Interview with Jonathan M. Golding, March 9, 1992

Interview Summary

Jonathan Mark Golding is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology in the University of Kentucky's College of Arts and Sciences. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1959. Golding received his B.A. in psychology from Temple University in 1981, and received his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Denver in 1986. Golding recalls that education was important to his family, and states that he feels that some sort of higher education is critical today. He recalls how he first became interested in psychology.

Golding emphasizes the importance of post-doctoral research in his field in order to further an academic career. He completed post-doctoral research at Memphis State before coming to UK in 1988. He describes his daily work activities in his position at UK, and the skills needed for a person in his position. Golding discusses the difficulty of publishing in his field of research psychology, and the frustrations of grant writing. Golding notes that one of the university's greatest achievements is educating a large cross-section of the people of the state of Kentucky. He sees the biggest problem at UK as the lack of understanding of the role of a research institution.

Golding discusses the topic of gender, race, nationality and age and how they impact career opportunities at the university. He perceives a certain element of racial tension on campus, and mentions a lecture by Spike Lee as an example. He talks about funding for higher-education in Kentucky. Golding discusses the rewards of his work, and communication within the department as well as within the college and university at large. He discusses the structure and hierarchy of his department, including the committees.

Interview Keyword

Nature of academic work Psychology Gender Race Education Cognitive psychology Research Psychology--Research Gender issues Sex discrimination. Minorities in higher education Discrimination in higher education African Americans--Education (Higher)

Interview LC Subject

Golding, Jonathan M. Golding, Jonathan M.--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History Educators Teaching and learning in higher education Department of Psychology Cognitive psychology. College of Arts and Sciences Universities and colleges--Faculty. Education, Higher--Kentucky College teachers. University or Kentucky--Basketball College students--Social conditions Universities and colleges.

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.