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What brought you to Eastern?“I came to Eastern to teach at a public liberal arts university where I could get to know my students. I was a first-generation college student, and the opportunity to receive excellent mentorship and earn my degree was pivotal in my life. I’m at Eastern because I want to give our students the same opportunities that I was given.”
“It’s hard to pick one favorite! I like all the classes I teach for different reasons. I teach our introductory courses and really enjoy introducing students to the field. I teach Adult Psychopathology because I like the opportunity to help students think critically about our current diagnostic systems. Our more advanced courses, like Psychology Internship and Counseling and Clinical Psychology, are fun to teach because students are getting ready to go out into the field and I get to be a part of that important transition.”
Professor Salters-Pedneault has received research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. She studies how acceptance-based psychological interventions, which help people become more comfortable with emotional discomfort, alleviate anxiety and trauma-related symptoms. Her research has involved both college students and US soldiers and veterans.
It gives me such a sense of accomplishment to hear about our alumni’s lives and to know that I was able to join them on part of that journey.
“I enjoy hearing from our alumni; they are doing creative, meaningful things in the world! It gives me such a sense of accomplishment to hear about their lives and to know that I was able to join them on part of that journey.”
“Not all students in my classes will go on to careers in psychology, but they will all be served by a sense of intellectual curiosity and by sharp critical thinking skills. I choose materials for my classes that are grounded in the fundamentals of empiricism and emphasize research findings and critical thinking. Because students feel accepted in my class, they have the courage to offer dissenting opinions, engage in creative thinking, and actively critique and debate in a respectful manner. In my opinion, this process is at the heart of learning.”
“I train lots of students in our Mental Health Counseling concentration who plan to become therapists. I tell them that to be a good therapist, they would be well-served to experience as much art as possible. There’s so much to learn about being human; art is a window into to the full experience like no other.”
Dr. Salters-Pedneault was honored for her work in the area of trauma and PTSD with the 2015 Connecticut State University System Board of Regents’ statewide Faculty Research Award.
“I'm not a veteran, I've never served our country. But it feels good to have a set of skills that I know I can use to support veterans,” she added. “I love working with the veterans. It is very meaningful and rewarding work.”
Thank you for making me feel seen, heard and inspired. I and many other young women look up to you and appreciate your teaching! Your story is uplifting and I relate a lot!Student Quote
