Dean Ball in the Classroom

Although leading the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences is a full-time job, Dean Gregory Ball also pursues a rigorous research agenda in his field and oversees a large laboratory in the Department of Psychology.  And now this semester, Dean Ball is teaching Psychology 409, an upper-level class designed for undergraduate students in the neuroscience minor.

“This course allows me to share with students all of the impressive and multidisciplinary neuroscience research going on in College Park as well as my own research,” Dean Ball said.

Dean Ball co-teaches the class with Dr. Farrah Madison, a research assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, who also conducts research with Dean Ball.

There are about 25 students in the 409 class, mostly seniors and juniors. Initial classes focused on the history of neuroscience and its relation to psychology. Then, the class delved into six topics where graduate students or post-docs in six different labs across campus offered a background session, then gave a research presentation of their work.

“The best way for students to envision themselves as researchers, and to understand the importance and the practical applications of research, is to learn first-hand from other faculty and students in the field,” Dean Ball said. “Every week, I look forward to connecting the curriculum in the classroom to the research world for my students.”

As a highly accomplished scientist, Dean Ball has published in more than 200 journals. He focuses his research on the interrelation of hormones, the brain, and reproductive behavior, studying both how hormones act in the brain to modulate the learning and activation of behavior and how behavioral stimuli are processed by the brain to influence endocrine activity and the activation of social behaviors.

Published on Fri, Oct 20, 2017 - 9:37AM