Angela Vernon

Angela Vernon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Valparaiso University. She has been affiliated with the institution since 1998. Her research focuses on learning mechanisms, animal behavior, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), particularly examining language and social-skill development in children with ASD. She supervises student research on topics including forgetting of stimulus attributes, contextual memory effects, and conditioned taste aversion.

Education:

• M.A. and Ph.D. in Biopsychology from Kent State University (1998)
• B.A. from Muskingum College

Research Interests: Vernon's work bridges animal learning paradigms with human developmental psychology. She investigates how contextual cues influence memory retention and applies behavioral interventions to support individuals with ASD. Her experimental approaches include both laboratory-based animal studies and observational/human participant research in clinical settings.

Teaching & Mentorship: Current courses include General Psychology, Principles and Applications of Learning, and Behavioral Interventions in Developmental Disabilities. She maintains an active undergraduate research program that provides hands-on training in experimental design and behavioral analysis.