Villanova Psychology

05/13/2025

When Chloe Fong ’28 CLAS, a Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience major with a Psychology minor, was selected for the Villanova Match Research Program for First Year Students, she was excited to explore the connection between physical health and cognitive function. “I have a particular interest in neurobiology and how the brain interacts with the environment to influence our behavior,” she explains. After being introduced to Benjamin Sachs, PhD, associate professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Chloe was drawn to his research on the relationship between gut health and brain functioning. “After learning about the opportunity to work with Dr. Sachs through the First Year Match Program, I was eager to apply and begin my journey,” says Chloe.

Chloe has embraced a wide range of responsibilities in the lab, including preparing and treating mouse brain tissue to see which cells are new and how they're developing. “I have never done anything like that before; it requires a lot of patience and skill which I have developed over the past weeks in the lab,” she explains. Chloe has also been heavily involved in data collection, spending several weeks counting cells and neurons in stained brain sections. “I have learned a lot about the actual techniques involved in working in a lab and not just the data collection side,” she says.

Beyond the technical skills, Chloe highlights the collaborative and mentoring environment that has shaped her early research experience. “My experience working closely with Dr. Sachs has been wonderful,” she shares. “His enthusiasm about research is contagious!” Chloe encourages her peers to get involved in research early and to build relationships with faculty. “Even just asking a professor what they are currently working on in lab and asking them if you could help out can give you the chance to work in a lab.” She adds, “I would like to thank Dr. Sachs for the amazing opportunity of working with him in the lab. It has been a privilege to learn from him.”

05/09/2025

Dr. Slonecker is one of our newest faculty members and is the CLAS featured faculty member this week. 👍

We are pleased to welcome Assistant Teaching Professor, Emily Slonecker, PhD, Psychological and Brain Sciences as this week’s new feature!

At Villanova, Dr. Slonecker strives to live by the university’s values of Unitas, Caritas and Veritas. “In my courses, that means helping students explore truth, not just for the sake of knowledge, but to use it in ways that spread love and build communities,” she explains. “I try to position education as a tool for change, not just an end goal. After all, what’s the point of seeking knowledge if we can’t apply it or make the world better with it?”

In her discipline, Dr. Slonecker is particularly fond of teaching cultural psychology. “It’s amazing to watch students step outside their comfort zones and discover perspectives they’ve never considered before,” she says. During this course, students present on their own culture at the beginning of the semester. “I let them define culture however they want, which means we get an incredible mix of perspectives and topics—everything from Italian cooking to growing up in the Midwest to the unique culture of Eagles fandom. It’s always such a fun and meaningful experience, and it helps me and their peers learn more about what drives them, what inspires them and where they come from.”

"Maybe it’s cliche,” Dr. Slonecker says, “but honestly, my biggest inspiration is my students. It feels like every student I know is juggling a million things—double majors, internships, committees, clubs—and yet, every day, they show up. They ask thoughtful questions, engage in meaningful discussions, and bring an energy that makes teaching so rewarding. I do my best to challenge their curiosity, push their thinking and fuel their passion—because they inspire me to be better every day.”

04/18/2025

We are very excited to be part of Villanova's expansion to the Cabrini Campus. Our new home will be the 2nd and 3rd floors of Iadarola Center. This will provide substantially more and better space for our students, faculty, and staff, starting in the 2026 fall semester.

Villanova University is an Augustinian Catholic community where students think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others.

03/07/2025

Featuring our very own Dr. Suzanne Gray!

What goes on in the minds of animals? This is a key question that Suzanne Gray, PhD, explores with her students as an assistant professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Specializing in comparative cognition, Dr. Gray studies how different species perceive the world, learn from experience and make challenging decisions.

Villanova University’s values of Veritas, Unitas and Caritas are evident in the way Dr. Gray approaches her work. “These are foundational pillars that have always driven my teaching and research, and I’m grateful to have found a work-home that so abundantly holds these values,” she says. “We share the world with over eight million different species, each having evolved to thrive in their own individual ecological niche. Only united in compassion and honesty will we be able to conserve our planet and the multitude of animals we are privileged to share the world with.”

