Sarah Mangelsdorf

Sarah Mangelsdorf is an American academic administrator and developmental psychologist who has served as the 11th president of the University of Rochester since 2019. She previously held significant leadership roles at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, including as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. Mangelsdorf's scholarly work focuses on emotional development in infants and children, and she is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Psychological Association.

Early life and education

Sarah Mangelsdorf was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She remained at the same institution for her doctoral studies, receiving a Ph.D. in child psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her early academic training was influenced by prominent figures in developmental science, and her dissertation research examined early socioemotional processes.

Academic career

Mangelsdorf began her faculty career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she rose through the ranks to become a professor in the Department of Psychology. Her research and teaching there centered on developmental psychology, and she served in various administrative roles, including as head of the developmental psychology division. In 2004, she returned to her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, as dean of the College of Letters and Science, the university's largest academic unit. She was later appointed provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at University of Wisconsin–Madison, serving as the chief academic officer under Chancellor Rebecca Blank.

University of Rochester presidency

Mangelsdorf was selected as the 11th president of the University of Rochester in 2019, succeeding Joel Seligman. Her inauguration ceremony was held in the historic Eastman Theatre on the university's River Campus. Key initiatives during her presidency have included the "One University" framework to enhance collaboration across the institution's schools and colleges, such as the Eastman School of Music, the School of Medicine and Dentistry, and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences. She has also overseen major fundraising campaigns, including for the new Institute for Data Science, and navigated institutional challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on higher education in the United States.

Research and publications

Mangelsdorf's research in developmental psychology has extensively explored the emotional and social development of infants and young children. Her published work often investigates topics such as temperament, attachment theory, and the early emergence of emotional regulation. She has co-authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals like Child Development and Developmental Psychology. A significant portion of her scholarship examines the interplay between biological predispositions and caregiving environments, contributing to broader understandings within developmental science.

Awards and honors

Throughout her career, Mangelsdorf has received recognition for both her scholarly contributions and leadership. She was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Psychological Association. She has also been honored with awards such as the American Psychological Foundation's Robert L. Fantz Memorial Award for her research on infant perception. Her service to the broader academic community includes roles on boards for organizations like the Association of American Universities and the Rochester Business Alliance.

Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:University of Rochester faculty Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Category:American women psychologists Category:Presidents of the University of Rochester