Education

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Clark University, Worcester, MA
• M.A. in Psychology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
• B.A. in Experimental Psychology, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN
• B.S. in General Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Research & Academic Interests

• Animal behavior and psychology
• Animal social cognition
• Human sexuality
• Play

Publications

• Mitchell, R. W., & Krause, M. (2023). Animal consciousness and cognition. In B. Ambros, A. Gross, and D. Aftandilian, Animals and religion (pp. 37-47). New York: Routledge.
• Mitchell, R. W. (2023). Dog talk: Dogs and humans barking and growling during interspecies play. Interaction Studies, 24(3), 485-515.
• Mitchell, R. W. (2021). You talkin’ to me? An assessment of commands as play signals during dog-human play. Animal Cognition, 24, 329–339.
• Mitchell, R. W. (2021). High and tight, please: Self-explanations for experiencing short haircuts as erotic. Sexuality & Culture, 25, 1397-1427.
• Mitchell, R. W., Reed, E., & Alexander, L. (2018). Functions of pointing by humans, and dogs’ responses, during dog-human play between familiar and unfamiliar players. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 5(2), 181-200.
• Mitchell, R. W. (2017). A critique and empirical assessment of Alexandra Horowitz and Julie Hecht’s “Examining dog-human play: The characteristics, affect, and vocalizations of a unique interspecific interaction.” Animal Cognition, 20, 554-565.

Associations, Affiliations & Work History

• Animal Behavior Society
• International Society for AnthroZoology

• International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations
• Biennial Living with Animals Conference

Awards & Accolades

• François André Michaux Fund Fellowship, for one month as a Library Resident Research Fellow at the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, PA
• EKU Research Award
• Distinguished Established Course Award for Introduction to Animal Studies, The Humane Society of the United States and the Animals and Society Institute