Rate My Professor Beth Dietz

Beth Dietz is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Miami University’s Middletown Campus and serves as Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. She earned her Ph.D. in Personality and Social Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1993, an M.S. in Social Psychology from the same institution in 1992, and a B.A. in Psychology, Cum Laude with Distinction, from the University of Delaware in 1987. Her research specializations include social identity theory applied to sport fans and spectators, with a focus on media coverage and depictions of female athletes, female sport fans, and perceptions of athletes. Additionally, she investigates the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, particularly the use of technology in teaching, online distance learning, group processes in computer-mediated communication, and the effectiveness of technology-enhanced educational methods.

Dietz joined Miami University in 1994 and has held key appointments such as Associate Chair of Assessment in the Department of Psychology in 2013. She has garnered recognition for her teaching excellence, including the Excellence in Teaching Award for Full-Time Faculty from Miami University Middletown in 2010, Psi Chi Professor of the Year in 1998, and nominations for the Associated Student Government’s Outstanding Professor Award in 2003 and the Outstanding Teacher Award in 2000. Her major publications encompass co-authoring Introduction to Political Psychology, 3rd Edition (2016), Engaging in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: A Guide to the Process (2012), and editing Strategic Uses of Social Technology: An Interactive Perspective of Social Psychology (2011). Other significant works include “Sex Differences in Sport Fan Behavior and Reasons for Being a Sport Fan” (2000, Journal of Sport Behavior), “The Effects of Observation With and Without Technology on Learning” (2020, Journal of Educational Technology Systems), and contributions to learning analytics and online engagement strategies. With over 15 years of experience designing and teaching online courses, she promotes active and collaborative learning approaches.