CLARKSVILLE, TN – When Military Psychology, the premier academic journal for research on defense and service populations, updated its masthead this fall, Austin Peay State University had reason to celebrate. Among its newest consulting editors is Dr. Stephen Truhon, professor emeritus in the Department of Psychological Science and Counseling.
In this role, Truhon advises the editorial board, reviews high-impact studies and helps set the direction for new research in the field. The honor marks a milestone not only for Truhon, but for Austin Peay’s growing influence in a discipline he helped bring to campus nearly two decades ago.
“I was trained in developmental psychology,” Truhon said, “but after doing work for the military at Brooks and Patrick Air Force Bases, I found myself more and more interested in military psychology. When I came to Austin Peay in 2005, they were actually looking for someone with that background.”
At the time, APSU’s ties to nearby Fort Campbell were already strong, but coursework in military psychology was still new territory. Truhon proposed and developed the first course in the subject, initially offered at Fort Campbell before moving to the Clarksville campus.
“Once a year, I’d teach it, usually drawing more than 20 students,” he said. “It’s a popular course, and I think people are fascinated by the intersection between psychology and military life.”
Over the years, that intersection has continued to expand. Truhon’s own research bridged industrial-organizational (I-O) and counseling psychology, exploring topics such as leadership, test construction and the ethical complexities of service settings.
“I came from the I-O side,” he said, “looking at things like leadership, training and selection. But to teach the course effectively, I had to learn the clinical and counseling aspects … PTSD, TBI, depression, substance use. It’s really the application of psychology to military matters in all their dimensions.”
As Military Psychology has evolved, so has the field itself. Truhon now reviews manuscripts from across the world—Germany, Italy, France—and sees the journal embracing increasingly interdisciplinary and international perspectives.
“It’s not just about trauma or treatment anymore,” he said. “You’re seeing research on families, on performance, even on military dogs and their handlers. It’s grown tremendously.”
A new chapter for a growing program
That growth is mirrored on campus, where APSU’s newly accredited Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program now offers a concentration in serving military populations. The program’s faculty include clinicians, veterans and researchers dedicated to addressing the unique mental-health needs of service members and their families.
Among them is Dr. Erica Adkins, who joined Austin Peay this fall after serving as faculty director of military psychology at the University of Denver and as an active-duty officer at Fort Leavenworth.
“There are only five PsyD programs in the U.S. with a military concentration,” Adkins said. “When I saw that APSU was hiring for one, I was excited—it’s closer to my family, but more importantly, it’s in such a military-friendly community. With Fort Campbell right here, our students can get incredible training opportunities.”