Dana Professor Alan Searleman enjoys teaching psychology because it “has something for everyone.” He says psychology can help answer some of the natural questions we have, “including Where are memories stored? How does your personality develop? Why do we dream? What makes two people fall in love?”

Not only does exploring the “constant discovery part of psychology” excite Searleman, but he says he loves teaching at SLU because “we have small classes in which I can always find talented and bright students.  For me, a really fun part of walking into a class for the first time is knowing that some of these students will end up becoming close friends.  They don't know it yet, but I do!”

Searleman’s research and publishing topics include investigating the importance of left-handedness and brain organization, exploring human memory and cognition and the creation of new visual illusions.  He’s active with St. Lawrence’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter, but also stays busy outside of SLU. “I like traveling, reading science fiction, playing chess, investing in the stock market, going to sports events like Saints hockey games, seeing as many good movies as I can, and eating in great restaurants with my wife,” he says. “I'm soon to become a grandfather for the first time and I can hardly wait!”

In addition to Searleman’s enjoyment of the classroom, he loves working with students on research. “What a rush it is to analyze data from an experiment and find something potentially important that no one else yet knows,” he exclaims.”  It's especially nice to do this with students who have been part of the research.”