Donelson R. Forsyth

Room 233 Jepson Hall
Office: (804) 289-8461
Fax: (804) 287-6062

Curriculum Vitae 

The heart of Dr. Forsyth's work is to build knowledge about why people feel, think and act as they do. His research focuses on ethics, with a specific concentration on individual, group and cultural differences in degree of idealism and relativism. An authority on group dynamics -- whose text Group Dynamics is in its fifth edition -- Dr. Forsyth focuses on groups' reactions to success and failure and the interpersonal functions of groups, including small group decision making. He has studied influence, juries, mobs, crowds, clubs, cliques and leadership. His broad interests include social behavior, leadership and group dynamics, and research methodology in the social sciences.

A mark of the high level of his scholarship, he serves on numerous editorial boards for professional journals and has served as advisor and mentor to some 25 doctoral students.

Dr. Forsyth joined the Jepson School faculty in 2005 after serving at Virginia Commonwealth University as a Professor in the Department of Psychology with a joint appointment in sociology.There he taught graduate courses in research methods, attribution and social cognition, attitudes, group dynamics and social psychology.

Dr. Forsyth has received a number of grants, fellowships, and awards for teaching. Honors include: the Award of Excellence, Virginia Commonwealth University (2002); State of Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award, (2002) Distinguished Scholar Award, Virginia Social Science Association (2001); Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology, Virginia Commonwealth University (2000); Instructional Technology Teaching Mentor, Virginia Commonwealth University (1998-2000) and the Virginia Commonwealth University Distinguished Teaching Award (1993).

A prolific and thoughtful writer, he stays active in a number of scientific, honorary and professional societies including the American Psychological Society, American Sociological Association, American Psychological Association (Divisions 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 49), Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Society of Experimental Social Psychology, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Capital Area Social Psychological Association, Southeastern Society of Social Psychology, Society for the Advancement of Social Psychology.

Courses:
Theories & Models of Leadership
Psychology of Good and Evil 
Group Dynamics

Created in 2004 and funded by a gift from W. Thomas Matthews, President and Chief Executive Officer, Private Client, for the Smith Barney Planning Group, the Colonel Leo K. and Gaylee Thorsness Endowed Chair in Ethical Leadership honors Colonel Thorsness, United States Air Force (retired), who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam and received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism. After retiring from the military, Colonel Thorsness worked as a corporate executive and served as a senator from Washington State from 1988 to 1992. He and his wife, Gaylee, now reside in Arizona.

The purpose of this chair is to recruit and employ a stellar faculty member in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies who will teach students about the benefits and characteristics of ethical leadership and perpetuate that understanding with all students whom the chairholder instructs.