Dr. David Myers of the 换妻社区 psychology faculty is receiving national recognition for his significant, career-long impact on the teaching of psychology.
The Society for the Teaching of Psychology, which is a division of the American Psychological Association (APA), is awarding him its Presidential Citation, presented 鈥渢o individuals who have made extraordinary life-time contributions to the Society and/or to the teaching of psychology.鈥� He will receive the citation on Saturday, Aug. 3, during the national convention of the APA, being held in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Myers, a professor of psychology who has been at Hope since 1967, is a social psychologist and communicator of psychological science to college students and the general public.
He is the author of multiple best-selling psychology texts that are used around the world. 鈥淧sychology鈥� (10th edition), 鈥淓xploring Psychology鈥� (ninth edition), 鈥淧sychology in Everyday Life鈥� (second edition), 鈥淪ocial Psychology鈥� (11th edition) and 鈥淓xploring Social Psychology鈥� (sixth edition) are studied by students in thousands of college, university and high school AP courses. The texts are translated into 12 languages and his speaking engagements across the world of psychology have taken him to places such as Moscow, Beijing and Cape Town.
In addition, selected chapters of Myers鈥檚 books will be used as text materials for a Massive Open Online Course in social psychology taught by Wesleyan University professor Scott Plous. The course, which launches on Monday, Aug. 12, has more than 180,000 pre-enrolled students worldwide.
His 17 books also include general-audience books on happiness, intuition, spirituality and his experience with hearing loss. In addition, his scientific writings, supported by National Science Foundation grants and fellowships, have appeared in three dozen academic periodicals, including 鈥淪cience,鈥� the 鈥淎merican Scientist,鈥� the 鈥淎merican Psychologist鈥� and 鈥淧sychological Science.鈥� He has digested psychological research for the public through articles in four dozen magazines, from 鈥淪cientific American鈥� to 鈥淐hristian Century.鈥�
His research and writings have been recognized by the Gordon Allport Prize, by an 鈥渉onored scientist鈥� award from the Federation of Associations in the Brain and Behavioral Sciences, by the Award for Distinguished Service on Behalf of Personality-Social Psychology, and by three honorary doctorates. He is also an Honorary Trustee of the American Psychological Foundation.
In recognition of his efforts to transform the way America provides assistive listening for people with hearing loss (see hearingloop.org), he received 鈥渢he 2011 American Academy of Audiology Presidential Award,鈥� the Walter T. Ridder Award from the Hearing Loss Association of America, and Oticon鈥檚 2013 hearing Advocacy Award. In addition, he was recently appointed to represent Americans with hearing loss on the Advisory Council of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders.
Myers completed his bachelor鈥檚 degree at Whitworth College, and his master鈥檚 and doctorate at the University of Iowa. He holds honorary degrees from Northwestern College, Whitworth College and Central College. He held an endowed professorship at Hope, as the John Dirk Werkman Professor of Psychology, from 1982 to 2007.
The Society for the Teaching of Psychology advances understanding of the discipline by promoting excellence in the teaching and learning of psychology. The society provides resources and services, access to a collaborative community, and opportunities for professional development. The society also strives to advance the scholarship of teaching and learning, advocate for the needs of teachers of psychology, foster partnerships across academic settings and increase recognition of the value of the teaching profession.
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA is the world鈥檚 largest association of psychologists, with more than 134,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members. The association鈥檚 mission is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people鈥檚 lives.