Full-time Faculty

Mark Bardgett, Ph.D.
Regents Professor
Email: bardgettm@nku.edu
Office: FH 359K
Phone: (859) 572-5591

BIO

Mark E. Bardgett, Regents Professor and Director of the Interdisciplinary Minor in Neuroscience, earned his Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Missouri - St. Louis in 1991 and did postdoctoral research in neuropharmacology at the Washington University School of Medicine.  He teaches courses in the areas of biopsychology and psychopharmacology.  Dr. Bardgett’s research interests include psychopharmacology, behavioral neuroscience, and the behavioral consequences of altered gene expression in animals.

Robin Bartlett, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Email: bartlettr@nku.edu
Office: MP 367
Phone: (859) 572-5422

BIO

Robin M. Bartlett, Associate Professor, earned her Ph.D. in lifespan developmental psychology in 2000 from West Virginia University.  Dr. Bartlett teaches courses in developmental psychology.  Her research interests focus on the development of career and family life roles in college students. 

Kim Breitenbecher, Ph.D.
Professor

Email:  breitenbeche@nku.edu
Office: MP 357
Phone: (859) 572-5519

BIO

Kimberly Hanson Breitenbecher, Professor, earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Ohio University in 1995.  Dr. Breitenbecher teaches courses in abnormal psychology, personality psychology, and health psychology.  She conducts research on risk factors for sexual assault and sexual assault prevention.  

Ty Brumback, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Email: brumbackt1@nku.edu
Office: MP 359
Phone: (859) 572-1484

BIO

Ty Brumback joined the Department of Psychological Sciences at Northern
Kentucky University in the fall of 2017.  He earned his Ph.D. in
Clinical Psychology from the University of South Florida, and conducted
research and clinical work as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of
California San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare System.  His research
focuses on factors that influence the initiation and escalation of
drinking and other substance use in adolescents and young adults.  At
NKU, his research lab utilizes psychophysiological, neuropsychological,
cognitive, and behavioral measures to identify biopsychosocial factors
associated with substance use and substance use disorders with a
particular focus on autonomic nervous system functioning.

Kinsey Bryant-Lees, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Email:  bryantleek1@nku.edu
Office: MP 363
Phone: (859) 572-1954
BIO

Dr. Bryant earned her Ph.D. in Industrial Organizational and Human Factors Psychology from Wright State University in 2019.  She also holds a Master's in Cognitive and Social Processes and an Institutional Research Certification from Ball State University.  Currently, Dr. Bryant-Lees teaches graduate courses in I-O Psychology, Workplace Cognition and Decision Making, and Organizational Development, along with her newly developed undergraduate course on the Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination.

Her research interests center around improving the measurement of psychological constructs, particularly as they relate to diversity issues and discrimination in the workplace.  Ongoing research projects examine: (1) patterns of implicit and explicit hiring discrimination and the impact of disclosure salience across visible/invisible identities, (2) content and consequences of stereotypes, (3) diversity-focused organizational change initiatives, and (4) the impact of item scale formats on responses and construct clarity.

Rachael Clark, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Advisor

Email:  clarkr7@nku.edu
Office: MP 311
Phone: (859) 572-6508

BIO

Rachael S. Clark, Lecturer and Advisor, earned her Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a concentration in Quantitative and Mixed Methods Research Methodologies in 2016 from the University of Cincinnati.  She teaches courses in research methods, behavior modification, and psychological testing and measurement.  Dr. Clark's research interests entail integrating multiple sources of data to understand research phenomena more deeply using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research approaches.  Current research interests include investigating how grit, meaning in life, and hope predict success and the associated measurement issues involved in evaluating complex psychological concepts.

Kathleen Fuegen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Email: fuegenk1@nku.edu
Office: MP 347
Phone: (859) 572-5787

BIO

Dr. Kathleen Fuegen, Associate Professor, joined NKU in 2006. She earned her Ph.D. in social psychology with a minor in quantitative psychology in 2002 from the University of Kansas. She teaches courses in social psychology, organizational psychology, and research methods.  Her past research investigated how gender and race stereotypes affect work-related decisions.  She currently investigates how exercise and environment affect mood, cognition and pain perception.

Perilou Goddard, Ph.D.
Professor

Email: goddard@nku.edu
Office: MP 355
Phone: (859) 572-5463

BIO

Perilou Goddard, Professor , earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Indiana University in 1987 and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Brown University in 1989.  Dr. Goddard currently teaches Drug Policy and other courses in addiction science.  Her research interests focus on attitudes toward drug policy issues. 

Allyson Graf, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Email: grafa1@nku.edu
Office: MP 369
Phone: (859) 572-5903

BIO

Allyson S. Graf, Assistant Professor, earned her Ph.D. in lifespan developmental psychology from West Virginia University in 2015.  She also holds graduate certificates in University Teaching and Women & Gender Studies.  Dr. Graf teaches courses in developmental psychology.

Her research focuses broadly on healthy aging.  Ongoing interests and projects include 1) patterns of change in health-related self-concepts and 2) sexual attitudes in relation to sexual health and well-being.

Kahlil King, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor

Email: kingk34@nku.edu
Office: MP 349
Phone: (859) 572-6011

BIO

Dr. Kahlil King, Diversity Fellowship Visiting Assistant Professor, joined NKU in 2020. She earned her Ph.D. in Applied Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University. She also holds a Masters degree in Business Economics. She teaches courses in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Research Methods. Her research focuses on psychological detachment from home at work as well as the effects of eating disorders and domestic violence on workplace outcomes. 

