By Katrina Dix
The only thing Michelle Kelley, Ph.D. and Eminent Scholar of Psychology, knew about the Hampton Roads area when she interviewed for a position with Թϱ more than 30 years ago was that it had a large military population.
Having just completed her doctorate at the University of Houston with a focus on family environments and social development, Dr. Kelley said to herself, “Wow, I wonder what the challenges are for families and kids with those long deployment separations.”
That simple question led to a prolific and influential career studying the psychological impact of military service on individuals and families, studded with honors including, most recently, being named a 2025 State Council for Higher Education in Virginia Outstanding Faculty Member.
On Feb. 25, Dr. Kelley will also be recognized with the Provost’s Spotlight, which will explore her background, interests and research trajectory in a live interview. Gail Dodge, Dean of the College of Sciences, will join the interview to add her perspective to Dr. Kelley’s accomplishments. Dean Dodge is a professor of physics and a 2015 SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award winner.
Since 1987, the Outstanding Faculty Member awards have recognized faculty at Virginia’s institutions of higher learning who exemplify the highest standards of teaching, scholarship and service. Dr. Kelley will receive her award, along with a $7,500 gift from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, at a March 4 ceremony in Richmond.
“Dr. Kelley is a prolific, talented and creative scientist,” said psychology department chairman George Noell, Ph.D. “Թϱ is extremely fortunate to have a scholar of Dr. Kelley’s caliber as a member of our faculty.”
Calling her a generous leader both at Թϱ and within the scientific community and a dedicated mentor for students and early career faculty, Dr. Noell also praised Dr. Kelley’s recent work examining moral trauma and sexual victimization in veteran populations, including the study of new treatments, as both “socially important and at the leading edge of inquiry in this area.”
Starting with women in the military – a newly growing population when she started her research – Dr. Kelley’s work evolved to include deployment-related stress, moral injury, substance use and resilience. Most recently, she developed a mindfulness training for veterans to treat the impact of moral injury – the deep psychological distress that occurs when someone experiences a violation of their moral code or beliefs about the nature of humanity as a victim, a witness who failed to act, or even a perpetrator.
“People are very aware of post-traumatic stress disorder now, but I think they’re becoming more aware also that you can have experiences that aren’t necessarily traumatic in that way, but they are very morally upsetting,” Dr. Kelley said. “So we developed a really solid program that seemed to help people with these issues. Some participants knew they had the symptoms, but they didn’t have a name for it.”
Another current focus is “positive psych constructs,” factors that promote mental well-being such as hope, gratitude and belonging. While people often dwell on negative experiences, known as negative rumination, they rarely give the same attention to positive moments, she explained. She and some of her students are exploring positive rumination, or the practice of reflecting on successes and uplifting experiences such as gratitude, hope and belonging. They hope to understand how simple habits like keeping a gratitude journal or mentally noting positive moments can improve well-being not only for military personnel but also for students, families and the broader community.
“Dr. Kelley exemplifies the highest standards of academic excellence and service,” said Brian Payne, interim provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, when the recognition was announced in December. “Her groundbreaking research, dedication to teaching and tireless efforts to mentor students and colleagues reflect the very best of Թϱ’s mission. We are immensely proud of her well-deserved recognition as a SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award winner.”
Dr. Kelley was surprised to be recognized by SCHEV this year after applying and not getting the award the previous year, especially considering the other fantastic work being done around the University, she said. But she had to admit it supports the advice she’s frequently given others: keep trying.
“I have put many people up for many awards, and they always say, ‘Oh, I didn't win last year,’ and I say, ‘Sometimes you’ve got to go up for things two or three times. You never know who else is out there,’” she said. “And I know it's disappointing for people to hear that, but nine times out of 10, they will eventually win.”
Թϱ faculty members have been recognized 38 times since the SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Awards began. Dr. Kelley is the 10th honoree from the College of Sciences.
Prior winners:
2024
Justin Haegele, Human Movement Sciences and Special Education
2023
Khan Iftekharuddin, Electrical & Computer Engineering
2021
Jennifer Fish, Women’s Studies
Ling Li, Information Technology and Decision Sciences
2020
Kent Carpenter, Biological Sciences
2018
Helen Crompton, Teaching and Learning
2017
Jennifer Michaeli, Engineering Technology
Anatoly Radyushkin, Physics
2016
Charles Hyde, Physics
2015
Gail Dodge, Physics
2014
Carolyn Rutledge, Nursing
2012
Steve Yetiv, Political Science
2011
Mark Butler, Biological Sciences
2009
Lawrence Hatab, Philosophy
Lawrence Weinstein, Physics
2008
Bridget Anderson, English
Shaomin Li, Business Management
2007
John Adam, Mathematics & Statistics
2006
Donald Zeigler, Political Science & Geography
Sharon Raver-Lampman, Early Childhood, Speech-Language Pathology, & Special Education
2005
Katharine Kersey, Early Childhood, Speech-Language Pathology, & Special Education
Cynthia Jones, Ocean Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
2004
Charles Wilson, English
2003
Sheri Reynolds, English
2002
Janet Peery, English
2001
Sushil Chaturvedi, Mechanical Engineering
Dwight Allen, Educational Curriculum & Instruction
2000
John Toomey, Music
1999
Daniel Dauer, Biological Sciences
Chris Drake, Political Science & Geography
1997
Dana Heller, English
1996
William Stanley, Engineering Technology
1995
Helen Rountree, Sociology & Criminal Justice
1994
Nancy Bazin, English
1993
Michele Darby, Dental Hygiene & Dental Assisting
1992
Gregory Selby, Mechanical Engineering
1991
Karen Polonko, Sociology & Criminal Justice