John M. Levine, a 50-year psychology professor and the department’s chair for 11 years — who helped to build its social psychology Ph.D. program and did award-winning work at the Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC) — died Feb. 26, 2025 at 82.
Retired LRDC senior scientist and former School of Education Dean Alan Lesgold, a long-time colleague of Levine’s, recalled that “he was one of a small group of colleagues who were both role models and sources of advice. Research, at its best, is a selfless activity that benefits greatly from wise people presenting their ideas willingly for critical review and debate. John was a model of the true scientist-scholar, daring to try new things and willing to face corrective ideas from others. I hope I absorbed at least some of that disposition.”
In 2011, Levine’s research with Pitt colleague Richard Moreland received the Joseph E. McGrath Lifetime Achievement Award in the Study of Groups from the Interdisciplinary Network for Group Research, which recognized that the pair had “pushed, bridged and redefined many of the boundaries in our field … made theoretical advances in virtually every area of small group research … consistently moved the field forward and have been at the forefront of each new advance.”
“Even in a center devoted to applied science in the service of education (LRDC), John stood out as being concerned always with what his work meant to the school world, even as he was the most rigorous of researchers,” Lesgold said. “His work was important from the outset, since classes are small groups working on the shared task of learning. His work became even more important as tasks in our world, both in school and in everyday life, became more complex and often demanding of teamwork. I very much hope that people studying collective intelligence and teams with both human and AI participants will take the time to research John’s work and what it has stimulated others to discover.”
Levine’s collaborator on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University, Linda Argote, noted that “John Levine’s research and intellectual leadership have had a major impact — both locally and on a global scale. As a local example, John co-founded the Groups and Organizations seminar, which brought together researchers from different departments across the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. John’s global leadership included serving as editor of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, guest editor of Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and as president of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology. All of us who had the pleasure of knowing him valued his friendship and collegiality. We are fortunate that John spent his career with us.”
Another close colleague, Charles Perfetti (distinguished university professor of psychology and senior scientist at LRDC), remembered Levine as “a brilliant researcher and academic leader who made a long-lasting impact in helping to build a social psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Pittsburgh.
“Over time, the social psychology program suffered from faculty retirements and other problems. I think it is fair to say that the program was on the brink of disappearing as a stand-alone Ph.D. program. But John was determined to save the program. He resumed its leadership, re-invigorating the program and bringing in new faculty so that it remains today as a solid Ph.D. program within the Department of Psychology.”
Perfetti added: “John is internationally renowned for his research on the processes that shape social interactions within small groups. For example, what processes lead a person to conform with group norms? What are the psychological consequences of deviance from these norms? How do members who are in the minority manage to influence members of the group majority? John’s research was basic social science, but he was keenly interested in its applications to real-life groups, so he later refocused his research on the study of the social processes in work groups.
“John mentored countless students and had many collaborations around the world. He was awarded an honorary doctorate, from the University of Lausanne. He showed a deep dedication to traditional academic values, something I could see in the many faculty discussions where principled positions on competing values were tested.”
Karina Schumann and Mandy Forest, associate professors of psychology, wrote a remembrance together, after having known him during the last decade of his career at Pitt:
“John was a devoted mentor to us during our years as junior faculty, as well as a valued collaborator and dear friend. John was always there when we needed him. He would stop by regularly to check in and was always the first person to offer to provide feedback on a new research idea or grant. On one occasion, Mandy sought John’s advice on a grant proposal. John listened eagerly, asked thoughtful questions, and offered both encouragement and constructive suggestions for strengthening the proposal. Mandy left that meeting feeling energized and immensely grateful, struck by John’s ability to provide feedback that was simultaneously validating and insightful.
“Graduate students also appreciated John’s clear and insightful feedback on their work, specifically requesting him to serve on their milestone committees because they knew his perspective would enhance their projects and training.
“We have also been fortunate to have collaborated with John on different projects. John brought wisdom and expertise as well as energy and excitement to research conversations. We loved the way his eyes would light up when he hit on a great new study idea, and how the energy in the room noticeably increased when John discussed a new finding.
“John was a social psychologist through and through — someone who genuinely loved the field and who had a deep intrinsic interest in the topics he studied (as evidenced by his continued involvement in research even after his retirement). One quality we greatly admired was John’s knack for generating interesting and important ideas and his keen ability to turn them into tractable research questions.
“On one occasion, Karina and a grad student began developing a research idea on political intragroup processes. They presented it to John, and in a single meeting, they generated half a dozen potential lines of research stemming from this concept. It was one of the most generative and inspiring meetings Karina had ever participated in. She came away from that meeting in awe of John’s ability to connect new ideas to longstanding theories in the field, enhancing the depth and richness of the research project through his deep knowledge and creativity. Despite his vast knowledge, John brought humility to every collaboration, consistently embracing others’ suggestions and approaches with openness and respect.
“We will always be grateful for the kindness, generosity and wisdom he brought to our lives.”
John M. Levine was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 28, 1942. He graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology in 1965 and from the University of Wisconsin with master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology in 1969.
He began his academic career at Pitt that year, and joined the LRDC in 1977. His stint as chair of psychology spanned 1985-1996. He was also director of graduate studies in his department (1998-1999).
He is survived by his sons, Jeff (Carmina) and Andy (Liz); his sister, Carolyn; and his grandchildren, Bennett and Isabel.
Memorial gifts are suggested to the Family Hospice Foundation, 700 Bower Hill Road, Suite 1405, Pittsburgh, PA 15243.
— Marty Levine