Laboratory of Emotion and Psychopathology

Dr. Blanchard received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook (1991) . He was subsequently a predoctoral intern, postdoctoral NIMH fellow, and then faculty member at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Following a faculty appointment at the University of New Mexico Dr. Blanchard moved to the University of Maryland, Department of Psychology, where he has been since 1999.

 

Dr. Blanchard's research has examined the reciprocal influence of emotion and interpersonal behavior to understand clinical outcomes in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. This work includes a recently completed NIMH-funded study examining neural (fMRI), cognitive, and behavioral correlates of affiliative deficits in psychosis.  In an ongoing NIMH funded study Dr. Blanchard and Dr. Alex Shackman (Co-Principal Investigators) are examining neural and behavioral correlates of paranoia in psychosis.  This study will combine MRI results with smartphone and actigraphy-based assessments to provide a richer integration of neural responding and in vivo behavior.

 

In addition to his active research, Dr. Blanchard is Associate Provost for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).  In this role Dr. Blanchard leads a team involved with transitioning the University's enterprise systems (covering human resources, finance, and all student information systems) to a modern cloud-based solution.  This project will transform the University's business practices and technology to better serve our students, staff and faculty. This project also involves the University of Maryland System Office, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.  In total, the modernization program will impact over 29,000 employees and over 45,000 students.

 

Dr. Blanchard is also Academic Director of the Master of Professional Studies program in Clinical Psychological Science. Dr. Blanchard previously served as Chair of the Department of Psychology as well as Director of Clinical Training.    Prior campus positions have included serving as Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee on the University Senate; serving as Chair of the Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences; and serving as a member of the Provost’s Academic Planning Advisory Committee.

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Dr. Blanchard is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and past President of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology.   In 2016 Dr. Blanchard was named the first holder of the Joel and Kim Feller Professorship.