Faculty and Staff - Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Kevin Gray

(he/him/his)

Department Chair of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
Associate Professor/Sociology and Criminal Justice

Room 57, Schroeder School of Business Building
812-488-1038
kg70@evansville.edu

Dr. Gray joined the University of Evansville in the Fall of 2005. He earned his PhD at Michigan State University and his MS at the University of Alabama. His undergraduate degree was in sociology from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. Dr. Gray coordinates the criminal justice program at the University of Evansville. He teaches Introduction to CJ, Deviance and Crime, Juvenile Justice, Policing, CJ Ethics, International Crime and Justice, and Corrections.

Dr. Elizabeth Hennon Peters

Associate Professor of Psychology

Room 217 H, Hyde Hall
812-488-2511
eh82@evansville.edu

Dr. Mari Plikuhn

(she/her/hers)

Professor/Sociology

Room 55, Schroeder School of Business Building
812-488-2707
mp168@evansville.edu

Dr. Mari Plikuhn received her PhD from Purdue University in 2010 in sociology with a graduate minor in gerontology. She also holds graduate degrees in sociology and marriage and family therapy. Her area of research specialization is in family sociology, specifically in the success of first-generation college students. In addition to her research, Dr. Plikuhn teaches a variety of courses in sociology, including: Marriage and Family, Gender and Sexuality, Death and Dying, Environmental Sociology, and Research Methods. Dr. Plikuhn was named the University of Evansville Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2012, presented the Berger Award for Service in 2016, and awarded the Eykamp Prize for Extraordinary Contributions to the University in 2022. Currently, she is the Director of the Gerontology Center at UE, and serves as the Director of Sociology Programs, coordinating the Sociology and Gerontology majors and the Social and Human Services minor, as well as advising for Pre-Social Work.

Dr. Lora Becker

(she/her/hers)

Professor of Psychology and Director of General Education

Room 217 E, Hyde Hall
812-488-2532
lb47@evansville.edu

Dr. Lora Becker, associate professor, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, teaches the Honors course, Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience. In this course, students study the nervous system and how it controls the actions of the human body. In addition to the textbook, students read essays from Robert Sapolsky and Oliver Sacks which present case studies of individuals with neurological impairments or critiques on how neuroscience findings can enlighten understanding of ourselves.|

"After taking this course, I hope that students have a greater understanding of themselves with regards to the functioning of their nervous system," explains Dr. Becker. "There are several tricks and tips a student can learn about how to better manage their concentration, need for sleep and ability to learn college material. Not only do students develop an appreciation for the field of neuroscience, they come away with a better understanding of their own behavior."

Of Honors students, Dr. Becker remarks, "I enjoy teaching UE Honors students because they come to class with a desire to understand. Conversation about the essays is always lively and full of great insight!"

Dr. Becker received her undergraduate dual BS in biology and psychology from Wright State University, as well as a MA in psychobiology and PhD.. in behavioral neuroscience from Binghamton University. Her research expertise is in the field of behavioral neuroscience. She has been published in numerous scholarly journals, including Comparative Clinical Pathology and the Journal of Applied Biological Sciences. Dr. Becker is a member of the Nu Rho Psi Neuroscience Honors Society, Phi Kappa Phi, and The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She received the Dean of Arts and Sciences Teaching Award in 2007 and the Dean of Students Advisor of the Year Award in 2004.

Dr. Vincent Campese

Assistant Professor/Psychology and Director of Neuroscience Program

Hyde Hall, Room 217 D
812-488-2531
vc44@evansville.edu
Campese's Personal Website

Dr. Campese earned his PhD in 2011 from the City University of New York Graduate Center through the Cognition Brain and Behavior Psychology sub-program. His thesis project examined the neural substrates involved in context-specific memory. As a postdoctoral research scientist Dr Campese joined the LeDoux lab at New York University, where he pursued questions about how associative learning contributes to aversive motivation and memory. His work has focused on how maladaptive anxiety or fear-related defensive responding is eliminated by experience with avoidance learning. In 2018 Dr Campese became an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Evansville, in Evansville, Indiana. As a principal investigator, he continues to train students to conduct research with the long-term goal of identifying brain circuits that control defensive responding and promote active coping.

Dr. Mark Kopta

Professor Emeritus of Psychology

Room 217 G, Hyde Hall
812-488-2533
mk35@evansville.edu

Dr. Derek Jones, PhD

(he/him/his)

Director, Cognitive Science Program and Faculty Director, Center for Innovation & Change

IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner

Room 270, Ridgway University Center
812-488-1045
dj4@evansville.edu

Design Thinking Certifications: IBM Practitioner

Dr. Jones joined the Center for Innovation and Change as Faculty Director in June 2021. He is Associate Professor of Cognitive Science and has directed the Cognitive Science program at UE since 2013. He also currently directs the First Year Seminar program. Dr. Jones has held many of faculty leadership positions during his time at UE, including Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate and co-chair of the UE Mission and Core Values Workgroup. He received the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Teaching Award in 2019.

Dr. Jones graduated from the University of Evansville with a BA and a BFA in 2003. He served as an officer in the Army after graduating, and then went on to earn an MA from the University of Houston in 2007 and a Ph.D in Philosophy from Indiana University in 2013. His current research interests include the psychology of creativity, expertise, skill acquisition, technology, and embodied cognition, and he has published a book and several articles on related topics. His broader educational interests, which guide his work as Faculty Director, concern the modern university's potential as a catalyst for social good and the cognitive needs of the 21st century student.