Gordon Simerson, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Academic Administration
Office of the Provost
College of Arts and Sciences
Education
Ph.D., Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Wayne State University (1984)
M.A., Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Wayne State University (1982)
B.A. with Distinction, Psychology, University of Delaware (1979)
About Gordon
Dr. Simerson belongs to the following professional organizations: the American Psychological Association, American Psychological Society, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Organizational Behavior Teaching Society. He is a past member of the Academy of Management, Metropolitan New York Association for Applied Psychologists, Connecticut Applied Psychology Association, the Association of Labor-Management Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism, and the Eastern Academy of Management. He is also an occasional contributor to the OD and OB internet newsgroups and listservs. Member of Psi Chi and Omicron Delta Kappa.
Dr. Simerson's research interests focus on the management of those in creative functions; application of the "Big 5" model of personality to understanding work-related attitudes; procedural justice and organizational ethics; and spirituality in the workplace.
Dr. Simerson's consulting interests lie primarily in the domain of organizational development—one engagement involved working with the engineering staff of a manufacturing organization in order to resolve internal disputes and develop a stronger working relationship with management and with the shop floor. Other engagements have focused on market research, departmental mergers, and on the validity and fairness of selection/promotion systems.
In 1998, Dr. Simerson was appointed to the position of University Accreditation Officer, and was responsible for maintaining the University's accreditation status, and that of its programs, with the State of Connecticut and with various regional and professional accreditation agencies. In 2001, Dr. Simerson assumed the position of Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 2006, he was appointed to the position of Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies, Assessment, and Accreditation. His former teaching and research most emphasized gaining a useful understanding of the personalities, habits, and created contexts that allow people to be productive and happy at work. His present administrative role focuses on putting that to work—contributing to the organizational management that enables faculty to do what they do and be good at it.
On the personal side, Dr. Simerson is a champion amateur pool player, former University of New Haven racquetball champion, a golfer, a home brewer, handyman, and hiker. Some of his spare time lately has been consumed researching his Scottish, Irish, and German genealogical heritage.
Sample Professional Experiences
Member, Advisory Committee on Accreditation, Connecticut Department of Higher Education
Program Reviewer, Society of Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Program Reviewer, Eastern Academy of Management
Program Reviewer, Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference
SIOP Education & Training Committee (Co-Author, SIOP Guidelines for Education and Training at the Masters Level in Industrial/Organizational Psychology)
SIOP TIP Editorial Board