Education

  • Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi

Courses

  • General Psychology
  • Comparative Psychology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Introductory Statistics
  • Experimental
  • Learning
  • Developmental
  • Physiological Psychology
  • Cognition
  • Psychology of Gender
  • Advanced Statistics (graduate)
  • Research Methods (graduate)

Biography

Heather Hill, Ph.D., a Professor of Psychology at St. Mary’s University, earned her Ph.D. in experimental psychology with emphases in development, cognition and marine mammal behavior from the University of Southern Mississippi.

She has collaborated with many facilities in the USA and around the world. The first 10 years of her marine mammal career involved research on the mother-calf relationship and social development of bottlenose dolphins in human care. In 2007, she added belugas to this research line and killer whales in 2010. She has also conducted a variety of cognitive projects with dolphins, belugas, and sea lions.

Publications

Brando, S., Ham, J. R., Garcia, T., & Manitzas Hill, H. M. (2023). Flexibility of actions afforded by flexibility of enrichment object in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in managed care. 51st Course: Play and the evolution of creative societies. International School of Ethology, Erice, Sicily, May 14-18.

Ham, J. R., Lilley, M. K., Miller, M. R., Leca, J. B., Pellis, S. M., Manitzas Hill, H. M. (2023). Self-handicapping in object play: How belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) make play difficult. International Journal of Play, 12(1), 67-80. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Technical Contribution Number: 2021–11

Manitzas Hill, H. M., Ortiz, N., Kolodziej, K., & Ham, J. R. (2023). Social games that belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) play. International Journal of Play, 12(1), 81-100.

Manitzas Hill, H. M., Svetieva, E., Dietrich, S., Gallegos, E., Humphries, J., Mireles, N., Salgado, M., Lara, R., & Zwah, J. (2023). The influence of background musical and narrative setting on anthropomorphic impressions of killer whale (Orcinus orca) emotional states and subsequent donation behavior. Plos One, 18(5), e0282075.

2023

Dudzinski, K., Themelin, M., Manitzas Hill, H. M., & Bolton, T. (2022). Allomaternal care and allo-nursing behaviors by a primiparous bottlenose dolphin. Aquatic Mammals, 48(6), 536-540. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.48.6.2022.536

Ham, J. R., Lilley, M. K., Lelekach, J., Miller, M. R., Robeck, T. R., Pellis, S. M., & Hill, H. M. M. (2022). The emergence and early development of socio-sexual behavior in beluga calves (Delphinapterus leucas). Behavioural Processes, 104695.

Karlin, M., Hill, H. M., & Alam, F. (2022). An immersive field study as an undergraduate research opportunity and additive high impact practice (HIP) experience for underrepresented students. SN Social Sciences.

Lilley, M. K., Ham, J. R., & Manitzas Hill, H. M. (2022). Observations of courtship in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas). Aquatic Mammals, 48(6), 547-552. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.48.6.2022.547

Lilley, M. K., Ham, J. R., Miller, M. R., Kolodziej, K., & Hill, H. M. (2022). Investigation of lateralization of socio-sexual behavior in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas). Behavioural Processes, 201, 104718.

Manitzas Hill, H. M., Guarino, S., Yeater, White, C., Kolodziej, K., Shadman Ali, S. N., Lamia, S., Garcia, E., Dear, M., Halter, E., & Bradley, M. (2022). Cetacean responses to violation of expectation paradigm in a free-swim context. Animal Cognition, 26, 667–686. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-022-01704-7

Manitzas Hill, H. M., Weiss, M., Brasseur, I., Manibusan, A., Sandoval, I., Robeck, T., Sigman, J., Werner, K., & Dudzinski, K. M. (2022). Killer whale innovation: teaching animals to use their creativity upon request. Animal Cognition, 25, 1091–1108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-022-01635-3

Manitzas Hill, H. M., Zwahr, J., & Gonzalez, A. III. (2022). Evaluating research self-efficacy in undergraduate students: Experience matters. Journal of the Scholarship for Teaching and Learning, 22(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.14434/josotl.v22i1.31203

Melzer, D., Yeater, D., Bradley, M., Manitzas Hill, H., Guerra, G., Salazar, K., Bolton, T., & Dudzinski, K. M. (2022). A comparative test of creative thinking in preschool children and dolphins. Animal Behavior & Cognition, 9(3), 349-362.

