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Western Psychology Professor Recognized for Dissertation

September 30, 2011

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MACOMB, IL – A Western Illinois University professor received a high award from Division 16 of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Julie Herbstrith, an assistant professor of psychology, was awarded the Outstanding Dissertation in School Psychology award for, "A multi-method investigation of pre-service teacher attitudes toward gay and lesbian parents."

Milena Keller-Margulis, chair of the APA Division 16 selection committee, said, "(Herbstrith's entry) has a strong theoretical base, uses research design and statistics that are appropriate and rigorous for a clear connection between the results and implications for the field."

Herbstrith, who is in her second year as a tenure-track faculty member at Western, will have the opportunity to make an address at the 2012 APA conference in Orlando, as well as help select the award winner in 2013.

Since finish her dissertation in May 2010, Herbstrith has been awarded a Western Illinois University Research Council Grant for her study "Using implicit and explicit prejudice measures to assess pre-service teacher attitudes toward gay and lesbian parents."

Since 1993, the Outstanding Dissertation Award has been given to 27 recipients. The award is given to a member of APA Division 16 who finished his/her dissertation within the previous year. The winning dissertations show potential to contribute to school psychology as a discipline and profession and to impact the science practice of school psychology, according to APA Division 16.

Posted By: Sarah Tomkinson (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
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