News and Events

Prof. Brannon Receives Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize

Congratulations to Associate Professor Tiffany Brannon for receiving the Daniel M. Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology for her article titled “Pride-and-Prejudice Perspectives of Marginalization Can Advance Science and Society.” The award recognizes the author of an article or book chapter judged to provide the most innovative theoretical contribution to personality and social psychology within a given year.

Congratulations to Ashley Harris (Clinical Area) and Gifty Ayawvi (Clinical Area) on being selected to participate in one of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundations leadership programs

We are proud to announce that Ashley Harris (Clinical Area) and Gifty Ayawvi (Clinical Area) have been selected to participate in one of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s leadership programs. These programs connect changemakers across the country—from diverse professions and fields—to learn from and work with one another in creating more just and thriving communities.

To learn more about Health Policy Research Scholars and RWJF’s other leadership programs, and to meet other participants, visit www.healthpolicyresearch-scholars.org

Prof. Montoya Receives SAGE Early Career Trajectory Award

Congratulations to Associate Professor Amanda Montoya on receiving a SAGE Early Career Trajectory Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. The award recognizes outstanding achievements by early career scholars in personality and social psychology, including contributions to teaching, research, and/or service to the field.

Welcome first year graduate students!

Prof. Holyoak Selected as Faculty Research Lecturer

Congratulations to Distinguished Professor Keith Holyoak on being selected as one of two faculty who will present a Faculty Research Lecture for the 2024–25 academic year. His lecture titled “Intelligence, Creativity, and Consciousness in Humans and (Perhaps) Machines” will be held on Friday, October 11 at 2-3:15pm in Schoenberg Hall, with a reception to follow until 4:30pm. Registration is required at the following link: Register for the 137th Faculty Research Lecture

Highlighting Faculty Member Yi Feng

There are often gaps between the various research questions that psychology researchers seek to investigate and the availability of proper statistical tools that can effectively address them. My work is dedicated to closing these gaps by developing innovative statistical tools that can be applied to increasingly complex applied research scenarios.

Psychology Staff Spotlight Award – Sarah Rodriguez

Prof. Lau Receives 2024 James S. Jackson Memorial Award

Congratulations to Professor Anna Lau for receiving the 2024 National Institute of Mental Health James S. Jackson Memorial Award. Established in 2021, the award honors outstanding researchers who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in minority mental health and mental health disparities research, community engagement, and mentorship.

2024 UCLA Psychology Graduate Hooding Ceremony

Congratulations to the 41 participants who participated in the Psychology Graduate Hooding Ceremony! We wish our students much success in their futures!

Congratulations to Amalia Ionescu (Developmental Area) and Icy (Yunyi) Zhang (Developmental Area) for receiving the 2024 Millard Madsen Distinguished Dissertation Award

Amalia Ionescu (Developmental Area) and Icy (Yunyi) Zhang (Developmental Area) for received the 2024 Millard Madsen Distinguished Dissertation Award. The award, which recognizes the best developmental dissertation, is typically awarded to one student annually. This year, the award committee chose to honor two dissertations. Amalia’s dissertation is titled “Analogical Reasoning Involving Semantic Relations in Children and Machines.” Icy’s dissertation is titled “From the Lab to the Classroom: Effects of Embodied Pedagogies on Students’ Learning of Statistical Concepts.”

Congratulations to Ben Isenberg (Clinical Area) for being selected by the Pritzker Committee for Excellence to receive the fifth annual Pritzker Graduate Scholar Award

Ben Isenberg (Clinical Area) was selected by the Pritzker Committee for Excellence to receive the fifth annual Pritzker Graduate Scholar Award. The Pritzker Graduate Scholar Award is intended to support graduate students in the Department of Psychology who demonstrate excellence in the conduct of psychological science with the potential for high public impact.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

Forty-two doctoral candidates earned their Ph.D., and 1,500 undergraduates received degrees in Psychology, Psychobiology, and Cognitive Science.

Congratulations to the following Clinical Area Award recipients

Yesenia Aguilar: Charles Y. Nakamura Research, Teaching, and Mentorship Award
Nora Barnes-Horowitz: Senior Clinical Scientist Award
Wave-Ananda Baskerville: Charles Y. Nakamura Research, Teaching, and Mentorship Award
Wave-Ananda Baskerville: Clinical Scientist Award
Ibukun Olabinjo: Stanley Sue Distinguished Research Award
Alex Venegas: Michael J. Goldstein Distinguished Dissertation Award

Congratulations to Joni Brown (Health Area) for receiving the 2024 Health Psychology Paper Prize

Joni Brown (Health Area) received the 2024 Health Psychology Paper Award for her paper titled “Sexual Socialization Experiences and Perceived Effects on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Young African American Women,” published in Sex Roles.

Congratulations to Robin Blades (Health Area) and Tyrus Korecki (Health Area) for receiving Trainee Scholar Travel Awards from the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society (PNIRS)

Robin Blades (Health Area) and Tyrus Korecki (Health Area) for received Trainee Scholar Travel Awards from the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society (PNIRS).

Congratulations to the following nine graduate students for receiving the Division of Graduate Education Dissertation Year Award (DYA).

The following nine students received the Division of Graduate Education Dissertation Year Award (DYA). The DYA awards a $20,000 stipend and full tuition and fees to students during their last year of dissertation writing.

Psychology Staff Spotlight Award – Jessica Jimenez 

Highlighting Faculty Member Jaimie Krems

Friendship is one of life’s great joys. More than that, having friends can help people live happier, healthier, and even longer lives. Yet today, more people seem to be failing at friendship than ever. The U.S. Surgeon General describes us as facing a Loneliness Epidemic, and others talk of a Friendship Recession. There is no way to combat this epidemic without understanding how friendship works.

Prof. Lau Receives 2023-2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Faculty Award for Career Commitment to Diversity

Congratulations to Professor Anna Lau for receiving the 2023-2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Faculty Award for Career Commitment to Diversity from the UCLA Academic Senate. This award honors a faculty member who, over time, has truly excelled across teaching, service, and scholarship that fosters diversity.

Prof. Greenfield Receives 2024 Undergraduate Research Week Faculty Mentor Award

Congratulations to Distinguished Professor Patricia Greenfield for receiving a 2024 Undergraduate Research Week Faculty Mentor Award. This award honors the considerable dedication of UCLA faculty who consistently and enthusiastically serve as effective mentors to undergraduate students involved in research and creative projects.