How do emotion, motivation and social factors influence our expectations, decisions and memories?

Dr. Tali Sharot will attempt to answer that question when she addresses “The Optimism Bias” in a Chautauqua lecture at Eastern Kentucky University on Thursday, Feb. 12. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in O’Donnell Hall of the Whitlock Building.

Competing mostly against doctoral students from better-known schools, a master’s degree-seeking student at Eastern Kentucky University recently earned a prestigious psychology research award.

Dr. Dustin Wygant, associate professor and director of clinical training in Eastern Kentucky University’s Department of Psychology, has earned national recognition from the Society for Personality Assessment.

Eastern Kentucky University will add six degree concentrations as part of its 100 percent online Bachelor of Science in Psychology program for fall 2014.

The concentrations are designed to introduce students to highly marketable sub-specialties within the field of psychology and include:

The Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents, meeting in regular session on Monday, June 9, approved the University’s fourth doctoral degree program.

Eastern Kentucky University is rated among the best in the BestOnlineColleges.org 2014 Best Online Psychology Degree Program Rankings. EKU is the only Kentucky school to be included on the list.

­Only a sophomore at Eastern Kentucky University, Jessica Jacobs is already looking ahead to graduate school and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Now this first-generation college student from Leitchfield and a 2010 graduate of Grayson County High School has a head start on the competition.

A series of grants from the WHAS Crusade for Children has enabled Eastern Kentucky University to enhance a program designed to assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families.