Director and Assistant Professor Dr. Craig R. Seal
Dr. Craig R. Seal is the Director of the Center for Social and Emotional Competence and an Assistant Professor in the School of Education, Department of Educational Administration and Leadership at the University of the Pacific.
Craig became interested in the construct of Social Emotional Competence (SEC) early in his doctoral studies after reading the book, "Emotional Intelligence" by Dr. Daniel Goleman.
Craig was immediately captivated by the concept of Emotional Intelligence, but was uncomfortable with the different models and measure being advocated and the lack of and integrated theory, and the limited peer-reviewed empirical support. His dissertation (Emotional Intelligence: An Exploratory Study of Emotional Ability as a Moderator between Emotional Competency and Performance Outcomes) tried to link multiple models and measures of Emotional Intelligence into one conceptual and empirical framework. Although, the dissertation failed to show the hypothesized relationships, Craig continued to believe his original idea for an integrative, testable model was correct and set out to try to prove his theory. Along the way, the opportunity to join Pacific as the Director of Center for Social Emotional Competence emerged, an opportunity to put theory to practice in working with an entire campus community to develop a unique, university-based model and measure of EI that would empower student competency development.
Craig and his family moved from Western New York (where he was an Assistant Professor of Management at Niagara University, where he received the 2008 Excellence in Teaching Award) to Stockton June 2009. In addition to directing the center and teaching courses, Craig spends his time with his beautiful wife, Prae, their two-year old son, Wil, and their irksoome cat, Ice.
Craig received his Ph.D. in Business Administration from George Washington University (where he was awarded the 2006 Board of Advisors Doctoral Student Award for Outstanding Commitment to the School of Business), his MA in Counseling Psychology from Boston College, and his BS in Psychology from Santa Clara University (where he was awarded the 1991 Nobili Medal). Before returning to academia, Craig was an accomplished manager and executive with ten years experience in the non-profit, real estate, and staffing industries, working for the Santa Clara Community Action Program, Goodwill Industries, Coldwell Banker, and Aquent, Inc.