Beltz, who visited from the University of Michigan, discussed the roles of hormonal contraceptives in neurocognition and mental health.
By Cara Nixon
March 31, 2025
In the inaugural colloquium sponsored by the David A. Edwards Psychology Fund, psychologist Dr. Adriene Beltz visited the Reed campus in early March to give a public lecture on hormonal contraceptives research and connect with students and faculty.
The colloquium included interactions with thesising students, class visits, an interdepartmental lecture, and the public lecture. Though hundreds of millions of people around the world use hormonal contraceptives, research on the behavioral and neural consequences of such methods has been minimal. Beltz, an associate professor of psychology and director of the Methods, Sex Differences, and Development Lab at the University of Michigan, discussed how research has fortunately surged in the last 10 years, particularly pertaining to the roles of hormonal contraceptives in neurocognition and mental health.
As the first installment of a series made possible by the David A. Edwards Psychology Fund, the colloquium was enlightening for both students and faculty.
“With this multi-day series of gatherings, Dr. Edwards has thoughtfully considered how to bring together students and faculty to engage meaningfully with a distinguished research scholar,” said Kathy Oleson, Dean of the Faculty and Patricia and Clifford Lunneborg Professor of Psychology. “Throughout the colloquium, participants learned new ideas, shared student thesis projects, and experienced the intrinsic delight of engaging with research ideas. This inaugural event was a great success.”
Dr. David A. Edwards ’64 is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at Emory University, where he has taught for over 50 years. His own research focuses on the hormonal correlates of competition, performance, ability, and status in intercollegiate athletics and other settings. He and his wife, epidemiologist Mary L. Lerchen, have stayed connected and engaged with Reed and its community, and hope they can help change students’ lives in the same way the course of Edwards’ own life was altered by his Reed experience. The David A. Edwards Psychology Series will continue to allow annual visits from prominent scholars in the field to connect with students and faculty.