Dr. Deborah Wilson (2003) is a professor of psychology, a graduate faculty member, and formerly SAU’s Title IX Coordinator. She is a 1992 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, MS in Counseling Psychology and is a 2012 graduate of Walden University, PhD in General Psychology, education emphasis. In 1993, Wilson was licensed with the Arkansas Psychology Board as a psychological examiner and became licensed with independent practitioner status; she has now retired her license. Prior to SAU, she was professionally employed as a community mental health counselor, as a psychoeducational examiner for 17 area public schools, and as an adjunct psychology instructor for SAU. Dr. Wilson is the former board chair of the Women’s Crisis Center of South Arkansas.
Research interests include studying children’s issues including disproportional placement of African Americans in special education, relationship violence, and mental health issues.
In 2016, Dr. Wilson was recognized as SAU’s Honor Professor and in 2017 and 2019 received the Mulerider Spirit Award. Dr. Wilson previously served for nine years as department chair of Behavioral and Social Sciences and one year as interim dean of the Dempsey College of Liberal and Performing Arts.

Some of Dr. Wilson’s research presentations include:

2024 York, A., Wilson, D., & Nelson, K. College Students’ Perceptions of Contraception. Poster presented at the Southwestern Social Science Association, New Orleans, Louisiana on April 18, 2024.

2024 Thomas, E., Wilson, D., & Nelson, K. TikTok Use among College Students: Friend or Foe? Poster presented at the Southwestern Social Science Association, New Orleans, Louisiana on April 18, 2024.

2024 Wilson, D., McCartney, B. & Nelson, K. Relationship Violence: Infancy through Adolescence. Workshop conducted at the Southwestern Social Science Association, New Orleans, Louisiana on April 18, 2024.

2024 Garcia, N., Wilson, D., & Nelson, K. The Effects of Childhood Trauma on College Students. Poster presented at the Southwestern Social Science Association, New Orleans, Louisiana on April 18, 2024.

2024 Serpukhova, I., McCartney, B., & Wilson, D. Nudes and Sexting among College Students. Poster presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association, San Antonio, TX on March 30, 2024.

Gass, W., & Wilson, D. (2018). A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Influence of Academic Advising on Retention and Student Success. International Conference of the Center for Scholastic Inquiry. Savannah, Georgia.

White, G., Wilson, D., & Dobbins, C. (2017). Exploring the Utility of Meyers Briggs in Predicting Student Success. International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavioral Research. New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dobbins, C., White, G., & Wilson, D. (2017). Using the Power of Community to Shape Dispositional Expectations. American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Tampa, Florida.

Wilson, D., Gass, W., & Ulsperger, J. (2014). Stalking Prevalence Among College Students: A Comparative Between Two Arkansas Universities. Poster presentation at the International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference. Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Wilson, D., & Green, M. (2013). Working with divorcing couples: The heightened risk of intimate partner violence. Presented at the Mental Health Council of Arkansas 41st Behavioral Health Institute. Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Gass, W., & Wilson, D. (2013). “You can run, but you can’t hide”: Exploring prevalence and type of stalking behaviors. Presentation at the North Louisiana Behavioral and Social Sciences conference. Ruston, Louisiana.

Wilson, D., & Kardas, E. (2012). The utility of the Non-Cognitive Questionnaire in Honors College admissions and retention: A Three-Year Study. Research presentation at the National Collegiate Honors Council in Boston, Massachusetts

Wilson, D. (2012). An evaluative case study of Response to Intervention in the disproportional placement of African Americans in special education. Individual paper presentation at the APA Division 45 conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Kardas, E. P., & Wilson, D. (2011). Using the Non-Cognitive Questionnaire in honors college admissions and retention: A two-year study. Panel presentation at the National Collegiate Honors Council in Phoenix, Arizona

Wilson, D. (2010). Transitioning special needs preschool children to kindergarten: Comparing WPPSI-III and WISC-IV scores. Individual paper presentation at the Southwestern Psychological Association in Dallas, Texas

Wilson, D. (2010). The contributing factors of student self-concept and intelligence tests in the disproportional placement of African Americans in special education. Individual paper presentation at the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education in Atlanta, Georgia