Stanford alumnus Peter Salovey, PhD, former Yale president and psychology professor, recently began a 5-year term on Stanford’s Board of Trustees. At Yale, Salovey held several key leadership roles, serving as president from 2013 to 2024 and before that as provost from 2008 to 2013. Since joining the faculty in 1986, Salovey also took on influential positions such as dean of Yale College, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and chair of the psychology department, each reflecting his commitment to education and research.
Megan Paxton, PhD, vice president of clinical effectiveness at Home of the Innocents, has been named a 2025 Health Care Hero Health Equity Champion, the only psychologist honored by Louisville Business First this year. In her role as director of professional affairs for the Kentucky Psychological Association, she leads trauma-informed behavioral health initiatives for vulnerable youth and advocates for expanded mental health access. Her recognition highlights the crucial role psychologists play in advancing equitable health care.
Ayanna Thomas, PhD, was appointed dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University. Thomas joined Tufts in 2007 as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, where she established the Meta-Cognition and Applied Memory Lab. She was promoted to associate professor in 2013 and professor of psychology in 2019. Previously, she served as director of graduate studies for the Department of Psychology for 5 years. As the new dean, Thomas aims to prioritize interdisciplinary programs for graduate students, enabling them to better navigate technological and humanistic perspectives in evolving environments.
Charles “Chuck” Callahan, PhD, has joined the University of Toledo (UT) as its first executive vice president for health affairs. Callahan previously served as president of the five-hospital Memorial Hospital Group and president and CEO of the 500-bed Springfield Memorial Hospital, in addition to his work as a clinical psychologist. In his new role, Callahan plans to foster greater collaboration among the UT Medical Center, UT physicians, and the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences.
Matthew Picerno, PhD, a clinical child psychologist and native of Bristol, Rhode Island, was recently honored as the 2024 Senior Civilian of the Year by the U.S. Navy for his work at the Naval Hospital in Sigonella, Italy. Picerno, who was on active duty from 2000 to 2008—serving on an assault warship and two fast-attack submarines—has been a vital figure in the Sigonella community, supporting families and collaborating with local schools and organizations to provide comprehensive resources for children and teens.
Mary Beth Oliver, PhD, a Penn State faculty member specializing in media psychology, has received the Paul J. Deutschmann Award for Excellence in Research from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). This prestigious award honors scholars who have made a significant, career-long impact on the field. A Penn State faculty member since 1998, Oliver is a fellow and former president of the International Communication Association. Her research includes media stereotyping and positive media psychology, with publications in renowned journals such as the Journal of Communication and Human Communication Research.
