Rate My Professor Amie McKibban

Dr. Amie R. McKibban is a Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Psychology Department at the University of Southern Indiana. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Community Psychology from Wichita State University in 2009, following doctoral research in social psychology at Texas Tech University; an M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Emporia State University in 2002; and a B.S.E. in Secondary Education—Special Education and Psychology from Emporia State University in 2000, graduating magna cum laude. She has been teaching since 2000, starting as a graduate teaching assistant and adjunct at Emporia State, followed by roles at Texas Tech and Wichita State. Joining USI as a Visiting Instructor in 2003–2004 and Assistant Professor in 2009, she progressed to Associate Professor and Assistant Chair in 2015, Department Chair in 2016, and Professor in 2025.

McKibban's research interests encompass mental health workforce development, attitudes toward aging, community organizing and collaborative partnerships, sexual health, diversity and communication, happiness and well-being, and academic integrity and misconduct. She currently collaborates with Dr. Zachary Pilot, Easterseals Rehabilitation Center, and the Indiana Psychological Association to assess Indiana's mental and behavioral health providers trained in psychology. Key publications include “Is happiness having what you want, wanting what you have, or both?” with J.T. Larsen (Psychological Science, 2008), “Creating safe places: A collaborative autoethnography on LGBT social activism” with S.L. Young (Sexuality & Culture, 2014), “Academic dishonesty: An in-depth investigation of assessing measurable constructs and a call for consistency in scholarship” (Journal of Academic Ethics, 2013), and book chapters such as “Community organizing, partnerships, and coalitions” (Introduction to Community Psychology, 2019) and “Addressing gender and sexual orientation diversity within youth populations” (2021). McKibban has received the H. Lee Cooper Teaching Award (USI, 2012), Outstanding Academic Advisor Award (USI, 2014), Best Paper Award from the Society for Community Research and Action (2013), Evansville Business Journal 20 Under 40 (2016), Phenomenal Women of USI Award (2012), and Best General Psychology Instructor Award (Texas Tech University, 2005). Her contributions include founding Map Evansville and the Tri-State Safe Zone Initiative, Faculty Senate service, and engaging undergraduates in applied research.