New biopsychology prof studies memory

Professor Mike Clumps joined the Boise State’s psychology department this semester

fueled with a passion for teaching.

“I saw the effect these teachers had on me, and I realized that I wanted to help students in

that same way. I hope that I can be a mentor for my students.”

Clumps grew up in Springfield, Ill., and attended school at Wabash College in Indiana for

his undergraduate studies. He obtained his doctorate in biopsychology of learning and

memory at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

“I took an introduction to psychology class in college, and I really enjoyed learning about

the different concepts. I found that I was especially interested in the relationships between

behaviors,” Clumps said.

“I was also captivated by abnormal psychology, which definitely played into my decision

to study psychology.”

Clumps’ research focuses on examining cognitive processes that underlie different

phenomena. He would like to learn about the effects of how students and instructors

process information on student grades and student satisfaction.

He is also interested in reasons why individuals correctly and incorrectly remember words

in lists. His other areas of curiosity include recycling behavior, materialism, personality

and values in ecological psychology.

For the fall semester Clumps is teaching two courses in General Psychology and one in

Cognitive Psychology.

Other classes he could possibly be teaching in the future are courses on physiological

psychology, sensation and perception and statistics.

In the past Clumps has been involved in a wide range of professional associations. He is

currently involved in Division I of the American Psychological Association.

Prior to coming to BSU he spent one semester teaching at St. Mary’s College at Notre

Dame, but aside from that, BSU is Clumps’ first teaching job.

Clumps and his wife, fellow psychology professor Keli Braitman, chose to apply at BSU

in part because there were multiple positions open in the University’s psychology

department.

Also, Clumps met BSU psychology professor Eric Landrum while attending Southern

Illinois University, and he told Clumps about the school and the area in general.

“I have always wanted to live in the mountains, where there are so many opportunities to

participate in outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking and walking,” he said.

Clumps said he likes BSU so far and really enjoys getting to teach undergraduate students.

He looks forward to helping students with directed psychological studies during the spring

semester, including one about the effects of sleep deprivation.

Off campus, Clumps enjoys participating in outdoor activities with his wife and their three

cats and one dog.

As to his teaching style, Clumps said, “I like to relate concepts in my classes to life, it

makes students get more interested.”

“When I can tell by the look on a student’s face that the light has come on and they

understand what I am talking about, it is the most reinforcing thing. It makes me glad I

chose the profession that I did.”

Ashley Gettings

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