Heather Pond Lacey

Heather Pond Lacey is a Professor of Psychology and Department Chair at Bryant University's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from California State University East Bay, and M.A. and Ph.D. in Cognition and Perception Psychology from the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on Judgment and Decision Making, particularly in health contexts, exploring how emotional sensitivity to probabilities influences medical choices and risk perception. She teaches courses including Cognitive Psychology and the Senior Internship Capstone Seminar.

Key research areas include health-related decision-making, vaccine hesitancy, student mental health, and the intersection of AI ethics with psychological principles. Her work has been recognized through multiple Merit Awards (2008-2023) and a 2015 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Publications span journals like the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making and Medical Decision Making, addressing topics from cancer treatment decisions to middle school design thinking education. Professional affiliations include the Society for Judgment and Decision Making and the American Psychological Association.