Shannon Kundey

Shannon Kundey is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Department Chair at Hood College's Department of Psychology and Counseling. She serves as Co-Director of the Hood Honors Program and maintains an active research laboratory focused on comparative cognition. Dr. Kundey teaches undergraduate psychology courses and mentors students in research, with office hours available in both Tatem Arts Center and via Zoom.

Dr. Kundey's educational background demonstrates her strong foundation in psychology and interdisciplinary training:

• Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Kent State University (2008)
• M.Phil. and M.S. in Psychology from Yale University (2004, 2003)
• B.A. in Psychology and Chemistry from Wesleyan College (2001)

Dr. Kundey specializes in comparative cognition, exploring similarities and differences in how humans and nonhuman animals think and interact with their environments. Her research laboratory investigates cognitive processes across diverse species including humans, dogs, and salamanders, with particular focus on pattern learning, spatial navigation, and memory processes. She examines how animals use environmental features and geometric cues to navigate their surroundings, and how cognitive abilities might be affected by biological states such as brumation in amphibians.

Analysis of Dr. Kundey's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on comparative cognition across species. Her work spans amphibians (particularly tiger salamanders), reptiles (leopard geckos), mammals (mice and dogs), and humans. A recurring theme is the investigation of how different species process spatial information and learn patterns, with particular attention to response learning versus feature-based navigation. Her research demonstrates methodological rigor in designing controlled experiments to isolate specific cognitive processes across diverse biological systems.

While specific awards aren't detailed in the available information, Dr. Kundey's research has been published in respected journals including Animal Cognition, Behavioural Processes, and Learning & Motivation. Her work has contributed significantly to filling research gaps in amphibian and reptile cognition. She was invited to contribute a blog post for the Psychonomic Society's canine cognition digital event, highlighting her expertise in the field.

• Published in Animal Cognition (2014, 2016)
• Published in Behavioural Processes (2018, 2021)
• Published in Learning & Motivation (2019, 2021)
• Invited blog post for Psychonomic Society (2018)

Dr. Kundey is known for her close mentorship of undergraduate students in research. Her Comparative Cognition Laboratory provides opportunities for students to participate in animal care and run experiments, with potential for course credit and authorship on publications. Students in her lab have co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, demonstrating her commitment to involving undergraduates in meaningful research. While specific grant information isn't provided in the text, her sustained research program across multiple species suggests successful funding support for her laboratory operations and student research positions.

• Mentored students including Chadbourne Allen, Aleyna Fitz, Maya Gonzalez, Justin McPherson, Roberto Millar, Anne Lessard, and Manika Panwar
• Provides opportunities for course credit and authorship
• Requires approximately three hours per week commitment from lab members

Dr. Kundey directs the Comparative Cognition Laboratory at Hood College, which actively investigates cognitive processes across multiple species. The lab has conducted research on tiger salamanders, leopard geckos, dogs, and humans, creating a unique comparative approach within an undergraduate institution. The laboratory provides hands-on research experience for students interested in animal behavior and cognition, with opportunities to contribute to ongoing projects studying pattern learning, spatial navigation, and memory processes across species. The lab's work has helped fill important gaps in the literature regarding amphibian and reptile cognition.