Mike Christopher, PhD, has been appointed as the inaugural full-time associate dean of research at Boise State University’s College of Health Sciences. Prior to his position at Boise State, Christopher advanced academic programs at Pacific University, including establishing the PhD program in clinical psychology in 2012. He also founded and directed the Mindful Health and Resilience Lab, where he and his students explored how mindfulness and related contemplative practices can strengthen resilience and reduce stress reactivity, particularly among high-risk and diverse populations.
Michelle Lafrance, PhD, a professor of psychology at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, has been honored with the 2025 Feminist Mentoring Award by the Canadian Psychological Association’s section on Women and Psychology. This award celebrates feminist supervisors who foster their students’ growth through mutual respect and by exemplifying the principles of feminist mentorship. Lafrance’s academic work is grounded in critical and feminist perspectives, with a focus on how distress and well-being are socially constructed. Her latest research examines the experiences of caregivers for older adults.
Kathryn Keeton, PhD, has been appointed interim vice president of presidential initiatives and chief of staff at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She previously held the same roles at UT Health Science Center San Antonio and served as senior executive director of the university’s Center for Professional Excellence. A licensed psychologist in Texas, Keeton specializes in executive coaching, leadership and team development, employee selection and engagement, organizational growth, and innovation and entrepreneurship.
Google has announced the formation of a Consumer Health Advisory Panel, a group of 11 experts ranging from medical doctors and biomedical researchers to clinical psychologists and digital health strategists who will provide clinical and scientific guidance to support the company development of trustworthy health technologies. Among the members is Gary Bennett, PhD, professor at Duke University and founding director of the Duke Digital Health Science Center. Bennett was selected for his expertise in designing digital therapeutics for physical activity and health behavior change.
Carolyn McNamara Barry, PhD, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, has officially begun her term as president of the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood (SSEA). The SSEA is an international organization with approximately 450 members, dedicated to advancing theory and research on adults ages 18 to 29. Prior to joining the University of Scranton in 2024, Barry was a professor of psychology and later associate dean at Loyola University Maryland. Her research explores how close relationships and other influences contribute to the psychosocial development of emerging adults.
Karleah Harris, PhD, an associate professor of human sciences at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), has been honored with the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences’ Leader Award. This national organization promotes education and research in fields such as nutrition, child development, personal finance, and family relationships. Since joining UAPB in 2020, Harris has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in child development, parenting education, and childcare center administration. Her research centers on inquiry-based science education for young children, horticultural therapy, food deserts, and gardening as a strategy to address food insecurity.
