A&M-Commerce has taught me the importance of celebrating the little victories.
Maria Carlson, Ph.D. Department Head and Associate Professor
- Faculty
Maria Carlson, Ph.D., is passionate about helping others. She is a member of a charity organization that donates handmade octopi to comfort premature infants in neonatal intensive care units across the United States. As the proud mother of three boys, Carlson’s home is full of energy. When she is not teaching or doing research, you can find her enjoying family time; whether watching movies or playing video games with her husband and sons.
A Conversation with Dr. Carlson
What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending A&M-Commerce?
Go to class, work hard and take the opportunity to explore the subjects that truly interest you.
How has A&M-Commerce influenced your life and/or career?
Being a professor at A&M-Commerce has taught me the importance of celebrating the little victories and that encouraging small improvements often leads to future success.
Tell us about an academic project you are working on or recently completed.
It is well-known that a lack of sleep negatively impacts cognition, but it is not clear what effect it has on eyewitness memory. I am currently working on a research project that will investigate the effect of the self-reported amount of sleep the night before, quality of that sleep and current sleepiness on eyewitness memory of a mock crime.
Educational Background
- Ph.D., Psychology, University of Oklahoma, 2010
- M.S., Psychology, University of Oklahoma, 2006
- B.A., Psychology, Marietta College, 2003
Academic Positions
- Assistant Department Head, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2020 – Present
- Psychology Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2019 – Present
- Associate Professor, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2012 – Present
Research Interests
- Psychometrics
- ROC analysis
- Measurement error
- Stereotype threat