Kendra Seaman: Discovering the Science Behind Aging and Cognition 

For the past 18 years, Dr. Kendra Seaman has sought scientific answers to questions about aging and decision-making. How do our choices change as we grow older? How can we measure these shifts? What underlying mechanisms drive them?

Seaman’s pursuit of understanding these mysteries sparked when her paternal grandfather began showing signs of dementia in the late 2000s.

As Seaman’s father helped his parents during this difficult time, he struggled to know when to step in and make decisions for his dad, and when to let him decide on his own.

“It’s really hard to navigate,” Seaman said. “Sometimes [my grandfather] seemed like himself and like he should be able to make decisions,” she said. “And sometimes he was clearly not himself and my dad would need to take over.”

Around that time, Seaman was earning her MA in psychology in Washington, DC. She took a course on cognitive aging, where she explored the scientific basis of how decision-making changes with age.

“I wanted to know what science said about it,” Seaman added.

Seeking scientific knowledge to address a problem was not new to her.

Before pursuing applied experimental psychology, Seaman was a science teacher. After earning undergraduate degrees in psychology and biology, she spent several years teaching middle school science.

There, she observed how school administrators often adopted fleeting teaching trends. The constant change and lack of scientific support for these new fads led her to become frustrated and seek answers elsewhere.

“It seemed like we were just chasing the latest thing instead of having a good reason behind it,” she said. “That really motivated me to find out what was really going to help our kids be successful.”

This realization led her to graduate school, where she explored how research could improve learning and teaching strategies, eventually earning an MA in psychology and a PhD.

At UT Dallas, Seaman has studied why some older adults take greater financial risks and how peer pressure affects decision-making in adulthood. Her research sheds light on the psychological mechanisms that shape choices in later life.

Seaman joined UT Dallas in 2019 as an assistant professor of psychology and cognitive neuroscience. She leads the Aging Well Lab, affiliated with the University’s Center for Vital Longevity, where she researches learning, motivation, and decision-making across adulthood. Using behavioral studies, computational modeling, and neuroimaging techniques, she aims to promote health and well-being throughout the lifespan.

Beyond her research, mentoring is what she values most.

“My favorite part of my job is working one-on-one with students—whether in my lab, in class, or helping them figure out the next step in their careers. I love problem-solving with them and watching them grow.”

Through her work, Dr. Seaman continues to uncover how aging impacts decision-making, equipping individuals with knowledge to make informed choices throughout their lives.

Seaman is one of five BBS faculty members joining the newest cohort of UT Dallas endowed chairs and professors. She will receive the Fellow, Eugene McDermott Distinguished Professorship. 

The McDermott Professorships recognize and honor outstanding UT Dallas tenure-system faculty members in the earlier stages of their academic careers. This appointment provides early career support and recognition to faculty members who have established extraordinary records of research productivity, teaching excellence, and university service. 

The professorship honors Eugene McDermott – a scientist, industrialist, and philanthropist who co-founded Texas Instruments and UT Dallas.  

Endowed chairs and professorships are the highest academic award the University can bestow on a faculty member. The endowments, funded through philanthropic donations, fund initiatives that advance research and instructional programs. UT Dallas has more than 175 chairs and professorships, with several established by or honoring the University’s founders and early leaders.