Retiring Faculty

The Psychology and Child Development Department is saying good bye to two retiring faculty members after the 2017-18 year: Dan Levi and Michael Selby.

Dan Levi

We had a question and answer session with our retiring faculty about Cal Poly, teaching, passion and life on a desert island. Here’s what they had to share: 

What is your favorite thing about Cal Poly?

DL: I have enjoyed the freedom to teach and explore new ideas.

MS: Teaching.

What has been your favorite class to teach and why?

DL: Teaching environmental psychology is a pleasure. It helps students to see their world differently, and it reminds me of the challenges of creating a better world.

Michael Selby

MS: Psychopharmacology – it’s clinically relevant.

Are there any scholars or individuals that have inspired you?

DL: My graduate school advisor William Ittelson was an inspiring mentor. He was a perceptual psychologist who taught me how we create the world we live in. He published his last scholarly article the week he died at age 100.

MS: Bandura.

What has kept you enthused about your teaching career? What advice would you give a new faculty member or someone considering going into teaching?

DL: Every 3-5 years, I start to actively research and study a completely new topic. It is very important to keep learning new things to stay excited about learning and psychology.

MS: Dividing my time between teaching and clinical practice.

What do you think will change in the field of Psychology in the next five or 10 years?

DL: As society deals with the challenges of climate change, psychologists will be asked to help people and communities to become more resilient.

MS: More women, less men.

What is one thing you wish your students knew about you?

DL: I am shyer than you think.

MS: I work hard to provide them with useful information that will help them with their careers.

Besides work, what are your passions?

DL: My passions include hiking, kayaking, dancing and blues music. I have been producing blues concerts for 20 years. Last summer, I kayaked down class-4 rapids on the Rogue River.

MS: Surfing, running, biking and swimming.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring one personal item, what would it be?

DL: A knife – I am an eagle scout.

MS: A surfboard.

What’s the "best" advice you didn’t take — or wish you had taken?

DL: Spend more time making your wife happy. You can never spend enough time with the people you love.

MS: Study harder in my undergrad years!