Ann Elliott, Ph.D., receives Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award

Ann Neish Elliott, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology

Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award

Dr. Elliott teaches a broad range of graduate and undergraduate courses with a broad range of techniques but her teaching philosophy is the same, “…based on the premise that students must develop curiosity about the learning process, a strong knowledge base, and the ability to acquire and apply knowledge in non-classroom settings.” She incorporates her own clinical and research experiences in her teaching. She also incorporates student feedback, modifying her courses based on student comments and her own self-appraisal of strengths and weaknesses of the course. She expects students to work hard and take responsibility for their own academic success however she also spends numerous hours one-on-one with students to help them develop the study skills they need to succeed. Both undergraduate and graduate students are involved in her research activities to stimulate their curiosity and excitement about acquiring and sharing knowledge. All of her publications have student collaborators. Students perceive the courses to be quite challenging yet consistently provide exceptionally positive evaluations. They find that the content and the rigor of her classes prepares them to meet the demands of their careers and graduate studies.

Dr. Elliott is described by a colleagues as “tireless,” as a teacher who “spends hours and hours preparing for every class." Similarly she supports her colleagues, sharing her techniques and helping them work through classroom issues. “The students that Ann mentors in her research lab get hours and hours of one-on-one guided experience. The students that come out of her lab have real research skills that prepare them for the next step in their professional career." A former student and research assistant noted that she “has been essential to my development as a professional through her endless support, encouragement, and dedication.” Another remarked that “she has left a mark on myself and countless other students through her work as an exemplary professor.” A current student found that she “is a perpetual educator and the epitome of distinguished teaching. I am fortunate to have been a student and to have learned invaluable lessons from an excellent professor. More importantly, I am grateful to know such an outstanding human being.”

Dr. Elliott earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Northern Illinois University. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Lynchburg College and the M.A. in Counseling Psychology of Children and Adolescents from Boston College. She is the Director for the Center for Gender Studies and serves on the Editorial Board for the journal Child Maltreatment.

Student Honoree – Alyson Faires

Ms. Faires is currently a student in the Psy.D. program at Radford University, having already completed the master’s degree program in Clinical-Counseling Psychology. Alyson excelled in every area of the master’s degree program. In addition, she is a mature, kind and compassionate individual. She demonstrated excellent clinical skills working with prisoners on her internship at the Bland Correctional Center in the Mental Health Unit. She served as a Graduate Teaching Fellow teaching sections of Introduction to Psychology. She demonstrated exceptional research skills on a project examining childhood victimization, polyvictimization, and mental health symptoms in college students. Based on this work, she had four presentations at local or regional conferences. She and Dr. Elliott also co-authored a manuscript which has been accepted for publication in the Journal of College Counseling. Growing up in an exceedingly rural part of central Maine, 45 minutes from the nearest true grocery store, she observed the effects of poverty up close, and the difficulty of accessing good physical and mental health care. These experiences have shaped her future goals and we are very proud and lucky that she is currently in her second year pursuing her doctoral degree in the Psy.D program at Radford University where she can continue her focus on rural mental health and social justice.