James S. Jackson Posthumously Wins SPSSI Kurt Lewin Award
December 9, 2021
ANN ARBOR – Dr. James S. Jackson, the Daniel Katz Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Research Professor Emeritus at the Research Center for Group Dynamics (RCGD), and former ISR Director (2005-2015) has been posthumously awarded the 2021 Kurt Lewin Award from The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI). According to the SPSSI, the “2021 Kurt Lewin Award is being awarded posthumously to Dr. James S. Jackson. The Lewin Award is SPSSI’s highest scholarly honor and premier career recognition for distinguished research on social issues. Dr. Jackson was nominated for the Kurt Lewin Award for his outstanding contributions to the development and integration of psychological research and social action, and his research on racial health disparities.”
James S. Jackson
Throughout Dr. Jackson’s career, he made many important contributions to research and teaching. Dr. Jackson pioneered the National Survey of Black Americans, which began at ISR in 1977, and has generated a wide range of influential research. The Program for Research on Black Americans, which he founded at ISR in 1976, has been an important center for training a leading group of scholars, advancing academic inquiry, and developing effective public policy to better comprehend the lived experiences of African Americans. His academic contributions have earned him numerous distinctions, including election to the National Academy of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
More about Dr. Jackson’s honorable career can be found in his obituary.
Dr. Jackson was passionate about supporting and empowering tomorrow’s research scientists to fulfill their potential and create an impact in the world. He believed that no one becomes successful without the assistance of others, because it was the people in his life – students, family, and mentors – that guided him through his career. This led Dr. Jackson and his wife, Dr. Toni Antonucci, to establish the James S. Jackson Emerging Scholars Fund to foster the careers of emerging scholars. It is fitting that the monetary portion of this award will be donated to this fund in honor of Dr. Jackson’s legacy.
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ISR Communications Team, [email protected]