The winner of the Fifth Annual Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentoring Award is
Ross D. Parke, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Family Studies. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Waterloo, and was previously a member of the faculty at the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin. Professor Parke joined the UCR faculty in 1990. His research examines the social behavior of young children of various ethnic backgrounds in the context of peer and especially family systems. He has authored more than 200 books, articles, and reviews; many in collaboration with the 18 UCR students who have completed Ph.D. dissertations under his direction. Students who wrote in support of his nomination note Professor Parke's knack of engaging students in research at the very start of their graduate careers, and to tailor new tasks to their growing capacities as researchers. In this sense, "he is a great scaffolder" writes one student, while another notes that he is "the ultimate academic," and "a wonderful mentor." The respect and affection that his students feel for him is summed up by one letter writer who says that "I'm thankful for the opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for what he has done..."
Daniel Ozer
Associate Dean, Graduate Division
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
(951) 827-4302 (Office)
(951) 827-2238 (Fax)
