, including serving as the Lead Analyst on the Tennessee Voluntary Prekindergarten Program evaluation, the only randomized control trial of a scaled-up state-funded pre-k program. 

Leanza Walker

Leanza Walker is a Researcher/Data Analyst at MPC Inc. During her time in the UTC Psychological Science MS program, she developed an unexpected love of all things data. Her ultimate career goal is to use her very specific set of skills and experience to effectively develop or improve programs, specifically those that support disadvantaged or underrepresented groups. 

Skylar Oxford

Skylar Oxford graduated from the UTC Psychological Science M.S. program at UTC in May, 2024. She is  currently a student in Georgia State’s Cognitive Neuroscience Ph.D. program, in the Eyewitness Memory and Cognition Lab. 

Dr. Jessica Hacker

Dr. Jessica Hacker graduated from the UTC Psychological Science program in 2018. While at UTC, she served as an instructor and coordinator for the research methods labs, as well as the manager of Dr. Jill Shelton’s Cognitive Aging, Learning, and Memory (CALM) lab. Her time at UTC allowed her to gain invaluable teaching skills and advanced training in statistics. Dr. Hacker graduated with a Ph.D. from the Cognitive and Brain Sciences program at Louisiana State University May, 2023,and is now an Assistant Professor in the Psychology department at Husson University. Her primary research interests are metamemory, cognitive control, and prospective memory. She is primarily interested in how individuals leverage their cognitive abilities to support memory functioning. Dr. Hacker has a special interest in mentoring scholars and looks forward to teaching a variety of courses at Husson University.

Dr. Emily Pica

Dr. Emily Pica graduated from the Psych Science program in May 2012. During her time at UTC, she worked with Drs. Amye Warren and David Ross and served as a statistics lab instructor and taught Introduction to Psychology. She now works as an Associate Professor at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She teaches Research Methods, Forensic Psychology, Career Development, Wrongful Convictions, and oversees students’ research. Her current research focuses on ways to improve eyewitness identification, factors that impact juror decision making, and the lived experiences of those who have been wrongfully convicted. Her work at UTC prepared her for her teaching role and improved her analytical, critical thinking, communication, written, and presentation skills, which are all essential for her teaching and research roles. 

Zachary Swanson

Zachary Swanson graduated from the UTC Psychological Science MS program in 2022. During his time in the program, he was able to gain experience in grant writing, the peer review process, and publishing research. Dr.’s Hood and Shelton were mentors who guided him through the PhD application process, and he is currently in the Psychology PhD program at Claremont Graduate University on a full academic ride. His research interests are in optimal human development, which includes studying the positive development of character, purpose, and worldviews. Because of the work he is doing at CGU and did at UTC he feels he can make a difference in the lives of others by helping them practice self-awareness to become adaptive to life, while highlighting for others the power of service and values on living a fulfilling life. 

Cindy Williamson

Cindy Williamson is the Director of Assessment & Planning and SACSCOC Liaison at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). In this role, she leads the assessment processes for continuous improvement of academic and non-academic initiatives and programs throughout UTC, including planning, implementing, and directing institutional assessment and effectiveness activities for accreditation and strategic planning. As SACSCOC liaison, she is responsible for ensuring UTC’s compliance with all accreditation standards. Additionally, she is responsible for several campus-wide evaluation processes including Course Learning Evaluations and Faculty Rating of Administrators. Most important is her ability to analyze assessment and evaluation results and communicate effectively with a wide variety of faculty, students, administrators, and community partners. 

Thomas Vorwerk

Thomas Vorwerk graduated from the Psychological Science Masters program at UTC in 2019. During his time at UTC, he worked with Dr. Jill Shelton, focusing on cognition in younger and older adults. Currently, Thomas is working towards a MS in Mental Health Counseling, with an interest working with older adults. He is also working as a Registered Behavioral Technician in Memphis, TN, operating a neurocognitive assessment service for older adults, as well as children and adolescents with ADHD. Thomas' ongoing goal is to create a counseling program designed specifically for older adults, with cognition and positive aging being central focuses. From his education and training at UTC, he understands the importance of research, how to critically analyze, and adapt findings to applied settings. The program also built his confidence in solving complex issues, speaking publicly, and taking lead in his professional and personal lives

Dr. Robert Arrowood 

Dr. Robert Arrowood received his B.A. in psychology at Tusculum College, M.S. in Research Psychology at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Ph.D. in Experimental Social Psychology, along with a graduate certification in quantitative psychology from Texas Christian University. Dr. Arrowood is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Virginia-Wise. His research program uses Terror Management Theory as a vehicle for understanding broader existential and religious concerns. He has a special interest in understanding religious doubts and uncertainty, focusing on how they exacerbate or diminish larger death anxiety. Dr. Arrowood has examined topics such as attachment to God, mental representations of divine agents, disgust and attitudes toward the body, health intentions and behavior, and existential isolation and aloneness. 

