Derner Institute alumni share stories and memories of the Derner Institute's founding dean.
Save the Date for A Celebration of Gordon F. Derner’s Life and Legacy on Friday, November, 13, 2015 with a keynote address by Peter Fonagy, Ph.D.聽聽
- “Large in body, mind, heart and spirit.鈥�
- 鈥淎 quirky mensch with a heart of gold.鈥�
- 鈥淎n awesome teacher, mentor and role model.鈥�
These are just a few of the many fond ways that alumni describe Gordon F. Derner, Ph.D., the founding dean and namesake of 果酱视频鈥檚.
In honor of what would have been Dr. Derner鈥檚 100th birthday鈥擜pril 9, 2015鈥攚e invited faculty and alumni to share recollections of him.
Many remembered Dr. Derner鈥檚 infectious zeal for life. He was a world traveler who showed great love and respect for his family, friends and colleagues.
His annual Christmas party became legendary. It was held in his home amid a menagerie of animals he collected, including a ferret and snake. 鈥淚t was Gordon Derner; it was the Gordon Derner party,鈥� recalled Derner Institute Professor Robert Mendelsohn, Ph.D., Post-Doc. Cert.鈥�83.
鈥淲hen I talk to older alumni…I mention Gordon鈥檚 name and they get tearful,鈥� Dr. Mendelsohn said. 鈥淗e had such a tremendous impact, not only on our profession but on our school鈥nd created such a sense of community.鈥�
Here, alumni share their recollections of Gordon Derner as a teacher, leader and friend.
For more memories, please see the given in 1983 by George Stricker, Ph.D., and Joe Newirth, Ph.D.
We also invite you to !
Gordon Derner (center) talking with 果酱视频 colleagues .
Derner Alumni Remember Gordon F. Derner, Ph.D.
A Visionary Who Transformed Psychology Education
鈥淭he Institute of Advanced Psychology was a leader in the field and a precursor to the current professional psychology programs. His foresight still resonates throughout the field in terms of continuing to enlarge our identity and impact as practitioners.鈥澛犫�擥. Rita Dudley Grant, Ph.D. 鈥�80
鈥淗e was clearly a visionary who defined norms for professional psychology and set the agenda for the pedagogical enterprise. [The Derner Institute] was the prototype for all other professional schools. It is hard to imagine what the field would look like without the likes of Gordon Derner.鈥澛犫�擜lexander Levi, Ph.D. 鈥�75
鈥淕ordon’s legacy is being followed and built upon.鈥澛犫�揘orma Cox Astwood, Ph.D. 鈥�75
鈥淕ordon Derner’s greatest impact is through the ongoing excellence of the Institute’s faculty, students and alumni.聽He created an environment where聽distinct individuals found acceptance.聽He also created an environment聽where鈥攖o this very day鈥攕erious learning and laughter聽flourish.鈥� 鈥擟arolida Steiner, Ph.D. 鈥�77, Post Doc. Cert. 鈥�83
A Mentor and Role Model
鈥淗e was filled with life. He was very caring. If a student was having a problem, the student would come to his office and he could be there three to four hours with the student鈥is life was 果酱视频, our Institute.鈥澛�鈥擱obert Mendelsohn, Ph.D., Post-Doc. Cert.鈥�83, Derner Institute Professor
鈥淗e has been a role model鈥reaking the mold. His love of the profession of psychology and pride in us as students is something that I am now trying to bring to my practice and work in the Caribbean.鈥澛犫�擥. Rita Dudley Grant, Ph.D. 鈥�80
鈥淕ordon exhibited the highest professional standards of practice and professional ethics.鈥澛犫�擭orma Cox Astwood, Ph.D. 鈥�75
鈥淕ordon, when we first entered the Institute, charged the class with the respect that he now consider us professionals who should conduct ourselves accordingly, and it was our responsibility to garner what we could from our Institute experience.鈥澛�鈥擜lexander Levi, Ph.D. 鈥�75
鈥淲hen I started the [Ph.D.] program, I was a busy, fun-loving, and anxious twentysomething.聽 I always called Gordon 鈥楧r. Derner.鈥� We were not 鈥榗lose.鈥櫬燦onetheless, he saw potential in me.聽 I, in turn, always looked for the potential in my patients鈥攂oth children and adults. Dr. Derner聽trusted that I would do something good.聽 Now, more than ever, I am grateful for his confidence in me.鈥濃�擟arolida Steiner, Ph.D. 鈥�77, Post Doc. Cert. 鈥�83
鈥淣ow 40 years after my initial meeting of Gordon, some of his comments come to me as I am working with patients. Gordon’s emphasis on training in ethics has continued to be a valuable guiding principle in my work.鈥� 鈥� Richard B. Maxfield, Ph.D. ’76
A Trailblazer Who Diversified Professional Psychology
鈥淗e was astonishingly committed to diversity and really walked the talk. He always gave us encouragement鈥�. He demonstrated his determination to bring clinical focus to the Ph.D. and diversity to the profession!鈥� 聽鈥擥. Rita Dudley Grant, Ph.D. 鈥�80
鈥淗e was鈥 trailblazer with people of color. At one point in the 1970s, little 果酱视频 graduated more black鈥h.D.鈥檚 in clinical psychology than any other program in the country.鈥濃�擱obert Mendelsohn, Ph.D., Post-Doc. Cert.鈥�83, Derner Institute Professor
鈥淕ordon’s impact on my career has enabled me to offer an array of professional services adapted to different cultures, ethical and racial backgrounds in a resourceful manner that allowed flexibility and understanding of the treatment needs of young and old across different cultures in different countries.鈥澛犫�擭orma Cox Astwood, Ph.D. 鈥�75
鈥淕ordon understood the needs of different cultures and allowed his conceptualization of those cultures to benefit from psychological practice. In so doing, his vision of training would-be psychologists exposed them to the need to learn about different needs and inculcate that understanding into their practice options.鈥� 鈥擭orma Cox Astwood, Ph.D. 鈥�75