2022

Dudzinski, K., Ribic, C., Manitzas Hill, H. M., & Bolton, T. (2021). Evidence for maternal style among adult female dolphins when sharing pectoral fin contacts with their calves. Animal Cognition, 8(1), 52-68.

Dudzinski, K. M., & Ribic, C. A. Manitzas Hill, H. M., & Bolton, T.T. (2021). Bottlenose dolphin calf initiated pectoral fin contact exchanges with mother, other kin, and non-kin. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 8 (3), 376-390.

Ham, J. R., Lilley, M.K., Miller, M.R., & Manitzas Hill, H.M. (2021). Seasonality of social behaviour among immature belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in managed care. Polar Research, 40. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Technical Contribution Number: 2021–

Ham, J. R., Lilley, M.K., & Manitzas Hill, H.M. (2021). Conspecific scarring on wild belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in Cunningham Inlet. Behaviour, 1–21, doi: 10.1163/1568539Xbja10086.

Manitzas Hill, H. M., Yeater, D., & Noonan, M. (2021). Synergy between behavioral research on beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) conducted in zoological and wild settings. Polar Research, 40.

Stevens, P. E., Hill, H. M., & Bruck, J. N. (2021). Cetacean acoustic welfare in wild and managed-care settings: Gaps and opportunities. Animals, 11(11), 3312.

2021

Dudzinski, K. M., Hill, H. M., Zaccaroni, A., Makecha, R., Lilly, M., Almunia, J., … & Abramson, C. I. (2020). Distinguishing personal belief from scientific knowledge for the betterment of killer whale welfare–a commentary. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 33.

Manitzas Hill, H. M. (2020). Musings about the importance of Comparative Psychology: Reflections from undergraduate students. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 33, 1-4.

Lilley, M. K., Ham, J. R., & Hill, H. M. (2020). The development of socio-sexual behavior in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care. Behavioural Processes, 171, 104025.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Technical Contribution Number: 2019-22
Walker, R., & Manitzas Hill, H. M. (2020). Workshop effectiveness on content knowledge of behavioral observation techniques for an applied animal behavior context. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 33, 1-21.

2020

Dudzinski, K., Hill, H., & Botero, M. (2019). Methodological considerations for comparison of cross-species use of tactile contact. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 32, 1-11.

Hill, H. M., Dietrich, S., Guarino, S., Banda, M., & Lacy, K. (2019). Preliminary observations of an unusual mouth interaction between beluga calves (Delphinapterus leucas). Zoobiology, 1-8. doi:10.1002/zoo.21463

Hill, H. M., & Karlin, M. (2019). Reflections on an international research immersion field study as a high impact practice to produce publishable papers by underrepresented undergraduates. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 601-604.

Hill, H., M., & Nollens, H. (2019). Providing belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in controlled environments opportunities to thrive: Health, self-maintenance, species-specific behavior, and choice and control. Frontiers: Comparative Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01776

Hill, H. M., Woodruff, M. J., & Noonan, M. (2019). Individual differences in the behavioral characteristics of beluga whales (Dephinapterus leucas). Behavioural Processes, 166, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2019.06.008

2019

Dudzinski, K., Yeater, D., Bolton, T., Eskelinen, H., & Hill, H. M. (accepted). Defining creativity and confirming understanding of the concept in dolphins: research and training perspectives. Aquatic Mammals.

Mazokowski, L., Hill, H., & Noonan, M. (accepted). Juvenile belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) exhibit sex-specific social affiliations. Aquatic Mammals.

Hill, H., Dietrich, S., Cadena, A., Raymond, J., & Cheves, K. (2018). More than a fluke: Lessons learned from a failure to replicate the false belief task in dolphins. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 31, 1-15.

Hill, H., Dietrich, S., Finn, R., Garza, S., Alvarez, C., Lacy, K., & Kuczaj, S. (2018).  Role of contact in beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) calf relationships. Aquatic Mammals, 44(2), 62-75doi:10.1578/AM.44.1.2018.62

Hill, H. M., Garcia de Oliveira Silva-Gruber, D., & Noonan, M. (2018). Sex-specific social affiliation in captive beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Aquatic Mammals, 44(3), 250-255, doi:10.1578/AM.44.3.2018.250

2018

Guarino, S., Yeater, D., Lacy, S., Dees, T., & Hill, H. (2017). Responses to familiar and unfamiliar objects by belugas (Delphinapterus leucas), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), & Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). Animal Cognition, 20(5), 823-827. doi:10.1007/s10071-017-1103-9

Hanna, P., Brown, B., Winship, K., Cameron, D., Hill, H., & Kuczaj, S. (2017). A killer whale’s (Orcinus orca) response to visual media. International Journal of Comparative Psychology30.

