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.
![Portrait of Manda Williamson](images/newsletter/2017/MandaWilliamson.jpg)
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.