Faculty

The Psychology program faculty at SRU is committed to helping our students maximize their potential through mentoring, hands-on, personalized and inclusive education tailored to their goals and interests. The faculty has active laboratories that are used for faculty research and collaborations with students. Explore the background, qualifications and achievements of SRU's outstanding educators in Psychology. Office hours can be found here.

Elizabeth Boerger, PhD

Elizabeth Boerger, PhD, Assistant Professor
Office: Vincent Science Center, 309- J
Phone: 724.738.2695
Email: elizabeth.boerger@sru.edu

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elizabeth_Boerger

Education

AB: Theatre, Grinnell College
MS: Child Development and Child Care, University of Pittsburgh
MA: Psychology: Developmental, University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D.: Psychology: Developmental, University of Texas at Austin

Program Areas: Experimental Psychology, Developmental Psychology

Research Interests: Children's theories of mind, understanding fantasy and fiction, social and moral development

Select Publications:

Boerger, E. A. & Hoffman, A. J (in press) Character development in the school years: Relations among Theory of Mind, moral identity and positive and negative behavior toward peers. In C. Miller & M. Furr (Eds.) Character: New Directions from Philosophy, Psychology, and Philosophy. Oxford University Press.
Boerger, E. A. (2011) "In fairy tales fairies can disappear" Children's beliefs about the characteristics of humans and fantasy figures. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 29, 635-655.
Boerger, E. A., Tullos, A. & Woolley, J. D. (2009) Return of the Candy Witch: Individual differences in acceptance and stability of belief in a novel fantastical being. British Journal of Developmental Psychology. 27, 953 - 970.

Christina Esposito, PhD

Christina Esposito, PhDOffice: Vincent Science Center, 309- CPhone: 724.738.4029Email: christina.esposito@sru.edu
Special Interests: Chronic illness in children; early childhood experiences and the development of executive functions.

Cynthia Hall, PhD

Cynthia Hall, PhD, Assistant Professor
Office: Vincent Science Center, 309-H
Phone: 724.738.2531
Email: cynthia.hall@sru.edu

Education:

BS, Psychology, Radford University
MA, Experimental Psychology, Radford University
PhD, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, University of Alabama - Birmingham

Program Areas: Developmental Psychopathology, Social Development

Research Interests: Effects of stereotypes and stigma associated with diagnostic labeling of developmental disabilities and psychological disorders on perceptions, mood, and decision-making; the influence of magical thinking, illogical causal reasoning, and other cognitive distortions on decision-making; adult close/romantic relationships and attachment/exploration dynamics association with health and well-being

Emily Keener, PhD

Emily Keener, PhD, Assistant Professor
Office: Vincent Science Center, 309-A
Phone: 724.738.2529
Email: emily.keener@sru.edu

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emily-Keener

Education:

BA: Psychology, Wheeling Jesuit University
MA: Experimental Psychology, Radford University
PhD: Lifespan Developmental Psychology, West Virginia University

Program Areas: Lifespan Development, Gender Roles, Interpersonal Processes

Research Interests: Gender differences and similarities in interpersonal processes; Goals and strategies for managing conflict with friends and romantic partners

Select Publications:

Keener, E., Strough, J., & DiDonato, L. (in press). Adolescents endorsement of communal and agentic conflict-management strategies with friends and romantic partners, Sex Roles.
Keener (2018). Online gender harassment: Revenge porn, sextortion, non-consensual pornography, and other terrifying topics that are as bad as they sound. In J.C. Chrisler, C. Golden, & P.D. Rozee (Eds.), Lectures on the psychology of women (2nd Edition). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc. conflicts with friends and romantic partners. Sex Roles, 76, 615-626.
Keener, E. & Strough, J. (2017). Contextualizing Bem: The developmental social psychology of masculinity and feminity. In M.H. Kohlman & D.B. Krieg (Eds). The legacy of Sandra L. Bem: Discourses on gender and sexual inequality. West Yorkshire, England: Advances in Gender Research Series, Emerald Press.

Catherine Massey, PhD

Catherine Massey, PhD, Professor
Office: Vincent Science Center, 309-D
Phone: 724.738.2532
Email: catherine.massey@sru.edu

Education:

AA, Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force
AA, General Studies
BS, Psychology, University of Central Florida
MA, Psychology, West Virginia University
PhD, Psychology (Lifespan Development), West Virginia University

Program Areas: Developmental; LGBT

Research Interests: Sociocultural influences on identity development and health-related behaviors in the LGBTQI+ community

Select Publications:

Massey, C. J. & Morris, T. (2014). Psychosocial risk factors related to cigarette smoking: A comparison of gay and heterosexual identities. In H. Pereira & P. Costa (Eds.), Coming-out for LGBT Psychology and in the current international scenario (pp. 265-271).
Massey, C. J., Seymour, M., Moeller, A., Wozniak, M. C., & Bertha, D. (2014). Heterosexual perspectives of gay and lesbian rights: The role of religion, etiology, and political attitudes. In H. Pereira & P. Costa (Eds.), Coming-out for LGBT Psychology and in the current international scenario (pp. 158-161).

Jennifer Sanftner McGraw, PhD

Jennifer Sanftner McGraw, PhD, Professor, Department Chair
Office: Vincent Science Center, 309- L
Phone: 724.738.2717
Email: jennifer.mcgraw@sru.edu

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jennifer_Mcgraw

Education:

B.A. Psychology: George Mason University
M.A. Clinical Psychology: Kent State University
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology: Kent State University
Post-doctoral Fellowship: University of Rochester Medical Center
Program Areas: Clinical; Eating Disorders; Body Image

Research Interests: Application of Relational-Cultural Theory to understand the etiology and treatment of eating disorders. The use of the Reflections Body Image Program and other interventions to prevent disordered eating in women, men, and those with diverse sexualities and gender identities.

