Department History > Department of Psychology

1841

St. John's College at Fordham founded

1862

seniors required to take Mental Philosophy

1899

first semester of senior philosophy: Psychology and Ethics Physiological Psychology first offered to undergraduates

1912

Carl Jung lectured at Medical School

1912, Oct 13

Physiological Psychology was offered for seniors by Dr. James J. Walsh, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (NY Times)

1916, Nov 6

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Teachers College, and School of Sociology and Social Service founded, at Woolworth Building

1919

Rational Psychology offered in Graduate Philosophy. Social Psychology listed in Social Service and Philosophy.

1920

Maurice E. Rogalin, Ph.D. first appears in 1920 Bulletin, in the Department of Education, where he taught Educational Psychology.

1921

Rev. Joseph A. Murphy, S.J. first appears in 1921 Bulletin, among the Graduate Philosophy faculty.

1926

Rev. John P. McCaffrey, M.A. (Fordham, 1923) joined the Department of Mental Hygiene in the School of Social Service. He taught Social Psychology at least until 1938, including cross-listing in Psychology’s first Bulletin listing (1933), making him a founder of the department.

1927

The first division of the Department of Education appears, with Rogalin heading Psychological Measurements and Method.

Physiological Psychology was once again taught, now in the Mental Hygiene Department of Social Services, by James J. Walsh, M.D., Ph.D., Sc.D., Litt.D.

1928

Rogalin was Head of Department of Psychology, Measurements and Elementary School Supervision, under Chair of Department of Education.

1930

Psychology taught in the Philosophy Department, and in graduate Department of Education
Fordham University (1930) Manhattan Division

1. Philosophy Faculty Committee includes Fr. Murphy, who taught Fundamental Psychology, Rational Psychology, Natural Theology, Philosophy of Evolution, and the Psychology of Habit and Character, along with the Senior Psychology course at St. John's College in 1930-1931 year.

2. Education Faculty Committee Pierre J. Marique, Pd.D., Ph.D. Chairman Faculty Committee and Head of Department: Philosophy and History Maurice E. Rogalin, Ph.D. Head of Department: Psychology, Measurements and Elementary School Supervision; Rogalin taught graduate courses in Educational Psychology, Educational Measurements, and the Psychology of Elementary School Branches.

1931

Robert T. Rock, M.A. became Head of Psychology and Measurements in the Department of Education, replacing Rogalin.

1932

Rev. Walter G. Summers, S.J. organized Psychology area in Department of Philosophy, pulling together cross-listed courses from the Departments of Education, Political Philosophy, and Social Services, along with Murphy's philosophical psychology and his own new courses. A dry run for new department.

Dr. Dorothea McCarthy joins Department of Education (J.F.X. McCarthy, 1992)

1933, Fall

Psychology Department separated from Philosophy Woolworth Building, Downtown campus Fordham (1933) Teacher's College – Graduate School

1. Psychology Faculty Committee: Head of Department and Chairman of Faculty Committee:
Rev. Walter G. Summers, S.J. PHIL to PSYCH
Rev. Joseph A. Murphy, S.J. PHIL to PSYCH
Robert T. Rock, Jr., Ph.D. ED & PSYCH
Jack W. Dunlap, Ph.D. ED & PSYCH
Dorothea A. McCarthy, Ph.D. ED & PSYCH
Frank J. O'Brien, Ph.D., M.D. SOCIAL SERVICES & PSYCH
Michael P. Lonergan SOCIAL SERVICES & PSYCH
other instructional staff: O'Beirne (PHIL), McCaffrey (SS)

2. Education Faculty Committee: Pierre J. Marique, Pd.D., Ph.D. Chairman Faculty Committee and Head of Department: Philosophy of Education and History of Education Robert T. Rock, Jr., M.A. Head of Department: Educational Psychology and Educational Measurements

1934

SSSS renamed School of Social Service
Fordham (1934) Graduate School

Department of Psychology Faculty Committee:
old: Summers (Head), Murphy, O'Brien, Lonergan
new: Harry McNeill, Ph.D., Ag. (Louvain) Robert F. Sheehan, M.D., M.Sc. Kathryn E. Serota, M.A. Elizabeth A. Walsh, Ph.D. (Guidance of Ungraded Children)
other instructional staff: Gallagher, McCaffrey

1935

Fordham (1935) Graduate School

1. Department of Psychology Faculty Committee:
old: Summers (Head), Murphy, McNeill, Sheehan, Serota
new: Thomas E. Bamford, Jr., A.B., M.D., Med.Sc.D. Frances M. Guanella, Ph.D.
other instructional staff: Kubis, Waldron, Byrns (ED), Gallagher, Coleman

2. Division of Education:
Department of Educational Psychology and Measurements
Department Committee: Head of Department: Robert T. Rock, Jr., Ph.D.
Jack W. Dunlap, Ph.D.
Dorothea A. McCarthy, Ph.D.

Gannon (1967): Rev. Murphy became Jesuit Provincial early 1935, and he does not appear in the 1936 Bulletin.

