With her background in cognitive neuroscience, Warren Wilson College psychology professorMozolic’s students, for their part, also relish the way she connects them to the basics of those challenging fields. As a result, the 34-year-old professor has been selected by NerdScholar as one of the nation’s “40 Under 40: Professors Who Inspire.”

The annual NerdScholar feature recognizes 40 inspirational professors across the country under the age of 40. The young professors are chosen based on nominations from students, alumni and faculty. Warren Wilson students consistently describe Mozolic with such adjectives as challenging, supportive and dedicated. Faculty colleagues also recognize her outstanding work.

“Jen is a wonderful teacher, researcher and colleague,” psychology department colleague Robert Swoap says. “She goes about her work with integrity, enthusiasm and a commitment to helping our students learn deeply.

“Jen is central to our new neuroscience minor. Through her guidance, students learn in multiple venues – classroom, lab, community – the importance of understanding brain-behavior fundamentals.”

Seeing her students gain and use an understanding of the brain is especially gratifying to Mozolic, who came to Warren Wilson College in 2009 after receiving her Ph.D. in neuroscience from Wake Forest University.

“It is really exciting to see students use their understanding of the brain to explore complex abilities like sensory perception, movement, learning and memory,” Mozolic says. “Many students are passionate about gaining insight into conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD, autism, addiction and Alzheimer’s Disease that have had an impact on their lives or the lives of their loved ones.”

For Mozolic’s students, learning also reaches well beyond the classroom.

“One of the projects where I see students really flourish is in our collaboration with Hinds’ Feet Farm, a post-rehabilitation program for folks with brain injuries,” Mozolic says. “Through this partnership, students work and learn alongside the HFF members to explore their interests and values; complete artistic and informational projects like paintings, podcasts and documentary films; and educate the wider community about the causes and effects of brain injury.”

Read more about Mozolic, her work and “40 Under 40.”

NerdScholar is a financial literacy website that aims to “empower students to make smart financial choices.”