Faculty member Tierney Lorenz, assistant professor of psychology, Clinical, and Neuroscience and Behavior Programs, recently joined the psychology department. We got in touch with Tierney to learn more about her.
Where did you complete your training?
I received a B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Japanese language from Duke University. My masters and doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology was at the University of Texas at Austin with Cindy Meston and my clinical Internship was through the University of Washington School of Medicine. I also did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Kinsey Institute (with Julia Heiman) and the Center for Integrative Study of Animal Behavior (with Greg Demas), both at Indiana University in Bloomington. In between there I spent some time at the University of Michigan, bumming around in the lab of Sari van Anders (who is now at Queens University).
What do you study?
The Women, Immunity, and Sexual Health (WISH) lab investigates the ways that sexual behavior impact women's immune and endocrine function, as well as ways to help women with mental and/or physical health conditions have happy, healthy sexual lives.
What are you currently teaching?
Introduction to Brain and Behavior (aka Let's Talk about Why Every Movie About the Brain is Wrong). Next year I will be teaching Abnormal Psychology (aka Let’s Talk about Why Every Episode of Mental is Wrong).
What is one interesting thing about yourself?
I love comics! Especially webcomics. Right now I am following about a dozen series, mostly by women and queer artists. Comics are an amazing art form that can convey personal narratives, practical information, beautiful designs, quirky characters and fun stories - or all of the above!