Select Publications:

Tantillo, M., McGraw, J. S., & Le Grange, D. (2021). Multifamily therapy group for young adults with anorexia nervosa. Routledge.
https://www.routledge.com/Multifamily-Therapy-Group-for-Young-Adults-with-Anorexia-Nervosa-Reconnecting/Tantillo-McGraw-Grange/p/book/9781138624900
- Podcast: Episode 217: Dr. Mary Tantillo & Dr. Jennifer Sanftner McGraw: Multifamily Group Therapy - Eating Disorders Catalogue (edcatalogue.com)
Massey, C. J., Keener, E. J., & McGraw, J. S. (2020). The role of masculinity and femininity in body objectification: Comparison of heterosexual and gay communities. Forthcoming in Gender Issues.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12147-020-09263-2
Sanftner, J. L. (2011). Quality of life in relation to psychosocial risk variables for eating disorders in women and men. Eating Behaviors: An International Journal, 12, 136-142.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2011.01.003
Sanftner, J. L., & Tantillo, M. (2011). Body image and eating disorders: A compelling source of shame for women. In R. Dearing & J. P. Tangney (Eds.), Shame in the therapy hour. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/12326-012

Shannon McKnight, PhD

Shannon McKnight, PhD, Instructor
Office: Vincent Science Center, 309
Email: shannon.mcknight@sru.edu
Special Interests: Cognitive neuroscience of reading comprehension, individual variability in comprehension, and other cognitive skills (working memory, executive function, etc.)

Beth Ann Rice, PhD

Beth Ann Rice, PhD, Associate Professor
Office: 309-G
Phone: 724.738.2583
Email: bethann.rice@sru.edu

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Beth_Ann_Rice

Education:

BS, Experimental Psychology, Indiana University Southeast

MA, Experimental Psychology, University of Kentucky

PhD, Experimental Psychology, University of Kentucky

Program Areas: Behavioral neuroscience and psychopharmacology

Research Interests: Learning, motivation, and the involvement of hormones in the development and maintenance of drug addiction-like behaviors. Specifically, the investigation of potential behavioral and pharmacological treatments for drug addiction-like behaviors.

Select Publications:

Rice, B.A., Saunders, M.A., Jagielo-Miller, J.E., Prendergast, M.A., & Akins, C.K. (2019) Repeated subcutaneous administration of PT 150 has dose-dependent effects on sign tracking in male Japanese quail. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology.

Rice, B.A., Eaton, S.E., Prendergast, M.A., & Akins, C.K. (2018). A glucocorticoid receptor antagonist reduces sign-tracking behavior in male Japanese quail. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 26(4), 329.

Ann Romanczyk, PhD

Ann Romanczyk, PhD, Assistant Professor
Office: Vincent Science Center, 309-K
Phone: 724.738.2533
Email: ann.romanczyk@sru.edu

Education:

B.S. Psychology, SUNY Oswego
M.S. Social Psychology, DePaul University
Ph.D, Experimental Social Psychology, Adelphi University

Program Areas: Experimental Social Psychology

Research Interests: Effects of stereotypic/stigmatizing information (ethnicity, body modification, age) on dimensions of social judgment and forensic decision-making (guilt, honesty, likeability, employability)

Select Publications:

Romanczyk, A. and Mullins, M. (2014, in progress). All or nothing: Measured amounts of cultural, gender, and biographic stigmatic information affects forensic and social decisions.
Leippe, M.R., Romanczyk, A. & Manion, A. P. (1999). Discernability or discrimination? Understanding jurors' reactions to accurate and inaccurate child and adult eyewitnesses. In G. S. Goodman & B. Bottoms (Eds.), Child victims, child witnesses: Understanding and improving children's eyewitness testimony (pp. 169-201). New York: Guilford Press.

Jennifer Willford, PhD

Jennifer Willford, PhD, Associate Professor
Office: Vincent Science Center, 309-F
Phone: 724.738.2698
Email: jennifer.willford@sru.edu

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jennifer_Willford

Education:

BS: Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, Muskingum University
MS: Experimental Psychology, University of Kentucky
PhD: Experimental Psychology, Behavior and Neural Studies, University of Kentucky
Post-doctoral Fellowship: Psychiatric Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine

Program Areas: Behavioral Neuroscience; Neurobehavioral Teratology; Neuroimaging; Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology and Neuroscience

Research Interests: Prenatal drug exposure effects on cognition and brain function, Effects of parenting behavior and environmental exposure on social-emotional brain development

Select Publications:

Willford, J.A., Singhabahu, D., Herat, A., Richardson, G.A. (2018). An examination of the association between prenatal cocain exposure and brain activation measures of arousal and attention in young adults: An fMRI study using the Attention Network Task, Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 69, 1-10.

Willford, J., Smith, C., Kuhn, T., Weber, B., Richardson, G. (2016). Review of current neuroimaging studies of the effects of prenatal drug exposure: brain structure and function. In W. Meil (Ed) Recent Advances in Drug Addiction Research and Clinical Applications, InTech, doi: 10.5772/63389.

Willford, J.A., Richardson, G.A., Day, N.L. (2012) Sex-specific effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on neurodevelopment and behavior. Lew, Michael (Ed); Kestler, Lisa (Eds), Gender differences in prenatal substance exposure. Decade of behavior., (pp. 121-136). Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association.

Psychology

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Psychology

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