Professor of psychology, Nancy
Segal, is this year's recipient of the university's highest honor
to a faculty member.
May 9, 2005 :: No. 201
“What E.O. Wilson did for ants, Nancy
Segal has done for twins,” said Irving Gottesman,
Sherrel J. Aston Professor of Psychology Emeritus at the University
of Virginia. “I am now tempted to compare her with Carl Sagan
because of the more pertinent contribution Nancy has made as a scientifically
sound popularizer and teacher. She has the ability to reach out
and communicate with an infectious enthusiasm to both young minds
and seasoned scientists. Her work all combines to make her the kind
of professor one can call outstanding without reservation.”
Nancy Segal, professor of psychology and Fullerton
resident, is this year’s recipient of Cal State Fullerton’s
Outstanding Professor Award — the highest honor the university
awards to a faculty member.
Friday afternoon Segal was surprised when CSUF President
Milton A. Gordon, accompanied by various university administrators,
made a visit to her classroom. The group entered carrying balloons
and a white porcelain sculpture of twins.
“Every year, we select one faculty member as
our Outstanding Professor of the Year,” said Gordon. “This
year, it is our honor to recognize Nancy Segal, who is not only
an outstanding professor but an excellent researcher and scholar.”
As the 2004-05 Outstanding Professor, Segal will
be recognized at the university’s May 27 Honors Convocation
and will carry the mace to lead the faculty at this month’s
commencement ceremonies. She will receive a $4,000 cash award from
the President’s Associates and will present a public lecture
next spring. ‘Twin research is wonderfully exciting, so to
be honored for doing the work I love best is so special,”
said Segal, author of the highly acclaimed book “Entwined
Lives: Twins and What They Tell Us About Human Behavior,”
published in 1999 by Dutton Press, and the soon-to-be-published
“Indivisible by Two: Lives of Extraordinary Twins,”
from Harvard University Press. She is also senior editor of the
American Psychological Association’s “Uniting Psychology
and Biology: Integrative Perspectives on Human Development,”
published in 1997.
“I like to tell people I’ve been studying
twins from the time I was a little girl,” said Segal. “As
a twin myself, my sister and I always had something that set us
apart from most other children.”
Among her research efforts, Segal has studied identical
twins who were separated at birth. The researcher was impressed
by the twins’ similarities, despite their different home environments.
Many of the separated twins held similar jobs, had similar mannerisms,
liked the same kinds of food and entertainment, and frequently felt
an immediate bond upon first meeting.
Related Story:
Researcher Delves Into
Genetics to Find Answers as to Why Twins Are So Different
“Nancy Segal is the world’s expert on
the psychology of twins,” writes Steve Pinker, Johnstone Family
Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. “She not only
pioneered the study of twins separated at birth, leading to some
of the most important findings in the history of psychology, but
she has explored all of the biological, cognitive and emotional
facets of twinning in fascinating detail. Her body of writing beautifully
combines scientific depth, psychological insight and human interest.”
Segal joined the Cal State Fullerton faculty in 1991
as an associate professor and that same year, established the Twin
Studies Center, which has been cited in numerous publications and
resources. She was promoted to full professor in 1994.
She has authored more than 80 scientific papers in
scholarly, peer-reviewed journals, more than half of which were
completed since joining Cal State Fullerton. She also has written
more than 20 book chapters.
Because of her groundbreaking work, she is frequently
called upon by national media, including Dateline NBC, 20/20,
Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, various PBS affiliates,
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The New
Yorker, Psychology Today and Discover Magazine. In
fact, she’s made more than 200 media appearances in the past
two decades.
A Fellow of the American Psychological Association,
American Psychological Society and Western Psychological Association,
Segal also served as contributing research editor for Twins
magazine from 1984-1998. Currently, she is an associate editor for
Twin Research and Human Genetics, the journal of the International
Society for Twin Studies.
“Nancy Segal is a major member of the scientific
community — with instant name recognition in the general area
of biological psychology — and her work is basic to any theoretical
understanding of generic and environment interaction,” said
Daniel Freedman, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago.
“Additionally, she is an excellent citizen, having organized
conferences, volunteered her services for professional newsletters
and societies, and exhibiting an endless energy in behalf of training
of students.”
Segal’s research has won numerous grants, and
she has presented her results at conferences around the world. Because
her work has applications to immediate issues in peoples’
lives, Segal has given expert testimony and legal consultation in
cases of twin loss and injury, as well as twin separation/custody
disputes. She is a frequent speaker in colleagues’ classes,
as well as in various campus symposia and discussion groups.
“Nancy Segal is a scholar who has ‘followed
her bliss’ by devoting her life to the study of twins,”
said William Smith, chair and professor of psychology at Cal State
Fullerton. “While she has certainly done the usual things
a faculty member does to serve the university — such as serving
on committees — her greatest contribution to the university,
her students and the profession is educating people by sharing her
extensive knowledge about research on twins.” Segal earned
her doctorate and master’s degree at the University of Chicago
and her bachelor’s degree at Boston University.
“Nancy Segal is a major member of the scientific
community — with instant name recognition in the general
area of biological psychology...”
Daniel Freedman, professor
emeritus
University of Chicago
|
“Nancy Segal is an outstanding professor,”
said Thomas Klammer, dean of the CSUF College of Humanities and
Social Sciences. “Her colleagues recognized that in naming
her a distinguished Humanities and Social Sciences faculty member
for 1999-2000.” Segal is also this year’s Distinguished
Professor in H&SS.
Segal received letters of recommendation from dozens
of academics in the United States and throughout the world, including
Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, Hebrew University
of Jerusalem, Keio University in Japan, International Society for
Twin Studies in London and University of Western Ontario, among
others.
Her advice to students and those just beginning scientific
careers is this: “Find a topic that really, really personally
interests you and is theoretically important. If you are doing something
that you like to do, commitment comes easily. Find a topic, a question,
an issue that interests you, and working comes easy.”
Many of her students find twins research fascinating
and have given her high marks as a teacher and a researcher.
“I’m probably having more fun than I
should,” Segal laughs. “But it really is an interesting
field, and my studies aren’t just beneficial to twins. We’re
looking at the influences of genes and environments, and trying
to determine the influence each has. This is of benefit to everybody.”
Jesa Kreiner, professor of mechanical engineering,
chaired the Outstanding Professor Selection Committee, consisting
of nine faculty members and four students.
Media Contacts: |
Nancy Segal at 657-278- 2142 or nsegal@fullerton.edu
Valerie Orleans, Public Affairs, at 657-278-4540
or vorleans@fullerton.edu |
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Nancy Segal is surprised by a classroom
visit from CSUF President Milton A.Gordon to announce her
selection as this year's Outstanding Professor.
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