| Intro | American-New Zealand cross-cultural psychologist, professor of psychology |
| Is |
Researcher Psychologist |
| From | United States of America |
| Type |
Academia Healthcare |
| Gender | female |
| Birth | 19 August 1952, New Orleans, United States of America |
| Age: | 68 years |
| Star sign | Leo |
Professor Colleen Ward is an American-New Zealand cross-cultural psychologist. She is a Professor of Psychology and Founder of the Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research at Victoria University of Wellington. She a native of New Orleans.
Career
Ward obtained her PhD in social psychology from Durham University in 1977. She held an Organization of American States post-doctoral fellowship at the University of West Indies.
She is internationally recognised as a leading authority on cultural diversity and how culture affects human behaviour and experience.
Ward’s research/teaching positions include:
- Victoria University of Wellington (Head of School of Psychology, Director/Co-Director/Fellow of the Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research, Director of the Cross-cultural Programme)
- University of Canterbury
- National University of Singapore
- Science University of Malaysia
- University of West Indies.
Her other positions include:
- 2018- President-Elect, International Association for Cross-cultural Psychology
- 2009-2011 President, International Academy of Intercultural Research
- 2005-2007 President, Asian Association of Social Psychology
- 1992-1994 Secretary General, International Association for Cross-cultural Psychology.
Editorial Boards:
- Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Asian Journal of Social Psychology
- International Journal of Intercultural Relations
- Advances in Culture and Psychology Series (Oxford University Press.
Ward was interviewed on Radio New Zealand’s ‘Sunday’ programme in October 2012, along with Professor James Liu, on the claim that multiculturalism was failing in Europe and how multiculturalism works in New Zealand.
In 2018, Ward was appointed a member of the Welcoming Communities Advisory Board.
Areas of contribution
Ward’s areas of contribution include cross-cultural psychology; acculturation and adaptation; intergroup perceptions and relations.
Awards and honours
In 2004, Ward received a New Zealand James Cook Fellowship in Social Science.
In October 2015, Ward was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand for her “substantial contributions to the psychological study of immigration, acculturation and intercultural relations”.
She received a Te Rangi Hiroa medal from the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2011 for her outstanding contributions to the advancement of psychology study of immigration, acculturation, intercultural relations and cultural diversity.
Books
- Ward, C., Bochner, S. and Furnham, A. (2001). The Psychology of Culture Shock. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415162357.
- Ward, C. (ed) (1989). Altered States of Consciousness and Mental Health: A Cross-Cultural Perspective (Cross Cultural Research and Methodology). ISBN 978-0803932777.