Lisa R. Grimm, PhD
- Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
- Psychology & Mental Health
Education
- PhD, Cognitive Psychology (2007)
University of Texas at Austin (TX) - MA, Cognitive Psychology (2004)
University of Texas at Austin (TX) - BA, Psychology with honors (2001)
Grinnell College (IA)
About Me
I serve as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Widener University. I am a cooperative and empathic leader and view academic administration as a form of service to students, faculty members, staff, and to the institution.
Research Interests
My research is focused on understanding the structure and content of mental representations. In one line of research, I examine the influence of individual and motivational differences on cognitive processing by studying how different individual-difference variables, such as self-construal and regulatory focus, interact with task environments. For example, a set of studies demonstrated how induced or chronic negative stereotypes interact with the task reward structure (e.g., gaining points) to produce performance decrements consistent with stereotype threat. My recent work is focused on how goal orientations influence language learning, including learning computer programming languages.
Media Expertise
- Cognitive Psychology
- Learning
- Memory
- Stereotypes and cognition
Publications
- Picho, K., & Grimm, L. (2023). "Examining the moderating role of regulatory fit on stereotype threat among Ugandan adolescents." The Journal of Social Psychology, 1–23.
- Gallagher, D., & Grimm, L. R. (2018). "Making an Impact: The Effects of Game Making on Creativity and Spatial Processing." Thinking Skills and Creativity, 28, 138-149.
- Kay, S. A., & Grimm, L. R. (2017). "Regulatory Fit Improves Fitness for People with Low Exercise Experience." Journal of Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 39, 109-119.
- Grimm, L. R., Markman, A. B., Maddox, W. T., & Baldwin, G. C. (2009). "Stereotype threat reinterpreted as a regulatory mismatch." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 288-304.
Awards
- Faculty exchange, European Study Center, Heidelberg, Germany (2017)
- Most Outstanding Dissertation, Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin (2008)
- Dissertation Research Award, American Psychological Association (2006)
News
Noteworthy
Experience MORE! 2026 Student Cohort Shares About Learning Beyond the Classroom
Nine undergraduate students recently reflected on their summer internships made by possible by a unique Widener donor-funded initiative. They spoke at a celebratory event about the work they did, what they learned and how it contributed to preparing them for careers after they graduate.
“These experiences are really critical for their career exploration and for allowing our students to engage with nonprofit agencies, governmental agencies and more, to develop the skills that they need to serve the greater good after they graduate,” College of Arts and Sciences Dean Lisa Grimm said.
Their summer employment was made possible through Experience MORE!, which provides financial assistance so students may seize opportunities working in meaningful unpaid or underpaid internships. They are able to take advantage of invaluable career development support in the summer – a time of year when students often need to work to save for expenses. They get the internship experiences and are paid or supplemented by Experience MORE!, which is fully supported by generous university donors.
The program is proudly facilitated by the College of Arts and Sciences in collaboration with the Office of Career Design and Development.
The nine 2026 Experience MORE! students and their summer workplaces included:
• Saige M. Anderson ’27, biology major, city of Chester Health Department
• Clarissa Campbell ’29, communications studies and marketing major, Food Research and Action Center
• Damani M. Knox ’28, chemistry major, Philadelphia Housing Authority
• Samantha P. Ocran ’29, biology major, Office of Dr. Rich Clark DMD
• Samara K. Ocran ’29, political science major, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
• Rita Ossai ’27, biology major, Stephanie Wynn Foundation
• Kalpan Patel ’27, computer science major, Cencora
• Georgia A. Seherlis ’28, anthropology and psychology major, American University of Thessaloniki, Greece
• Dakota A. Whitman ’28, biology major, Food Research and Action Center
The students made presentations to an audience of Widener faculty, staff and students. Family members and representatives of some of the employers also attended.
Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/experience-more-2026-student-cohort-shares-about-learning-beyond-classroom