Hill, H. M. (2017). The psychology of cows? A case of over-interpretation and personification Commentary on Marino and Allen (2017) the psychology of cows. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 4(4), 506-511.

Hill, H. M., Dietrich, S., & Cappiello, B. (2017). Learning to play: A review and theoretical investigation of the developmental mechanisms and functions of cetacean play. Learning & Behavior45(4), 335-354.

Hill, H. M., Guarino, S., Calvillo, A., Gonzalez, A., Zuniga, K., Bellows, C., … & Sims, C. (2017). Lateralized swim positions are conserved across environments for beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) mother–calf pairs. Behavioural Processes, 138, 22-28.

Hill, H. M., Guarino, S., Geraci, C., Sigman, J., & Noonan, M. (2017). Developmental changes in the resting strategies of killer whale calves and their mothers from birth to 36 months. Behaviour, 154(4), 435-466.

Yeater, D., Guarino, S., Lacy, S., Dees, T., & Hill, H. M. (2017). Do belugas (Delphinapterus leucas), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), & Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) display lateralized eye preference when presented with familiar or novel objects?. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 30, 1-13.

2017

Guarino, S., Hill, H., & Sigman, J. (2016). Development of sociality and emergence of independence in a killer whale calf (Orcinus orca). Zoo Biology, 1-10.

Harder, J. H., Hill, H. M., Sanabria, K. T., Guarino, S., Dudzinski, K., & Kuczaj, S. (2016). The development of echolocation in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 29, 1-19.

Hill, H., Alvarez, C., Dietrich, S., & Lacy, K. (2016).  Preliminary findings in beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) tactile interactions. Aquatic Mammals42, 277-291.

Hill, H., Guarino, S., Dietrich, S., & St Leger, J. A. (2016). The science of killer whales: An inventory of peer-reviewed journal articles. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 3(3), 135-149.

Hill, H. M., Yeater, D., Gallup, S., Guarino, S., Lacy, S., Dees, T., Kuczaj, S. (2016).

Responses to familiar and unfamiliar humans by belugas (Delphinapterus leucas), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), & Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens): A replication and extension. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 29, 1-21.

2016

Hill, H., Dietrich, S., Yeater, D., McKinnon, M., Miller, M., Aibel, S., & Dove, A. (2015). Developing an ethogram of sexual and socio-sexual behaviors of beluga whales in the care of humans. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 2(2), 105-123.  TC# 2014-02-T

Hill, H., Guarino, S., Crandall, S., Lenhart, E., & Dietrich, S. (2015). Young belugas diversify adult beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) behavior. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 2(3), 267-284. doi: 10.12966/abc.08.06.2015

Hill, H., Webber, K., Kemery, A., Posey, B., Garcia, M., & Kuczaj, S. (2015). A preliminary investigation of sea lions’ (Zalophus californianus) understanding of mirrors to locate an object. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 28, 1-12.

2015

Hill, H., Artz, S., & Lopez, M. (2014). Sex, love, or war? A representation of 20 years of research on the social interactions of animals. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 27, 50-68.

Hill, H., & Campbell, C. (2014). Allocare depends on social composition for belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in human care. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 27, 501-514.

Hill, H., & Ramirez, D. (2014). Adults play but not like their young: the frequency and types of play by belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in human care. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 1(2), 166-doi: 10.12966/abc.05.07.2014

Yeater, D., Hill, H., Baus, N., Farnell, H., & Kuczaj, S. (2014). Visual laterality in belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) and Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) when viewing familiar and unfamiliar humans. Animal Cognition, 17, 1245-1259. doi: 10.1007/s10071-014-0756-x.

2014

2013

Hill, H., Campbell, C., Dalton, L., & Osborn, S. (2013). The first year of behavioral development and maternal care of beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) calves in human care. Zoo Biology, 32, 565–570.

