UNF professor wins prestigious award

Dr. Heather Barnes Truelove, professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, was named the University of North Florida's 2024 Distinguished Professor.

Nominated by her peers, this significant honor in academia recognizes Truelove's outstanding achievements in teaching, research and service to the community.

"Being nominated for Distinguished Professor among my amazing colleagues is truly an honor," Truelove said.

Truelove is a UNF alum - earning her master's in general psychology - and says she understands firsthand the impact faculty can have on their students. Soon after earning her master's in 2003, she was invited to teach as an adjunct. It was that experience that she says changed the trajectory of her life.

"After graduating with my master's, I 'adulted' - got married, bought a house and got a good paying job," explained Truelove. "It was the experience teaching that made me determined to become a professor."

With her mind set, she and her husband sold their house, quit their jobs and moved to Washington state so she could study for her doctorate degree. After a stint at Vanderbilt University for her postdoctoral fellowship, Truelove and her husband moved back to Jacksonville in 2012, where she accepted a position as assistant professor at UNF. In 2022, Truelove was appointed a full professorship.

Throughout her tenure at UNF, Truelove has received numerous recognitions and awards for her field of study. From her substantial body of published works to teaching and mentoring work with undergraduate and graduate students, Truelove embodies the attributes of what it takes to be a leader in academia.

The Distinguished Professor Award is presented annually to a UNF faculty member with a balanced record of distinction at UNF in all three areas of teaching, scholarship and service. The award includes a $6,000 honorarium, a commemorative plaque and a listing of the recipient's name on a permanent University plaque.