Gale Sinatra

Gale Sinatra is Distinguished Professor of Education and Psychology and the Stephen H. Crocker Chair at the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education, where she also serves as Associate Dean for Research. She earned her BS (1981), MS (1987), and PhD (1989) in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she was mentored by Dr. James M. Royer.

Her research focuses on the cognitive and motivational processes underlying science learning, particularly how emotion and motivation influence the understanding of controversial topics like climate change and biological evolution. She co-authored the influential 2021 book Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It, which addresses the psychological roots of science denial and strategies to combat misinformation.

Dr. Sinatra’s work bridges educational psychology and public science literacy, with implications for teaching, policy, and public engagement. Her research has been widely recognized for its societal impact and scholarly excellence.

She has received numerous honors, including:

• Election to the National Academy of Education (2022)
• President of APA’s Division of Educational Psychology (2017)
• Top 20 ranking in publishing productivity among women educational psychologists (2018)
• 2024 College of Natural Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award from UMass Amherst

Dr. Sinatra has demonstrated strong academic leadership as Associate Dean and has contributed extensively to advancing research in educational psychology. While specific grant details and advisees are not mentioned in the text, her leadership role suggests significant oversight of research funding and mentorship. Her career exemplifies the integration of rigorous scholarship with societal impact, particularly in promoting scientific literacy.