Sally Dickerson

Sally Dickerson is a Professor and Department Chairperson in the Department of Psychology at Pace University's Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. She has been at Pace since 2015, following a faculty position at the University of California, Irvine (2004–2015), and a leadership role as Director of the Social Psychology Program at the National Science Foundation (2012–2015). Her academic roles reflect a strong commitment to research leadership and undergraduate and graduate mentorship.

Education:

• PhD in Social Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 2004
• BA in Psychology, Southern Methodist University, 1998

Dr. Dickerson's research lies at the intersection of psychological and biological processes, particularly how social-evaluative threats and self-conscious emotions (e.g., shame, embarrassment) trigger physiological stress responses such as cortisol release. Her work investigates individual differences in stress vulnerability, with implications for understanding the pathways linking chronic stress to disease. She applies rigorous experimental methods to explore the mind-body connection in health psychology.

Her recent publications focus on cortisol reactivity under acute social stress, particularly among individuals with depressive and anxious symptoms, indicating a sustained research trajectory in psychoneuroendocrinology and stress psychophysiology.

Scientific Awards:

• American Psychological Association Division 38: Outstanding Early Career Contributions to Health Psychology (2013)
• Society for Personality and Social Psychology: Sage Young Scholars Award (2010)
• University of California, Irvine: Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Fostering Undergraduate Research (2008)
• Society for Personality and Social Psychology: Theoretical Innovation Prize (Honorable Mention, 2005)

Dr. Dickerson has played significant roles in academic service and research administration, including serving as Associate Provost for Research at Pace University (2015–2019), where she supported institutional research development. She mentors doctoral students in psychology and teaches advanced courses in experimental methods, biological bases of behavior, and mind-body interventions. Her courses include PSY 701 (Doctoral Mentored Lab Class), PSY 863 (Dissertation I), and PSY 806 (Mind & Body Interventions), reflecting her engagement in both research training and clinical applications.

She is actively involved in professional organizations such as the Social Personality and Health Network (Steering Committee), Society for Experimental Social Psychology, Society for Social and Personality Psychology, and the American Psychosomatic Society, contributing to the broader scientific community through leadership and collaboration.