Journal of Social Issues, Vol. 67, No. 1, 2011, pp. 203--204
Introduction to Susan Opotow’s SPSSI Presidential Address Daniel Perlman∗ School of Human Environmental Sciences UNCG
It is an honor and a pleasure for me to introduce Susan Opotow as she gives her 2009 SPSSI Presidential address. Although I will keep my remarks short, I want to share a bit about Susan’s career and her contributions to SPSSI. Susan took her BA at Antioch College and then a master’s degree in counseling from the Banks Street College. She began her career as a teacher and guidance counselor in the New York City School system. She then entered the doctoral program in social and organizational psychology at Columbia University where she completed her dissertation under the direction of former SPSSI President Mort Deutsch (1960–1961). Her first full-time academic appointment was with the Graduate Program in Dispute Resolution at the University of Massachusetts at Boston where she served as an associate and then a full professor from 1996 until 2007. In that year she moved to become a Professor of Sociology at City University of New York’s (CUNY) John College of Criminal Justice and a Professor in the CUNY Graduate Center’s Criminal Justice and Social and Personality graduate programs. Susan’s scholarly work has focused on the social psychology of conflict and injustice. Her dissertation was an experimental study of the scope of justice: namely whether or not students believe the Bombardier beetle deserves to be treated fairly. Both sides of the scope of justice, exclusion and inclusion, have been recurrent concerns in Susan’s research. She has examined this in several domains including the treatment of animals, affirmative action, environmental and rangeland conflicts, torture, and the American Civil War Reconstruction. Although she has made noteworthy contributions on other topics as well (e.g., a theory of hate, ∗ Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Daniel Perlman, Professor and Chair, Human Development and Family Studies, School of Human Environmental Sciences UNCG, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170 [e-mail:
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mediation ethics, why students cut classes), her work on moral exclusion has been, I believe, the hallmark of her career. It has been groundbreaking, programmatic, ever evolving, and of definitive importance. Susan has received a number of honors. After completing her PhD, she was a Harry Frank Guggenheim Fellow. She is now a fellow of several APA divisions (1, 9, and 48). In 2003, she was the recipient of the University of Massachusetts President’s Public Service Award. In 2008, she was selected to receive the Morton Deutsch Conflict Resolution Award for “Outstanding contributions as a scholar, teacher, and mentor. Her research has inspired conflict resolution scholars and practitioners around the world.” In 2009, she received an American Psychological Foundation Raymond A. and Rosalee G. Weiss Innovative Research and Programs Grant to study the psychological conflict, challenges and change in post-September 11 New York. In 2009–2010, she was the recipient of a John Jay College Faculty Scholarly Excellence Award. Susan has been a wonderful SPSSI member, one of those who has made the greatest contribution to the Society during the period 1990 to the present. The hearty applause at the 2009 SPSSI Business meeting testified to members’ admiration and appreciation for her presidential leadership of SPSSI in 2008–2009. Before becoming president she edited two JSI Issues; served on the JSI Editorial Board; edited SPSSI’s Newsletter; was a member of the Sages, Fellows and Convention Program Committees; was a member of Council member twice (1992– 1995 and 2004–2007); and has been the SPSSI Council Liaison to the SPSSI United Nations Committee for several years. Although this is not the place to review Susan’s accomplishments during the past year, she has been an active SPSSI president, staying in touch with Committee chairs and offering guidance to their work. Two particular activities I would note are (1) consistent with her own interests and core SPSSI concerns, she encouraged a task force on the twotiered academic system (e.g., the unjust treatment of adjunct faculty), and (2) the support she gave to Michaela Hynie in fostering 2009’s innovative and especially excellent Division 9 APA program. As President, Susan has exhibited a blend of interdependent and independent leadership. She has had clear principles and direction including supporting SPSSI’s relationship with APA, while at the same time energizing and praising the contributions of SPSSI members. Susan’s talk on this occasion is entitled “How This Was Possible: Interpreting the Holocaust” It weds multiple elements: the interests and passions that have driven her career, exploration of a new focus of Susan’s inquiry, the capacity Susan has as a former counselor for working with narrative materials, and Susan’s keen intellect for organizing and bringing fresh meaning to the problems she addresses. In short, for listeners and readers alike, Susan provides what we all want in a SPSSI Presidential Address: an engaging presentation that reflects SPSSI’s values and that provides an insightful psychological cum interdisciplinary analysis of a social issue. For journal readers, do not be surprised if this article touches your emotions and reinforces your commitment to utilizing social science knowledge in the public interest. Enjoy and benefit from the read!
