It’s true that one college class can shape your entire future — in Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Richardson’s case, it was an introduction to psychology course. While the Florence native didn’t start out as a psychology major, her interest sparked when learning about the physical side of the subject.
“在那里 was one chapter that we covered about the biology associated with it, and I remember being really fascinated with that,理查森说。, 心理学副教授. “我喜欢理解人类的行为, but I really nerded out over linking it to what our brain does.”
More classes and undergraduate research led Richardson to fully commit to the field. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Birmingham-Southern College in 2000, a Master of 艺术 in Medical Psychology from The University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2006 and a Ph.D. in Medical/ Clinical Psychology from UAB in 2009.
Teaching, as she puts it, is something that Richardson sort of fell into. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship in rehabilitation psychology at UAB, she transitioned to an assistant professor position in the School of Medicine. 在那里, she had a chance to mentor graduate students while conducting clinical research in spinal cord injury and chronic pain.
“I had some time where I left UAB and went and worked for the U.S. Department of 退伍军人事务部 in Birmingham,理查森说. “My area of research is pain and pain management, and they were starting a comprehensive pain management program for veterans in the midst of the escalating opioid epidemic. It was a great opportunity, but it was purely implementing a clinical program and I missed teaching.”
Richardson briefly taught an introduction to psychology course at BSC, then seized an opportunity to become an adjunct professor at Montevallo in 2016.
“I was teaching biological psychology, which was right up my alley,理查森说. “I loved the students and the other psychology faculty. Montevallo is such a special place where you truly feel important, cared for and like you belong.”
Richardson officially joined the Department of Behavioral & 2018年社会科学学院. 她教心理学基础课程, 法医心理学, 疼痛心理学, 精神病理学, 生物心理学等等. She has published several articles on and continues to conduct research in the area of pain perception, chronic pain and psychological treatments for pain. In 2023, 她被评为大学学者, which recognizes one faculty member who has shown exemplary strides in creativity, 研究和奖学金. She was formally honored at Founders’ Day on Oct. 12, 2023.
“这是一种荣誉, and it truly is humbling because I have lots of colleagues who have done amazing things,理查森说. “I’ve seen other people named University Scholar and have been awed by their work. The awesome thing about a liberal arts university is that it really broadened my horizons to accomplishments in other fields. 你不会被困在自己的领域里.”
One of the most rewarding things for Richardson is getting to see graduates go on to accomplish good things in their fields.
To her, a major goal in science is getting future generations to continue the work and research.
“We have one alum who is now at UAB working in a pain lab and completing her doctorate in neuroscience,”她说。. “We did research together, and I couldn’t be more proud. It makes me feel hopeful as a human being to see that there are people working on some really important problems to help humanity, but it also makes me thankful as a teacher to see those doors open.”
Richardson lives in Birmingham with her spouse, Leslie, and their 8-year-old son, Nate. 在她空闲的时候, 她喜欢和他一起搭乐高积木, going to the lake and spending quality time with family.