Thomas McGovern received a bachelor's degree in theology from Fordham University (1970) and a doctorate in counseling psychology from Southern Illinois University. He held faculty and administrative positions at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) before his appointment as professor of psychology and director of arts and sciences at ASU's West campus in 1990.
In 2003, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Education selected McGovern as Professor of the Year for Arizona. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and a charter fellow of the Association for Psychological Sciences (APS). In 1992, the APA selected him as the prestigious G. Stanley Hall Lecturer for their centennial convention. He received university faculty awards at VCU and at ASU.
McGovern's contributions at ASU include co-founding the baccalaureate program in Integrative Studies (BIS). He is a former president of the campus's Academic Senate and of the Arizona Faculties Council, and served as faculty representative to the Arizona Board of Regents.
McGovern's "Virtues and Character Strengths: Reflections on Sustained Faculty Development" is an E-book available from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology. He co-authored a chapter, Psychologically Literate Citizens, in "Undergraduate Education in Psychology: A Blueprint for the Future of the Discipline," published by the APA after its National Conference in 2008.
McGovern's list of more than 50 publications includes the books "Memory's Stories: Interdisciplinary Readings of Multicultural Life Narratives and Handbook for Enhancing Undergraduate Education in Psychology" (editor). He has written or co-written numerous book chapters, (e.g., "Composing an academic life narrative," "Psychology curricula and the new liberal arts") and scholarly journal articles. His article, "Hard Time," a memoir about overcoming a rare neurological illness, was published by The Washington Post in their Science Weekly section.
- Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, Southern Illinois University
- A.B. Theology, Fordham University 1970
Virtues and Character Strengths for Sustained Faculty Development
- McGovern, Thomas V. Faculty virtues and character strengths: Reflective exercises for sustained renewal. (2012).
- McGovern, T.V. & Brewer, C.L. Undergraduate education in psychology. History of Psychology. In Handbook of Psychology. (2nd Edition), Volume 1 (2012).
- McGovern, Thomas V. Virtues and character strengths for sustainable faculty development. The Journal of Positive Psychology (2011).
- . . Review of: George W. Bush and the Redemptive Dream (2011).
- McGovern, T. V. Virtues and character strengths of psychologically literate faculty. The psychologically literate citizen: Foundations & global perspectives (2011).
- . . Review of: Constructing undergraduate psychology curricula: promoting authentic learning and assessment in the teaching of psychology (2010).
- McGovern, T. V. et al. (2010). Psychologically literate citizens. Undergraduate Education in Psychology: A Blueprint for the Future of the Discipline (2010).
- McGovern, Thomas V., et al. Psychologically Literate Citizens. Undergraduate Education in Psychology: A Blueprint for the Future of the Discipline (2009).
- McGovern, T. V., & Miller, S. L. Integrating teacher behaviors, character strengths and virtues for faculty development. Teaching of Psychology: Special Issue on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (2008).
- McGovern, Thomas Vincent. Memory's Stories: Interdisciplinary Readings of Multicultural Life Narratives. (2007).
- McGovern, Thomas Vincent (Author) . Composing an Academic Life Narrative. Evaluating Faculty Performance (2006).
- McGovern, Thomas Vincent (Author) . Psychology curricula and the new liberal arts. Handbook of the Teaching of Psychology (2006).
- McGovern, Thomas Vincent (Author) ,Brewer, C L (Author) . Paradigms, narratives and pluralism in undergraduate psychology. Unity in psychology (2005).
- McGovern, Thomas Vincent (Author) . Liberal arts, diverse lives, and assessing psychology. Measuring up: Assessment challenges and practices for psychology (2004).
- McGovern, Thomas Vincent (Author) ,Brewer, C L (Author) . Undergraduate Education. Handbook of Psychology: History (2003).
- T Pusateri, Thomas McGovern. A decade of changes since the St. Mary's Conference: An interview with Thomas V. McGovern. Teaching of Psychology (2002).
- McGovern, Thomas Vincent (Author) . Process / Pedagogy. The teaching of psychology: Essays in honor of Wilbert J. McKeachie and Charles L, Brewer (2002).
- Thomas McGovern. A multicultural autobiographies interdisciplinary course. Teaching of Psychology (2001).
- Thomas McGovern. Patients / Patience. A psychologist's rehabilitation memoir. Palo Verde (2000).
- McGovern, T. V. Faculty Virtues and Character Strengths Teaching Institute Workshop. APS/STP 17th Annual Teaching Institute, (Jun 2010).
- Thomas V. McGovern. Faculty Virtues and Character Strengths. Assoication of Psychological Sciences (May 2009).
- McGovern, Thomas V. Keynote Address. APA National Conference on Undergraduate Psychology (Jun 2008).
- McGovern, Thomas. Preparing Future Faculty (Nov 2002).
- McGovern, Thomas. Spiritual narratives: Reading and writing religious autobiographies. Sun City Grand Lifelong Learning Academy (Nov 2001).
- McGovern, Thomas. Patients / Patience. A psychologist's rehabilitation memoir. Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center: Multidisciplinary Continuing Education Series (Sep 2000).
- McGovern, Thomas, D'Angelo, Barbara. Assessing information literacy instruction in a gateway course at Arizona State University West. American Library Association (Jul 2000).
- McGovern, Thomas. Rainbow Life Narratives. Lecture Series, Sun City Grand Lifelong Learning Academy
- McGovern, Thomas. Richard Rodriguez and Commentaries on American Life. Lecture Series, Sun City Grand Lifelong Learning Academy