In an email to the Hamilton community on Oct. 15, Dean of Faculty Suzanne Keen announced the passing of Gregory Pierce, Professor of Psychology emeritus.
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,
I am writing with sadness to share news that Professor of Psychology Emeritus Gregory Pierce, a dedicated educator at Hamilton for 24 years, has died.
Greg earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University of Washington before coming to Hamilton in 1991. His research focused on social and personality psychology, in particular stress and coping and the effect of negative thoughts on performance in such areas as academics and athletics. He authored dozens of papers and publications that reflected his interests and expertise in supportive relationships and cognitive interference. His work appeared in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, and the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships among others.
Greg served Hamilton on a variety of committees, including the Committee on Academic Standing, the Planning Committee for New Student Orientation, and the Committee on Student Activities. From those and other experiences, he formed a strong interest in the academic development of students, which led to his appointment as associate dean of students (academic) in 1998. He pursued those responsibilities conscientiously, enthusiastically, and with the best interests of students in mind. At the time he was promoted to professor in 2004, Dean of Faculty David Paris wrote, “Students have high praise for his teaching but also note his contact with them outside of his classes and his interest in their nonacademic endeavors.”
On behalf of the College, I extend my deepest sympathies to Greg’s family and former colleagues, especially his former wife, Penny Yee, and their children, Katie ’14, Sun-Ly, and Liam.