July 2015
Karen Rook is the new Chair of the Department of Psychology and Social Behavior.
Rook is internationally known for her work on human health and gerontology. Over the course of her career, she has produced an extremely impressive body of research that has had a tremendous impact on how we understand aging, including the important role that social relationships play in emotional adjustment and physical health outcomes later in life. More locally—here at UCI—she is well-known as a committed teacher and experienced administrator. With regard to the latter, she has served her department and the campus in a variety of visible and not-so-visible ways, including as PSB Department Chair, SE Equity Advisor, and SE Associate Dean for Research. As a seasoned administrator, she has demonstrated an abiding commitment to collaboration, shared governance, fairness, collegiality, and excellence. As a senior member of the faculty, she is easily identifiable as a colleague who appreciates the blend of scholarship, teaching, and service that is highly valued in the School and at UCI.