Nancy E. Betz

Abstract

Nancy E. Betz is a deeply respected pioneer in the areas of vocational psychology, the career development of women, and measurement and vocational assessment. Her scholarship in these areas is recognized nationally and internationally and dates to her early, innovative collaboration with Gail Hackett to apply Bandura’s concept of self-efficacy to understand the vocational behavior of women. This interview traces the life and career stories of Nancy Betz and in doing so illustrates the personal and contextual influences that shaped the person and professional she was to become. Nancy’s story is a powerful illustration of a number of central themes of counseling psychology, including the critical importance of scientific rigor, humanistic values, social influences, and diverse perspectives.