Megan Fulcher Named Scholar in Residence for the Office of Community-Based Learning

By Lily Caldwell
September 23, 2026

The Office of Community-Based Learning (CBL) at Washington and Lee University has announced that Megan Fulcher, professor of cognitive and behavioral science and program head for Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, will serve as its Scholar in Residence for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The CBL Scholar-in-Residence program is a one-year opportunity that supports a tenure-stream or fixed-term faculty member at W&L who is interested in or is currently conducting research that would enhance knowledge, understanding and/or create an impact within Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. The scholar in residence meets with and receives support from the Office of Community-Based Learning throughout the academic year, including brainstorming and building relationships with potential community partners.

"I am excited that Megan Fulcher's work will expose students at Maury River Middle School to the joys of thinking scientifically," said Sascha Goluboff, director of Community-Based Learning and professor of cultural anthropology. "Her after-school sessions will continue to nurture the strong partnership W&L has with our public schools."

While serving as the scholar in residence, Fulcher and W&L students in her lab will collaborate with Youth After School (YAS) at Maury River Middle School to develop and run an enrichment program called "Psych Detective." Through the program, students will design and run psychology experiments that investigate the mysteries of human behavior by exploring how people think, feel, learn, make decisions and interact with others. In the winter, Fulcher and her team will assess their program's outcomes and research characteristics of after-school activities that are valuable to middle school students and their families.

Fulcher's research stems from the finding that girls and rural children report less interest in science, which may be a result of rural children having less science extracurricular opportunities. Fulcher hopes that, by engaging with this program, students will build confidence in doing science.

"I am delighted to be working with CBL and the Maury River Middle School YAS program to introduce psychological science to Rockbridge County kids," said Fulcher. "My students and I are very excited about the curriculum we are developing for the program."

Fulcher has been a member of the W&L faculty since 2004. Prior to W&L, she served as an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. Fulcher earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Virginia.

The Office of Community-Based Learning supports, enhances and develops mutually beneficial, reciprocal collaborations that enrich engaged teaching and learning while advancing community interests. CBL's educational approach integrates learning and mentorship with community engagement through reciprocal community partnerships and critical reflection.

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