This October, the Department of Psychology welcomed its faculty, staff, graduate students, and their families to a local park for a department-wide picnic. The event took place on a clear autumn day, and offered the opportunity for a welcome pause in a busy semester. The turnout reflected just how much everyone appreciated the chance to slow down and connect outside the usual work and classroom routines.

Associate Professor and Associate Department Head Drew Abney has been selected for the University of Georgia's 2025-2026 Aspire Fellows cohort. Drew will join colleagues from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and six other UGA schools and colleges in this yearlong interdisciplinary cohort program designed to help faculty build strong community connections while expanding their professional impact.