Vicky Dierckx

Vicky Dierckx is an Adjunct Professor in the Marketing Department at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychological Science from Ghent University (Belgium, 2001) and advanced degrees in Artificial Intelligence and Psychology from KULeuven, Belgium. Her academic work focuses on cognitive processes, particularly mental models in reasoning, and has transitioned to well-being education post-2015 U.S. relocation.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Psychological Science (2001), Ghent University
• MA in Artificial Intelligence (1997), KULeuven
• MA in Psychology (1996), KULeuven
• Teaching degree (1996), KULeuven

Research Interests: Combines cognitive science expertise with contemporary well-being pedagogy. Specializes in mental model theory’s application to reasoning, goal-setting, and professional success. Active in designing well-being curricula for university and corporate audiences.

Teaching & Outreach: Developed well-being programs for Virginia Tech’s Rec Sports and Lifelong Learning Institute, plus workshops for local governments and organizations like VT-ARC. Over 20 years of academic and applied experience in cognitive psychology and wellness education.

Grants & Advising: No formal grants or advising roles listed, but extensive collaborative teaching engagements. Publications span cognitive psychology, mental models theory, and temporal reasoning dynamics.