Purdue News
Purdue News
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October 26, 2001 Motivational speech highlights Afrocentric view of worldWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Psychology professor and motivational speaker Linda James Myers will deliver a presentation at Purdue University entitled, "Cultural Education and Resilience: African-American Challenges and Triumphs in the New World Order." Her talk begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, in Stewart Center, Room 206. Myers, a licensed psychologist, has served as a faculty member in the departments of Psychology and African-American and African Studies at The Ohio State University for 25 years. She also is executive director of the Center for Optimal Thought, a non-profit educational facility specializing in self-actualization, leadership training and spiritual development. Myers seeks to expand understanding of human development by incorporating views that do not enjoy prominence in the Western world. Her transformative leadership model promotes multicultural intellectual growth. Myers also has developed a psychotherapeutic approach called Belief Systems Analysis, which in its expanded form, is used widely in psychoeducational programming, including behavioral medicine and social ethics. Renee Thomas, director of Purdue's Black Cultural Center, says Myers' address should be enlightening, especially in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "Dr. Myers is a researcher at the cutting edge of the movement to expand our understanding of human development to be inclusive of world views, " Thomas says. "Her presentation will focus on the need for a value of the kind of cultural education that will help us understand African-American resilience in the face of many generations of terrorism." Myers has published several articles and two books, including "Understanding an Afrocentric World View: Introduction to an Optimal Psychology." She also has served as associate editor of the Journal of Black Psychology and the Journal of Black Studies and is a past president of the Association of Black Psychologists. Myers' awards include the Bethune/Woodson award for Outstanding Contributions in the Development of Black Studies, the Distinguished Psychologist Award from the Association of Black Psychologists, the Outstanding Teacher of the Year from The Ohio State University Colleges of Arts and Sciences, and the Building to Eternity Award from the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilization. She has been inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, and is listed in Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who Among Human Service Professionals. CONTACT: Renee Thomas, (765) 494-3091, rathomasathomas@purdue.edu. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Interviews with Myers will be available at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Black Cultural Center or immediately after her address. Contact the BCC at (765) 494-3091 to make arrangements. A publication quality photo of Myers is available at the News Service ftp site. Photo ID: myers.l.jpeg Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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