Cal State San Bernardino psychology professor Jodie Ullman has been chosen president-elect of the Western Psychological Association. She took office April 28 during the association’s annual conference.
Ullman, who currently serves as chairwoman of the university’s Faculty Senate and is director of the psychology department’s master’s program in general experimental psychology, will serve as the association’s president-elect for one year, then as president for one year and then as past-president for one year.
The Western Psychological Association covers the western United States, including Hawaii and Canada.
“I never in a million years ever thought I would be elected WPA president! I gave my first presentation as a student at a WPA convention,” Ullman said. “I can trace my entire career with the WPA.”
“We’re proud of Jodie for her accomplishments and all that she contributes to the university and her profession. She is an exceptional member and leader of the CSUSB faculty and an exemplary representative of Cal State San Bernardino,” said Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás D. Morales.
Robert Ricco, the chair of the university’s psychology department called the honor “a huge accomplishment for Jodie and the CSUSB community.”
“The WPA is an important professional organization for academic psychologists and has an extensive membership and prestigious history. Some truly major psychologists have served as president. Jodie is a great choice for this honor,” Ricco said. “As an internationally known quantitative psychologist, she has lent her expertise to countless statistical workshops and training opportunities offered by WPA over the years and she has contributed to the success of the organization in many ways.”
Ullman was honored late last summer with the 2012 Western Psychological Association Outstanding Teaching Award, largely because of her approach to teaching the difficult subject of statistics.
She was also honored with the prestigious fellow status in the American Psychology Association in recognition of her teaching and writing.
Ullman joined Cal State San Bernardino in 1996. She earned her doctorate in quantitative psychology at UCLA in 1997.
The Western Psychological Association was founded in 1921 for the purpose of stimulating the exchange of scientific and professional ideas and, in so doing to enhance interest in the processes of research and scholarship in the behavioral sciences.