My name is Melissa Ferguson and I am passionate about teaching psychology and mentoring students.  My hope is to get students to love psychology, especially psychobiology and research, as much as I do!

I am an Assistant Professor in psychology at Orange Coast College. I have a BA and MA from SDSU in Psychology, and a PhD in Neuroscience from USC.  My research has spanned early development to plasticity and aging. After I had my first daughter, I turned to teaching.  I taught part-time for 12 years, raising my three children.  

I was hired as a tenure track faculty at OCC in Fall 2019.  At OCC I enjoy teaching Introduction to Psychology, Psychobiology, and Introduction to Experimental Methods.  I am also co-advisor of Psi Beta, a national honor society for psychology at the community college level.  Psi Beta is active in community service events, research, and learning more about psychology and careers in psychology.  I am also a member of the Giles T. Brown Research Symposium committee.