How do our memories shape the way we experience life? That question has driven the work of Fairfield Meditz professor of psychological and brain sciences Linda Henkel, PhD, for decades.
Dr. Henkel's research explores how recollection is not a perfect recording of the past but a reconstructive process that influences well-being, social connection, and meaning in life. “The notion that our memories are malleable and change over time is fascinating and has such widespread implications,” she said.
Her interest in memory took root in childhood, when she realized she could recall her own experiences with remarkable clarity, only to discover that her siblings and parents remembered the same events differently or not at all. Dr. Henkel's early curiosity grew into a lifelong passion for uncovering how and why people remember the way they do.
When she learned she'd been appointed the Elizabeth DeCamp McInerny Chair in Health Sciences, the Fairfield Meditz professor described the moment as “incredibly exciting.” The honor, she said, is not only a recognition of her past work but also an opportunity to expand her research while providing even more meaningful hands-on experiences for her undergraduate students.
Established in 1979, the McInerny Chair was the first endowed chair established at Fairfield University, funded to support faculty research and faculty-mentored student research in health-related sciences.
“I am incredibly grateful for this honor, and I am very excited for the opportunities it will afford me and my research students,” Dr. Henkel said. “Being appointed the McInerny Chair in the Health Sciences is a thrill on many levels. On a purely emotional level, it is literally an honor. But much more than that, I am beyond excited on a practical level because this will enable me to take my research program to a level I would not have been able to otherwise, and it comes as I am heading into a sabbatical, which feels like the right time to dive in and pursue the next wave of research I have been building up towards.”
Over the years, Dr. Henkel has studied memory across the lifespan, from young adults to older adults experiencing cognitive decline. Earlier projects with nursing professor Alison Kris, RN, PhD, of the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, examined how older adults’ well-being could be enhanced by reminiscing through personal photos and conversations with caregivers. These studies revealed that memories can be a powerful source of connection and meaning, but also that reminiscing can have both positive and negative effects on mental health.
With the support of the McInerny Chair, Dr. Henkel is eager to expand her work in new directions. She plans to examine how nostalgic objects—such as toys, photos, or even foods from earlier years—can spark memory and strengthen well-being. These items, she explained, may help people feel more connected to others and to their own life stories. “The new work I want to pursue will explore how people’s interactions with objects in their environment can increase the accessibility of their personal memories,” she said.
Mentoring students has been one of the most rewarding parts of Dr. Henkel's career. More than 250 undergraduates have trained in her lab, where they design studies, collect data, and analyze results alongside her. “The thrill of scientific discovery with my students—coming up with research ideas, designing studies, gathering data, and then analyzing the results and trying to make sense of them—it is like being a kid in a candy store,” she said. “There are so many things we do not yet understand about memory, and so much to learn.”
Through her endowed chair position, the professor of psychological and brain sciences looks forward to advancing research that deepens understanding of memory and well-being while continuing to guide the next generation of scientists. “The Elizabeth DeCamp McInerny Chair in Health Sciences will enable me to advance our knowledge of memory as it relates to health and well-being," said Dr. Henkel, "while providing hands-on research experience to our psychology and behavioral neuroscience students.”
