People A-Z
Mary Valaik Barnas
McCoy Professor of Psychology
Dept: Psychology
740-376-4766
Office: Mills 403
Degrees: Ph.D. (West Virginia University), 1991; Master's in Developmental Psychology (West Virginia University), 1987; Bachelor's in Psychology (Loyola College of Maryland), 1985
Year appointed: 1994
Dr. Barnas is a developmental psychologist specializing in social-emotional development in children with a specific emphasis on family violence.
Her current work involves running a Supervised Visitation Center where children from abusive or violent homes visit with their parents in a controlled environment. Upper level psychology students can take a course in family violence and intern at the center as a part of their studies.
She developed a new program at Marietta College and opened the Center for Families and Children on campus in the spring of 2004. Dr. Barnas was honored in 2005 with the McCoy Professorship Award for Teaching Excellence, the highest faculty honor at Marietta College.