Vivian Hsu, Ph.D.

Teaching Philosophy/Research Interests

My teaching philosophy involves incorporating effective strategies of relevancy so that students go from understanding the material to “living” it. To meet this experience, I am committed to encouraging students to engage in learning and build confidence in their abilities both in and out of the classroom environment. I am also passionate about collaboration and community involvement.
My specific research interests include infant and child development with an emphasis on learning and memory, understanding early emotional learning and its links to cognitive development, comparative biopsychology/neuroscience and Autism and ABA therapy.

Teaching Interests/Courses Taught

PSYCH 100 Introduction to Psychology

PSYCH 244 Introduction to the Psychology of Human Factors Engineering

PSYCH 256 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

PSYCH 301W Basic Research Methods in Psychology

PSYCH 452 Learning and Memory

PSYCH 473 Behavior Modification

HDFS 229 Child Development

HDFS 239 Adolescence

HDFS 429 Advanced Child Development

PSU 1 First-Year Seminar

Selected Involvement in Campus Organizations

Abington Faculty Senate Chair-Elect (2021-2022)
Instructional Advisory Board, OAER Working Group of the University Strategic Plan Transforming Education Steering Committee, Board Member
Academic Environment Committee Co-Chair
Academic Environment Committee, Proposal and Awards Subcommittee Chair
Faculty Senator, Social Sciences
Faculty Advisor, Psychology Club
Faculty Advisor, Asian Student Association
Abington Common Theme Co-Chair

Grants, Awards, Honors

2022 Affordable Course Content Faculty Fellowship (PSYCH 244), Abington College
2020, Faculty Grant (2 separate awards, HDFS 429 and PSYCH 473), Academic Environment Committee, Abington Faculty Senate
2020, Teaching Enhancement Microgrant, Institutional Effectiveness & Faculty Development, Abington College
2020, Microgrant for General Education (Common Theme Guest Speaker), Office of General Education, Penn State University
2019, Affordable Course Content Faculty Fellowship (PSYCH 100), Abington College
2019, Microgrant for General Education (PSYCH 100 course development), Office of General Education, Penn State University

Professional Affiliations

American Psychological Association
Christian Association of Psychological Studies
International Society for Developmental Psychobiology
International Society of Infant Studies
Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Society
Society for Research in Child Development