Faculty member Manda Williamson, assistant professor of psychology, recently joined the psychology department at the professorial track. We got in touch with Manda to learn more about her.
Where did you go to school?
I did my B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Mathematics at a small liberal arts college, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. While there, I received an internship at Carnegie Mellon and U Pittsburgh's "Center for the Neural Bases of Cognition" and became hooked on the neurosciences. I attended The Pennsylvania State University starting in 1999 and completed a PhD. in Psychobiology in 2003. My focus there was on the Enteric Nervous System and it's connection to the visual and vestibular system. We investigated all things related to nausea--much of our work was with Aeronautics and Oncologists.
What classes do you teach?
I teach all classroom varieties of Introduction to Psychology and on-line and face-to-face courses in Motivation and Emotion.
What are some things that people may be surprised to learn about you?
I make quilts. Seriously...people aren't permitted to leave Central Pennsylvania without demonstrating proficiency! I also practice Krav Maga--hand to hand combat used by many military personnel. The goal is to train so that one can both recognize situational factors indicative of a fight to be able to avoid confrontation, but also to quickly subdue an aggressor should that individual attempt to engage. This training is one reason why I often assist in situational awareness seminars conducted here at the University for a number of student groups.