2011

Hill, H., Kahn, M., Brilliot, L., Roberts, B, Gutierrez, C., & Artz, S. (2011). Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) bubble bursts: Surprise, protection, or play?  International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 24, 235-243.

2010

Hill, H. M., & Lackups, M. (2010). What and where do marine mammal researchers publish? A review of journal publications regarding cetaceans since 1950. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 23, 414-534.

2009

Hill, H. (2009). The behavioral development of two beluga calves during the first year of life. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 22, 234-253.

2008

Hill, H. M., Carder, D., & Ridgway, S. (2008). Vigilance in female bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp) before and after calving. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 21, 35-57.

2007

Hill, H. M., Greer, T., Solangi, M., & Kuczaj, S. A. II. (2007). Evidence for maternal styles in captive bottlenose dolphins. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 20, 34-53.

2007-2013

Elsass, W. P., Fiedler, E., Skop, B., & Hill, H. (2001). Susceptibility to maladaptive responses to stress in basic military training based on variants of temperament and character. Military Medicine. 166, 884-888.

Kuczaj, S. A. II., Tranel, K., Trone, M., & Hill, H. (2001). Are animals capable of deception or empathy? Implications for animal consciousness and welfare. Animal Welfare, 10, S161-S173.

Before St. Mary’s

2019

Hill, H. M. Manitzas, & Jaakkola, K. (2019). Public opinion of captive cetacean attractions: A critique of Wassermann et al. (2018). PeerJ Pre-print.
https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.27852v1

2018

Walker, R. T., & Hill, H. M. (2018).  Behavioral ecology. In Jennifer Vonk & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer Interactional Publishing.

2017

Dudzinski, K. M., & Hill, H. M. (2017). Cetacean communication. In J. Vonk & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer Interactional Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_992-1

Hill, H., Dietrich, S., & Guarino, S. (2017). Field of comparative psychology. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 1-8). Springer Interactional Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2637-1

Hill, H. M., & Eskelinen, H. C. (2017). Stanley A. Kuczaj, II. In Jennifer Vonk & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer Interactional Publishing.

Hill, H., & Kuczaj, S. A. II. (2017). The development of language. In A. Slater & J. G. Bremner (Eds.), An Introduction to Developmental Psychology, 3rd edition.  Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers.

Hill, H. M., Yeater, D., Lenhart, E., & Highfill, L. (2017). Comparative perspective. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences (pp. 1-12). Springer Interactional Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_968-1

2013

Campbell, C., Hill, H., & Vastano, A. (2013). Creating a comprehensive video ethogram on beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) behavior. Soundings, 38(3), 1-3.

2011

Hill, H., & Kuczaj, S. A. II. (2011). The development of language. In A. Slater & J.G. Bremner (Eds.), An Introduction to Developmental Psychology, 2nd edition.  Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers.

Before St. Mary’s University

Kuczaj, S. A. II., & Hill, H. (2003). The development of language. In A. Slater & J. G. Bremner (Eds.), An Introduction to Developmental Psychology, (pp. 211-236). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers.

Kuczaj, S. A. II., & Hill, H. (2005). Maternal behavior. In M. Bekoff (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior. Greenwood Publishing Group.

Book/Encyclopedia Chapters and Non-Peer Reviewed Papers

Presentations

Ham, J. R., Lilley, M. K., Manitzas Hill, H. M., & Pellis, S.M. (2021). The development of sexual behaviors though play in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Presented at Southwestern Psychological Association, Virtually (due to COVID-19), Apr 9-11.

Ham, J. R, Miller, M., Pellis, S. M., & Hill, H. M. M. (2021). Making play difficult: Selfhandicapping in beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) object play. Presentation at Animal Behavior Society, August 4-7.

Karlin, M., Manitzas Hill, H. M., & Alam, F. (2021). Interdisciplinary research and a multiple high impact practice program for underrepresented students. Paper presented at Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA) annual conference, San Antonio, TX, Apr 9-11.

Lilley, M., Ham, J., Forey-Vargas, D.,Paredes, V., & Manitzas Hill, H.M. (2021). Differentiating the s-postures of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in socio-sexual and agonistic interactions. Presented at Southwestern Psychological Association, Virtually (due to COVID-19), Apr 9-11.

Lilley, M., Ham, J., Forey-Vargas, D., Lozano, A., Paredes, V., Miller, M., & Hill, H. M. (2021). Individual differences in socio-sexual and agonistic s-postures of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas). Presentation at Animal Behavior Society, Virtual (August 3-7).

