Dr. Vail teaches a variety of psychology courses while serving as associate academic vice president and director of the education program. Although she enjoys the challenge of administration, her interests have not strayed far from the classroom. She is the recipient of the Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award for Outstanding Teaching, the United Methodist Church Teaching Award, the RMC National Advisory Council Faculty Member of the Year Award, and has twice been honored with the Ossie Abrams Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Vail has a particular interest in child development, as she strives to help students become better parents and teachers. She is also committed to producing psychology majors who are competent in science by having them design and conduct their own investigations in experimental psychology.