Brian McCoy

Dr. Brian McCoy is a Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Criminal Psychology Department. Prior to his faculty appointment, he served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Nichols for 15 years. His former student affairs positions were in the residence life departments at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Assumption College. He has held clinical positions at Worcester State Hospital, Westboro Treatment Center, The Bridge of Central MA, and YOU, Inc.

As an active member of National Association of Student Professional Association (NASPA) since 1985, he has served in a variety of leadership positions for the Association, including: Region I Conference Chair (2001); Region I Vice President (2006 – 2008); Featured Speakers Chair (2009 NASPA Annual Conference); a member of the Joint ACPA/NASPA Taskforce on the Future of Student Affairs (2008 – 2010); and as the 2013 NASPA Annual Conference Chair. NASPA named Brian a Pillar of the Profession in March 2018.

Dr. McCoy also serves as an accreditor for the New England Commission of Higher Education and provides workshops and trainings in the private and public sector.

He lives in Dudley with my wife, and two sons.

Publications

  • McCoy, B. (2021, Winter). Why students cheat (It’s Not Them-It’s Us)

    : To tackle student cheating, we need to rethink assignments and classroom culture. Liberal Education, 107(1), 46-51.
  • Vaccaro, A., McCoy, B., Champagne, D. & Siegel, M. (2013). Decisions matter

    : Using a decision-making framework with contemporary student affairs cases. Washington, DC: NASPA Publications
  • Taverner, J. W. & McKee, R. W. (Eds.). (2012). Taking sides

    : Clashing views in human sexuality (12th ed.). New York, NY. McGraw Hill. Academic Advisory Board
  • Berger, K. (2007). The developing person: Through the life span (7th ed). New York, NY

    : Worth Publishers. Academic Reviewer
  • McCoy, B. (2003). The senior year: A study of transition, liminality and students’ perspectives of their final year as an undergraduate. Dissertation

    : University of Massachusetts – Amherst
  • Barnard, C. & McCoy, B. (1994). “The final six weeks”. In S. Blume, J. Gardner, W. Hartell, & S. Schwartz (Eds.), Ready for the Real World. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co

  • McCoy, B. & Micklitsch, C. (1994). “Fallon 101 – A longitudinal orientation”. HMO Journal, (7), 87-91

Education

  • Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Research, and Administration, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
  • M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Assumption College
  • B.A. in Psychology, Anna Maria College (1985)
Headshot of Brian McCoy

Brian McCoy

Professor of Psychology

508-213-2242 Brian.McCoy@nichols.edu