Magee, A.R., Hill, H. M., Dudzinski, K. M., Bolton, T. T., (2021). Activity levels of bottlenose dolphins (Turisops truncatus) affected by a single swimmer, [Conference presentation]. The Annual Southwestern Psychological Society 2021 Conference, San Antonio, TX, Apr 9-11.

Ortiz, N., Ham, J.R., Miller, M.R., & Manitzas Hill, H.M. (2021, August). Social games that belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) play. Poster at Animal Behavior Society.

2021

Hill, H. M. (2020). What does cognitive and behavioral research tell us about dolphin and whale welfare? Two decades of findings. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, Feb 19.

Ham. J. R., Lilley, M. K., & Hill, H. M. (2020). Do belugas cooperate to engage in social object play? Poster presented at the Psychonomic Society 61st Annual Meeting, Virtually (due to COVID-19), Nov. 19-22.

Ham, J. R., Lilley, M. K., Pellis, S., & Hill, H. M. (2020). Mouth-to-mouth interactions in belugas: Social play, bonding, and motor practice? Presented at Animal Behavior Society, Virtually (due to COVID-19), Jul 28.

Ham, J., Lilley, M., & Hill, H. (2020). Do belugas cooperate to engage in social object play? Presentation at Virtual Psychonomics 2020. Austin, TX, Nov 19-22.

Ham, J., Lilley, M., & Hill, H. (2020). Mouth-to-mouth interactions in belugas: Social play,
bonding, and motor practice? Presentation at Animal Behavior Society 2020. Knoxville, TX, Jul 27-31.

Hill, H. M., Ham, J. R., & Lilley, M. K. (2020). Evaluating evidence of aggression in wild belugas through rake mark presence. Presented at Animal Behavior Society, Virtually (due to COVID-19), Jul 28.

Lilley, M. K., Ham, J. R., Hill, H. M. (2020). Increasing complexity in object play by developing beluga calves in managed care. Poster presented at the Psychonomic Society 61st Annual Meeting, Virtually (due to COVID-19), Nov 19-22.

Lilley, M.K., Ham, J.R., & Hill, H.M. (2020). Seasonal changes in beluga sociality. Presented at Animal Behavior Society, Virtually (due to COVID-19), Jul 28.

Magee, A.R., Hill, H. M., Dudzinski, K. M., Bolton, T. T., (2020). Activity levels of bottlenose dolphins (Turisops truncatus) before and after a single swimmer [Conference presentation]. The Animal Behavior Society 2020 Conference, Virtual, Jul 28-31.

2020

Hill, H. M., & Nollens, H. (2019). What can 12 years of beluga research tell us about welfare? Marine Mammal Welfare workshop, World Marine Mammal Conference, Barcelona, Spain, Dec 7.

Brown, B., & Hill, H. M. (2019). Investigating the ontogeny of behavioral patterns and independence in beluga calves (Delphinapterus leucas). Poster presented at Animal Behavior Society (ABS) meeting, Chicago, IL, Jul 23-27.

Guillen, K., Salazar, K., & Hill, H. (2019). Advantages of Field Studies: Roatan, Honduras. Poster presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), Albuquerque, NM, Apr 5-7.

Ham, J., Hill, H., & Pellis, S., (2019, Apr). The development of socio-sexual behaviours in captive beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Poster presented at the Undergraduate Research in Science Conference of Alberta (URSCA), Calgary, AB.

Hill, H. M., Dintino, K., Silva, D., Wilson, T., & Noonan, M. (2019). Trainer ratings of individual differences of marine mammals. Poster presented at International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA), New Orleans, LA, Sept 9-12.

Hill, H. M., Miranda, J., Wincheski, R., & Velarde, A. (2019). Exploring different types of affiliative social interactions for developmental markers in beluga calves. Poster presented at Animal Behavior Society (ABS) meeting, Chicago, IL, Jul 23-27.

Hill, H. M., Noonan, M., & Dudzinski, K. (2019). What does touch or lack of touch tell us about cetaceans in human care? Poster presented at International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA), New Orleans, LA, Sept 9-12.

Lilley, M., & Hill, H. M. (2019). The role of conspecifics in socio-sexual behavior development in belugas under human care. Poster presented at Animal Behavior Society (ABS) meeting, Chicago, IL, Jul 23-27.

