Psychology Department | Nebraska Wesleyan University

The legendary NWU arch juxtaposed by green trees and blue sky.

Nguyen receives Gilman Scholarship to study in South Korea

Published

May 15, 2024

A Nebraska Wesleyan University student will study abroad this fall in South Korea after receiving the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

CeCe Nguyen (’25), a psychology major from Lincoln, Neb., will study at Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul as part of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP).

Psychology Department

Klinkebiel receives Holder Fellowship to enhance sleep, dreaming course

Dr. Chelsea Klinkebiel, assistant professor of psychology, awarded the 2024 Holder Fellowship.

Published

April 16, 2024

Nebraska Wesleyan University awarded Chelsea Klinkebiel, assistant professor of psychology, the annual 2024 Holder Fellowship for Instructional Improvement, to recognize her instructional innovation and teaching excellence.

Music Department

Psychology Department

Study Abroad

Biology Department

Rwanda

NWU student hopes to leverage musical talent for Alzheimer’s research

Published

December 7, 2023

A Nebraska Wesleyan University student is hoping that her passion for family and music could one-day provide breakthrough research for Alzheimer’s patients.

Psychology Department

Xtreme Rat Challenge enters 47th year

Published

November 10, 2022

For nearly five decades, Nebraska Wesleyan students and their rats have had the chance to win gold medals.

Modern Languages Department

Psychology Department

Fulbright Scholarship takes NWU grad back to Germany

Published

May 25, 2022

Corinne Peterson (’19) first experienced Germany during her study abroad experience to Nebraska Wesleyan’s sister school in Eichstätt, Germany. The experience was incredibly impactful, and the psychology and modern languages-German double major has been looking for the opportunity to journey back to Germany ever since.

Psychology Department

Recent graduate receives grant for sleep psychology research

Published

April 7, 2022

Alumna Anna Johnson ('21) is the recent recipient of a Psi Chi regional research award. Johnson's abstract, Sleep and Cognition in Undergraduate Students, was selected at the Midwestern Psychological Association’s annual meeting out of over 550 abstracts.

Psychology Department

Psychology major awarded international research grant

Published

February 22, 2022

Senior Melissa Hatch was recently awarded an undergraduate research grant from Psi Chi, an international psychology honor society. The research grant provides funds for applicants who demonstrate competence and commitment to psychology's best research practices. 

Psychology Department

Xtreme Rat Challenge: psychology department rats go for the gold

Published

November 12, 2021

For over four decades, Nebraska Wesleyan students have had the chance to win gold medals. Walking, climbing and jumping are just a few of the events involved - but rats are at the center of this popular academic event.

Health and Human Performance Department

Psychology Department

Senior Discovers Importance of Creativity at Biomedical Engineering Research Internship

Anthony Baker, University of Minnesota Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Published

August 7, 2019

This summer Baker, an exercise science and psychology major from Falls City, Neb., was accepted to the University of Minnesota’s Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP) where he conducted research for the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Psychology Department

Psychology Lecture to Address Suicide and Underserved Populations

Clifford Fawl Psychology Lecturer: Joyce Chu

Published

March 20, 2019

A Palo Alto University professor whose work is focused around depression and suicide in ethnic minority adult and geriatric populations will present Nebraska Wesleyan University's Clifford Fawl Psychology Lecture on Friday, March 29.

Biology Department

Chemistry Department

Psychology Department

Doors Open to New Acklie Hall of Science

Chemistry students use a lab for the first time in Acklie Hall.

Published

January 14, 2019

Students were welcomed to a new semester on Monday, January 14 with a fresh blanket of snow and a much anticipated new science building.

Communication Studies Department

Psychology Department

Research Takes Student, Professor to Northern Ireland for U2 Conference

U2 Conference, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Published

August 10, 2018

Professor and long-time U2 fan, David Whitt, designed the Archway Seminar that would trace the band’s musical journey, examine U2’s diverse musical catalogue, and their social impact.

Psychology Department

Psychology Major Uses Personal Struggle to Help Others Cope

Senior psychology major Nicole Vana turned to social media to help her cope with depression and suicidal thoughts. Now her Twitter account, website and non-profit — Spreading the Love — is a coping mechanism for thousands of others across the country.

Published

April 24, 2018

If there’s one thing senior psychology major Nicole Vana wants people to know, you are never alone.

Psychology Department

Lectures

Harvard Psychology Professor, Pulitzer Prize Finalist Steven Pinker to Deliver NWU Lecture

Steven Pinker, one of the world's foremost writers on language, mind and human nature will deliver the 2018 Fawl Lecture. Pinker's lecture is titled, "Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress."

