Education

• Certificate in theology (24 M.A. credits), University of Notre Dame, 2009
• Ph.D. in psychology (cognitive/experimental), The Pennsylvania State University, 1998
• M.S. in psychology (cognitive/experimental), The Pennsylvania State University, 1993
• B.S. in psychology (summa cum laude), Bowling Green State University, 1990

Experience

• 1998-present: Department of Psychology, Malone University (current rank: Professor)
• 2011-present: Director of Faculty Development, Malone University
• 2003-2010: Chair, Department of Psychology, Malone University
• 2007-2009: Co-director of Faculty Development, Malone University
• Fall 2002: Interim Chair, Department of Psychology, Malone College
• 1997-1998: Instructor, The Pennsylvania State University
• 1996-1997: Researcher (part time), Educational Testing Service (ETS)
• 1994-1995: Graduate Research Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University
• 1990-1994: Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University
• Summer 1990: Researcher I (part time), The Bowling Green State University

Recent Scholarly Work

• Hill, A., Phelps, M., & Musser, K. (2015, April). Hike for health: The restorative nature of outdoor exercise. Poster presented at the 2015 Malone University Student Research Symposium, Malone University, Canton, OH.
• Phelps, M. P., & Waalkes, S. (2012). Educating desire and imagination in a “Faith in the World” seminar. Journal of Education & Christian Belief, 16, 195-214. (both authors made an equal contribution)
• Phelps, M. P. & Waalkes, S. (2009). Christian friendship as faculty development: A narrative account. Journal of Education & Christian Belief, 13, 125-139. (both authors made an equal contribution)
• Moroney, S. K., Phelps, M. P., & Waalkes, S. (2007). Cultivating humility: Teaching practices rooted in Christian anthropology. In D. V. Henry & M. Beaty (Eds.), The Schooled Heart: Moral Formation in American Higher Education. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press. (all authors made an equal contribution)
• Phelps, M. P. (2004). Imago Dei and limited creature: High and low views of human beings in Christianity and cognitive psychology. Christian Scholar's Review, 33, 345-366.
• Bayen, U. J., & Phelps, M. P., & Spaniol, J. (2000). Age-related differences in the use of contextual information in recognition memory: A global matching approach. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 55B, P131-P141.
• Murnane, K., Phelps, M. P., & Malmberg, K. (1999). Context-dependent recognition memory:  The ICE theory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 128, 403-415.

Teaching Assignments

• Introduction to Statistics
• Human Memory & Cognition
• Senior Seminar in Psychology (topical capstone for psychology majors)
• Faith in the World Seminar (topical, interdisciplinary capstone in general education)

Teaching Philosophy

I want my students to go beyond knowing “about” the material and to enter into deeper contact with some aspect of reality. Therefore, I pose a lot of questions in class; design experiential learning activities; and require students to create written responses on exams and assignments that demonstrate their abilities to understand, synthesize, critique, and apply course concepts. Furthermore, I use the particular resources of each course to lead students into a theological understanding of life and to promote spiritual development and ethical action.

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Selected participant, Reflective Pedagogy and Christian Practices, summer seminar at Calvin College, 2011
• Lead Guest Editor, Summer 2010 Special Issue of Christian Scholar’s Review: “Christian Higher Education as Character Formation” (with Shawn Floyd, Steve Moroney, and Scott Waalkes)
• Consulting Editor, Edification (journal of the Society for Christian Psychology)
• Ad hoc Reviewer, Christian Scholar’s Review
• Ad hoc Reviewer, Journal of Psychology and Theology
• Member, Society for Christian Psychology (SCP)
• Member, Association for Psychological Science (APS)
• Member, Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA)

Awards

• Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching, Malone University, 2011-12
• Finalist, Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching, Malone University, 2005-06; 2007-08; 2010-11
• Finalist, Distinguished Faculty Award for Service, 2007-08
• Summer Research Grant, Malone College, Summer 2006; 2004; 2001
• Sabbatical, Malone College, Spring 2005