New Chair of Psychology in Education at York
Posted on 13 February 2012
Dr Robert Klassen has been appointed to the new post of Chair of Psychology in Education in the Department of Education. Judith Bennett, Head of Department, says, ‘This is excellent news for the Department, and is the key first step towards putting into place a new research centre in psychology and education, with linked teaching programmes.’
Dr Klassen is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta, prior to which he spent several years working as a teacher and school psychologist in British Columbia, with one-year stints in England and Australia. His B.Ed. and M.A. degrees were completed at the University of British Columbia, and PhD (2003) at Simon Fraser University.
Dr Klassen’s work explores human motivation and emotions in diverse contexts, with many studies employing cross-cultural and/or mixed methods approaches. Research attention is currently focused on two themes:
- Exploring the relationship between teachers’ psychological characteristics and effectiveness.
- Motivation and emotions of at-risk adolescents.
The Department of Education
The Department of Education has undergone a substantial expansion in the last five years and is now able to consolidate its already strong position as a leading centre for research in education and related fields by expanding current staffing in the area of psychology and education and establishing a new research centre in psychology and education, with associated undergraduate and graduate teaching programmes.
The establishing of a research group in psychology/education is an essential part of the Department’s development plan as it will enhance capability in other Department research centres that undertake work in the area of learning (science education, language education), and complement the current growing expertise in sociology/education in the Department in its Centre for Research on Education and Social Justice. It will also enhance the Department’s ability to engage in collaborative work with other departments and groups within and beyond the University.