Psychology Alumni Newsletter - Current issue    or    Past Issues

The California Association for the Gifted (CAG) announced that University of Alabama alumnus Dr. James Webb was honored with its Ruth A. Martinson Past Presidents Award for 2009.  The award was presented to Dr. Webb at the association's annual conference at the Sacramento Convention Center on March 6th, 2010.

Past Presidents of CAG may nominate for this award individuals who have made significant contributions to the body of knowledge in the area of gifted and talented education.  Nominee contributions must either reconceptualize existing knowledge and/or generate new knowledge in the field.  The contribution must have national recognition and/or the nominee must have worked in California at some time during his/her career.  Individuals considered for this award can be those who have been authors, researchers, lecturers, or consultants.

"For all (his) important contributions to the field of gifted education, I believe Dr. James Webb has had a sustained impact on the field over many years and continues to do work of national significance," says Marilyn Lane, Immediate Past President of CAG.

James T. Webb, Ph.D., ABPP-CL, received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Alabama in 1967.  He has since been recognized as one of the 25 most influential psychologists nationally on gifted education, and he consults with schools, programs and individuals about social and emotional needs of gifted and talented children.  In 1981, Dr. Webb established SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted Children), a national nonprofit organization that provides information, training, conferences and workshops, and he remains as Chair of SENG's Professional Advisory committee.  In addition to founding SENG, he is the lead author of A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children, Guiding the Gifted Child, Misdiagnosis and Dual diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults, and Grandparents' Guide to Gifted Children (all award-winning titles), and he is also president and CEO of Great Potential Press.

A frequent keynote and workshop speaker at state and national conventions, Dr. Webb, a licensed and board-certified psychologist, has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, The Phil Donahue Show, CNN, Public Radio International, and National Public Radio.  In 1992, he received the Heiser Presidential Award for Advocacy by the American Psychological Association, and also the National Award for Excellence, Senior Investigator Division, from the Mensa Education and Research Foundation.  He has served on the Board of Directors for the National Association for Gifted Children, and was President of the American Association for Gifted Children.  Dr. Webb has written over 80 professional publications, fifteen books, three videos, and many research papers for psychology conventions or conferences regarding gifted and talented children.

Provost Maynard is pleased to announce that Dr. Jennifer Boothby, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Associate Professor of Psychology at Indiana State University, has been appointed Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs with primary responsibility for student success.  In this role, Dr. Boothby will work with all units on campus to address issues related to student success.  She will also assume primary responsibility for leading the Student Academic Services Center.  She assumed this role on August 1, 2009.  Dr. Boothby received her Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in 2001.

Dr. Thomas N. Magee (Ph.D., 2003) was recently selected for promotion to the rank of Major in the United States Air Force. His effective date of promotion is 1 Jul 2008. Magee, a Clinical Psychologist, is a 1993 graduate of Franklinton High. He completed his clinical residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB, Texas in 2003 after receiving his Doctorate from the University of Alabama. Dr. Magee is currently assigned to the 55 Medical Group, 55 Wing, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. He is the commander of the mental health clinic, responsible for the management of all mental health, social work, and substance abuse treatment services for Offutt and all tenant units. Dr. Magee has been stationed at Offutt AFB since 2006. He was the 2007 Medical Company Grade Officer of the Year.  

Department Launches Development Initiative... The Department has recently begun planning for development activities. The goals of the Department development initiative are to establish an advisory board that will guide private fundraising activities, to increase the psychology gift fund, and, ulitimately, to establish and endowment fund to support scholarships, fellowships, and professorships.

Dr. Robert D. Lyman