Published

March 6, 2018

Steven Pinker, one of the world’s foremost writers on language, mind and human nature, will present Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Clifford Fawl Psychology Lecture on Thursday, March 22.

Psychology Department

Psychology Major Turns Mother Nature into Her Classroom

A class on the psychological reactions to nature inspired Brittany Lester to further research connections to nature, and ultimately led to her decision to pursue graduate school in the field.

Lester's research began at Grand Teton National Park and continued last spring at Yosemite National Park.

Lester walks through Grand Teton National Park with NWU psychology professor Frank Ferraro. Lester collaborated with Ferraro on her research through the university's Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Grant.

"I would like to provide my students with the same inside and outside experiences that Dr. Ferraro provided for me," Brittany Lester says of her professor.

Published

April 24, 2017

Lester’s interest in nature started early and inspired her to start her high school horticulture club.

Biology Department

Chemistry Department

Psychology Department

NWU Breaks Ground on Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science

Members of the Acklie family are the first to sign a beam to the Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science.

The Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science is the university's first academic building in 36 years and will house the biology, chemistry and psychology programs. It is expected to open in early 2019.

The new science center — named for Duane W. Acklie — honors the longtime businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist who served as chair of Nebraska Wesleyan's Board of Governors, served as an advisor to two of the university's presidents, and helped ope

President Fred Ohles, Phyllis Acklie and other distinguished guests participate in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science.

Members of Duane Acklie's family, including his wife Phyllis, pictured in the center, listen as NWU officials celebrate the new science center.

"Given all the connections and signs of Duane's devotion, it is fitting to honor him today by breaking ground for the Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science," President Fred Ohles said during the groundbreaking and naming ceremony.

Published

April 4, 2017

Nebraska Wesleyan University broke ground Tuesday, April 4 on a new science center named after a cherished member of the Lincoln community who was known for his service, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

Psychology Department

Lecture

Psychologist to Discuss Human and Animal Intelligence

Published

February 22, 2017

Dutch-American psychology professor Dr. Frans B. M. de Waal will draw comparisons between human and animal mental capacities at Nebraska Wesleyan University's annual Clifford Fawl Psychology Lecture.

Business, Accounting and Economics Department

Psychology Department

Study Abroad

Gilman Scholarship to Send NWU Junior to Morocco

NWU junior Flor Garcia will study in Morocco this spring thanks to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

Published

December 14, 2016

A Nebraska Wesleyan University student has been selected to receive a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad.

Admitted students

Academics

Modern Languages Department

Psychology Department

Political Science Department

Two NWU Students Awarded Prestigious Gilman Scholarship to Study Abroad

Published

July 20, 2016

Two Nebraska Wesleyan University students have been selected to receive a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad.

Modern Languages Department

Biology Department

Psychology Department

Fulbright Commission Selects Two NWU Students for UK Summer Institute

Published

May 27, 2016

Two Nebraska Wesleyan University students have been selected for the Fulbright Summer Institute. They are among approximately 60 undergraduates from the United States and UK to be selected for the prestigious program.

Psychology Department

Psychologist to Examine Personal Connections to Environment

Published

October 6, 2015

Susan Clayton, a social psychologist whose work examines how people think about and make personal connections to the environment, will deliver this year’s Clifford Fawl Psychology Lecture at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Admitted students

Academics

English Department

Modern Languages Department

Psychology Department

Study Abroad

Two NWU Grads Accepted to JET Program to Teach in Japan

Published

May 8, 2015

Two Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates will teach in Japan next year.

Admitted students

Academics

Psychology Department

Xtreme Rat Challenge Celebrates 40th Year

Published

November 25, 2014

Over the past four decades, nearly 800 lab rats have walked, climbed and jumped their way to coveted gold medals at Nebraska Wesleyan University’s annual Xtreme Rat Challenge.

Psychology Department

Psychology Professor to Discuss Links to Everyday Choices

Published

October 26, 2014

How does your living room, office, music collection and Facebook profile reflect who you are?

Watch Lecture Here

A Texas psychology professor says these environments are rich with information about our values, attitudes, preferences and personality.

Undergraduate Admissions

Psychology Department

Wilderness Class Impacts Students Academically ... and Psychologically?

Students spend six days in the rugged wilderness.

Published

November 2, 2012

For the past five years, dozens of new Nebraska Wesleyan students have begun their collegiate careers by climbing in a university van and driving 700 miles to northeastern Minnesota.