[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_heading title=”Lab Director” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font_size=”40px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_team_member name=”Dr. Mary Whatley” position=”Assistant Professor” image_url=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/memorylab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/407\/2025\/08\/20240821-Mary-Whatley-244-copy-1-232×300.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ position_text_color=”#7F65A0″ position_font_size=”22px” position_line_height=”1.8em” border_radii_image=”off||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Dr. Whatley is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Western Carolina University and the director of the Motivated Memory and Successful Aging Lab at WCU. Her research focuses on how memory and metacognition change and adapt as we age. More recently, she has been interested in the role of curiosity in learning and memory processes, and how this changes in older adulthood.<\/span><\/p>\n She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill and her PhD at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is a native of Asheville, NC and loves the Western North Carolina region. In her free time, she likes hiking and being outside with her husband and two dogs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Graduate Students” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font_size=”40px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_team_member name=”Joseph Vernelson” image_url=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/memorylab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/407\/2025\/08\/Joseph-Photo-232×300.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Joseph completed his bachelors degree in psychology at WCU in Spring 2026. He is a first year Clinical Psychology M.A. student at WCU. His research interests involve how addiction\/trauma can affect memory\/curiosity. He was born in Dallas, TX but moved to Western North Carolina shortly after. His future goals include finishing grad school to pursue a master\u2019s in clinical psychology and to own his own private practice. In his free time, he loves to hike and spend time with his family, girlfriend, and friends.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Undergraduate Students” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font_size=”40px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_team_member name=”Jacob Given” image_url=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/memorylab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/407\/2026\/08\/Jacob-Given-photo-225×300.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ min_height=”306.7px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” border_radii_image__hover_enabled=”on|hover” image_url__hover_enabled=”off|desktop” sticky_enabled=”0″ border_radii_image__hover=”on|0px|0px|0px|0px” border_width_right_image=”0px” title_text=”Jacob Given photo”]<\/p>\n Jacob is a senior undergraduate psychology major at Western Carolina University. His research interests focus on the pathology of memory disorders and diseases. Post-graduation, he plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience for a career as a research professor.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Lauren Miller” image_url=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/memorylab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/407\/2026\/08\/insaanu-studio-gEO27a-LXHQ-unsplash-300×300.png” _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ min_height=”306.7px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” border_radii_image__hover_enabled=”on|hover” image_url__hover_enabled=”off|desktop” sticky_enabled=”0″ border_radii_image__hover=”on|0px|0px|0px|0px” border_width_right_image=”0px” title_text=”insaanu-studio-gEO27a-LXHQ-unsplash”]<\/p>\n Lauren is earning her psychology degree at Western Carolina University.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Lab Alumni” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_font_size=”40px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_team_member name=”Ryan Springs” image_url=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/memorylab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/407\/2025\/08\/ryan-photo.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_color=”#000000″ position_text_color=”#7F65A0″ position_line_height=”2em” global_colors_info=”{}” position__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”]<\/p>\n Ryan completed his degree in the Clinical Psychology M.A. program at WCU in Spring 2026. He is now working on his PhD in Clinical Psychology at Oklahoma State University!<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Natalie Stepp” image_url=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/memorylab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/407\/2025\/09\/Natalie-photo-e1757425178400-227×300.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}” image_url__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” image_url__hover=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/memorylab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/407\/2025\/09\/Natalie-photo-e1757425178400-227×300.jpg”]<\/p>\n Natalie completed her bachelors degree in psychology at WCU in Spring 2026. She is currently enrolled in the Masters of Social Work program at WCU!<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Rachel Trantham” image_url=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/memorylab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/407\/2025\/08\/rachel-photo.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Rachel completed her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in English Studies in December, 2025. She is now pursuing a masters in social work at the University of Kentucky, aiming to advocate for and improve mental health care in the geriatric population. She hopes to raise awareness about the unique psychological needs of older adults and contribute to better support systems for aging individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dr. Whatley is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Western Carolina University and the director of the Motivated Memory and Successful Aging Lab at WCU. Her research focuses on how memory and metacognition change and adapt as we age. 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