Psychology Faculty are Honored for Career Contributions and Research Excellence

Faculty members are celebrated for advancing education in addiction and leading global research in behavioral economics

Dr. James Murphy, professor of Psychology at the University of Memphis, has recently been recognized with two significant professional honors that underscore his impact on education, training, and research.

The Society of Addiction Psychology (APA Division 50) has selected Dr. Murphy as the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Career Contributions to Education and Training Award. This prestigious award recognizes his exemplary mentoring, leadership in training initiatives, and enduring contributions to education in the field of addiction through teaching, supervision, and research.

In addition, a recent study published in the International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues (Gan et al.) identified Dr. Murphy as the most productive author worldwide in behavioral economics studies, with 54 publications in the field.

The same study recognized University of Memphis Clinical Psychology PhD alumna and current part-time instructor Dr. Ashley Dennhardt, a research assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, as the seventh most productive author, with 19 publications. Her research interests include addictive behaviors, brief interventions and behavioral economic and affective factors that contribute to poor response to substance use interventions.

These accomplishments highlight the University of Memphis’s leadership in psychology and behavioral economics research, as well as its strong culture of mentorship and scholarly excellence.