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Can a Sense of Humor Make College Classes Better? UGA Research Says Yes!

Andrea Horsman on February 5, 2026

At the University of Georgia, researchers are finding that a well-timed joke might be more than just comic relief — it might actually make college classes more enjoyable and engaging for students.

Led by Dr. Trevor Tuma, an OIBR affiliate and postdoctoral research associate in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Erin Dolan, an OIBR Distinguished Scholar and professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the study examined teaching recordings from more than 45 lab courses nationwide. Students then shared their perceptions of their instructors’ humor—and whether it made the class more enjoyable.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t whether the researchers thought a joke was funny that mattered — it was whether students perceived their professor as funny. When students said their instructors had a good sense of humor, they also reported feeling more positive emotions about the class and fewer negative ones. That glow of positivity can help students stay engaged and even spark a stronger interest in learning.

As Dr. Tuma explains, humor is subjective — what cracks one student up might fall flat for another — so timing and style are everything. And Dr. Dolan adds a key insight: while learning the material is vital, students’ emotions play a big role in how motivated they feel and how well they absorb it all.

But before every instructor turns into a stand-up comedian, this advice: use humor thoughtfully. If it doesn’t land, it could fall flat or even backfire — and not every joke works for every crowd.

Published in the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, this study gives UGA instructors — and educators everywhere — food for thought: a laugh here and there might just make science class a little sweeter.

UGA Selects Class of 2026 Advanced Leaders Program

Andrea Horsman on January 7, 2026

The University of Georgia has selected 10 faculty members and academic leaders to join the 2026 cohort of its Advanced Leader Program, a selective, yearlong initiative designed to prepare participants for senior leadership roles in higher education.

The program brings together accomplished faculty and administrators to build on their leadership experience through engagement with senior university leaders, leadership development experts, and peers. Fellows gain a deeper understanding of institutional operations and governance by interacting with offices and administrators across the university and the broader University System of Georgia.

“The Advanced Leader Program reflects the University of Georgia’s commitment to developing the next generation of higher education leaders,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “The Fellows selected for the 2026 cohort have already made significant contributions to UGA and their fields, and this program will further equip them to expand their impact in the years ahead.”

Among the 2026 Fellows are two distinguished scholars affiliated with the Owens Institute for Behavioral Research.

Malissa Clark, professor and head of the Department of Psychology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, is an internationally recognized scholar whose research focuses on improving employee well-being and reducing overwork and burnout. Her 2024 book, Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture Is Bad for Business — and How to Fix It, received widespread acclaim and was featured in Adam Grant’s 12 New Idea Books to Launch 2024 and Porchlight’s Top 5 Best Management and Workplace Culture Books of 2024. Clark is a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, was named to the 2024 Thinkers50 Radar list, and was a finalist for the 2025 Thinkers50 Radar Award. She also serves as associate editor of the Journal of Business and Psychology and sits on the editorial boards of Personnel Psychology and the Journal of Applied Psychology.

Erin Dolan, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Innovative Science Education in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, brings extensive leadership experience from UGA, peer institutions, and national organizations. Her career path was shaped by early volunteer work in K–12 schools during her neuroscience graduate training, leading her to pursue a focus on biology education. Dolan teaches introductory biology, and her research group—the SPREE Lab (Social Psychology of Research Experiences and Education)—examines how undergraduate and graduate research experiences, including mentorship, influence students’ career decisions.

Tessa Andrews Receives 2025 OIBR Lillian Eby Mentoring Award

Andrea Horsman on December 2, 2025

Dr. Tessa Andrews, Meigs Professor of Genetics & Director of the SEER Center, was honored with the 2025 OIBR Lillian Eby Mentoring Award in recognition of her outstanding commitment to science education and mentorship.

Dr. Andrews’ research explores the cognitive, affective, social, cultural, and structural factors that shape how college instructors teach, with the ultimate goal of improving learning and promoting diversity in undergraduate STEM education, particularly within the life sciences.

As Director of the SEER Center, she has provided extensive mentorship to early-career faculty—both formally, by serving as a named mentor on grant proposals, and informally, through her day-to-day engagement with SEER Center affiliates. Under her leadership, the Center’s seminar series has become a vital platform for advancing faculty development and career growth.

