Loren J. Blanchard, PhD, has been named the new president of California State University (CSU), Long Beach. With a background in educational psychology, Blanchard has been an advocate for the importance of student-centered institutions and higher education throughout his career. Blanchard formerly served as the president of the University of Houston-Downtown, where he focused on improving graduation outcomes. He is not new to the CSU system, having previously served as executive vice chancellor of academics and student affairs. During his 6 years in this position, he led the development of Graduation Initiative 2025, an effort that resulted in improved education outcomes throughout all 22 schools in the system.
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has recognized three psychologists and neuroscientists among the 223 Guggenheim Fellows for 2026: Mina Cikara, PhD, is a professor of psychology at Harvard University and the director of the Intergroup Neuroscience Lab. Cikara’s research focuses on the cognitive disruptions of competition and bias in social groups with a particular focus on discrimination, conflict, and harm. Kristina Olson, PhD, is a professor of psychology at Princeton University, where she directs undergraduate studies and the Human Diversity Lab. Her widely cited research has shaped how psychologists understand the growth and long-term well-being of children. Michael Yartsev, PhD, is a neuroscientist and associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley. His research bridges the fields of neuroscience, biology, and psychology to understand how memory and communication shape natural social behaviors in mammals, particularly highly social bats living in large, complex colonies.
Laura A. Carlson, PhD, has assumed the role of president of the University of Delaware as of January 1. A former professor of psychology, vice president, associate provost, and dean of the graduate school at the University of Notre Dame, Carlson researches spatial cognition. She has received grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation to support her research. Carlson was also recognized by Notre Dame with two Kaneb Teaching Awards and a Rev. Edmund P. Joyce Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.
Carol A. Barnes, PhD, is the 2026 recipient of the Distinguished Career Contributions Award from the Cognitive Neuroscience Society. Barnes is a professor of psychology, neurology, and neuroscience and the Evelyn F. McKnight Chair for Learning and Memory in Aging at the University of Arizona. Her research focuses on the aging brain, memory, and learning, particularly examining Alzheimer’s disease. She has also won the 2013 Gerard Prize in Neuroscience and the 2014 APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions.
Robin L. Cautin, PhD, has been appointed president-elect of Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, as of July 1. Cautin has formerly been on the faculty at Sacred Heart University and Manhattanville College, serving as chair of the psychology department at the latter. Her research focuses on the history of clinical psychology and misconceptions in abnormal psychology. Cautin is also currently writing a book on the history of psychotherapy in the United States.
Raymond Green, PhD, has been named the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith as of July. Green previously served as dean of the College of Education and Human Services at East Texas A&M University, where he also taught psychology courses. A social psychologist, Green has focused his research on social cognition, imposter syndrome, and student wellness.
