Thayne McCulloh
Encyclopedia
Thayne Martin McCulloh, D.Phil (Oxon), (born August 20, 1964) is an American
social psychologist and academic administrator. McCulloh became the interim
president of Gonzaga University
on July 15, 2009, following the retirement of Robert Spitzer
, S.J.
. On July 16, 2010, McCulloh was appointed President of Gonzaga University, becoming the university's first regularly elected lay (i.e., non-clergy) president.
, raised in Claremont, California, Washington D.C., and Seattle. He attended Bishop Blanchet High School
in Seattle, Washington
and following graduation served a three year enlistment in the U.S. Army as a food service sergeant
. He received his bachelor's degree
in psychology
from Gonzaga University
in 1989. As a student, he served as Gonzaga's student body president during his senior year.
In 1989, McCulloh was admitted to study for the master of science
degree in experimental psychology
at Oxford University, England. A member of Wolfson College, Oxford
, McCulloh conducted research under the supervision of British social psychologist Michael Argyle
, D.Sc., and his academic advisor was experimental psychologist Donald E. Broadbent. McCulloh's area of research involved evaluating the power of the social context in gender stereotyping. Other faculty and colleagues with whom he worked include well-known psychologist Peter Collett, and British Green Party politician Mike Woodin
. In 1998, he was granted the degree of doctor of philosophy
in experimental social psychology from Oxford University, and elected to membership in the American Psychological Association
.
He is married to Julie McCulloh. The couple have three daughters, Kathryne, Anne and Emily.
part-time for a number of years while serving in a variety of administrative positions, including dean of student academic services, dean of student financial services, associate academic vice president, and vice president for administration and planning. McCulloh also served as the interim academic vice president from 2007 until becoming interim president in 2009. During his tenure, he worked on a number of institutional projects including implementation of an integrated computing information system, the development of new campus housing, chairing the decennial regional accreditation self-study and development of a new institutional strategic plan.
Gonzaga's board of trustees spent nearly two years engaged in the process of identifying an appropriate successor president. As with many Jesuit universities, Gonzaga's bylaws specifically state that the president of the university must be a Jesuit. However, in 2010 the university's board of members voted to suspend the bylaws requiring that the president be a Jesuit; this decision in turn created the option for the trustees to name McCulloh as president.
McCulloh was elevated from interim president to president of Gonzaga by the board of trustees on July 16, 2010. His promotion made McCulloh the university's first permanent, non-Jesuit to hold the office in Gonzaga's history. (Harry Sladich, a lay
academic administrator, had previously served as president for two terms, but in an acting, interim basis).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
social psychologist and academic administrator. McCulloh became the interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
president of Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
on July 15, 2009, following the retirement of Robert Spitzer
Robert Spitzer
Robert Spitzer may refer to:* Robert Spitzer * Robert Spitzer, SJ, American Jesuit priest, philosopher, educator and author* Robert Spitzer * Robert R. Spitzer, American industrialist and educator...
, S.J.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. On July 16, 2010, McCulloh was appointed President of Gonzaga University, becoming the university's first regularly elected lay (i.e., non-clergy) president.
Early life and education
McCulloh was born in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, raised in Claremont, California, Washington D.C., and Seattle. He attended Bishop Blanchet High School
Bishop Blanchet High School
Bishop Blanchet High School is a coed Catholic high school located just north of Green Lake in Seattle, Washington, United States. The school was founded in 1954 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, and named for the first bishop of the diocese, A.M.A. Blanchet...
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
and following graduation served a three year enlistment in the U.S. Army as a food service sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
in 1989. As a student, he served as Gonzaga's student body president during his senior year.
In 1989, McCulloh was admitted to study for the master of science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in experimental psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
at Oxford University, England. A member of Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
, McCulloh conducted research under the supervision of British social psychologist Michael Argyle
Michael Argyle (psychologist)
Michael Argyle was one of the best known English social psychologists of the twentieth century. He spent most of his career at the University of Oxford, and worked on numerous topics...
, D.Sc., and his academic advisor was experimental psychologist Donald E. Broadbent. McCulloh's area of research involved evaluating the power of the social context in gender stereotyping. Other faculty and colleagues with whom he worked include well-known psychologist Peter Collett, and British Green Party politician Mike Woodin
Mike Woodin
Michael Edward Woodin was the Principal Speaker of the Green Party of England and Wales and a city councillor for Oxford from 1994 to 2004...
. In 1998, he was granted the degree of doctor of philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in experimental social psychology from Oxford University, and elected to membership in the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
.
He is married to Julie McCulloh. The couple have three daughters, Kathryne, Anne and Emily.
Gonzaga University
McCulloh joined Gonzaga's staff in 1990, initially serving as a student affairs administrator. He taught psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
part-time for a number of years while serving in a variety of administrative positions, including dean of student academic services, dean of student financial services, associate academic vice president, and vice president for administration and planning. McCulloh also served as the interim academic vice president from 2007 until becoming interim president in 2009. During his tenure, he worked on a number of institutional projects including implementation of an integrated computing information system, the development of new campus housing, chairing the decennial regional accreditation self-study and development of a new institutional strategic plan.
President of Gonzaga
Father Robert Spitzer announced his intention to step down as President of Gonzaga in 2008 after 10 years in office. McCulloh, who was serving as interim academic vice president at the time, was appointed as interim president of the university by Gonzaga's board of trustees on April 17, 2009, until a permanent replacement for Spitzer could be found. McCulloh's appointment as interim president was effective on July 15, 2009.Gonzaga's board of trustees spent nearly two years engaged in the process of identifying an appropriate successor president. As with many Jesuit universities, Gonzaga's bylaws specifically state that the president of the university must be a Jesuit. However, in 2010 the university's board of members voted to suspend the bylaws requiring that the president be a Jesuit; this decision in turn created the option for the trustees to name McCulloh as president.
McCulloh was elevated from interim president to president of Gonzaga by the board of trustees on July 16, 2010. His promotion made McCulloh the university's first permanent, non-Jesuit to hold the office in Gonzaga's history. (Harry Sladich, a lay
Layman
A layperson or layman is a person who is not an expert in a given field of knowledge. The term originally meant a member of the laity, i.e. a non-clergymen, but over the centuries shifted in definition....
academic administrator, had previously served as president for two terms, but in an acting, interim basis).