Kate B. Nooner

Dr. Kate Brody Nooner is a Full Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Policy, Research, and Innovation in the College of Science and Engineering at UNCW. A distinguished educator, scholar, and higher education leader with more than two decades of experience, she advances strategic initiatives that promote student and faculty success, research excellence, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

She has served as Chair of the Department of Psychology and Vice President of the Faculty Senate, leading efforts to develop and implement policies that strengthen scholarship and foster cross-disciplinary learning. Her leadership has been central to launching new programs and curriculum, building key partnerships, and elevating UNCW’s research profile.

Recognized across the university and beyond, Dr. Nooner is dedicated to creating academic environments where faculty, students, and scholarship thrive.

Education

Board Certified in Clinical Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program
Residency in Clinical Child Psychology, Columbia University Medical Center
M.S. in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University
B.A. in Psychology, Wellesley College

Specialization in Teaching

Dr. Kate Brody Nooner is passionate about teaching and mentoring, offering undergraduate courses from statistics to abnormal psychology and graduate courses in clinical supervision. Her pedagogy focuses on transforming complex or challenging topics into engaging, relevant, and applicable learning experiences grounded in strong theoretical frameworks.

As director of the Trauma and Resilience Lab, she provides individualized, hands-on research opportunities, guiding students from project conception to clear, compelling presentation. She mentors undergraduates through directed individual studies and honors theses, and graduate students through master’s theses and doctoral dissertations—finding great joy in helping them bring ideas to life.

Research Interests

Dr. Nooner’s research in mental health promotion lies at the intersection of alcohol use, trauma, and neuroscience. She has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles and presented at more than 60 national and international conferences.

As principal investigator on multiple NIH- and NSF-funded grants totaling millions in external support, she leads UNCW’s Trauma and Resilience Laboratory, engaging undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. students in hands-on research. Her projects include identifying biomarkers for underage binge drinking in adolescents and contributing to the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA).

Professional Service

Dr. Kate Brody Nooner is committed to service within both the university and the broader academic community. At UNCW, she has held leadership roles including Vice President of the Faculty Senate, advancing shared governance. She serves on the North Carolina Psychology Licensing Board, contributing to the regulation of the profession in the state.

Nationally, Dr. Nooner is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Health Service Psychology, where she has strengthened the journal’s impact and scope. She has also served as a reviewer and panelist for the National Institutes of Health, a site visitor for the American Psychological Association’s accreditation of clinical psychology doctoral programs, and a board member for the American Board of Professional Psychology Foundation.

Her service reflects a deep commitment to advancing the field of psychology and fostering the next generation of scholars and clinicians.

Community Engagement

Dr. Nooner is the founding director of the General Psychotherapy and Assessment Clinic, UNCW’s first community clinic for its Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. This vital resource provides affordable assessment and treatment services to the community while training doctoral students in evidence-based practice. She has also created international opportunities for doctoral students to deliver mental health education abroad. Under her leadership, the clinic has secured significant donor funding, expanding its services and reach.

She has built strong partnerships with New Hanover County Health and Human Services to address adolescent mental health needs, and has volunteered her expertise for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, leading wellness and resilience programs for older adults. Dr. Nooner’s work bridges academic training with real-world impact, advancing access to psychological care, and decreasing mental health stigma.

Honors & Awards

American Psychological Association Fellow, Division 6, Behavioral Neuroscience
Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering, and Science (ELATES) Fellow
Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award (UNCW's Highest Faculty Scholarship Honor)
James F. Merritt Million Dollar Research Award
Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Institute Fellow
NIH-NIMH – UC Davis/SDSU ERP Bootcamp Fellow
UNC-CH Frank Porter Graham Institute Fellow