2019

Hill, H. M. (2018). Sense of home: Can captivity be a home for marine mammals? Addressing current misconceptions. Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL, April 4.

Botero, M., Hill, H., & Dudzinski, K. (2018). When vision is not enough: The need for incorporating “touch” in observations of mother – infant interactions in dolphins and chimpanzees. Paper presented at the 110th meeting of the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology (SSPP), San Antonio, TX, Mar 15-17.

Dudzinski, K., Hill, H., & Botero, M. (2018). Coding contact: Clarifying methods and functional units for comparison across taxa. Talk presented at European Association for Aquatic Mammals 46th annual conference, Rome, Italy, Mar 12-16.

Hill, H. M., & Walker, R. T. (2018). Observing to learn, learn to observe. Workshop presented at the Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA), San Antonio, TX, Apr 8-13.

2018

Hill, H. M. (2017). Learning from research with belugas, dolphins, & sea lions. Northwest Vista Community College, San Antonio, TX, Oct 2.

Hill, H. M. (2017). Misperceiving marine mammals?: A tale of two settings. Institute for the Study of Human-Animal Interactions, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY, Oct 31.

Banda, M., Dietrich, S., & Hill, H. (2017). The mouth game: A social developmental milestone in beluga calves. Paper presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, TX, Mar 31-Apr 2.

Calvillo, A., & Hill, H. (2017). Swimming, swimming, swimming: The lateralized processing of mother’s position in beluga whale calves. Paper presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, TX, Mar 31-Apr 2.

Dudzinski, K. M., Hill, H. M., Ribic, C. A., & Bolton, T. T. (2017). Maternal and sibling style: Pectoral fin contact shared within mother/calf pairs and between siblings. Talk presented at European Association for Aquatic Mammals 44th annual conference, Genova, Italy, Mar 8-11.

Gallup, S., Yeater, D., Lacy, S., Dees, T., Kuczaj, S., & Hill, H. (2017). Responses to familiar and unfamiliar humans by belugas (Delphinapterus leucas), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), & Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). Paper presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, TX, Mar 31-Apr 2.

Gonzalez, A., Hill, H., & Zwahr-Castro, J. (2017). Research experience makes a difference in undergraduate research self-efficacy. Paper presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, TX, Mar 31-Apr 2.

Guarino, S., Yeater, D., Lacy, S., Dees, T., & Hill, H. (2017). Responses to familiar and unfamiliar objects by belugas (Delphinapterus leucas), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), & Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). Paper presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, TX, Mar 31-Apr 2.

Hill, H. M., Dietrich, S., Zwahr-Castro, J., Mireles, N., & Salgado, M. (2017). Happy music=happy killer whale and sad music = sad killer whale? A pilot study on the influence of music on emotional state of killer whales. Poster presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Nov 9-12.

Hill, H., Dudzinski, K., & Botero, M. (2018). Communicating contact: Do functional units differ across taxa? Talk presented at Comparative Cognition Society 25th annual conference, Melbourne, FL, Apr 4-7.

Hill, H. M., Garcia, E., Pasko, K., & Yeater, D. (2017). How do cetaceans respond to violations of expectations when presented with novel or familiar objects? Paper presented at the fall meeting for Comparative Cognition Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Nov 8.

Hill, H. M., & Pierucci, J. (2017). Teaching the developmental sciences through hands-on learning experiences: The power of observation and reflection. Workshop presented at the Teaching Institute for Society in Research in Child Development annual conference, Austin, TX, Apr 5.

Walker, R. T., & Hill, H. M. (2017). Organization and maintenance of an undergraduate research program with first-generation college students. Talk presented at the Society for the Teaching of Psychology Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX, Oct 20-21.

Yeater, D., Hill, H., Dudzinski, K., Bolton, T., & Eskelinen, H. (2018). Defining creativity and confirming understanding of the concept in dolphins. Poster presented at the 25th meeting of Comparative Cognition Society (CCS), Melbourne Beach, FL, Apr 4-7.

2017

Hill, H. M. (2016). Belugas, killer whales, dolphins, sea lions, oh my! What I have learned from captive studies. University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX, Mar 18.

Hill, H. (2016). To play is to play: Examining play across taxa. Paper presented at the Psychonomic Conference, Boston, MA, Nov 18-20.