Dr. Gray enjoys working with animals on non-invasive behavioral research, most frequently with bird species. “I design games where the animal can earn treats for making the correct response,” she explains. “I use these games to ask specific questions about how they perceive stimuli, learn what will earn them treats, and make decisions among complex options.” Over the years, Dr. Gray has worked with African grey parrots, pigeons, and even understudied species such as emus, hornbills and pygmy falcons. “Their brilliance and resilience humble me and keep me going,” she adds.

In the classroom, Dr. Gray fosters curiosity and critical thinking. “I love working with students on their individual journeys of discovery,” she shares. “The moment students begin to question the information I’m presenting and start asking ‘what about’ or ‘what if,’ I am filled with pride and joy.”

02/17/2025

Villanova Master's Student Sophie Althaus is conducting a research study to learn about the experiences of mothers who have sought professional lactation care. If this applies to you or someone you know, please read on and share!

08/05/2024

July 25, 2024 - The Villanova University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences is pleased to announce Kerry Buckhaults '23 MS as this year's Ingeborg L. and O. Byron Ward Outstanding Thesis Award winner. This award honors one Psychology master's student each year for a particularly excellent thesis and thesis project, Buckhaults conducted her thesis project, "Examining Estrogen Withdrawal Following Hormone-Simulated Pregnancy as a Model of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety in C57BL/6 Mice," under the direction of Benjamin Sachs, PhD.

Read the full article here: https://www1.villanova.edu/university/liberal-arts-sciences/graduate-studies/news-events/2024/0725.html

05/08/2024

April 25, 2024 - On April 5, the Villanova University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences hosted a special colloquium that featured presentations from four alumni from the master's program in Psychology. This daylong event in a packed Dougherty Hall East Lounge showcased the diverse resea...

03/01/2024

We are pleased to welcome Assistant Professor, Elizabeth Pantesco, PhD, Psychological and Brain Sciences as this week’s new feature!

Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas—truth, unity and love—are integral to Dr. Pantesco’s teaching style. "In the classroom, I strive to embody the Augustinian values by fostering an environment where students learn to critically evaluate evidence relevant to human behavior,” she says. “We also consider how this knowledge can be used to improve people's day-to-day lives, in terms of mental well-being, effective thinking and learning, and enhanced social connection.” Dr. Pantesco is guided by these values in her research about behavioral and psychosocial factors that contribute to sociodemographic disparities in physical health outcomes. “By understanding these mechanisms, I aim to inform interventions and policies that promote health and wellness, particularly among historically marginalized populations,” she explains.

In her discipline, Dr. Pantesco enjoys teaching classes that focus on clinical psychology. “These classes offer students an opportunity to explore the science behind mental health interventions and gain hands-on experience with some of the clinical techniques,” she says. She also enjoys teaching statistics as students often “come into class thinking they're 'not a math person' but end up understanding and enjoying the material much more than expected.”

The Villanova community is the source of Dr. Pantesco’s inspiration. “My students are dedicated and compassionate, eager to apply their talents to make a difference,” she says. “My colleagues are smart and supportive, engaging in impactful work across the subfields of psychology. It is exciting to hear about all of the innovative and important work being done around campus.”

02/27/2024

Congratulations, Gaby!!

This week, we’re featuring current Psychology master’s student Maria Gabriela (Gaby) Molina Funes ’21 CLAS!

Gaby was awarded the Claro Mayo Grant by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues to fund her thesis, “The effect of identity safety cues and shared identity on international students’ belonging and engagement in college classrooms.” The grant is designed to support masters’ theses or pre-dissertation research on aspects of sexism, racism or prejudice, with preference given to students enrolled in a terminal master’s program.

Growing up in El Salvador and attending Villanova as an undergraduate student, Gaby drew on her own experiences as an international student to develop her research interests. She focuses on international students’ sense of identity safety and how professors can ensure social identities are welcomed and valued. Gaby's thesis aims to determine the impact of identity safety cues—signals indicating that all identities are valued and respected—in classrooms, syllabi and other materials can improve international students’ experiences.

Gaby plans to take a year to build research experience before pursuing a PhD in social psychology. She credits Villanova for inspiring her growth as a scholar and becoming her second home. “It has given me the opportunity to grow as a person, professional and researcher,” says Gaby. “It has been an amazing experience, and there is a sense of community here that is hard to find anywhere else.”