Georgia Babladelis

Georgia Babladelis (January 30, 1931 – May 28, 2009)

Early life and education Babladelis had a sister, Helen, and two brothers, George and Nicholas. She remained in Michigan for much of her youth and graduated from Manistique High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan in 1953. She held this position until 1994.

After she retired from teaching in 1994, Babladelis continued writing and she worked closely with the League of Women Voters. Through this work, she was able to continue promoting and supporting feminism. Babladelis also created a scholarship, named after her, to support students who return to school to complete their degrees. "This university has always been very supportive of the mature students making their way back", Babladelis said in 2005. "I’ve seen how these students, in particular, can have a more difficult time succeeding in the classroom. They’re already holding down full-time jobs while supporting their families. I’ve had first-hand contact with so many of these students, and I’ve come to admire the challenge they take on."

Psychology of Women Quarterly Babladelis founded Psychology of Women Quarterly, a research journal dedicated to female behavior and cognition. Babladelis about the importance of studying not only women but also expanding the focus of psychology to populations outside the college student demographic.

Professional accolades In 1992, Babladelis was recognized as one of the "100 Outstanding Women in Psychology" during the American Psychological Association's centennial celebration. She will also be remembered as one of the founders and editors of the Psychology of Women Quarterly and the work published in the journal over the years.

Personal life Babladelis had a passion for animals. This led her to research gorilla interaction and communication. In this research, she found that gorillas have the desire to be in family settings.

International travel and continued activism Babladelis enjoyed international travel, a passion she combined with her work promoting women's rights. She was interested in many different cultures. She served as the U.S. Director of Research for the UNESCO in the early 1980s. In this role, she combined her professional interest in promoting women's rights with her ability to learn about other countries and cultures.