Katharine Cammacks

Dr. Katharine Cammacks serves as Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at The University of the South (Sewanee), where she has been a faculty member since 2015. She plays a pivotal role in developing the university's neuroscience program within a close-knit academic environment that emphasizes undergraduate mentorship and small-class instruction.

Her academic credentials include:

• B.S. in Psychology from Santa Clara University
• Ph.D. in Integrative Neuroscience from Rutgers University
• Postdoctoral training at Rockefeller University
• Postdoctoral training at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Dr. Cammacks' research examines individual differences in brain function and information processing, with particular focus on cognitive mechanisms underlying learning and perception. Her work bridges neuroscience and educational psychology, investigating how mindset frameworks influence academic achievement—inspired by early research at Stanford observing eighth-grade students' conceptions of mathematical success. She advocates for flexible thinking approaches that enable students to overcome perceived limitations in subject mastery.

Committed to undergraduate research engagement, Dr. Cammacks operates a small laboratory at Sewanee where students participate in hands-on neuroscience projects. She emphasizes that research experience develops critical thinking and professional skills transferable to diverse career paths, encouraging students to connect with faculty even when research interests only partially align to gain methodological insights and refine their academic focus.