May 9, 2024
College of Arts and Sciences names Mary Cain associate dean for research and graduate studies
Following a national search, Kansas State University's College of Arts and Sciences has named Mary Cain its new associate dean for research and graduate studies. She succeeds Chris Culbertson, who became dean of the college in June 2023.
Cain is a professor in the psychological sciences department, where she has been directing the graduate program since 2021. She joined the department as a professor in 2004 and served as director of its Behavioral Neuroscience Graduate Program from 2005 to 2021. She has also been a member of the Cognitive and Neurobiological Approaches to Plasticity, or CNAP, Center and served on many college and university committees and task forces.
"I am very excited to have Dr. Cain join our team as associate dean for research and graduate studies," Culbertson said. "She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position and will be invaluable to the college in helping us grow our research enterprise and support graduate students and faculty."
Cain has received the University Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentoring of Undergraduate Students in Research and the Commerce Bank Undergraduate Outstanding Teaching Award, and she is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Midwestern Psychological Association.
As associate dean for research and graduate studies, Cain will work with the dean to support and grow the college's research, scholarship, creative and discovery activities. She will foster interdisciplinary collaboration, promote the development of early career faculty, interface with the Office of the Vice President for Research, support college strategic planning and data analysis, and manage the college's instructional fees program and faculty enhancement program. She will also represent the college on the Associate Deans for Research Council and serve as a liaison to the Graduate School.
Cain holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Manhattan College and a doctoral degree in experimental psychology from the University of Vermont. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kentucky.