Esteemed FSU psychologist named 2025-2026 FSU Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor

An internationally acclaimed psychologist with an influential track record of research, teaching and service has been named Florida State University’s 2025-2026 Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor.

Pamela Keel, Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Psychology, has been recognized by FSU faculty members with the highest honor they can bestow upon one of their own. She is the fifth psychologist to receive the honor since the award’s inception in 1957.

“Pamela Keel’s impressive and undeniable impact on mental health research sets her apart as a researcher and scholar, but it’s her equal dedication to teaching and service that exemplify what it means to be a professor,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “Her work reflects the best of what we strive for as a university — research that changes lives, service that strengthens community and a commitment to lifting others along the way. We’re proud to have her join the high ranks of Florida State University’s Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professors.”

Keel, who has been at FSU for more than 16 years, was thrilled when President McCullough called to share the good news.

“Joining this community of outstanding faculty at Florida State University is an incredible honor,” she said. “I believe in universities as institutions for growth and innovation. Florida State University fulfills this mission by supporting faculty focusing on problems where getting the answers will make a difference in somebody’s life.”

Keel, an expert on eating disorders and body image, has significantly influenced the field of clinical psychology. Her work has led to the recognition of purging disorder as a distinct condition in the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), impacting the lives of millions globally.

“Pam is an incredible scholar and teacher who serves the university well in the community,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “She’s also a wonderful person and peer who cares a lot about her fellow professors, her department, her college and Florida State University. I couldn’t be more thrilled for her and proud that she is this year’s Lawton Professor.”

“One of the things that I’ve observed is that whenever I’ve received an award, there’s this little moment where you’re humbled by the appreciation, combined with this sense of, ‘I need to keep earning this recognition I received.’ The award inspires commitment to strive for the best I am capable of doing.”

– Pamela Keel, 2025-2026 Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor

Keel joined FSU’s psychology department as a professor in December 2008 and was promoted to Distinguished Research Professor 10 years later. From 2013-2016, Keel led the department’s APA-accredited Clinical Psychology program, helping to attract significant federal funding to FSU.

She has been principal investigator on new external grants exceeding $20 million in funding to FSU, not including her role as co-principal investigator on the initial $15 million Military Suicide Research Consortium and its $20 million competitive renewal. Collectively, her total funding at FSU amounts to over $55 million.

“I have connected with many talented scholars over my 34-year academic career and have found myself awed in a few cases by how much a particular person has managed to achieve in the course of a career,” Christopher J. Patrick, Distinguished Research Professor and director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology, wrote in his faculty nomination letter. “Some individuals seem born for scholarly work and pursue it with a special gusto that sets them apart – in terms of exceptional brilliance and creative vigor as well as results. Dr. Keel is one such person.”

Highly regarded in her field, Keel was elected a fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders (2006), Association for Psychological Science (2013), American Psychological Association (2014), a member of the Academy of Science Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL) (2023) and received the Leadership Award for Research from the Academy of Eating Disorders in 2019.

“Professor Keel is a world-renowned scholar in the field of eating disorders,” Janet Kistner, vice president for Faculty Development and Advancement and professor of psychology, wrote in her letter of support. “By any metric used to index scholarly contributions, she tops the charts. She has achieved the highest levels of distinction in her field of study, she is an award-winning teacher and mentor, and her services to the university and her academic discipline are outstanding. In every way, Professor Keel epitomizes the qualities and accomplishments expected of a Lawton Professor.”

Keel’s research has advanced the collective understanding of what eating disorders are and how to address their causes and consequences. Her work focuses on the clinical presentation, etiology, epidemiology and treatment of eating disorders, particularly purging disorder. She has published more than 240 peer-reviewed journal articles and authored four books, including “The Void Inside: Bringing Purging Disorder to Light” (Oxford University Press, 2020).

“Even from the perspective of someone from a different field…it’s self-evident that Keel’s accomplishments, even judged alongside those of past winners of this lofty honor, are mind-blowing,” Mark Winegardner, Burroway Chair and Distinguished Research Professor in FSU’s English Department wrote in his support letter.“Pam Keel is the platonic ideal of what a Lawton recipient should be.”

In addition to her groundbreaking research, Keel is known for her exceptional teaching and mentorship that extends to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students as well as other faculty members and researchers. Her graduate students have gone on to secure tenure-track positions at prestigious universities across the country.

“Professor Keel’s fierce intellect and support for fellow scientists shine through everything she does,” wrote Thomas Joiner, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor and director of FSU’s Psychology Clinic, in Keel’s nomination letter. “At the same time that she expects rigor and excellence of her students, she cares deeply about them as people and as future psychologists.”

Keel has received numerous awards in recognition of her mentorship, including the FSU Undergraduate Honors Thesis Mentor Award (2014), Lawrence H. Cohen Outstanding Mentor Award from the Society for Science of Clinical Psychology (2022), FSU Graduate Mentor Award (2023), the inaugural Leadership in Mentoring Award from the Academy for Eating Disorders (2023), the Toy Caldwell-Colbert Award for Distinguished Educator in Clinical Psychology from Division 12 of the American Psychological Association (2023), and the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award (2024).

“It’s not my job to tell somebody what they want,” Keel said when discussing her approach to mentorship. “But as a professor, I’m really good at helping them figure out how to achieve what they want to achieve and at identifying whether I have the capacity to help them achieve that. And the next thing is to actually lay out what are the steps from getting from where they are to where they want to go.”

Keel has also made significant contributions to the university and the broader academic community through her service. She has served on numerous departmental and university committees, including the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Human Subjects Committee, promotion and tenure committees, as well as various search and advisory committees.

“Professor Keel has a record that is beyond reasonable expectation,” Ruth Weissman, former provost at Wesleyan University and current editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Eating Disorders wrote in her external letter of support. “How one person with such a productive research and teaching record still finds the time to also contribute so meaningfully to her academic community is utterly impressive… As evident from her extensive service and leadership record, Professor Keel has established herself as a sought-after, effective leader.”

In her leadership roles in professional organizations, Keel has served as president of both the Eating Disorders Research Society (2009-2010) and the Academy for Eating Disorders (2013-2014). She currently serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Eating Disorders (2004–present) and Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention (2016–present) and previously served as an Associated Editor for the Journal of Abnormal Psychology (2007–2016) (now the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science).

“While excellence is often equated with titles and accomplishments, Dr. Keel reminds us that greatness encompasses heart, passion and unwavering commitment,” said Eugenia Flores Millender, assistant dean for research at FSU’s College of Nursing. “She embodies these qualities in every aspect of her life, serving as an unsung hero whose contributions go beyond recognition.”

Keel also received external letters of support from colleagues at Harvard Medical School, University of Notre Dame, Imperial College of London, and Columbia University who lauded her exceptional achievements in research and contributions in mentorship and service throughout her career.

“One of the things that I’ve observed is that whenever I’ve received an award, there’s this little moment where you’re humbled by the appreciation,” Keel said. “Combined with this sense of, ‘I need to keep earning this recognition I received.’ The award inspires commitment to strive for the best I am capable of doing.”

The Lawton Distinguished Professor Award was first presented in 1957 as the Distinguished Professor Award. It was renamed in honor of the late Vice President for Academic Affairs Robert O. Lawton in 1981. Keel will be honored at events throughout the year and will give an address at fall commencement.

“Certainly, I hope that I’m leaving behind the next generation of leading scientists in the field of eating disorders,” Keel shared when asked about the legacy she aspires to. “I hope that I’m leaving behind individuals who excel as citizens in their departments, colleges and universities and beyond.”