May 6, 2013 — A committee of University of Wyoming Student Alumni
Association members has selected Brett Deacon, Department of Psychology
associate professor, as this year’s Outstanding Faculty Award recipient.

The award recognizes faculty members who are “dedicated to student success and who make
significant impacts in students’ lives.”

Annie Zhang of Laramie, who is scheduled to graduate this spring, nominated
Deacon for the award. She has been one of Deacon’s students and also was an
undergraduate researcher.

“I
have had the pleasure of taking two of (Deacon’s) classes and conducting
research in his lab for three years,” says Zhang. “With
an average acceptance rate of 7 percent, the research-oriented,
clinical psychology Ph.D. program is the most difficult graduate program in
which to gain admission. It was to the amazement of many that I was able to
receive acceptance as an undergraduate, without any additional research
experience. The reason I have been able to accomplish this enormous goal is
because of Dr. Deacon.”

She
continues, “Professor Deacon goes above and beyond anyone’s expectations in
helping his students, academically, professionally and personally. He inspires
passion for his field, and leads by example to show us how to become
successful, fearless and honest teachers, researchers and therapists.”

Deacon describes
his main area of study as clinical psychology, specifically the nature and treatment
of anxiety disorders.

He joined the UW faculty in 2004. He completed his undergraduate studies at Truman State University in Missouri and
received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology
from Northern Illinois University in 2002.

Photo:
Psychology
Associate Professor Brett Deacon discusses a research assignment with UW
student Annie Zhang of Laramie. Zhang nominated Deacon for the Wyoming Student
Alumni Association Outstanding Faculty Award. (UW Photo)