Rachel Bowman, Ph.D
Office Location
Dr. Bowman loves teaching and enjoys the challenge of integrating her areas of research expertise into the classes she teaches. Dr. Bowman maintains an active program of research and views research with students as an extension of her teaching. Several of her past student research assistants have presented at conferences, as well as been co-authors on peer-reviewed manuscripts. She encourages interested psychology and neuroscience students to come and speak with her about possible research opportunities.
Off campus, Dr. Bowman stays busy juggling the demands of academia and family life, including husband, kids, dog, guinea pig, and chickens. Her interests are varied and include reading, organic gardening & composting, the seasons, family, and the small details of everyday life.
Degrees & Certifications
- Ph.D., Graduate School and University Center – CUNY (Hunter College)
- MA, Appalachian State University
- BS, Appalachian State University
Teaching Responsibilities
Dr. Bowman is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Major. She teaches courses in traditional, blended, and online formats. Dr. Bowman encourages students to explore study abroad options, and she often teaches a course during the May SHU in Dingle term. Aside from supervising student capstone research projects, she regularly teaches:
- Brain & Behavior
- Research Design & Analysis II
- Advanced Psychological Research
- Essentials of Neuroscience
Research Interests
Dr. Bowman’s primary research interests are in the area of behavioral neuroendocrinology, i.e., how various hormones (e.g., stress, gonadal) influence psychological phenomena. Her program of research focuses primarily on anxiety and learning & memory in a rodent model and how these psychological processes can be altered by experiences such as stress exposure, environmental enrichment and environmental toxin exposure.
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