Rate My Professor Bethany Rollins

Bethany Rollins is an Adjunct Instructor in the Psychology Department at The Tulane University of New Orleans School of Science and Engineering. She earned a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Biology from Ohio University in 1997 and a Ph.D. in Biopsychology with a minor in Animal Behavior from the University of New Orleans in 2005. Her doctoral dissertation, titled "Does the Stria Terminalis Carry Information Concerning Feeding and Body Weight Regulation from the Posterodorsal Amygdala to the Hypothalamus?", was supervised by Major Professor Bruce King. This work extended prior research by producing lesions in the dorsal stria terminalis, coronal knife-cuts anterior to the ventromedial hypothalamus, and axon-sparing lesions of the posterodorsal amygdala using ibotenic acid in female rats. Lesions of the dorsal stria terminalis and knife-cuts anterior to the ventromedial hypothalamus resulted in significant body weight gain compared to controls. Anterograde degeneration examination using amino-cupric-silver stain confirmed degenerating terminals in the shell of the ventromedial hypothalamus and premammillary nuclei. These results suggest the stria terminalis carries information exerting an inhibitory influence on the ventromedial hypothalamus regarding body weight regulation and food intake. Prior studies' lack of effects was attributed to using male animals. Posterodorsal amygdala lesions could not be verified histologically, possibly due to acid seepage into lateral ventricles.

Dr. Rollins completed her Ph.D. just weeks before Hurricane Katrina, after which she relocated to northern Virginia and taught several psychology courses as an adjunct professor at Lord Fairfax Community College. In 2007, she joined The Tulane University of New Orleans as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Psychology. She continues her role as Adjunct Instructor in the Psychology Department, with an office in 2013 Stern Hall, supporting undergraduate education in Psychology.