Diane F. Halpern

Diane F. Halpern is an American psychologist and past-president of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Halpern received her B.A. from University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. from Temple University. She then received an M.A., from University of Cincinnati, followed by a Ph.D. from that institution in 1979. After teaching for many years at the California State University, San Bernardino, she is currently Professor of Psychology and Director of the Berger Institute for Work, Family, and Children at Claremont McKenna College.

In 1995, Halpern was part of an 11-member APA task force led by Ulric Neisser which published "Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns," a report written in response to The Bell Curve. She has also written on cognitive differences between men and women. She suggests a biopsychosocial model offers superior insight into cognitive sex differences than a simple nature-vs-nurture dichotomy. Another topic of her research is risks associated with left-handedness.

Halpern has won awards for her teaching and research, including:

• 2002 Outstanding Professor Award from the Western Psychological Association
• 1999 American Psychological Foundation (APF) Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching Award
• 1996 Distinguished Career Award for Contributions to Education given by the American Psychological Association
• 1996 California State University's State-Wide Outstanding Professor Award
• 1996 Outstanding Alumna Award from the University of Cincinnati
• 1996 Silver Medal Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
• Wang Family Excellence Award
• G. Stanley Hall Lecture Award from the American Psychological Association.