Gumerman Professor in Honors
Dr. Viktoria Tidikis has joined the Honors College as the third Gumerman Professor of Honors. Established through a generous gift, this first endowed Honors professorship is named after George “Wolf” Gumerman, former Director of the NAU Honors College and founding Dean of the NAU Honors College.
Dr. Tidikis is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences whose research examines the cognitive and emotional processes underlying creativity and higher-order cognition. She earned her Ph.D. in Applied Experimental Psychology from Old Dominion University and has been a member of the Northern Arizona University faculty since 2013. Her interdisciplinary scholarship spans creativity, cognition, emotion, psychophysiology, cross-cultural psychology, and the use of emerging technologies to enhance teaching and learning. An internationally recognized creativity researcher, Dr. Tidikis has published extensively on the cognitive mechanisms that support creative thinking and problem solving. Her recent work has explored physiological arousal and insight, creativity beliefs, resilience during periods of stress, and the integration of artificial intelligence into higher education. Her research has been supported by numerous grants and has involved close collaboration with undergraduate and graduate student researchers, as well as scholars and collaborators from institutions around the world.
Dr. Tidikis is widely recognized for excellence in teaching and mentorship and has been honored with multiple awards for her educational innovation, student mentorship, and global engagement. Through her research laboratory, she has mentored dozens of undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom have presented at regional, national, and international conferences, published in peer-reviewed journals, and gone on to advanced study and successful professional careers. As an Honors Gumerman Professor, she will teach an Honors seminar, Psychology of Creativity in the Age of AI, mentor Honors students, support undergraduate research opportunities, and deliver public lectures that encourage critical thinking about creativity, innovation, and the future of education. The generous gift supporting the Gumerman Professorship will provide Honors students with unique opportunities to engage directly with a scholar whose work bridges cutting-edge research, teaching excellence, and interdisciplinary inquiry.
Other Honors Faculty
While not technically faculty in residence, learn more about seven of our 9 other faculty members and their academic and personal interests and passions!
