Faculty Profile: Dr. Springer

by Andrew Frisch

Dr. Carolyn Springer is one of two new faculty members joining the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies this year. She is a social psychologist, but does it surprise you to know that she was originally planning to be a biochemist?

Springer is a native New Yorker who grew up on the outskirts of Bedford-Stuyvesant in a working-class family with five children. She says she is a "product of the New York City public school system." Springer got her bachelor's degree from Barnard College at Columbia University with Honors in Psychology. She first started college with the intent of becoming a biochemistry major; however, she took two courses in her freshman year, one being organic chemistry, which she strongly disliked. The other was a course called Human Development. She considers this to be her most memorable course in college, it also spurred her interest the field of psychology. Consequently, she became a psychology major and math minor.

Springer says that she was one of the kind of student who never spoke up in class and hated giving class presentations. She finds that it is a lot less nerve-racking to "teach" an audience than to "present" to an audience. Springer says she worked through college and didn't live on campus but commuted. She was unable to participate in many activities because of work, school, and family obligations. Springer realized in her senior year that it was important to do the extra-curricular activities because "your identity and sense of self is also shaped by your interaction with others."

After getting her Bachelor's degree, Springer got a Master's in Social Psychology, a second Master's and a Ph.D., all from Columbia. Before coming to Adelphi, Springer worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1998-2001 as a Postdoctoral fellow. Springer worked part time at NYU for nine years, and also taught at SUNY Purchase and at Bloomfield College in New Jersey. Also, Springer worked for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as Director of Research and Evaluation for the Department of Chronic Disease and Tobacco Control. One of her research interests includes understanding the experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Springer decided to come to Adelphi because she loves teaching and wanted to try it on a full-time basis. Also, she heard good things about the Derner Institute. She was impressed by the exciting opportunities that Adelphi had to offer, and also by the faculty, administrators, and students. So far, Springer is really enjoying Adelphi, and working with all of the on-campus departments and offices. Current activities include being on the Campus Planning Committee, and also singing in Adelphi's choir. Also, she is excited about establishing a research program. She is participating as a reader and judge in the 2004 Long Island Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium for high school students.

Springer teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. Her undergraduate course is Experimental Design, and her graduate courses are Research Methods, and Statistics for School Psychologists. She says she enjoys teaching at both levels, and "it's great having the opportunity to make research interesting for undergrads and to discuss with them how psychology can be applied to different careers as well as their lives." With her graduate students, she says she likes helping them advance their academic careers.

Springer quoted Oscar Hammerstein when asked about her perspective on teaching: "If you become a teacher, by your pupils you'll be taught." She says that that is what is exciting about teaching for her. Also, she finds that she has to be adaptable, especially when trying to conduct psychological experiments.

In her free time, Springer likes to watch movies; in fact, she's taken a class at Lincoln Center where you get to preview movies before they are released. Also, she likes to take walking tours of different New York City neighborhoods. Okay, now for the fun food fact, Springer says that her favorite fast food restaurant is Burger King. She says she loves the Junior Whoppers and the Hershey pies.

Springer wants her students to become excited about research, to become critical thinkers, and to "become more aware of how factors like race/ethnicity, gender, and social class create different world views." She says, "Students need to learn to think for themselves as long as they have evidence to support their opinion."