Documentary Honoring Life and Legacy of Sterling Professor Zigler Premieres at Yale

On Tuesday, September 13, 2022, a new documentary titled A Tribute to Edward Zigler 1930-2019: The Man, His Work, His Legacy honoring Sterling Professor Ed Zigler, Ph.D. premiered with a live audience at the Yale Child Study Center (YCSC).

Attended by Zigler’s son Scott and several close friends and colleagues also featured in the video, the tribute included introductions by Peter Salovey, Ph.D., Yale University president and Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology, and Linda Mayes, M.D., director and Arnold Gesell Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics & Psychology in the Yale Child Study Center.

“Ed Zigler was a mentor, teacher, and friend,” said Salovey in a statement. “His work has been inspirational to me and many others in our field, and his profound influence extends well beyond psychology. For me, he set an example of how science and policy can join hands to benefit the lives of many.”

Zigler was a pioneer in the application of developmental psychology to social policy and known by many as the “Father of Head Start,” a program that has served more than 35 million American children and their families. His life’s work is continued through the Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy, directed by YCSC Professor Walter Gilliam, Ph.D.

The video was produced by Geomatrix Productions in close collaboration with Gillam and Gitta Selva, who developed the storyline. In Selva’s words, “The tribute brings to life Ed’s legacy, charisma, and humor with video and audio clips by family, former students, colleagues, and luminaries.”