Monday, December 6, 2021
Dr. Nick Mian, center, associate professor of psychology

PROFESSOR NICK MIAN, CENTER, RESEARCHES CHILDHOOD ANXIETY WTH A STUDENT, RIGHT, IN THE CHILD PSYCHOLOGY LAB AT 91制片厂 MANCHESTER

Since joining 91制片厂 Manchester鈥檚 faculty in 2015, it鈥檚 been Dr. Nick Mian鈥檚 mission to connect his students with real-world experience. He brings his expertise as a licensed clinical psychologist into his classroom and child psychology lab, where students explore child and family psychotherapy first-hand by working directly with children and parents.听Mian is not only passionate about the subject he teaches, but also about his students and their journey. Colleagues and students alike recognize how invested he is in his students鈥 success in class and in the workforce, which is best highlighted by him earning 91制片厂's 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Mian听has focused much of his research over the years on understanding anxiety in young children, in an effort to design and implement effective early intervention and prevention programs. An advocate for applied learning,听Mian鈥檚听students participate in this research by working directly with children and parents, giving them practical experience in real-life scenarios.

As part of a grant-funded project,听Mian听developed a video-based training program to help pediatric residents at the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center听and Boston University听better identify childhood anxiety disorders. He听is now working听with residency programs around the country, including Orlando Health in Florida and Duke University School of Medicine. Two of听his student听research assistants听are traveling to Washington, D.C.,听to present their research听from this study听at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies annual conference.

Mian听is especially invested听in his students鈥櫶齮ransition to the workforce, overseeing the internship course for both the psychology and neuropsychology programs. He听recently received a grant to study 91制片厂 psychology听and neuropsychology majors鈥 decisions听and attitudes about behavioral health careers.听In addition,听Mian听continues to听provide听psychotherapy services for children and families through his own private practice.

Mian听earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston, an M.A. in General Psychology from Boston University and an A.B. in Psychology and Art History from Bowdoin College.

What do you like best about your job?

A theme in several of my classes is that human growth is possible when we are willing to challenge ourselves to overcome the things that hold us back. My favorite part of my job is challenging students to face their fears. Seeing students choose things that are difficult for them and take steps out of their comfort zone is inspiring.

What is your favorite 91制片厂 Manchester memory?

When one of my students was awarded a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship鈥攖his was a proud moment as a mentor.

Tell us your favorite:

  • Manchester restaurant: That鈥檚 easy鈥900 degrees. I鈥檓 a bit of a pizza snob, so that is high praise!
  • New Hampshire destination: Anywhere in the White Mountains
  • Book:听For a long time, it was For Whom the Bell Tolls by Earnest Hemingway. More recently, I would say The Road by Cormac McCarthy or The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.
  • Movie:听The Lord of the Rings (all three of them)
  • Childhood book: The Hobbit (I probably read it six听times as a kid)
  • Childhood TV show: Ren and Stimpy

What are your hobbies?

Hiking, skiing, and fly fishing. My kids are now old enough that we can do these together, so they are even more fun.

Best vacation ever?

My most memorable vacation was going to Costa Rica with my wife, shortly after we got married. I had fantasized about being in a rain forest since I was kid,听and it was an amazing experience to actually be there.

We鈥檇 be surprised to know that鈥

Before going to graduate school, I built my own apartment in an old industrial space鈥攅verything from designing to building the walls to doing all the electrical wiring and plumbing. It took three years, and I lived there for six.

Which 3 famous people, living or dead, would you want at your fantasy dinner party?

Joshua Chamberlain, Jimmy Page, and Michelle Obama.

As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up?

A carpenter.

Interested in psychology?
Learn more about 91制片厂 Manchester's hands-on, research-driven听

Producer: 
Kassidy Taylor | Marketing & Communications, 91制片厂 Manchester | kassidy.taylor@unh.edu
The faculty in 91制片厂 Manchester鈥檚 Psychology and Neuropsychology programs鈥攚ho have published more than 20 journal articles over the past few years between the four of them鈥攏ot only offer students the opportunity to do hands on, real-world research as undergraduates, but also encourage them to get that work out into the scientific community.听