Hill, H., Yeater, D., Dietrich, S., McKinnon, M., Miller, M., Aibel, S., & Dove, A. (2016). A summary of beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) socio-sexual behaviors. Presentation presented at the American Psychological Association conference, Denver, CO, Aug 5-7.

2016

Castaneda, Y., Hill, H., & Dietrich, S. (2014). Applying the theory of attachment to describe beluga mother-calf bonds: secure base and safe haven (SCPA). Paper presented at Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, Apr 7-9.

Cavazos, M., Hill, H., Kuczaj, S., Yeater, D., & Gallup, S. (2014). Do Pacific white-sided dolphins pay attention to specific classes of humans? (SCPA). Paper presented at Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, Apr 7-9.

Guarino, S., Davila, C., Pasko, K., & Hill, H. (2014). What do we ACTUALLY know about killer whales? A review of the peer-reviewed literature. Poster presented at the Animal Behaviour Society annual conference, Princeton, NJ, Aug 4-8.

Guarino, S., & Hill, H. (2015). To see or not to see beluga behaviors involving adults and calves. Comparing focal follows vs scan samples. Poster presented at the Animal Behavior Society (ABS), Anchorage, SK, Jun 4-9.

Guarino, S., Hill, H., & Sigman, J. (2014). Developmental changes in activity levels for a killer whale calf and her mother across three years of life. Poster presented at the Animal Behaviour Society annual conference, Princeton, NJ, Aug 4-8.

Guarino, S., Hill, H., & Sigman, J. (2015). The development of sociality and play in an Orca calf. Poster presented at the International Conference on Comparative Cognition (CO3), Melbourne, FL, Apr 16-18.

Guarino, S., Olague, S., Solis, C., & Hill, H. (2014). Emergence of independence in a killer whale calf during first two years. (SCPA) Paper presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, Apr 7-9.

Guarino, S., Hill, H., & Polasek, L. (2015). Do Wild belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) socialize and play differently than captive belugas?. Poster presented at the 21st Biennial conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Francisco, CA, Dec 14-18.

Hill, H., Dietrich, S., Finn, R., Garza, S., Lacy, K., & Kuczaj, S. (2014). The role of contact in beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) mother-calf bonds during the first two years of life. Poster presented at the Animal Behaviour Society annual conference, Princeton, NJ, Aug 4-8.

Hill, H., Guarino, S., Crandall, S., Lenhart, E., Dietrich, S. (2015). Young belugas enrich adult beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) behavioral repertoires when grouped together. Paper presented at the Animal Behavior Society Meeting (ABS), Anchorage, AK, Jun 4-9.

Hill, H., Webber, K., Kemery, A., Posey, B., & Kuczaj, S. (2014). Sea lions use mirrors to detect objects. Paper presented at the Comparative Cognition Society (CCS), Melbourne Beach, FL, Mar 26-29.

Hill, H., Yeater, D. & Kuczaj, S. (2014). The role of laterality in the visual discrimination of humans by cetaceans. (SCPA). Paper presented at Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, Apr 7-9.

Leighton, A., Coronado, J., Garcia, K., Gonzales, C., & Hill, H. (2014). What does a killer whale calf do when away from her mother? Poster presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, Apr 7-9.

Lopez, D., & Hill, H. (2014). How do beluga calves rest during the first year of life? (SWPA). Poster presented at Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, Apr 7-9.

McKinney, A., & Hill, H. (2014). Synchrony in beluga mother-calf activities during the first year of life (SCPA). Paper presented at Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, Apr 7-9.

McKinnon, M., Dietrich, S., Hill, H. & Aibel, S. (2014). The development & topography of beluga sexual and agonistic interactions. Paper presented at the Comparative Cognition Society (CCS) annual conference, Melbourne, FL, Mar 26-29.

Miller, M., & Hill, H. (2015). Tactile contact during socio-sexual interactions in beluga whales. Poster presented at the Animal Behaviour Society annual conference, Anchorage, AK, Jun 4-9.

Nyser, M., Weiman, M., Miles, K., Mangi, K., Dunlea, L., Yeater, D., Hill, H., & Kuczaj, S. (2015). Do belugas form expectations that can be violated when looking at novel humans or objects? Poster presented at the International Conference on Comparative Cognition (CO3), Melbourne, FL, Apr 16-18.

