PEOPLE

Bob Croyle, PhD, is the new associate director of the Behavioral Research Program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Croyle says he will establish six new branches of the NCI devoted to supporting behavioral science research.

Croyle comes to the institute from the University of Utah, where he was professor of psychology. His research experience ranges from basic experimental studies of biases in health-related judgment to genetic testing for cancer susceptibility.

Bruce Cuthbert, PhD, a researcher of the psychophysiology of emotion, joined the National Institute of Mental Health?s Behavioral Science Research Branch in August as chief of the personality and emotion program. As the program?s director, Cuthbert plans to foster basic research on personality and emotion?combining current approaches with new techniques such as neuroimaging. He comes to the institute from the University of Florida, where he was an associate professor of clinical and health psychology.

Samuel Messick, PhD, who worked for the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, N.J., for more than 20 years, died on Oct. 6. He was 67.

Messick?s expertise has shaped the nation?s educational standards by providing the extended modern view of test validity. He advised the National Collegiate Athletic Association to use more indicators than just test scores to set cutoffs for playing college-level sports. Messick was also a member of the Research Advisory Committee of the Children?s Television Workshop during the conception and evaluation of 'Sesame Street' in the late 1960s.

Messick retired as vice president for research at ETS in 1994 and assumed the position of distinguished research scientist at the testing service. He was also a visiting professor of psychology at the City University of New York Graduate Center for 34 years.

Messick?s wife of 46 years, Betty, and their four children and six grandchildren survive him.

Is University of Pennsylvania president and psychologist Judith Rodin, PhD, ready for the Oval Office? A nonpartisan public awareness campaign called the White House Project thinks she is. The campaign has selected Rodin as one of 20 women qualified to lead the country. Among the other picks are first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Elizabeth Dole.

Rodin, who in 1994 became the first woman to lead an Ivy League school, is a member of President Clinton?s Advisory Committee on Science and Technology. She served on the faculty at Yale University for 22 years before moving to Penn as president. She also is professor of psychology and of medicine and psychiatry at Penn, which is her undergraduate alma mater.

Rodin?s achievements are getting substantial publicity these days. Vanity Fair magazine selected her for its list of America?s 200 most influential women. The list is published in the magazine?s November issue.

The White House Project is narrowing its 20 potential presidential candidates down to five. In October, the group distributed ballots throughout 12 states and published ballots in national magazines such as People, Essence and Glamour. The project?s goal is to educate people about the nation?s talented women leaders and to create a climate that supports women in leadership roles.

Psychologists Peter Walker, PhD, and Corann Okorodudu, PhD, are bringing their expertise to the year-long United Nations effort known as the International Year of Older Persons (IYOP), to be celebrated from Oct. 1, 1998, to Oct. 1, 1999. The theme of the year, 'Towards a society for all ages,' will focus on increasing awareness of the needs and contributions of older people and the need for a more positive attitude toward the elderly.

Walker is an APA Div. 9 (Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues?SPSSI) representative to the United Nations. At APA?s September consolidated meetings, Walker explained ways that APA and its Committee on Aging (CONA) could get involved with the year?s activities. He also introduced the five goals of aging as defined by the United Nations?independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity?known as the Principles of Older Persons.

Okorodudu, who is SPSSI?s main representative to the United Nations, gave a talk at the IYOP commencement ceremony at U.N. headquarters. She will co-edit a future issue of the Journal of Social Issues on International Perspectives on Aging published in honor of IYOP. As 1999 chair of APA?s Committee on International Relations in Psychology, she plans to work with CONA to organize programming on aging at APA?s 1999 Annual Convention in Boston.

?Compiled by Jamie Chamberlin

The Monitor invites announcements of awards, grants, appointments and other noteworthy and interesting events for possible publication in the People column. Send submissions to Jamie Chamberlin, at the APA address.