Dr. Eddie Christopher

Dr. Eddie Christopher (M.S. Psych Science – 2015) currently works at Shaw Industries as their Director of People Analytics. Eddie also serves as an adjunct faculty member at UTC where he teaches a course in advanced (Bayesian) statistical modeling as well as sections of intro psych. While he was a student in the Psych Science program at UTC Eddie was mentored by Dr. Jill Shelton. His research focused on leveraging cutting edge statistical techniques to explore the effects of individual differences in higher-order cognitive abilities (e.g., working memory) and opportunities to improve human memory performance outside of the lab. The unique opportunities for training in statistics that UTC provides allowed Eddie to jump into the more advanced statistics courses during his PhD program at Purdue on day 1. Opportunities to teach courses in statistics, research methods, and intro psychology while a grad student at UTC also provided a good foundation for his current work which regularly involves public speaking engagements with audiences that have diverse backgrounds. 

Dr. Christopher Silver 

Dr. Christopher Silver earned a B.S. in Psychology, a B.A. in Religious Studies, and an M.S. in Psychological Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, an M.A. in Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University, an Ed.D. in Learning and Leadership from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Dr. Silver is now an Assistant Professor in the Psychology department at the University of the South.  Dr. Silver’s research on the psychology of religion and spirituality explores domains including religious and non-religious identity, measurement design, developmental spirituality, spiritual resilience, and the Serpent Handling Sects in Appalachia. He is also keenly interested in implicit attitudes and prejudice, focusing on high-status perceptions of stigma and discrimination with a goal of better understanding social attitudes and how such attitudes might impact public policy. His current research, supported by a Templeton Foundation grant, is an international collaboration tracking participants over 20 years to examine worldview and faith change over time.

Chris Nuño

Chris Nuño graduated from UTC's Psychological Science master's program in 2022. While in the program, he worked closely with Dr. Jill Shelton on prospective memory research, with Dr. Ruthie Walker on qualitative research, and with Dr. Eddie Christopher on Bayesian analysis. Moreover, he served as an Intro to Psychology instructor and lab manager during his time as a student. His teaching experience as a student at UTC prepared him and opened the door for his opportunity to work as a full-time lecturer soon after graduating, where he taught Intro to Psychology, Research Methods, Cognitive Science, and Positive Psychology. Furthermore, the guidance he received from professors, content knowledge gained from courses, and research skills harnessed in the Psychological Science  master's program allotted him the opportunity to receive multiple offers from PhD programs. He is currently a PhD student at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he will be working on prospective memory and cognitive control research under the mentorship of Dr. Julie Bugg. Hence, UTC's Psychological Science master's program was a crucial element in his development as an instructor, researcher, mentor, and his attainment of a position in a PhD program.

Anna Pusser

Anna Pusser graduated from the Psych Science program in August 2023. At UTC, she worked with Dr. Jill Shelton in the Cognitive, Aging, Learning and Memory lab as a graduate research assistant. She also served as an instructor for a Research Methods Laboratory, Statistic Laboratory, and an Introductory Psychology course as well as the graduate coordinator for the Research Methods Laboratory. She now is a research fellow in the Cognitive and Brain Sciences Ph.D. program at Auburn University. Her current research focuses on cognitive persistence in bilingual individuals and how to improve prospective memory throughout the lifespan. Her work at UTC prepared her for her research fellowship by developing strong data analytical skills and hands-on experience conducting research using behavioral, eye-tracking, and naturalistic approaches.

Claudia Colpo

Claudia Colpo graduated from the Psych Science program in August 2024. At UTC, she worked with Dr. Tomorrow Arnold in the Substance Use and Mental Health in Aging research lab as a graduate research assistant. She also served as an instructor for a Research Methods Laboratory, Statistic Laboratory, and an Introductory Psychology course. She was a recipient of the SEARCH Grant Award in 2023, which she used to conduct her master's thesis on adverse life experiences, maladaptive daydreaming, and selective attention. She now works as a Research Development Specialist at the UTC Research Institute. Her current position involves assessing grant opportunities, research proposal development services, and supporting and promoting multidisciplinary research at UTC.