Psychology Professor Surprised with CSUSB Teaching Honor

Cynthia Crawford, a professor of psychology, was named the Outstanding Professor at Cal State San Bernardino for 2013-2014. Crawford, who has been at CSUSB since 1996, learned she had received one of the university’s top teaching honors when she least expected it – while teaching. CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales barged into Crawford’s classroom Monday afternoon accompanied by a group of about 20 faculty members who were previous award winners, along with colleagues, administrators and friends. Looking as puzzled as Crawford, her students in the Introduction to Psychopharmacology class watched as the president walked up to Crawford and then spoke to them. “We’re really pleased and excited that Professor Cynthia Crawford has been selected primarily because of students and student comments with the highest honor that CSUSB gives to its teaching faculty,” Morales said. “She is this year’s Outstanding Professor.” The classroom erupted in applause. Crawford, still looking surprised, smiled. “I do appreciate this very, very much,” Crawford said. “It is a little embarrassing, but it’s nice to have your colleagues appreciate what you do.” Professor Robert Ricco, chair of the university’s psychology department praised Crawford as a very modest individual. “That’s what makes this recognition very special,” he said. “She really deserves this. The entire psychology department is really excited about this honor.” Crawford, chosen by a committee of previous recipients of the Outstanding Professor award, was “commended by her colleagues and her students for her scholarship, teaching and commitment to students." As described in her nomination letter, Crawford “is a truly remarkable professional who brings great recognition to our university and seemingly limitless opportunities for our students." She is an authority “in the use of animal models to study addiction and has published more than 45 papers in prestigious journals, such as “Neuroscience,” “Behavioral Brain Research,” “Hippocampus,” “Synapse,” “Psychopharmacology,” “Brain Research,” “Developmental Neuroscience,” and “Behavioral Neuroscience.” The committee extolled Crawford’s commitment to her scholarship as well as her support of students. “Without a doubt, one of her most remarkable professional accomplishments is how she includes her students in her research,” the committee wrote. “Student authors appear on her publications over 100 times." The committee said having her students contribute to the papers “requires significant engagement and devotion to improving the educational experience of her students. By contributing to the professional careers of her students, Professor Crawford is an inspiring scholar and teacher and a successful mentor to hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students.” Her students praised her as an engaging professor who is approachable and supportive. “The professor is always willing to help us understand a difficult subject,” wrote one student. Crawford has taught a wide range of courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including Developmental Psychobiology, Drugs and Behavior, Addiction and Recovery, Learning and Motivation, Biological Psychology, Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Experimental Psychology: Biological, Behavioral Neuroscience, Advanced Biological Psychology, Introduction to Psychopharmacology, and Clinical Psychopharmacology. In addition, Crawford has an impressive record of being awarded grants from the National Institutes of Health, many of which once again support her students, Ricco said. Crawford secured NIH funding for the CSUSB Diversity Drug Abuse Research Program and the Minority Drug Abuse Research Program, serving as director for each of those programs, as well as being associate director of the university’s Minority Access to Research Careers Program. Also, Crawford recently secured a Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Grant. Crawford has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. She received her master’s and doctoral degrees, both in behavioral and neural studies, from the University of Kentucky. For a digital image of Cynthia Crawford or for more information on Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.