Faculty Profiles

Nathan R. George

Assistant Teaching Professor
Psychology, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology

Blodgett Hall 212d
516.877.4749
ngeorge@adelphi.edu

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General Information

Diplomas/Degrees

Diplomas/Degrees

Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, Temple University (2014)

B.S., Psychology, Lehigh University (2008)

Licenses and Certifications

Licenses and Certifications

Future-Ready Teaching: Exploring AI in Education Certificate, Adelphi University, 2023

Teaching in Higher Education Certificate, Temple University, 2013

Personal Statement

Personal Statement

I believe there is no better model for engendering lifelong learning than one’s own scholarship. As an undergraduate student myself, my passions for child development were stoked through courses taught by respected leaders in the field and realized through hands-on experiences with experimental research. This teacher/scholar model remains at the core of my own teaching philosophy. Modeled from some of the most influential teachers in my life as well as my own knowledge of effective approaches to learning from my training as a developmental psychologist, my classes stress experiential learning and practical application. Whether it be through in-class demonstrations, opportunities for personal reflection, or assignments that emphasize behavior in real-world contexts, I seek to encourage students to engage with the material in a way that is meaningful to them. Critical thinking is equally important, as through discussions and assignments, students wrestle with how to assess and apply behavioral research to the big questions of psychology. To that end, I place great importance on maintaining a classroom environment that is open to questions and thoughtful discussion. Whether a large lecture or intimate seminar, I strive to portray the message that every question and challenge is valuable. Science progresses on the open and honest sharing of ideas, and students, regardless of experience, should feel empowered to be a part of that process.

My responsibilities as a teacher also extend beyond the classroom. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is the opportunity to mentor students, particularly in research settings. I take great joy in the opportunity to tailor experiences that not only reflect students' varied passions, but also meet each student where they are in their academic journey. From walking students through their first experiences with interpreting empirical research, to guiding them through the design and execution of their own projects within the field of child development, it is extremely rewarding to see students develop the tools necessary to channel their passions and curiosity towards the discovery of knowledge. Regardless of the mentoring setting, it is also a great privilege to speak to life decisions that go beyond the material at hand and I take great pride in whatever role I can play in helping students discover and achieve their career goals.

Regardless of the learning context, my goal is that each student I encounter be inspired to use psychology as a window into everyday personal and professional experiences and be equipped, through the engagement of the rich data in behavioral science, to be critical consumers of information. Psychology is a discipline that speaks volumes into the development of the person and my sincere hope is to use the material to the best of my ability to prepare students for the challenges ahead.

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