Brittany Avila

Brittany Avila is a Teaching Associate Professor and Academic Advisor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Mississippi (2018), M.A. from California State University, Long Beach (2012), and B.A. from California State University, Fresno (2009). Her research focuses on creativity and learning across the lifespan, cognitive development, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. She has been recognized with the 2016 Teaching Excellence Award for graduate students, acknowledging her innovative approaches to teaching introductory and cognitive psychology courses.

Avila’s work examines how cognitive factors like executive function influence creativity and social development in children. Her courses include PSY 101, PSY 308, and PSY 316. She serves as faculty mentor for the University’s Psi Chi chapter and actively contributes to pedagogical research, such as studying the impact of quizzing on exam performance. Her research collaborations with Dr. Stephanie Miller highlight interdisciplinary approaches to understanding child development and educational strategies.