Professor
Academic Degrees
Mindy J. Erchull, Professor of Psychological Science, earned a Ph.D. (2005) and an M.A. (2002) in social psychology from Arizona State University, after receiving a B.A. (1998) in psychology from Connecticut College. She is a fellow of both the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science.
Dr. Erchull's research interests include objectification and sexualization of women, feminism and feminist identity, psychological aspects of reproductive health, and attitudes about menstruation. She also has broad training in social psychology, health psychology, psychology of women, women’s health, social influence, and statistics and research methods. In addition to research and academic training in these areas, Dr. Erchull serves as a consulting editor for the journals Women’s Reproductive Health, and Gender Issues. She also regularly reviews manuscripts for other journals including Psychology of Women Quarterly, Sex Roles, Health Care for Women International, and Basic and Applied Social Psychology. A recent publication includes "Picture perfect: The relationship between selfie behaviors, self-objectification, and depressive symptoms" in Sex Roles.
She has presented her work at numerous conferences including meetings of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Association for Women in Psychology. She has also published articles on her research in such academic journals as Psychology of Women Quarterly, Sex Roles, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and Health Psychology. She is also co-author of the recently published and well-received textbook, "Psychology of Women and Gender".
Dr. Erchull has been recognized for her teaching with the receipt of the Mary Roth Walsh Teaching the Psychology of Women Award. The award, sponsored by the Society for the Psychology of Women, recognizes a faculty member who employs innovative methods to address issues of diversity in teaching the psychology of women. In recognition of her contributions to the field of psychology, she was named a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, the Society for the Psychology of Women, and the Society for General Psychology. Dr Erchull was also honored with an American Psychological Association Committee for Women in Psychology Leadership Award in recognition of being an emerging leader among women in psychology. She has also received the Waple Faculty Professional Achievement Award from the University of Mary Washington.
Dr. Erchull serves as the advisor to the University of Mary Washington Chapter of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society on Psychology. During her time in this role, the chapter has twice been honored with the southeastern regional chapter award and received the Ruth Hubbard Cousins Chapter Award in 2018 in recognition of being the chapter that best exemplified Psi Chi's purpose. She has also received specific recognition with the southeastern regional chapter advisor award and the Florence L. Denmark Faculty Advisor Award for being the faculty advisor who best achieved Psi Chi’s purpose for that year through her ongoing service to the UMW chapter and having made contributions to the field of psychology at both local and national levels.
Dr. Erchull currently serves as a member of the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives representing the Society for General Psychology. She is also a member of the Implementation Collective of the Association for Women in Psychology, currently serving as treasurer. Additionally, she is the President-elect of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research. Her professional memberships include the American Psychological Association (including divisions 1 [Society for General Psychology], 2 [Society for the Teaching of Psychology], 8 [Society for Personality and Social Psychology], 9 [Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues], 35 [Society for the Psychology of Women], 38 [Society for Health Psychology], and 51 [Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity]), the Association for Psychological Science, the Association for Women in Psychology, the Council on Undergraduate Research, the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, and the Virginia Association for Psychological Science.