2025 OIBR Rising Star Announced

Andrea Horsman on December 2, 2025

We are delighted to announce the recipient of the 2025 OIBR Rising Star Award, Dr. Soroya McFarlane, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies, for her exceptional scholarly achievements and promising trajectory in research.

The OIBR Rising Star Award celebrates the remarkable scholarly achievements and future potential of an OIBR Distinguished Scholar or Affiliate within eight years of earning their Ph.D. This award recognizes individuals who consistently demonstrate excellence in research and show a promising trajectory for making impactful contributions.

Dr. McFarlane’s work centers on improving maternal health outcomes for Black women. Despite being in the early stages of her academic career, she has made remarkable progress in advancing this critical area of study. She leads an interdisciplinary team developing The THRIVE Project—a scalable, multimedia online learning platform designed to bridge gaps in health communication, advocacy, and education for Black women and their families.

This initiative represents a powerful example of translational research in action, bringing evidence-based, multimedia communication strategies directly to communities historically marginalized by the healthcare system.

Unstable surroundings have lasting effects on youth well-being

Andrea Horsman on August 14, 2025

New UGA research finds that unpredictable childhood environments—such as inconsistent caregiving, unstable housing, and household chaos—can have lasting effects on mental and physical health. Teens from less stable homes showed higher rates of depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems, along with higher BMI, compared to peers from consistent, routine-based households. Lead author and OIBR Grant Development Program graduate, Kalsea Koss, emphasizes that while small changes can foster adaptability, chronic instability can tip the balance toward lifelong challenges. The findings expand the definition of childhood adversity, underscoring the importance of stability for healthy development. Supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Read the whole story here.

2025 Distinguished Scholars Announced

Andrea Horsman on May 29, 2025

Owens Institute for Behavioral Research Announces 2025 Distinguished Scholars

The Owens Institute for Behavioral Research (OIBR) at the University of Georgia is proud to announce the promotion of five faculty affiliates to the rank of Distinguished Scholar for 2025. This honor recognizes outstanding research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sustained contributions to the behavioral and social sciences.

The 2025 OIBR Distinguished Scholars are:

Brian Bauer (Psychology)
Malissa Clark (Psychology)
Rifat Haider (Health Policy and Management)
Sarah Shannon (Sociology)
Justine Tinkler (Sociology)

These scholars have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their fields and a strong commitment to advancing impactful, collaborative research that aligns with OIBR’s mission to address complex societal challenges through behavioral science.

Please join us in congratulating these faculty members on their well-deserved recognition.

Dr. Man Kit Lei Named Co-Director of CBSER

Andrea Horsman on May 7, 2025

Dr. Man Kit (Karlo) Lei Named Co-Director of the Center on Biological Embedding of Social Events and Relationships (CBSER)

The Owens Institute for Behavioral Research (OIBR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Man Kit (Karlo) Lei, an associate professor in Sociology, as the new co-director of the Center on Biological Embedding of Social Events and Relationships (CBSER). He joins current co-director Dr. Steven Beach in leading this research center.

The Center on Biological Embedding of Social Events and Relationships brings together behavioral and biological scientists interested in understanding the intersections of genetic and environmental contributions to health, health behavior, and interpersonal outcomes. The focus of the group is on strengthening the infrastructure for collaborative research and grant proposal writing.

As co-director, Dr. Lei will help guide CBSER’s mission to strengthen research infrastructure, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and support successful grant development. His leadership will be instrumental in advancing the center’s work at the intersection of biology and social science.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Lei on this new role as he helps CBSER continue to grow and thrive within OIBR.

CACHE Team Honored with Georgia CTSA Presidents’ Award of Distinction for Innovative Public Health Research

Andrea Horsman on May 5, 2025

A man wears a VR headset and gestures with his hands while others observe in a computer lab setting. — Michael Schmidt (center), a CACHE faculty affiliate with the Department of Kinesiology, and Grace Ahn (far right) demonstrate a VR project while Allan Tate, CACHE director of biostatistics, epidemiology and research design, looks on.

A multidisciplinary research team from the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE) at the University of Georgia has been awarded the prestigious Presidents’ Award of Distinction by the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance (Georgia CTSA). The honor was presented at the Georgia CTSA’s annual conference in March 2025.

