Michael Kernis, a creative and influential social psychologist at The University of Georgia, died April 23, 2009. A memorial service for him will be held in the chapel at the UGA Botanical Gardens at 5 p.m.on Friday, May 8th

 He was 54 years old and is survived by his wife, Vicki June Roberts.

Mike received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Rochester in 1983. Upon receiving his degree, he accepted his first position at the University of Texas at Arlington . He moved to the University of Georgia in 1989 where he became a full professor and a fellow of the University's Institute for Behavioral Research.

Mike was also a fellow of APA and APS as well as a member of SESP where he served on the Program Committee and Executive Committee. He was an associate editor for Self and Identity and was on the editorial board of Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin , Journal of Research in Personality, and Psychological Inquiry .

His major research interests were in the areas of self and motivational processes. He produced ground breaking research on: (a) the causes and consequences of possessing secure vs. fragile self-esteem, (b) individual differences in authentic functioning, and (c) mindfulness. Mike was among the first researchers to pursue a systematic program of research exploring varieties of self-esteem. For years, it had been suggested that high self-esteem was better than low self-esteem. Mike suggested, however, that not all high self-esteem is healthy. Individuals whose self-esteem is fragile and unstable compensate for their self-doubts by engaging in exaggerated tendencies to defend, protect and enhance their feelings of self-worth. They may become verbally defensive, for example, in response to threats to their self-worth. Individuals with secure high self-esteem, on the other hand, accept themselves “warts and all.” Mike's research on optimal self-esteem has been central in prompting researchers to move beyond a low/high dichotomy. It is now widely accepted that there are multiple forms of self-esteem, only some of which consistently relate to positive psychological functioning.

Mike summarized his ideas this way: “We aren't suggesting there's something wrong with people when they want to feel good about themselves. What we are saying is that when feeling good about themselves becomes a prime directive, for these people excessive defensiveness and self-promotion are likely to follow, the self-esteem is likely to be fragile rather than secure and any psychological benefits will be very limited.”

Mike's research has been published in the top journals in the field and has been supported by grants from the NSF and the NIMH. His work is highly cited and has been discussed in a number of popular media outlets (e.g., Psychology Today, MSNBC, WebMD ).

"I have known Mike and enjoyed his conversation, insights, and observations for 20 years" says Steve Beach.  He was an outstanding colleague and a good friend as well as a leading researcher.   His loss will be felt deeply in many ways and by many people in IBR.   The University, the Department, and the Institute have all experienced a great loss. However, Mike was also an inveterate optimist and he leaves behind a model of determination and coping that will continue to enrich all of us who knew him."

“As a person, Mike was very open and down-to-earth yet very passionate about his work" says Lenny Martin. "When he wasn't working, he enjoyed spending time with his wife and his seven cats (and one crazy possum). He also enjoyed traveling, being outdoors, talking with friends and colleagues, and listening to The Grateful Dead. He will be missed as a person and as a researcher. It is difficult to imagine his big frame and mischievous smile no longer being with us”.

William A. Owens, Jr., died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005. in Athens, GA. He was 91-years old. Bill was the founder and first director of the Institute for Behavioral Research.

“Doc,” as he was affectionately known, was one of my professors at Purdue, and a colleague and senior mentor at the University of Georgia. I was his associate director at IBR and succeeded him as director. Bill had an old-fashioned gallantry about him; he was kind, gentle, wise and supportive. Conversation about almost anything brightened his eyes and brought an easy smile to his lips. Over all those years my affection and personal and professional respect never diminished. Those of us who knew him have suffered a loss but we are buoyed by the memory of a very good person and friend.

Bill was a thoughtful and courteous family man who loved fishing and tennis. He married Barbara Louise Ramsey in 1941 and she has been his constant companion and survives him now. Their son, Scott Ramsey, preceded him in death.

Born in Duluth, Minnesota, Bill completed his B.A. at Winona State University and held advanced degrees from the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota. He had a long and distinguished academic career that began at Iowa State University in 1940 and lasted until his retirement from UGA in 1984.

Bill was a well-known applied psychologist and outstanding researcher. He made pioneering contributions to the use of biographical data for personnel selection, classification and prediction in educational and industrial contexts. He published some eighty articles, chapters and books, and seven tests ranging from measures of mechanical aptitude to instruments for selecting veterinarians. His research was well supported by the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development from 1966 until his retirement.

Owens’ research was widely recognized. In 1983, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology awarded him its Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award for him. In further recognition, the Society also annually gives the William A. Owens Scholarly Achievement Award for the best publication in the field of I-O Psychology during the past year. UGA named its highest award for scholarship in the social and behavioral sciences the William A. Owens Award.

Bill Owens was also a well-respected professor and mentor, having supervised more than a hundred theses and dissertations. One of his former students, Garnett Stokes, now Dean of UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, had this memory of him: “Doc was a wonderful mentor and someone students respected immensely. He allowed his students to work independently and to be creative. His classes were very challenging and his students loved him, including me.”

An able administrator, Owens served as head of the department of psychology at Iowa State University from 1946 to 1959, helped to develop the applied psychology program at UGA (1968-1970) and directed IBR from 1970 to1984.
Of his IBR years, Bill wrote in his autobiography: “It has been a broadening, humbling and fascinating experience to watch able people from different fields attack a common problem. All share some methods, convictions and practices; there is, nevertheless, enough uniqueness so that each can learn from the others and all can develop greater breadth, sensitivity to problems, and analytical skills. To me, personally, the IBR context has been an invaluable aid in my research.”
IBR continues to acknowledge his contributions with the Annual William A. Owens Lecture series. Owens also served as acting Provost and Senior Faculty Advisor at UGA from 1976-1977. In 1984 he received the Faculty/Alumni Service Award from the University of Georgia and the Georgia Alumni Society.

Owens served his profession nationally as well. He was President of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (1969-1970), a consulting editor of the Journal of Applied Psychology (1971-1979), and active in the governance of the American Psychological Association. He maintained an active consulting practice with industry in order to provide relevant professional experience for graduate students