Douglas Krull, Ph D.
Professor, Psych Club Co-Advisor

Email: krull@nku.edu
Office: MP 353
Phone: (859) 572-6653

BIO

Douglas Krull, Professor, earned his Ph.D. in social psychology in 1990 from the University of Texas at Austin.  Dr. Krull teaches courses in social psychology, consumer psychology, and cognition in the workplace.  His research interests include first impressions and the psychology of religion.

Cecile Marczinski, Ph.D
Department Chair, Regents Professor

Email: marczinskc1@nku.edu
Office: MP 349
Phone: (859) 572-1438

BIO

Cecile A. Marczinski, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, earned her doctoral degree in psychology from McMaster University (Canada) and completed post-doctoral training in psychopharmacology at the University of Kentucky. Her research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, has examined the combined effects of alcohol and energy drinks using human laboratory-based studies.  She is the author of over 50 scientific publications and two books, Drug Use, Misuse and Abuse: Psychopharmacology in the 21st Century and Binge Drinking in Adolescents and College Students.  She appears frequently in print, on radio, and on television and has been interviewed by ABC, BBC, CBC, CNN, NBC, NPR, Bloomberg Business Week, the New York Times, the London Telegraph, and Time magazine.  Her research was cited in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigations into the safety of caffeinated alcoholic beverages.  In addition, she has served as an expert witness in both criminal and civil cases related to alcohol and energy drinks.  Dr. Marczinski's outstanding teaching and research have been recognized by various awards including the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities, NKU's Frank Sinton Milburn Outstanding Professor Award, NKU's College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, and being named a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

Mahya Rahimian Mashhadi, Ph.D.
Lecturer

Email: rahimianmm1@nku.edu
Office: MP 365
Phone: (859) 572-5574
BIO

Mahya Rahimian Mashhadi received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology in 2017 from Wayne State University. Dr. Mashhadi teaches Lifespan Development and Introduction to Psychology.  Her research interests focus on the effects of popular interactive technologies, such as smartphones and tables, on children's development.

Philip Moberg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, I/O Director

Email: mobergp1@nku.edu
Office: MP 371
Phone: (859) 572-1913

BIO

Dr. Philip J. Moberg, Associate Professor, joined the Department of Psychological Science at Northern Kentucky University in 2005. He earned his Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, with minors in social and quantitative psychology, in 1996 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He subsequently served on the faculty of doctoral programs in IO Psychology at Wayne State University in Detroit and the University of Akron.

Dr. Moberg has presented graduate seminars in Organizational Psychology, Organizational Change and Development, Psychological Testing and Measurement, Work Motivation, Organizational Leadership, Social Cognition, Research Methods, Univariate Statistics, and Multivariate Statistics. His research interests include workplace abuse, bullying, and aggression; work motivation; leadership interpersonal competencies; computer-mediated video assessment; testing and measurement; factor analysis, and item response theory.

Kathleen O'Connor, Ed.D.
Assistant Chair, Lecturer, Advisor

Email: oconnorka@nku.edu
Office: MP 315
Phone: (859) 572-5314

BIO

Kathy O'Connor received her Ed.D. in Counseling in 1987 from the University of Cincinnati.  She teaches courses in personality, counseling, and forensic psychology.  Dr. O'Connor is also the psychology practicum program coordinator.  She is currently completing a master's degree in theology.  Her research interests are in the area of forensic psychology and the human person in psychology and theology.   

Jeffrey Smith, Ph.D.
Professor

Email: smithj@nku.edu
Office: MP 348
Phone: (859) 572-5317

BIO

Dr. Jeffrey M. Smith, Professor, earned his Ph.D. in 1988 from Colorado State University in applied social psychology. Dr. Smith teaches graduate courses in human factors (Work Environments) and consumer psychology.  His research interests include social conflict over renewable resources (commons dilemma), the effects of the physical environment on behavior, and human factors.  

Kalif Vaughn, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Email: vaughnk1@nku.edu
Office: MP 345
Phone: (859) 572-5117

BIO

Kalif Vaughn received his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Kent State in 2014.  Prior to joining NKU, he did a postdoctoral at Williams College in Massachusetts.  Dr. Vaughn's research area is human learning and memory.

Eli White, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Advisor, Psych Club Co-Advisor
Email:   whitee9@nku.edu
Office:  MP 315
Phone: (859) 572-5478

BIO

Eli J. White received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati in 2012.  He has taught courses ranging from Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods and Statistics, Interpersonal Relations, Sensation and Perception as well as Developmental Psychology.  He also has published research on innovative teaching methods such as flipped classroom designs.
Currently, his research interests include the role of metabolic effort on distance perception as well as affordance perception in children and adults.  He has also given research presentations on human factors topics on electronic voting machine technology and drone warfare.

Justin Yates, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Email: yatesj1@nku.edu
Office: FH 359J
Phone: (859) 572-7821

BIO

Justin Yates, Assistant Professor, earned his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychopharmacology program) in 2014 from the University of Kentucky.  He teaches Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods, Research Tools Lab, Cognitive Processes and Cognitive Processes Lab.  His research focuses on using preclinical models to determine the neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying drug addiction.