Welcome to the School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences!!

We are pleased to inform you that we provide vibrant and exciting learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students through research projects and service learning/community projects. Our undergraduate degree program complies with the American Psychological Association’s curriculum guidelines, and two of our graduate programs are accredited by MPAC, the only accreditation for master’s level applied psychology programs. We are one of the most popular majors at the University of West Florida because of our outstanding faculty, who teach, research, and participate in University and community activities that result in the recognition of the School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences as a leader in the application of psychological science!

We are embarking upon many exciting initiatives that will engage students in research and community endeavors. With the hire of our new faculty member, Dr. Rodney Guttmann as the Director of the Center on Aging, we will see many projects that will build a superior collaboration of faculty, staff, students, and community agencies or organizations who will together address needs of aging and care of the elderly, as well as develop innovative strategies for successful aging, in order to promote the health and well-being of older persons and their families. More information about the Center on Aging can be found on their website, www.uwf.edu/coa/. Both the Center on Aging and the Center for Applied Psychology are partnering with the Naval Hospital of Pensacola to provide a continuing education workshop on issues related to aging veterans.

In the past 12 months, the faculty members have brought in almost $1.5 million of external funding to complete projects that address societal issues or concerns. Dr. Sam Mathews is co-investigator with the University of Florida Deepwater Horizon Consortia Community Outreach project, to examine the effects of the oil spill. Dr. Rob Rotunda recently finished a project for the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling to examine the prevalence of compulsive gambling in Florida. He also received funding from the American Psychological Foundation to develop a crisis intervention and disaster training program. Dr. Sue Walch, in partnership with UWF Counseling and Health Services, received a highly competitive grant from SAMSHA to develop Suicide Outreach and Support (SOS), an integrated, coordinated, multi-level program that includes several university and selective prevention strategies, with a special emphasis on GLBTQ youth and military-affiliated students. Dr. Steve Kass recently received a contract with the Army to conduct a literature review on MOS abilities impacted by TBI.

The best part of these projects is that they provide opportunities for students to engage in research and training. You may learn more about our SPBS activities by accessing the current edition of PsychNews.

On behalf of the psychology faculty and staff, I welcome you to the School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences at the University of West Florida. Through the study of psychology as a science, the faculty and students evaluate and understand behaviors and experiences, and then apply this knowledge in a variety of settings to solve problems. In doing so, the education and development of each individual is our primary concern! Thanks for taking the time to check our website.  You can also find us on Facebook!

If I can be of any assistance, don’t hesitate to contact me at LKBryan@uwf.edu.

Best wishes!

Laura Koppes Bryan, Ph.D

Director and Professor