Dr. Robert Thayer

The Robert E. Thayer Endowed Scholarship was established to honor the contributions of a very productive member of the Psychology faculty who began his career in 1963. During his 51 years at CSULB, Dr. Thayer made significant contributions to teaching and research. His area of expertise was mood, and he was a frequently consulted expert on the topic for both scientific and popular press outlets. Dr. Thayer authored numerous popular books, including in 1996 The Origin of Everyday Moods: Managing Energy, Tension, and Stress.

Robert was a lovely man and a respected faculty member with a mischievous sense of humor. Bob was passionate about Psychology, and pioneered the study of human mood, creating a course in Mood Studies. He mentored students, often encouraging an experiential approach in teaching and learning.

The Robert E. Thayer Endowed Scholarship is awarded annually to a CSULB Psychology graduate student who is pursuing the field of mood, personality, or social psychology, with first preference going to research. This scholarship was established in 2014 through the generous contribution of Retha Evans, a CSULB Psychology alumnus and friend of Dr. Thayer.