Ruth G. King

Ruth Graves King (born January 28, 1933) is an educational psychologist who was the first woman president of the Association of Black Psychologists. Her interest in sports led her to teach physical education. While coaching, she became interested in psychology, gaining a PhD and doctorate in education from Temple University. She has worked for government and community organizations, as well as teaching at Federal City College and Howard University and consulting. She has published two novels, and is married, with two children.

King was born in Mount Holly, New Jersey, the sixth of eight children, five of whom gained doctoral degrees. Her parents were Olive and Henry Graves. King described herself as an athletic tom-boy as a child.

Raised in Moorestown, New Jersey, she attended a segregated elementary school, and graduated from Moorestown High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science (BS) in 1956 health and physical education from the College of New Jersey. Interested in becoming a journalist, she became editor-in-chief of the college newspaper in her senior year.

King undertook graduate studies in educational psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia. For two of her years at Temple University, she was the only African-American student in the graduate school. She was awarded a PhD in 1970, with a dissertation entitled A case study of critical factors which affect sharing of perceptions in a group situation, and a doctor of education in 1973 with a dissertation entitled A workshop method for improving self-concept of Black youth.

King's first jobs after her undergraduate education were teaching physical education in high schools in New Jersey where she was the only African-American teacher, and later in Philadelphia. Observing players she coached led to her interest in psychology.

After her graduation, King moved to the Washington, DC area, where she taught graduate students at Federal City College. She also taught at Howard University. King also served as the Equal Opportunity Director of the National Guard Bureau.

In 1976, she was elected president of the Association of Black Psychologists on her second attempt, the first woman to hold the position. She was the first editor of the Association's news journal, Psych Discourse, established the national office in 1979, and led it for a time. During her presidency of the Association, she liaised with members of Congress (including Shirley Chisholm), in particular pursuing improvements in bias in testing.

King served as vice president of the National Training Institute for Community Economic Development, a government organization providing training to community development organizations. She has been a counselor, and a consultant for government and private organizations, as well as working for an applied behavioral science company, Nichols and Associates.

King was profiled as one of 50 outstanding black psychologists in 2008.

Married to Donald F. King in 1959, she had two daughters.

King published a novel in 2001. Called The Only One, it had a theme of being a minority in the workplace. In 2006 she published another novel, Mystery in Trilogy.

She has won medals in Tai Chi Chuan.