Associate Professor of Psychology
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
Dr. Helen Vrailas Bateman received a Ph.D. in Psychology from Vanderbilt University. She is presently an associate professor of Psychology at the University of the South. Her research interests center around the relationship between psychological sense of community in learning environments and students' psychological, physical, and emotional well-being. Recent research has focused on the relationship between BMI, bullying, aggression, psychological sense of community, and self-esteem in students attending schools in rural Appalachia. She is presently investigating the factors that contribute to a higher sense of community in college settings.
In collaboration with students in her courses Dr. Bateman has developed learning resources for after-school programs aimed at increasing children’s knowledge and understanding of healthful eating habits. Dr. Bateman and her students are presently working on the creation of stories and learning resources aimed at increasing children’s prosocial behavior, conflict-resolution skills, appreciation of diversity, and empathy.
Dr. Bateman’s hobbies include reading, traveling, and restoring old houses.
Courses offered
PSYC 221 Adolescence
PSYC 357 Child Development (lab)
PSYC 363 Advanced Research Seminar in Psychology
PSYC 402 Community Psychology
