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Professor Ruth Weissman received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) for her research contributions to the field.

Weissman won the award during the International Conference on Eating Disorders in Chicago on April 21. In presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award, Marsha Marcus, last year’s recipient, mentioned how Weissman’s research has contributed to an array of elements a part of eating disorders including risks, epidemiology, classification, treatment, cost-effectiveness, and health care policy.

“Scholar, educator, mentor and editor extraordinaire—I cannot think of another individual whose contributions to the eating disorder match those of Dr. Weissman,” Marcus said. “Her findings have impacted how we understand the cultural role of culture and racial/ethnic factors in the expression of disordered eating and the response of intervention.”

Weissman formerly served as the president of the AED, the Eating Disorders Research Society, and currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Eating Disorders, a monthly academic journal which explores the subject.

“My studies have included work on defining and classifying eating disorders, studies of risk and research of health services utilization and costs related to obesity, binge eating, and eating disorders,” Weissman’s website describes.

On her website, Weissman also writes about the mission of her research: to alleviate the suffering of individuals who face weight and eating issues.

Weissman was also recognized for her work at the University, both through her leadership roles in the administration and her relationship with students. In addition to teaching a seminar on eating disorders and a research methods course, Weissman also teaches Positive Psychology. Weissman also has worked as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chair of the Psychology Department, and Walter A. Crowell Professor of Psychology.

“One might think that Ruth’s academic career has focused primarily on investigation, but this is not the case; she is a distinguished educator,” Marcus said. “During her career, Dr. Weissman taught an impressive array of courses and mentored numerous students.”

Weissman was the 15th recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which has been given out since 1995 and is directed towards individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the field of eating disorders.

Mason Mandell can be reached at mjmandell@wesleyan.edu.