A Career of Curiosity and Commitment: Henley Named Regents Professor
Longtime psychology educator honored for transformative teaching, research and mentorship.
Dr. Tracy B. Henley, professor of psychology at East Texas A&M University, has been named a Texas A&M University System Regents Professor, the highest faculty honor bestowed by the system's Board of Regents. The recognition highlights Henley's decades of leadership in teaching, research and scholarly mentorship, as well as his lasting impact on students and colleagues across the university.
The Regents Professor Award was established in 1996, and recognizes full-time faculty members whose sustained excellence in teaching, research and service has had significant impact at their institution—and often beyond, at the state, national or even international level. Recipients retain the title for the duration of their service within the system.
A Scholar Shaped by Curiosity
Henley's path into academia began in an unexpected place: the athletic training rooms of the University of Mississippi, where he worked with football and track athletes as an undergraduate. While there, he developed a growing fascination with the ideas explored in his elective humanities courses—particularly psychology and philosophy.
“I was always drawn to big questions about the mind,” Henley said. “Psychology and philosophy didn't feel like separate fields to me. They were two ways of approaching the same deep curiosities.”
He completed his graduate work at the University of Tennessee, where he studied under nationally recognized scholars in cognitive psychology and the history and theory of psychology. Under their guidance, Henley built an interdisciplinary foundation that would define his career: a blend of empirical research, historical analysis, philosophical reasoning and curiosity about how humans think, act and communicate.
His early academic work included studies on cognition, metaphor, social communication and language use. His parallel interests in the history of psychology produced publications and textbooks that have been widely used across the discipline.
A Career of Leadership, Innovation and Service
After nearly 15 years as a faculty member at Mississippi State, Henley joined East Texas A&M in 2003 as head of the Department of Psychology and Special Education. He quickly became known not only for his scholarship but for his leadership in strengthening research culture across the department.
Over his two decades at East Texas A&M, Henley has helped recruit strong research-active faculty, supported graduate programs and fostered collaborative scholarship. He has also served in administrative roles across campus while maintaining a robust teaching and research profile.
“When I came to Commerce, I thought I could help invigorate the department and have a large influence in getting people excited about research.,” he said. “I wanted our students—undergraduate and graduate—to see psychology as a living, evolving discipline, and to feel like they were participating in it.”
Henley's teaching style, centered on storytelling, critical thinking and original readings, has left a lasting mark on generations of students. Whether lecturing on William James, guiding graduate students through research methods, or discussing contemporary issues in cognition, he is known for creating classrooms alive with curiosity and conversation.
“I try to make my classes a place where students genuinely enjoy coming and listening to what I have to say,” Henley said. “I try to make things exciting and interesting and engaging.”
A Distinguished Record of Scholarship
Across his career, Henley has published widely in both experimental and historical psychology. His empirical work has explored social cognition and language, while his textbooks on the history of psychology have gone through multiple successful editions and have been used by students across the discipline.
His two most recent books focus on what he calls the “pre-history of psychology,” looking at psychological questions in human societies from the Neolithic era through early civilization—an area he noted has received little attention from psychologists.
Even as he contemplates retirement in the coming years, Henley remains deeply engaged in creative and academic work. He continues to write, collaborate with colleagues and pursue new research directions, including a forthcoming project exploring the life and death of native Texas author Robert E. Howard.
Transformative Mentorship and Lasting Impact
The Regents Professor recognition reflects not only Henley's scholarly achievements but also his long-standing commitment to mentoring students and associates. Henley is widely regarded as a generous and insightful guide to graduate students, junior faculty and cross-disciplinary collaborators.
Dr. Raymond Green, dean of the College of Education and Human Services, says Henley embodies the best attributes of a Regents Professor.
“The title of Texas A&M System Regents Professor represents the highest honor our system bestows. It is reserved for scholars whose work has transformed their fields and elevated their institutions. Dr. Tracy Henley exemplifies this standard,” Green said. “What makes Tracy truly exceptional is how he combines scholarly excellence with a genuine investment in others. He spends countless hours mentoring graduate students, connecting junior faculty with collaborators and building interdisciplinary networks that strengthen our academic community. He doesn't just produce knowledge—he fosters the conditions for others to flourish.”
A Well-Deserved Honor
Being named a Regents Professor is a milestone Henley describes as deeply meaningful.
“It's an incredible honor,” he said. “To know that colleagues nominated me—and that the university system saw value in my contributions—means a great deal. I've always tried to do work that matters, whether in the classroom, through my writing or with students and colleagues.”
His wife, Dr. Lani Lyman-Henley, assistant professor of biological and environmental sciences at East Texas A&M, shared her excitement for the recognition. “I have always been proud of Tracy, and I’m so pleased to see him given this high honor,” she said.
As for his future plans, Henley says he will continue to write, research and contribute to the field he loves.
“I don't see myself stepping away from research,” he said. “There are still ideas I want to explore and conversations I want to be part of.”
Celebrating Excellence at East Texas A&M
Henley joins a distinguished group of faculty across the Texas A&M System who have earned the Regents Professor title. His recognition underscores East Texas A&M's commitment to fostering world-class scholarship, transformative teaching, and meaningful mentorship.
“Dr. Henley's intellect, generosity and vision have elevated our university,” Green said. “We are extraordinarily fortunate to have him as a colleague, and we are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.”