September 15, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - New York University (NYU) Professor Clancy B. Blair, Ph.D., has been selected to receive the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Psychology's Distinguished Psychology Alumni Award for 2008.

Blair, who earned his doctorate in developmental psychology and a master's degree in public health from UAB in 1996, will be honored during UAB's Homecoming Week at a special ceremony 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, in Campbell Hall, Room 327, 1300 University Blvd. During the event Blair will present his lecture, "The Development of Self-Regulation in Young Children." The event is free and open to UAB students, faculty and alumni of the UAB Department of Psychology. Call the UAB Department of Psychology at 205-934-3850 for more details.

The UAB Distinguished Psychology Alumni Award was created to recognize alumni of the Department of Psychology for their professional achievements, exceptional human qualities and contributions to the university and society.

Blair is a developmental psychologist in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at NYU where he studies self regulation in children. His primary research focus is the development of cognitive abilities, referred to as executive functions, and the ways in which these aspects of cognition are important for school readiness and early school achievement. He also studies the development and evaluation of preschool and elementary school curricula designed to promote executive functions as a means of preventing school failure.

Prior to his employment at NYU, Blair spent ten years as an assistant and then associate professor in the department of Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University.