The Department of Psychology's senior awards program was created to recognize outstanding senior psychology majors who excel in one of more specific domains of student achievement. The awards are presented in the spring semester and are noted on the graduate program.
This year, the Department is pleased to announce a new award, the Margaret W. Matlin Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This award recognizes a senior student who has gone above and beyond to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Geneseo Psychology Department or Geneseo community more generally, through service, work, research/scholarship, or teaching.
The award is named after Distinguished Teaching Professor, Emerita Dr. Margaret W. Matlin for her significant contributions of scholarship and service.
About Professor Emerita Dr. Margaret W. Matlin
Dr. Margaret Matlin received her B.A. cum laude from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Michigan. She began her service to SUNY Geneseo in 1971, and she retired in 2010 as Distinguished Teaching Professor, Emerita. At Geneseo she taught 13 different courses, including Introductory Psychology, Statistics, and Conflict Resolution. She introduced the Psychology of Women course in our department, and she was instrumental in the formation of the Women’s and Gender Studies minor at Geneseo. She served as Coordinator of Women’s and Gender Studies from 1977 to 1995.
Dr. Matlin wrote The Pollyanna Principle: Selectivity in Language, Memory, and Thought in 1978. This book is still cited frequently more than 40 years later. She wrote a total of 35 books, published not only in English but also in Chinese, Spanish, French, Norwegian, and Korean. She also wrote ten separate entries in the Wiley Encyclopedia of Psychology. Dr. Matlin has written more than 50 journal articles and has given well over 100 papers and invited addresses.
Dr. Matlin has won many awards, including the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the American Psychological Association Teaching of Psychology Award, the SUNY Chancellor’s Research Recognition Award, and the American Psychological Foundation Distinguished Teaching in Psychology Award. Relevant to the award being given in her name, in 2001 Dr. Matlin received the SUNY Geneseo Promoting Awareness Toward Harmony Award for promoting campus awareness about diversity issues. Her willingness to work with diverse campus groups includes her service as faculty advisor to the Korean Club and the (formerly known as) Gay and Lesbian Club. In the community, she is a founding and active member of Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace, established in 1972.
Award Application
The Margaret W. Matlin Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a non-monetary recognition awarded to one exceptional senior psychology major each year. To apply, you may complete the online application form. The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 1, 2021. Faculty will take suggestions into account but ultimately will consider students for all awards that are suitable for them. The department's Student Affairs Committee (SAC) administers the senior awards program.