In her second semester on the job, Jacqueline Muir-Broaddus continues to discover new challenges associated with being named chair of the Department of Psychology.

Beyond "pushing more paper," prioritizing budget decisions and being responsible for the academic integrity of the majors, she says she hopes to soon add to the already impressive credentials of the faculty. "I'd like to see a neuroscience presence in our department. It would widen our expertise and make our academic program more current."

As the only joint faculty appointment at Southwestern, Muir-Broaddus works closely with the education department as well. "It means I have to attend more meetings," she jokes. "Our education program requires three courses in psychology, so the joint appointment helps me keep better in touch with the needs and expectations of both departments."

The opportunity to work with both programs was the main reason Muir-Broaddus came to Southwestern in 1990 from Florida Atlantic University. Her decision to attend FAU for her doctoral program was quite different. "I saw a poster for a school that had palm trees and sat three miles from the ocean, and I thought it sounded idyllic. When I looked more closely at the school, I found two excellent potential dissertation advisors, so that settled it. Not a very scientific way to choose a university, but you really have to be from a place like Canada to understand the Florida mystique."

Muir-Broaddus was born in Brantford, Ontario, the hometown of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, and spent her childhood in Paris, a neighboring small town. She started figure skating at age three, and for a time shared the same coach as Wayne’s sister. She also competed in track and cross-country through high school, and went on to figure skate for two years at the collegiate level while attending the University of Guelph.

There she received an honors degree in psychology with a minor in French. "I originally planned to teach French after graduating, but instead I opted to pursue a masters at Guelph so that I could work as a school psychologist. After completing my graduate degree, I decided to go ahead and earn my Ph.D. That's when I saw the poster."

Teaching at Southwestern, she says, allows her the freedom to "wear different hats—not just teaching, not just research. I can teach a variety of courses, participate in professional conferences, and be involved in the governance structure of the University. I especially enjoy working on research projects with students who are enthusiastic about the topic."

The focus of her recent research is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She spent last spring on sabbatical writing a paper for publication that examined the cognitive processes that distinguish ADHD from normal functioning and other disorders. This research addressed whether certain neuropsychological tests are sensitive to ADHD, and whether there is much agreement between test scores and parents’ perceptions. She also is studying teacher knowledge and awareness of ADHD given the importance of the school environment in the life of the ADHD child.

Muir-Broaddus and her spouse, Kirk, have two children. Their eight-year-old son Payton is a passionate roller hockey goalie and gymnast, finishing 10th in the state in Class 7 gymnastics last year. Ellen, who is four, also participates in gymnastics and has begun piano lessons.

Kirk works at a psychiatric emergency service in Austin. "We see completely different sides of psychology," she says. "I spend my day engaged in intellectual pursuits in the company of high functioning adults while he's in the trenches working directly with the most difficult cases you can imagine. He certainly gives me plenty of stories to share with my classes!"