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Psychology Professor

Professor Emerita

2012

Bio:

Mary Hannah received her B. A. in psychology from Sweet Briar College (Sweet Briar, Virginia) in 1962.   She began her graduate work in psychology at Alfred University (Alfred, New York) where she was awarded her M. A. in 1970. Her doctoral work was completed in 1974 at the George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University (Nashville).

Dr. Hannah’s long and distinguished career as a lecturer and teacher began as a teaching assistant in Educational Psychology while studying for her doctorate at Vanderbilt in 1970. In 1972 and ’73 she worked as a school psychology intern in Owensboro, Kentucky. From ’73 to ’76 she was a school psychologist at the Rockford, Illinois public schools, as well as a lecturer (’75 and ’76) at Rockford College. In 1977 she joined the University of Detroit as an assistant professor of psychology. She was promoted to associate professor in 1983 and full professor in 1992. From 1985 to ’89 she was the director of the school’s psychology doctoral program. From ’83 to 2008 she directed the school’s Psychology Specialist Program. She also served as chairperson of University of Detroit Mercy’s Psychology Department from 1990 to 2011.

While pursuing a fulltime career at the UDM, Dr. Hannah also found time to serve as the associate director of the Child and Family Psychology Clinic from 1979 to 1986; as a research scientist and associate director of the Center for Human Development and Aging from 1983 to 1990; as a psychologist at Evergreen Counseling from 1985 to 1998; and as a guest instructor at the University of Southern Maine during the summers of 1991, ‘92’ and ‘93.

During her tenure at the University of Detroit Mercy, Dr. Hannah has taught undergraduate classes in introductory, developmental, educational, and community psychology as well as in tests and measurements and an introductory course in clinical assessment. Her graduate courses have included school psychology, learning and behavior problems in children, psychological testing, differential diagnosis and therapy with children, child psychopathology, intervention strategies, social processes, behavior therapy, and more. She has also been involved in internship supervision and thesis and dissertation supervision at UDM.

In addition to her teaching, Dr. Hannah’s writing has appeared regularly in such journals as School Psychology Digest, The Journal of Psychology, Academic Psychology Bulletin, Psychology in the Schools, Journal of Psychiatric Treatment and Evaluation, School Psychology Review, and Developmental Psychology, to name only a few.

Beyond her work in the School of Psychology, Dr. Hannah has served the University of Detroit Mercy at large in a wide variety of areas: member of the Search Committee for Psychology Chairperson, 1977; member of the Jesuit Founders Scholarship Committee, 1979; member of the Task Force on the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum, 1983; member of the Liberal Arts Rank and Tenure Committee, 1987 to ’91; member of the Council of Chairpersons of the Liberal Arts College, 1990 to ’98; board member of the University of Detroit Mercy Professors Union, 1998 to 2002; chairperson of the University Rank and Tenure Committee, 2001 to 2004; and at least a dozen other positions.

Dr. Hannah has been widely recognized and honored by her colleagues. Between 1975 and 1980 she received Certificates of Recognition not only from the National Association of School Psychologists but from their affiliates in Ohio (1977), California (1979), and Michigan (1980). In addition, the National Association of School Psychologists awarded her their Presidential Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation in both 1978 and 1992. The NASP also awarded Dr. Hannah their Presidential Award for Outstanding Service in 1981 and 1996. She received research grants from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1977 and 2009. And in 1993 UDM presented Dr. Hannah with their Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Service.

Dr. Hannah is a member of both Psi Chi (1969) and Phi Kappa Phi (1970). Her committee memberships and chairpersonships for the National Association of School Psychologists are almost too numerous to list. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association and the National Education Association. She has served in an editorial capacity for both the School Psychology Review (1978 to 1990) and the Academic Psychology Bulletin (1982 to 1985).

In 2011, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Hannah retired from the University of Detroit Mercy. Dr. Hannah was named a Professor Emerita of UDM upon the recommendation of Dr. Linda Slowik, Chairperson of the Psychology Department, Dr. Roy Finkenbine, interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education, and with the support of the Academic Leadership Team.

Dr. Hannah Professor Emerita status was conferred by Dr. Antoine M. Garibaldi., President of the University of Detroit Mercy on August 20, 2012.  Dr. Hanna entered eternal life on May 15, 2021.

University of Detroit Mercy

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