Here are 113 retirement messages sent by students:


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You're the best -- has anyone else in psychology ever done so much for so many?

Kaye McMillan
Florida Atlantic University
United States

Dr. Zimbardo,

Thanks for all you have done for the field of psychology. Your contributions are truly invaluable.

Enjoy your retirement!

Jason McNeal
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
United States

Dr. Zimbardo,

Congratulations on a long and productive career in psychology! I wish you as much success in the next phase of your life as you've already experienced. Your contributions to the field will never be forgotten!

Best of luck!

Lisa Merlo
Wayne State University
United States

Professor Zimbardo,

I would like to tell you that in my last year of high school a teacher showed a few of us a series of videos by a man named Zimbardo introducing the world of social psychology. That was my first taste of the discipline and it led me to choose psychology as a major when I started university the next year. I am now completing a Ph.D. in social psychology at the University of Queensland, Australia, and the name Zimbardo has remains associated in my mind with innovative research and charismatic teaching.

Thanks for opening my eyes to and whetting my appetite for psychology -- I am very grateful. Congratulations.

Kieren Moffat
University of Queensland
Australia

Dr. Zimbardo,

I greatly admire your work. Your PBS video series has helped me understand many concepts in psychology.

Good luck in your future endeavors.

John Mullen
Myers Park High School
United States

I still remember the excitement when I read about your experiment for the first time. The excitement that motivated many other psychologists and will do forever. Thank you, and best wishes.

Masanori Oikawa
Hitotsubashi University
Japan

Zim,

With the coolest professor at Stanford retiring, “The Farm” (aka paradise) will definitely not be the same. From decades of Psych 1 and small seminars to countless talks, special appearances, books & textbooks, journal/magazine articles, websites, videos, and research projects, you have touched the lives of countless students and people.

What do I mean by countless? Try *at least* hundreds of thousands, if not millions. The number is truly unknown. What is crystal clear to me is that in the world of psychology, there ain't too many dudes that fit that description. You are selfless, a true public servant, and an amazing teacher. In the world of academia, there ain’t too many dudes like you. But, above all, you are dynamic, witty, engaging, fun, caring, sensitive, brilliant, and a word I use VERY rarely…*inspirational*. In the world of people, there definitely ain’t too many dudes who fit that description.

I feel honored, blessed, and privileged to have been the last student you'll likely closely work with. I've grown more as a person because of you than I ever thought was possible. I continue to be amazed, inspired, and challenged, and frequently think about you or what you would do in a given situation. I know that I can't say that about too many people.

I am both excited and a little scared about the future – I imagine you feel the same. I am sad to let go of the past, yet look upon it with pride, positive feelings, and sheer joy. I know you feel the same. I love living the present, and know you feel the same.

You walk – or drive – along Stanford’s campus and are a star. There’s a reason why. Not too many people in our world have touched lives the way you have.

All the best,
MO

Michael Osofsky
Stanford University
United States

Congratulations, Dr. Zimbardo!

As a student, I appreciate all that you have contributed to psychology. Thank you, and you deserve this recognition!

Sydney Owens
Myers Park High School
United States

Hi Dr. Zimbardo--

I remember watching videos of your PBS series in my high school AP Psych class and they were always more interesting than lectures on the same material (my personal favorite was the one on perceptual illusions!). Thanks for your many intriguing contributions to the field and best of luck in the future!

Sue Paik
Dartmouth College
United States

Dr. Zimbardo:

I am a graduate student from Cordoba, Argentina. I’m also teaching history of psychology for undergraduates. I remember asking material from you by e-mail and your generous reply as well as your recommendations.

It is really difficult to express in a few words my acknowledgment for all the hard work you have done in order to fuel the development of psychology as a science as well as a profession. I would like to point out one of your papers that particularly represents what your contribution is and, more important, what psychology should be. I am talking about the paper in which you analyze the U.S. government terrorism warning system as a function of the empirically based principles derived from social psychology about effective communication. I think that the paper is extremely powerful in showing how basic research can make a difference in important everyday issues and how psychology should help society and its institutions.

Sincerely yours,

Ricardo Pautassi
Instituto Ferreyra - National University of Córdoba
Argentina


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