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Memoir
Eric A. Bermann
Regents' Proceedings 27
Regents' Proceedings 27
Eric A. Bermann, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, retired from active faculty status on May 31, 2002.
Professor Bermann received his B.S. degree from Queens College in New York in 1956 and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan in 1957 and 1963, respectively. He joined the University of Michigan faculty as a lecturer in psychology in 1964. In 1966, Professor Bermann accepted an additional appointment as lecturer of psychology in psychiatry. He was promoted to assistant professor of psychology in psychiatry in 1969, associate professor of psychology in 1972, and associate professor of literary administration in 1974. He also served as chair of the clinical psychology program, staff psychologist and day treatment program coordinator at the Medical school, and chief psychologist at the Children's Psychiatric Hospital.
During his tenure, Professor Bermann taught core courses for generations of clinical psychology doctoral students and was central to the introduction of family system and community mental health perspectives into their curriculum. Professor Bermann chaired 48 doctoral dissertation committees, and he also strove to create unique training opportunities for his students in the University's interdisciplinary training program in child abuse and neglect. His publications range widely: determinants of marital choice, family violence, family assessment and family therapies, death fears, children at risk in substance-abusing families, and the impact on preschoolers of family, community, and media violence. Professor Bermann is also well known for his award-winning book, Scapegoat: The impact of death fear on an American family.
Professor Bermann was a consultant for the Grand Rapids Child Guidance Center, the Detroit Neuropsychiatric Institute, the Ann Arbor and Willow Run public schools, and the Washtenaw Intermediate School District Detention Home. He also served national roles in the American Association of Psychiatric Clinics, National Institute of Mental Health, American Psychological Association, and State of Michigan Licensing Board.
The Regents now salute this distinguished teacher and scholar by naming Eric Bermann associate professor emeritus of Psychology.