The Social Cognition and Health Research Team is led by Dr. Kym Bennett.  We focus on the effects of social cognition following a chronic disease diagnosis, particularly cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Dr. Bennett received her Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2002.  Since then, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt University (2002-2004), an Assistant Professor at Indiana State University (2004-2008), and now a Professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 

At UMKC, Dr. Bennett also serves as the Director of the Undergraduate Psychology Program and as the Director of the Psychology Mentoring Office. She teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in social psychology. She was the recipient of the 2019 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education at UMKC, as well as the 2018 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Dr. Bennett has mentored graduate students within both tracks of our Ph.D. program: Clinical Psychology and Applied Cognitive & Brain Sciences.

Admissions to our Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology have resumed! Dr. Bennett anticipates being able to welcome a new graduate student to the research team in the fall of 2023. Applications for fall 2023 admissions are open until early January 2023.

Current team member:

Anahi Ramirez is in her fifth year in our Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences Ph.D. program. Anahi’s research interests involve benefit finding as a coping mechanism following a chronic disease diagnosis.

Previous team members:

Mariah Brewe graduated with her BA in psychology (with departmental honors) in 2022.

Elizabeth Wilson graduated with her Ph.D in Clinical Psychology in 2022.

Tori Gomez graduated with her BA in psychology in 2021.

Kalon Eways graduated with her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2020.

Amelia Hess graduated in 2019 with her BA, double majoring in psychology and criminal justice & criminology.

Bri Ely graduated with her BA in psychology in 2018.

Alex Peuser graduated with his BA in psychology and music therapy in 2018.

Kadie Harry graduated with her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2018.

Jillian Clark graduated with her Ph.D in Clinical Psychology in 2017.

Samantha Harris graduated with her BA in psychology in 2015.

Social Cognition and Health Research Team; Last updated on 12/15/22