Wendy Close

Wendy Close is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC), where she also serves as Department Head of Psychology and Chair of the School of Behavior and Exercise Science. Her academic career includes roles such as Thelma Hunt Research Grant Principal Investigator (PI) and co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) for the Society for the Teaching of Psychology Grant. Close holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, an M.A. from Loyola University-Chicago, and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Her research focuses on understanding motivation and resilience in students, particularly how mindset theories, self-determination, and social cognitive frameworks influence achievement and well-being. She explores why certain students persist through obstacles and how events are perceived as challenges or threats. Close actively integrates her research insights into teaching practices, emphasizing innovative methods like letter-writing exercises to engage students with psychological concepts.

In service roles, Close contributes to academic affairs, coordinates Psi Chi (the International Honor Society in Psychology), and reviews undergraduate posters for the Midwest Psychological Conference. She is a licensed psychologist in Wisconsin and maintains professional memberships in APA Division 2 (Teaching of Psychology), the Association for Psychological Science, and the Midwest Psychological Association.