Black Heroes – Linda James Myers, Ph.D.

Lauded psychologist, researcher, author and teacher, Linda James Myers, Ph.D. connects the dots between all living things and paints a communal, holistic worldview.

Linda James Myers, Ph.D. is a renowned psychologist, having received her Master of Science in school psychology from Kansas Teachers State Teachers College (Emporia State University), and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Ohio State University. Dr. James Myers is best known for her work in the development of a theory called Optimal Psychology, which identifies the specific attitudes and beliefs required to uphold white supremacist views. Her work centers on the intersection of culture, moral and spiritual identity development, and the juxtaposition of race, gender, and class. Her research brings into focus the significance of one’s culture and spirituality in creating a healthy mindset, basing its thesis on the interconnectedness that one has to all living people and things. It identifies a need to explore African and Eastern worldviews that traditional western psychology had overlooked.

Her current research interests comprise the application of that model to a broad range of issues from health and education to business ethics. She is currently a professor in Ohio State University’s Department of African American and African Studies. Over her career spanning more than 30 years, she has written five books, numerous articles and book chapters, and has been cited by countless academic authors. She has earned many awards for excellence in research, and she has conducted trainings throughout the world.