Alva T. Hughes

Alva T. Hughes is the Macon and Joan Brock Professor of Psychology at Randolph-Macon College, where she specializes in cognitive psychology and human-animal interaction studies. An alumna of Randolph-Macon (Class of 1981), she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland and has received multiple teaching awards including the United Methodist Church Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Her research examines cognition in college students and therapy dogs, with recent projects investigating stress levels in crisis therapy dog-handler teams. She has presented her work internationally, including at conferences in Italy, and has collaborated with over 25 undergraduate researchers.

Her pedagogical approach emphasizes experiential learning through service-oriented courses, international travel programs to Brazil, and innovative assignments that connect psychological theory with real-world applications.