Laura C. Wilson, assistant professor of psychology, has been named a Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science (APS), a professional organization of more than 33,000 members from more than 80 countries.
The APS Rising Star designation is presented to outstanding psychological scientists in the earliest stages of their research careers post-Ph.D.
“We are delighted that Dr. Wilson has been recognized with such a prestigious honor by the largest international organization for researchers in psychology,” said Richard Finkelstein, dean of UMW’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Wilson’s expertise focuses on post-trauma functioning, particularly in survivors of sexual violence, mass trauma and gun violence. She is editor of The Wiley Handbook Psychology of Mass Shootings, the first in-depth academic examination of mass shootings from a psychological perspective.
She is among 96 psychological scientists recognized from around the world. The Rising Star award honors researchers whose innovative work has already advanced the field and exhibits great potential for future contributions.
“Laura is an incredibly productive scholar who is doing very important research, and being named a Rising Star puts her in the same company as scholars from Harvard, Yale, the University of Chicago and many other prestigious institutions,” said Dave Kolar, chair of the Department of Psychological Science.
“Fortunately for our students, Laura is also an incredibly talented teacher who dedicates an immense amount of time and energy to her students both inside the traditional classroom as well as outside the classroom working on research with students.”
Wilson has published 30 peer-reviewed articles, mostly on the topic of trauma, and she frequently presents her work at conferences with international audiences.
Wilson received bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology with a concentration in crime and deviance from Virginia Tech. She has a master’s degree in general/experimental psychology from the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Virginia Tech.