reis received a b.s. from city college of new york in 1970 and a ph.d. from new york university in 1975. he has served as president of the international society for the study of personal relationships and chair of the american psychological association's board of scientific affairs, as well as executive officer and later, president of the society for personality and social psychology. in 2012, reis was selected for the distinguished career award from the international association for relationship research. he was also the recipient of the 2009 goergen award for distinguished achievement and artistry in undergraduate teaching. among his other accomplishments, reis was an editor for the journal of personality and social psychology (interpersonal relations and group processes) and later "current directions in psychological science".