Poelma, B., Miller, M., Gallup, S., Yeater, D., Kuczaj, S., & Hill, H. (2014). The roles of familiarity and activity on dolphins viewing humans (SCPA). Symposium, chaired by H. Hill at Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, Apr 7-9.

Ramirez, D., & Hill, H. (2014). Learning to play. What belugas do. Paper presented at the Comparative Cognition Society (CCS), Melbourne Beach, FL, Mar 26-29.

Ramirez, D., & Hill, H. (2014). Beluga Play: how do age and sex influence it? (SCPA). Paper presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, April 7-9.

Reyes, L., Dietrich, S., Cox, R., Yeater, D., Miller, M., & Hill, H. (2015). Juvenile beluga displays of socio-sexual behaviors: A matter of practice. Poster presented at the 21st Biennial conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Francisco, CA, Dec 14-18.

Yeater, D., Krul, M., Stone, A., Gaylor, C., Hill, H., & Kuczaj, S. (2014). Do belugas form expectations that can be violated when viewing novel humans (SCPA). Paper presented at Symposium chaired by H. Hill at Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA), San Antonio, Apr 7-9.

Additional Presentations

Invited Talks

Dudzinski, K. M., & Manitzas Hill, H. M. (2023). Understanding marine mammals from multiple perspectives with reference to in situ and ex situ research. Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, Fort Walton, FL, May 2-4.

Manitzas Hill, H. M. (2023). Having a whale of a time! 51st Course: Play and the evolution of creative societies. International School of Ethology, Erice, Sicily, May 14-18.

Manitzas Hill, H. M., Ham, J. R., Lilley, M., & Kolodziej, K. (2023). Visual displays by belugas during various social interactions. Symposium on Emotions and Communication. International Society of Behavioral Neuroscience, Niagara Falls, Canada, Jun 25-28.

2023

Manitzas Hill, H. M., & Dudzinski, K. M. (2022). Lessons from research on odontocete behavior at multiple settings – synergistic results offer a more complete picture. Society for Marine Mammalogy workshop. West Palm Beach, FL, Aug 2-5.

2022

Awards and Honors

  • 2021 – Summer Research Fellowship Program – St. Mary’s University
  • 2020 – Faculty Development Grant – St. Mary’s University
  • 2019 – Faculty Development Grant – St. Mary’s University
  • 2019 – Senior Faculty Undergraduate Mentoring Award, St. Mary’s University
  • 2019 – Summer Research Fellowship Program – St. Mary’s University
  • 2019 – Golden Key International Honour Society Faculty Development Grant
  • 2018 – Faculty Development Grant, Dr. Melissa Karlin, Co-PI – St. Mary’s University
  • 2017 – Psychonomic Society Fellow
  • 2017 – Sabbatical (Fall Semester) – St. Mary’s University
  • 2017 – Faculty Development Grant – St. Mary’s University
  • 2017 – Summer Research Fellowship Program – St. Mary’s University
  • 2016 – Summer Research Fellowship Program – St. Mary’s University
  • 2016 – Faculty Development Grant – St. Mary’s University
  • 2016 – Psi Chi Summer Research Grant, E. Lenhart
  • 2015 – Summer Research Fellowship Program – St. Mary’s University
  • 2015 – Faculty Development Grant – St. Mary’s University
  • 2015 – Psi Chi Summer Research Grant, S. Guarino
  • 2014 – Summer Research Fellowship Program – St. Mary’s University
  • 2013 – Faculty Development Grant – St. Mary’s University
  • 2013 – Summer Research Fellowship Program – St. Mary’s University
  • 2012 – Faculty Development Grant – St. Mary’s University
  • 2011 – Summer Research Fellowship Program – St. Mary’s University
  • 2011 – Faculty Development Grant – St. Mary’s University
  • 2011 – Distinguished Faculty Award, Humanities and Social Sciences – St. Mary’s University

Awards prior to tenure

  • 2010 – Alumni Association Award – St Mary’s University
  • 2010 – Faculty Development Grant – St. Mary’s University
  • 2010 – Summer Research Fellowship Program – St. Mary’s University
  • 2010 – Invited Speaker for Dean’s List Honors Ceremony – St. Mary’s University
  • 2008 – Alumni Association Award – St Mary’s University
  • 2008 – Faculty Development Grant – St. Mary’s University
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