Department of Psychology to celebrate 50 years

Olga Bonfiglio
College of Arts and Sciences staff writer

The Department of Psychology will celebrate its 50th anniversary August 26-27.

Both days will include conferences where alums and community partners give presentations about the history of behavior analysis at WMU and how it has impacted the field and the local community.

A dinner and cocktail party will take place at the new Heritage Alumni Center on East Campus on Friday, August 26 with community tours on Saturday, August 27.

The 50-year event will also kick off a capital campaign to start the Jack Michael Professor of Behavioral Psychology endowed chair position.

"There are few undergraduate and graduate training programs in the world who can boast such a long and enduring focus on behavior analysis as the psychology programs at Western Michigan University," said Stephanie Peterson, chair of the psychology department.

"These programs are often viewed as some of the crown jewels of behavior analysis internationally. We are very proud of our heritage, and we hope to preserve this focus for many years to come. Bringing our alums and faculty back together for this event will make this an historic event both for WMU and for the field of behavior analysis."

The Department of Psychology has produced many fine examples of people who have played definitive leadership roles in developing both the prestigious reputation of the department and advances in the field of behavioral analysis.

Dr. Jerry Shook, the founding CEO of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, an international certifying body for behavior analysts worldwide, was a WMU alumus. Shook passed away in 2011. The current CEO is Dr. Jim Carr, former WMU faculty member.

Dr. William Heward '71, is co-author of one of the leading textbooks in behavior analysis; he is former president of the Association for Behavior Analysis International.

Dr. Nancy Neef '72, '75, and '79, was the first woman editor of the department's flagship journal, The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.

Dr. Leslie Braksick '87 and '90, was selected as one of WMU's Distinguished Alumni for her work with corporate America.