After 27 years at Cleveland State University (CSU), the College of Sciences and Health Professions' (COSHP) Associate Dean for Faculty, Dr. Kathy McNamara, will be moving on to a very well-deserved retirement. We have been so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with such a talented individual as Dr. McNamara, during her years as Director of the School Psychology program, Chair of the Department of Psychology and, subsequently, as Associate Dean.  She will be missed greatly throughout the University. 

Dr. Kathy McNamara

Dr. Conor T. McLennan

As we say our goodbyes to Dr. McNamara, we welcome Dr. Conor T. M^cLennan to the COSHP Dean's Office. On July 1, 2021, he will assume the role of Interim Associate Dean for Faculty in COSHP. Dr. M^cLennan has already accumulated considerable administrative experience at CSU: as Associate VP for Research, and currently as Chair of the Department of Psychology.  In the latter role, he started several new initiatives, such as facilitating important changes to the M.A. in Psychology (e.g., renaming a specialization to Psychological Science along with important curricular changes), establishing the department's Viking Series; adding faculty videos to an upgraded department website, integrating part-time instructors into department activities, including a new Outstanding Teaching Award for part-time instructors, and, over the past three years, overseeing the hiring of a diverse group of five outstanding new faculty.

As Dr. M^cLennan takes on the mantle of Interim Associate Dean for Faculty in COSHP, Dr. Eric Allard has been appointed to the position of Interim Chair of the Department of Psychology, starting July 1, 2021. Dr. Mike Horvath will continue in his role as Associate Chair.

Dr. Eric Allard

Dr. Mike Horvath

Dr. Allard joined CSU in 2014, after obtaining his Ph.D. from Brandeis University and, subsequently, a post-doctoral fellowship at Boston College.  In terms of his research, his Aging, Cognition, and Emotion Lab combines behavioral and psychophysiological techniques for investigating processing and regulation throughout adulthood and old age. Dr. Allard is a core member of the Adult Development and Aging Ph.D. program and is the Director of the Psychological Science specialization of the M.A. program in psychology. Dr. Allard has taught at a variety of levels, from PSY 101 to core courses in the Ph.D. program. He was the recipient of a Golden Apple Award (in 2016), and a Teaching Enhancement Award (with Dr. Judge in 2016) from the Center for Faculty Excellence. 

The Department of Psychology congratulates Dr. McNamara on an impressive and productive career, wishes her a long, healthy, happy retirement, wishes Drs. Allard and M^cLennan well in their new roles, and thanks Dr. Horvath for continuing in his role as Associate Chair of the Department of Psychology.