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February 5, 2014

Visiting Scholar Tackles Procrastination in SVSU Talk

By J.J. Boehm

If you have been putting off addressing your procrastination problems, Saginaw Valley State University has a speaker for you.  Joe Ferrari, St Vincent dePaul Distinguished Professor at DePaul University and author of “Still Procrastinating? The No Regrets Guide to Getting It Done” will speak Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the Alan Ott Auditorium of SVSU’s Regional Education Center.

Considered an international research expert on chronic procrastination, Ferrari will present a review of the science helping us understand the causes and consequences of procrastination. Why do you procrastinate?  When will you procrastinate?  How does your procrastination impact on you? on others? on living a satisfied, successful life?

Procrastination is not the same as delay, waiting, dawdling, or just being lazy, and it certainly is not poor time management. International research shows 20 to 25 percent of adults are chronic procrastinators, individuals who delay as a lifestyle.

Ferrari presents his approach to exploring the phrase “everyone procrastinates, but not everyone is a procrastinator.” He emphasizes how procrastination is not about time and he offers suggestions based on empirically validated research on the ‘cures’ of procrastination.

A leader in the field, Ferrari has written more than 380 scholarly research articles, and 15 scholarly books; he also has given 700 professional conference presentations.  His work has been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, The Times of London, The Chicago Tribune, and numerous broadcast outlets.

At DePaul, Ferrari was the founding Director of the Ph.D. program in community psychology and director of the M.S. in general psychology program.  He has received DePaul’s Excellence in Research and Excellence in Public Service awards. Ferrari completed a master’s degree and a Ph.D. at Adelphi University.

Ferrari’s talk is open to the public.  Admission is free of charge.  His visit is sponsored by SVSU’s Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Visiting Scholars series.