Diane Willis (professor)

Diane Janice Willis
Born
Diane Janice Willis

(1937-05-09) 9 May 1937 (age 87)
Oklahoma, United States
Academic background
Alma mater
ThesisPerceptual and cognitive performance of children as functions of socio-economic class (1970)
Doctoral advisorNicholas Hobbs
Academic work
DisciplinePsychologist
Sub-disciplineChild Psychology
Not to be confused with Diane Willis, the American journalist.

Diane Janice Willis is an American psychologist who focuses on clinical adolescence and child psychology. As of 2024 she is a professor emeritus at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center.[1]

Early life and education

Diane Janice Willis was born on May 9, 1937 in Northern Oklahoma.[2] Her father, William Paschal, was a teacher and high school principal, but when he met Willis' mother, Zelma Bynum Willis, he began to work for a business to provide for the family. Her family moved around, and eventually settled in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.[3]

Willis graduated with a Bachelor's in Biology from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and went on to get her Master's of Arts in Psychology from George Peabody College in 1965. She decided she wanted to return home and was offered to start her PhD in University of Oklahoma's clinical training program where she worked with Muzafer Sherif.[2] In 1970 she was awarded her PhD in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma.[1]

Career and research

In 1973 Diane became editor for the Society of Pediatric Psychology newsletter,[4] which was later renamed the Journal of Pediatric Psychology.

After finishing her postdoctoral training from University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Willis took on the Chief Psychologist position at John W. Keys Speech and Hearing Center. From 1974 until around late 1975 Willis worked as a psychology consultant. She then accepted the position of Director of Psychological Services at the Child Study Center.[1]

Willis’s research focused on understanding how learning disabilities and outside factors affected their learning.[5][6] She is also known for her work starting outreach programs for Native Americans.[7]

Awards and recognition

In 1992 Willis received the American Psychological Association's Citizen Psychologist Presidential Citation for her leadership in elevating behavioral services that are available to children and families in Native American communities.[citation needed] In 2012 the Diane Willis Award for an outstanding article in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology was established.[8] She received the Distinguished Professional Contribution to Clinical Psychology Award in 2017.[9] Willis is a member of the Native American Kiowa tribe and was awarded the Indian Woman of the Year by the Oklahoma Federation of Indian Women.[10]

Selected publications

  • Willis, Diane J.; Wright, Logan; Wolfe, John (June 1972). "WISC and Nebraska Performance of Deaf and Hearing Children". Perceptual and Motor Skills. 34 (3): 783–788. doi:10.2466/pms.1972.34.3.783. ISSN 0031-5125. PMID 5040493. S2CID 40169009.
  • Willis, Diane J.; Holden, E. Wayne; Rosenberg, Mindy, eds. (1992). Prevention of child maltreatment: developmental and ecological perspectives. New York: Wiley. ISBN 978-0-471-63419-5.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c Willis, Diane J. (24 November 2015). "Pioneers in Pediatric Psychology: Helping Shape a New Field". Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 41 (2): 210–219. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsv110. PMC 4884909. PMID 26609184. Free access icon
  2. ^ a b Hansen, Laura K. (3 July 2024). "Leaders in the History of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Past Presidents Series: Diane Willis (1983)". Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. 53 (4): 554–557. doi:10.1080/15374416.2024.2358479. ISSN 1537-4416. PMID 39110861.
  3. ^ Willis, Diane J. (1 March 2016). "Pioneers in Pediatric Psychology: Helping Shape a New Field". Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 41 (2): 210–219. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsv110. ISSN 0146-8693. PMC 4884909. PMID 26609184.
  4. ^ "Diane J. Willis - Oklahoma State University". cas.okstate.edu. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  5. ^ Carpenter, Robert L.; Willis, Diane J. (March 1972). "Case Study of on Auditory Dyslexic". Journal of Learning Disabilities. 5 (3): 121–129. doi:10.1177/002221947200500301. ISSN 0022-2194. S2CID 142296028.
  6. ^ Willis, Diane J.; Wright, Logan; Wolfe, John (June 1972). "WISC and Nebraska Performance of Deaf and Hearing Children". Perceptual and Motor Skills. 34 (3): 783–788. doi:10.2466/pms.1972.34.3.783. ISSN 0031-5125. PMID 5040493. S2CID 40169009.
  7. ^ Willis, Diane J.; Spicer, Paul (2013), Culp, Anne McDonald (ed.), "American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Families", Child and Family Advocacy, New York, NY: Springer New York, pp. 191–201, doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-7456-2_13, ISBN 978-1-4614-7455-5, retrieved 22 December 2024
  8. ^ "Diane Willis Award Winners - Society of Pediatric Psychology". 14 March 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Diane J. Willis, PhD, Awarded 2018 APA Presidential Citation". American Psychological Association. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  10. ^ "OU'S Largest College to Honor Award Winners". Oklahoma University. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  11. ^ Review of Prevention of child maltreatment