Assistant Professor Margaret Shih
Area: Personality & Social Contexts
Research Interests: My research interests include social identity and organizations; the influence of stereotypes on social interactions, social perceptions, communication, and performance; multiple social identities; diversity; and organizations and culture.
What has been your proudest moment?
I’d love to say my proudest moment was when I received my Ph.D. or got my
job here at Michigan (which are proud moments as well), but actually, my proudest
moment was the day that my very rambunctious and energetic puppy graduated
from obedience school. I’ve always been good at school and this was the first time I
was receiving remedial attention in class. Einstein only wanted to run and play with
the other dogs in the class. After a lot of practice, trips to Arby’s for roast beef (as
rewards) and reviewing of learning theories (e.g. operant conditioning), we finally
made it through the program. I’ve finally been able to apply directly the material I
learned in class to something important. Finding out that the students in my lab
have been accepted to top graduate programs, or have secured terrific jobs, or won
prestigious awards come in a very, very close second in terms of proud moments as
well. I have worked with some terrific students.
What has been your most humbling experience?
My most humbling experience was my first week here at Michigan. I thought I
had learned a lot in graduate school. But during my first week here at Michigan, after
being surrounded by so many distinguished colleagues and interacting with so many
motivated, bright students, I realized that I still had a lot to learn.
What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?
I truly love my job and I really
can’t imagine myself doing anything
else. But I wish I had known how
many sacrifices, how much isolation
I would have to endure, and how
much commitment, in terms of both
time and psychological/emotional
energy, I would have to make for
this career.
What is one thing most people
don’t know about you?
I am scared of polka dots,
or any pattern with lots of dots.
If you had to choose another
career, what would it be?
I think I would choose to be
a physician or a veterinarian.
"Five Minutes With..." Features
Rob Sellers | Cathy Lord | Patti Reuter-Lorenz | Monique Ward
Chris Peterson | Bill McKeachie | Margaret Shih | Cindy Lustig
On Our Minds 2005 Homepage
