Bio

Dr. Rosa is a Developmental Psychologist interested in lifespan development with a focus on aging, learning, memory, and disability. Her work has explored aspects of memory that remain intact in healthy and cognitively impaired older adults. Dr. Rosa also studies teaching and learning with a particular interest in teaching that addresses accessibility and motivation in order to increase student learning. She holds a PhD and MA from Brandeis University and an MSW from Boston College.

Dr. Rosa is also the Director of Commonwealth Honors at Worcester State. Click here for more information about the Lt. Col. James F. Sheehan Commonwealth Honors Program

Education

2013-2014

Harvard University

College Fellow

2013

Brandeis University

Ph.D.

1997

Boston College

MSW

1995

Stonehill College

Achievements

Grant

Society for the Teaching of Psychology Small Grant

Abnormal No More: A DARN Conference

Grant

IDEAS Travel Grant

Aging in Global Society - Short-term study abroad in Lisbon, Portugal

Grant

Worcester State University Faculty Mini-Grant

Aging and Disability

Grant

Worcester State University Teaching and Learning Innovation Grant

Metacomprehension, Comprehension, and Boredom Proneness

Award

Society For Teaching of Psychology Instructional Resource Award

Increasing Inclusiveness and Awareness: Disability in Introductory Psychology

Grant

Worcester State University Foundation Grant

Lessons from COVID: Student Achievement, Motivation, and Engagement in Online and In-person Courses

Grant

Worcester State Faculty Scholarship and Creative Activity Grant

Self-reference in children

Publications

Rosa, N.M. & Gutchess, A.H. (2011). Source memory for action in young and older adults: Self vs. close or unknown others. Psychology and Aging, 26, 625-630.

Rosa, N.M. & Gutchess, A.H. (2013). False memory in aging resulting from self-referential processing. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 68B, 882-892.

Gutchess, A.H., Sokal, R., Coleman, J.A., Gotthilf, G., & Rosa, N.M. (2014). Age differences in self-referencing: Evidence for common and distinct encoding strategies. Brain Research.

Rosa, N.M., Deason, R. G., Budson, A.E., & Gutchess, A.H. (2014). Source memory for self and other in patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences.

DeScioli, P., Rosa, N.M., & Gutchess, A.H. (2015). A selective memory advantage for property. Evolutionary Psychology, 13, 411-423.

Lee, H.N., Rosa, N.M., & Gutchess, A.H. (2015). Aging and the Group-Reference Effect in Memory. Memory.

Rosa, N.M., Deason, R. G., Budson, A.E., & Gutchess, A.H. (2015). Self-referencing and false memory in mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychology.

Rosa, N.M., Bogart, K.R., Bonnett, A.K., Estill, M.C., & Colton, C.E. (2016). Teaching About Disability in Psychology: An Analysis of Disability Curricula in U.S. Undergraduate Psychology Programs. Teaching of Psychology.

Bogart, K.R., Rosa, N.M., & Slepian, M. (2019). Born that way or became that way: Stigma toward congenital versus acquired disability, Group Processes and Intergroup Relations.

Rosa, N.M., Bogart, K.R., Dunn, D., & Becker-Blease, K. (2019). Increasing inclusiveness and awareness: Disability in Introductory Psychology. Society for the Teaching of Psychology.

Gutchess, A., Rosa, N.M., & Schwartz, D.B. (2021). Social and cultural influences on cognitive aging. In G. Sędek, T. Hess, and D. Touron (Eds), Multiple pathways of cognitive aging: Motivational and contextual influences. Oxford University Press

Frazier, K. E., Raftery-Helmer, J. N., Rosa, N.M., & Sullivan, C. J. (2021). Teaching developmental psychology online: A motivational perspective. Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) eBook: Teaching Psychology Online. (https://teachpsych.org/ebooks/teachpsychonline)

Raftery-Helmer, J., Sullivan, C., Frazier, K. & Rosa, N.M. (2022). Online course motivation and engagement: Understanding semester changes. In H. Scherschel & D. S. Rudmann (Eds.) Teaching tips: A compendium of conference presentations on teaching, 2021-22. (pp. 197-200). Society for the Teaching of Psychology.

Psychology on the Move

Students gathered in front of Big Ben in London, England

Psychology Students Explore London Over Spring Break

Psychology students enrolled in Applied Cognition in Global Contexts traveled to London over Spring Break

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Photo of statue and Castelo Sao Jorge in Lisbon, Portugal

SPRING 2024 Opportunity

Students enrolled in Aging in a Global Society will travel to Lisbon, Portugal during Spring Break 2024

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Courses

Developmental Psychology

Physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and moral development from conception to adolescence is examined within a framework of various theories.

3 Credits

Psychology of Adolescence

The mental, emotional, social and physical changes of contemporary adolescence are examined with emphasis on family, peer and school influences.

3 Credits

Psychology of Aging

Adulthood and old age are studied with special emphasis on current developmental theories.

3 Credits

Capstone: Seminar in Developmental Psychology

Patterns of physical, mental, and emotional development are explored with an emphasis on independent work.

3 Credits

Applied Research Methods

Extension of research design and methods introduced in PS276. Research methods, including applied research design, statistical analysis, and scientific writing.

3 Credits

Internship in Psychology

Provides opportunity to advanced students to increase experience through internship with sponsoring community organization, institution, or business under appropriate supervision.

1-3 Credit