1936

Fordham (1936) Graduate School
Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology
old: Summers (Head), McNeill, Bamford
new: Maria Maudry, Ph.D. University of Vienna Jeanette O’Connor, M.S.S. Smith College
other instructional staff: Kubis, Noonan, Guanella, Sheehan, Waldron, Gallagher, Coleman, Byrns

1936, Dec 6

“third annual conference on guidance conducted by the Department of Psychology at Fordham University’s Graduate School”: NY Times

1937

Fordham (1937) Graduate School: East Fordham Rd, NY NY
Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology
old: Summers (Head), McNeill, Bamford, Maudry, O’Connor
new: Joseph F. Kubis, Ph.D. M. Gertrude Reiman, Ph.D.
other instructional staff: Bunn, Sheehan, Guanella, Waldron, Gallagher, Coleman, Byrns

moved to Rose Hill campus: new building: Keating Hall, for GSAS Gannon (1967 pp. 210-211): changes due to proximity between College and Graduate School: (1) move from common curriculum to undergraduate majors; (2) reorganization of departments to cover graduate and undergraduate education, and (3) changes in pay structure and tenure, seen in the Bulletins as increasing distinctions appeared between Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Instructors, Lecturers, and Graduate Assistants (1936 and on) (see Gannon, 1938)

two New York Times articles (Jan. 15, 1937, Nov. 18, 1937) describe the use of Fr. Summers’ lie detector in criminal cases; another reports the arrival of Dr. Robert F. Sheehan, former chief neuro-psychiatrist for the U.S. Bureau of War Risk, in the department (Sept. 16, 1937); one describes a 14 week forum on child care, to be held in Keating Hall beginning in October (Sept. 26, 1937), and one covers “Children enrolled in Fordham’s “Utopian school”” (Oct. 18, 1937).

1938

Bulletin: description of new facilities on third floor of Keating Hall large general lab for fundamental experimental work numerous research rooms for advanced experimental work, individual research photo lab, vision and sound experimentation, physiological recording equipment, including lab for scientific detection of deception College Guidance Clinic: aptitude, vocational Child Guidance Clinic:
1. diagnosis and treatment of children with problems
2. opportunities for clinical study by clinical grad students cooperation between Psychology and School of Social Service

1938, Aug 1

Teachers College (Woolworth Building) and graduate Department of Education (Rose Hill for two years – moved in time for Fall 1939) merged to form School of Education, serving graduate and undergraduate students in Manhattan

1938, Sep 24

Rev. Summers died at 49 (New York Times, Sept. 26, 1938)
Interim Head: Dr. Joseph Kubis
McNeill moved to Teachers College to teach philosophy Fordham (1938) Graduate School: Department of Psychology
Psychology: Kubis, Reichenberg, Reiman, Snee, Summers
Guidance: Bamford, Gallagher, Guanella, Hoppock, Monaghan, O’Connor (Lucille), Waldron Psychiatric Social Work: Lawrence Psychiatry: Sheehan Philosophy: Sherlock

1939

Head: Dr. Robert T. Rock, Jr. from School of Education Ph.D. Teacher’s College, Columbia under E.L. Thorndike established undergraduate department with same chair and faculty Bamford, Kubis, Lawrence, Monaghan, Reiman, Snee

1940

1. Fordham (1940) Graduate School
Department of Psychology: Dr. Rock, Head of Department Dayhaw, Donceel, Guanella, Kubis, Lawrence, Monaghan, O’Connell, Philip, Schramm, Snee, Terrence, West

2. Fordham College (1940)
Department of Psychology: Dr. Rock, Head of Department Kubis, Monaghan, Phillips, Snee

3. School of Education (1940) Graduate Department: Woolworth Byrns and McCarthy: Associate Professors Division III. Educational Psychology, Measurements, and Guidance Educational Psych and Measurements: Kelly, McCarthy
Guidance: Connors

4. School of Social Service (1940): Woolworth Building Lonergan: Psychiatry; Christina M. Leonard, M.D.: Mental Hygiene; Ruth K. Lynch: Psychiatric Social Work Problems

1947

Dr. Anne Anastasi joined the department

1947, Jan 16

New York Times: “Professor of Psychology made Rector of Fordham”: Rev. Joseph A. Murphy

1949

Chair: Rev. Joseph G. Keegan, S.J., Ph.D.

1953

249 M.A.’s and 47 Ph.D.’s so far

1958

Chair: Rev. William C. Bier, S.J., Ph.D. clinical psychology program created
Fordham buys into Lincoln Center Urban Renewal Project

1963

467 M.A.’s and 117 Ph.D.’s so far

1965

department moved from Keating to renovated Dealy Hall

1968

Chair: Dr. Anne Anastasi

1969

Liberal Arts College at Lincoln Center opens, and downtown schools move into Lowenstein

1974

Chair: Dr. Joseph F. Kubis

1976

Chair: Dr. John Walsh

1982

Chair: Dr. Marvin Reznikoff

1985

Chair: Dr. Kurt Geisinger

1991

Chair: Dr. Nancy Busch

1995

restructuring accomplished
Chair of RH+LC Psychology Department: Dr. Nancy Busch

1996

Chair: Dr. Kevin Moreland, then Dr. Mary Procidano

2002

Chair: Dr. Frederick Wertz

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