Amanda Hemmesch received her PhD in social-developmental psychology from Brandeis University in 2011. She is currently an assistant professor of psychology at St. Cloud State University. Her research focuses on improving health, well-being, and quality of life for older adults and individuals with chronic conditions. She is interested in how health and psychosocial factors, especially social relationships, influence development and well-being throughout adulthood. Her dissertation was a collaboration with Dr. Leslie Zebrowitz at Brandeis University and Dr. Linda Tickle-Degnen at Tufts University that examined older adults’ first impressions of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Her current research examines nonverbal behavior, interpersonal perception, and social relationships in the context of Parkinson's disease and stigmatizing conditions. Her previous work has examined psychosocial influences of pain and well-being for individuals with osteoarthritis, as well as social preferences across the lifespan.