This award recognizes innovative, high-functioning research teams whose collaborative efforts have significantly advanced clinical and translational science and are poised to make a lasting impact on human health. The CACHE team, known for its groundbreaking work using immersive media technologies, was recognized for its impactful interventions in behavior change and public health communication.

“For the past 15 years, our research has demonstrated that immersive media technologies can be powerful tools for translational science,” said Dr. Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn, OIBR distinguished scholar, founding director of CACHE, and professor in UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. “We are honored to have our collaborative efforts recognized and look forward to continuing this work with communities across Georgia.”

CACHE’s work spans multiple colleges at UGA, including Journalism, Engineering, and Public Health, and focuses on using virtual, augmented, and mixed realities to address real-world issues, ranging from vaccine hesitancy and physical activity to storm preparedness and indoor air quality.

Highlighted projects include:

Virtual Fitness Buddy, a mixed-reality game promoting youth physical activity, supported by a $3.3 million NSF grant.
Weather the Storm, a VR simulation educating users on storm surge impacts, released with NOAA funding.
Collaborative research with Emory’s School of Nursing through the Center for Children’s Health Assessment, Research Translation, and Combating Environmental Risk.

OIBR affiliate Dr. Allen Tate, and CACHE director of biostatistics and associate professor in the College of Public Health, emphasized the long-term significance of this research: “The teamwork of CACHE challenges current approaches in preventive medicine and will have transformative effects on public health translational research over the next decade.”

The Georgia CTSA is a partnership among Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Tech, and UGA, and is supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Faculty Recognition 2025

Andrea Horsman on April 18, 2025

Congratulations to the OIBR faculty who recently received awards:

Justin Lavner – Creative Research Medal

Tom Mote – Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Yilang Peng – Charles B. Knapp Early Career Scholar Award

William Pridemore – Named Inaugural Marienthal Professor in Sociology

Glenna Read – Richard B. Russell Award of Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Greg Strauss – William A. Owens Creative Research Award

Jennifer Thompson – Non-Tenure Track Faculty Research Excellence Award

Ron Simons Tribute

Andrea Horsman on April 1, 2025

Ron Simons, Ph.D., Regents’ Professor in the department of sociology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at UGA passed away on Monday, March 31, 2025. Simons had a long and fruitful collaboration with the Center for Family Research (CFR) over the years, and is leaving behind a profound legacy through his contributions to the field and support of other scholars’ work. He is survived by his spouse, collaborator, and colleague, Leslie Simons, Ph.D.

CFR’s director, Steven Beach, Ph.D., says, Simons “was a researcher’s researcher. He was fully engaged and enthusiastic about his research questions and never forgot the deep values that informed them.”

Simons started his career at Iowa State University and joined the department of sociology at the University of Georgia in 2002 with one year at Arizona State University in 2013. In over two decades at UGA, he brought in millions of dollars in research grants as a principal or co-investigator and produced over 300 peer-reviewed articles.

His work has made a major contribution to understanding the processes by which social experiences become biologically embedded and influence mental and physical health outcomes. Most recently, Simons turned his focus to how these experiences may contribute to dementia and was principal investigator on the project, “Stress, Weathering, and Blood-Based Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Longitudinal Study of Low Income, Aging African Americans,” funded by the National Institute on Aging.

While his highly cited research has had tremendous impact on medical sociology, understanding family influences on the life course, criminology, and the importance of socio-economic status on lifespan development, his presence on campus has been equally impactful. Man Kit (Karlo) Lei, associate professor in the department of sociology, worked with Simons as both a student, and later, as a colleague.

“Ron was my academic role model and a father-like figure,” he said, adding that Ron used his own life, even while going through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, as a teaching tool. “Until the very end, [Simons] remained committed to his work—studying how social factors shape later life, especially for minority groups…I am incredibly proud to have been his student and colleague.”

In the course of his career, Simons’ work has been lauded by numerous awards. Among them, he was selected as a Fellow in the American Academy for the Advancement of Science in 2023, named a Regents’ Professor at UGA in 2020, and chosen for the Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award in 2019. Upon receiving the SEC award, UGA President Jere Morehead said that Simons “has brought great distinction to the University of Georgia.”

He will be greatly missed.

Written by: David Pollock, Center for Family Research

Category: Homepage News