To Suss Out Who’s Sick, Humans Rely on Senses at a Distance
To protect ourselves from germs, humans rely on our senses to determine who around us may be sick. But which senses are most effective? And which do we prefer to use? Professor Josh Ackerman, an expert on the psychology of germs, has found that humans show remarkable consistency across regions and cultures about which senses we choose for detecting and avoiding illness. Read the full article at ISR
For Good, For Always: Al and Barbara Cain Living Memorial Award Supports the Next Generation of Psychologists
A 2023 gift from the Cain family established the Al and Barbara Cain Living Memorial Award, which celebrates the couple's many decades of service to U-M Psychology. Al Cain (AB ’54, PhD ’62) spent his entire career in the department, including 11 years as chair, while Barbara Cain (AB '56, MSW ’58) served as clinical supervisor at U-M’s Psychological Clinic for 40 years. The award supports exceptional Psychology Honors students writing theses on bereavement, attachment, and trauma. Read the complete article at LSA
Annette Urso Rickel Estate Makes Generous Gift to Department
U-M alumna Annette Urso Rickel (PhD '72) was a professor, psychotherapist, and philanthropist who founded the Annette Urso Rickel Foundation, which supports STEAM Education in Florida schools and elsewhere. When Urso Rickel passed away in 2022, she left a generous bequest of $250,000 to the Department of Psychology. Her gift will support the mission of our department for many years to come.
Teacher, Principal, Playwright, and More: Ken Newbury Creates Change Through Immersive Learning
Psychology alumnus Ken Newbury (BA ’75, PhD ’85) has led an eclectic career, including roles as counselor, teacher, school principal, and playwright. Uniting these many paths is his lifelong passion for inspiring positive change through immersive, experiential learning. Among other projects, Newbury has collaborated with celebrities and national leaders, including Vice President Al Gore and Tina Turner, to develop influential programs on substance abuse and bullying. Now semi-retired, he continues to inform and inspire with a Holocaust-themed play that invites participants to engage with history through shared experience. Read more of Newbury’s story
Alumni: Share Your Career Experience
We would love to hear from alumni who have pursued careers in psychology or in other fields! If you would like to share your post-graduate career experience, please contact us.
Lecturer Spotlight: Carol Holden
Carol Holden began her journey in U-M’s Clinical Psychology program in the early 1980s, where she learned from Department of Psychology luminaries like Al and Barbara Cain and Bill McKeachie. After a distinguished career in forensic psychiatry, she returned in 2016 to share her expertise with a new generation of students. In this interview, she reflects on how her mentors shaped her teaching and what’s next as she heads into retirement (including possible purple hair). Read the full Q&A
Recent Graduate Hannah Feng Addresses Youth Mental Health in Fulbright Research
Hannah Feng (BA: Psychology and International Studies, ’24) received a Fulbright grant to study how peer-led programs can support mental health and well-being for immigrant and refugee youth. A collaboration with the Vancouver Island Counseling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees, her project focuses on reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking behaviors through community-based research. Read more in The University Record
Psychology Student’s Spring Commencement Speech Goes Viral
Lucas Solomon (BA, Organizational Studies and Psychology, '25) gave a Spring Commencement address that was a hit both in The Big House and online. His speech, which included a shout-out to Michigan’s four wins over Ohio State during his time as a student, was featured on Barstool Sports’s X and TikTok accounts and gained widespread attention. Post-graduation, Solomon plans to work for Accenture in New York City, where he will begin his career in consulting and corporate strategy. Read more and view Solomon’s speech in The University Record
Terry Robinson's Retirement Party
Terry Robinson, the Elliot S. Valenstein Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Neuroscience, retired December 31, 2024. Last April, the Brain & Behavior area held a dinner in his honor at YORK Food and Drink in Ann Arbor. The event featured toasts and roasts from many of Dr. Robinson's colleagues, mentees, and former students. Congratulations, Terry!
Exploring the Mind Talks
A monthly series of talks by U-M Psychology faculty. All Fall 2025 talks will be held in-person at the Ann Arbor District Library's downtown branch. Most talks will be recorded and made available for later online viewing. Details about each talk will be sent separately, so stay tuned! Visit the Psychology Community Talks page for up-to-date info and to view past presentations.
Where Have Our Psychology T-Shirts Been?
Meena Pandrangi (Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with Honors, May 2025) at the Golden Gate Bridge
