New professorship honors Dr. Michael Posner
There will soon be a new professorship in the Department of Psychology.
The Dr. Michael Posner Psychology Professorship in Cognition and Neuroscience will be awarded to a tenured member of the faculty at the level of professor or associate professor of cognition and neuroscience and support the recipient's teaching, research, and professional development. This professorship has been made possible by the leadership of his older son, Oren Posner, Oren’s wife, Susan Posner, and Mike Posner’s younger son, Aaron Posner, and his wife, Erin Weaver. The family hopes that by helping lead the effort to raise the one million dollars necessary to establish the Posner Professorship that they will inspire others to contribute and eventually turn the professorship into an endowed chair.
The Posner Professorship is just one small part of Dr. Posner’s extraordinary legacy of teaching, research, and discovery. In a career spanning more than six decades—the vast majority of which was spent at the University of Oregon—Dr. Posner’s ground-breaking work earned him entrance into the National Academy of Sciences. He was also awarded The National Medal of Science, presented to him by former President Barack Obama in 2009. Dr. Posner also earned numerous honorary degrees, impressive accolades and awards, and the deep respect and admiration of students and colleagues.
Yet in a career defined by significant scientific achievement, Dr. Posner might tell you that what gave him the most satisfaction was supporting and mentoring his many students and colleagues and helping them achieve success.
“He cares deeply about everyone he works with,” says Aaron. “His students and colleagues talk about his contributions to their work and careers in reverential tones, like they were trying to find a way of communicating how much above and beyond he would go to help them succeed. They speak openly and passionately about his generosity of spirit, his astute guidance, and his devotion to helping them on their respective journeys.”
The College of Arts and Sciences will announce the inaugural Posner Professorship later this academic year.
“We are thrilled and deeply grateful to add this professorship to the College of Arts and Sciences’ Psychology department,” says Chris Poulsen, Tykeson Dean of Arts and Sciences. “This position will support the research of one of our talented faculty members and strengthen our contributions to cognition and neuroscience, areas in which the department has consistently shone, in part due to Mike Posner's contributions as a researcher, leader, and mentor.”
“For many of us, ever since we joined UO Psychology, the goal was to ‘be like Mike.’ It’s perfect that the department now has a way to honor and support the research of a faculty member who excels in the ways Mike has as an innovative scientist and as a mentor,” said Department Head and Psychology professor Sara Hodges. “The very generous gifts that Mike’s family led the effort to raise helps our department to keep striving for the high standards Mike set by allowing us to attract and retain other brilliant cognitive psychologists.”
You can make a gift to the Dr. Michael Posner Professorship fund, or contact Caitlin Elwood, Director of Development, Academics, Research, and Faculty.