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Subject: [INDIANA] Ryans,Griffith,Greco
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 20:25:31 EST

RYANS, DAVID GARRIOT (1909-1986). David Garriot Ryans, educational
psychologist and researcher, was born on July 29, 1909, in Jeffersonville,
Indiana, to John Byron and Carrie Maude (Griffith) Ryans. He graduated from
Jeffersonville High School in 1927. Five years later he received his B.A. in
psychology and philosophy from De Pauw University. Upon completion of an M.A.
in educational psychology at the University of Minnesota in 1933, he accepted
a position as an instructor of psychology and director of testing at Eveleth
Junior College in Minnesota. Concurrently, he began doctoral studies at the
University of Minnesota and in 1937 received his Ph.D. in educational
psychology and general psychology. From 1937 through 1939 Ryans was dean of
faculty and professor of psychology at William Woods College. Except for
service in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946 as officer in charge of
achievement testing, Ryans worked for the American Council on Education from
1939 to 1948, first as executive secretary and later as director of the
National Teacher Examinations, an affiliation that led to his greatest
contributions to education. In 1948 he became professor of educational
psychology and research at the University of California in Los Angeles. With
funding provided in part by the William T. Grant Foundation, Ryans
coordinated a ground-breaking research study into the characteristics of
teachers for the American Council on Education. When he joined the University
of Texas as chairman and professor of educational psychology in 1958, he had
received international acclaim as a result of his studies of teacher
characteristics. In Austin he completed and published his book
Characteristics of Teachers (1960). At the time, this book provided the most
comprehensive research-based description of teachers available; it paved the
way for later empirical research of teacher characteristics and behavior.
Ryans's energetic style of leadership and commitment to research helped move
the department of educational psychology at UT into greater involvement with
issues of national concern. Ryans left the University of Texas in 1961 to
lead development of computer-directed instruction for Systems Development
Corporation. From 1964 to 1973 he worked at the University of Hawaii as
director of its newly founded Educational Research Center. During this time
he continued as a member of the national advisory committee for the
University of Texas Research and Development Center for Teacher Education.
Ryans remained at Hawaii until his retirement in 1974. He then returned to
the University of Texas at Austin in 1975 as a visiting professor to present
revisions of his teacher-characteristics study to graduate seminars. Ryans
served as president of the American Educational Research Association and the
Educational Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association. He
served on several editorial boards, including the Review of Educational
Research, the Journal of Teacher Education, and the Journal of Educational
Psychology. He was the principal author of more than 180 publications. He
married Rosann Greco on August 5, 1935. They had two children. Ryans retired
from educational research after 1975 and lived in Poway, California, until
his death on August 16, 1986.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Vertical Files, Barker Texas History Center, University of
Texas at Austin. Who's Who in America, 1978-79

Scott Ritchie





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