The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Dr. Vollet is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the Director of the PFrEND Lab. He received his PhD (2017) in Applied Psychology at Portland State University with a major focus on Developmental Psychology and a minor focus on Developmental Research Methods.
Broadly, Dr. Vollet's research interests are focused on understanding how healthy academic development during childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood is supported or undermined by the joint contributions of the constellation of social partners with whom students frequently interact—most notably peers and friends, parents and family, and educators. His work has focused on understanding how complex social ecologies guide the development of individuals' academic engagement. In addition to their influence on academic development, Dr. Vollet is also interested in the complex ways that systems of peers, parents, and teachers operate to support and optimize child and adolescent well-being and social development.
Dr. Vollet has over a decade of experience teaching courses at the college level. He began teaching while still a doctoral student at Portland State University. He served as an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas Permian Basin prior to joining the Department of Psychological Science at UTRGV in 2025. Courses he has taught include:
- Human Development
- Lifespan Psychology
- Child and Adolescent Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
- Research Methods
- Lifespan Development
- Psychological Research Methods
