Contributors:
Drew Appleby
Barney Beins
Margaret Matlin
Janet R. Matthews
Shirley Matthews
Linda M. Noble
Jill Reich
Robert Sternberg
Linda Wasserman
Pictures:
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Drew Appleby, PhD
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
I am truly saddened. She was a kind, gracious, and competent person. I will miss her.
Barney Beins, PhD
Ithaca College
President-Elect, Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2)
I had the pleasure of interacting with Kay when I was Director of Pre-College and Undergraduate Programs at the American Psychological Association. She was always delightful to work with. One of the most striking aspects of how she approached her work was the enthusiasm she displayed in promoting student welfare. Kay was always receptive to ideas that would help students progress through their education in psychology. Along with the rest of the psychology community, I was saddened by her passing. We have lost a tireless worker, a refreshing spirit, and a good friend.
Margaret W. Matlin, PhD
State University of New York College at Geneseo
I didn't know Kay well, but I genuinely admired her competence, warmth, and intelligence. I especially recall a dinner in Utah at RMPA when I had a chance to become better acquainted with Kay, and found she had a good sense of humor as well as a sense of social justice. You are correct: we are blessed to have known her!
Janet R. Matthews, PhD, ABPP
Loyola University New Orleans
I remember when Kay was hired (I worked with Ruth for years prior to that). Although I am no longer a Psi Chi advisor, I maintain a close tie to Psi Chi. I am saddened to learn of her passing.
Shirley Matthews
Director of Administration, APA Education Directorate
Thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to publicly express my thoughts and to say goodbye to Kay. I have known Kay for many years through my employment at APA. We only spoke by phone a few times a year and saw each other briefly at the APA convention. We saw each other so infrequently that we often didn't recognize each other until we spoke and then identified each other by voice recognition.
Even though our contact was brief, I really felt that Kay was a friend. When we spoke on the phone, we would exchange the major highlights going on in our personal lives, so I felt our relationship was more than just business. Kay was a friend. I particularly remember her excitement at the birth of grandchildren!
I was really saddened by her death, and quite surprised. Over the last few years, I have been going through some major health issues of my own. Kay continually asked about my health and expressed concern. Never did she mention that she was going through a battle for her life. She took the time to console and comfort me but never let me know of her struggle. She was a remarkable woman, and I feel very fortunate that I knew her.
My sincere condolences to her husband, children, and grandchildren.
Linda M. Noble, PhD
Kennesaw State University
President, Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2)
On behalf of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP), Division Two of the American Psychological Association, I would like to express our sadness at the passing of Kay Wilson. Over the years, Psi Chi and STP have worked closely together to advance the teaching of psychology and the success of our students. Kay was always willing to step right in and do everything she could to make our collaborations a success. In many ways, Kay and Psi Chi were synonomous! Although we will miss her, I know the legacy she left to Psi Chi and the faculty, staff, and students she worked with will remain strong.
Jill Reich, PhD
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Bates College
Thanks so much for your work on this retrospective. It will help us all as we deal with our sadness at Kay's death.
What I remember most about Kay is her gracious spirit, her ability to welcome everyone, to find their strengths and to connect them in creative and productive ways to the interests, ideas, and goals of Psi Chi. Whether one be the knowing young researcher or the shy, first-time convention goer, in Kay's capable hands, each student and faculty was brought into the fold to flourish and contribute. Kay's passion, wisdom, and knowledge informed so many people and events and in so doing advanced the ideas and study of psychology in more ways than any of us will ever know. I miss her greatly as a friend and a colleague.
Robert Sternberg, PhD
Yale University
I'm extremely sorry to hear about Kay. Kay Wilson was a wonderful person as well as administrator, and she will be greatly missed.
Linda Wasserman
University of West Florida
Administrative Assistant, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA)
I am very sorry to hear this news. I always looked forward to seeing and working with Kay at our annual SEPA meeting. She was a special person, and, although I only saw her once a year, I will miss her.
Pictures
At the 1994 APA Convention, Kay and the National Council hosted a conversation hour in the Psi Chi hospitality suite that featured Joan Buchanan, Director of APA's Office of International Affairs, discussing international psychology with Psi Chi students and faculty members. From left: Marilyn Borges (Western VP), Harold Takooshian (Eastern VP), Slater Newman (Southeastern VP), Joan Buchanan, Joseph Horvat (President), Stephen Davis (President-Elect), and Kay Wilson.
At the 2001 SEPA Convention, from left: Peter Giordano (President-Elect), Kay Wilson, Albert Bandura (SEPA Distinguished Lecturer and Psi Chi Distinguished Member), and Rebecca Stoddart (Past-President).
Kay is pictured with Jill Reich of Bates College, former head of APA's Education Directorate.
Kay offers "psychological help" to Philip Zimbardo, past president of APA and longtime Psi Chi faculty advisor at Stanford University.
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Fall 2003 issue of Eye on Psi Chi (Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 30-31), published by Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology (Chattanooga, TN). Copyright, 2003, Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology. All rights reserved.