Cynthia Johnson Shilkret ’68 and Robert Shilkret

After graduating from Barnard in 1968, Cynthia Johnson Shilkret earned her PhD in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her professional career was devoted to individual depth psychotherapy with adults as a therapist, teacher, and supervisor.

Cynthia was a founding member of the San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group (SFPRG), taught for over three decades at the Smith College School for Social Work, supervised a number of other therapists over her years of practice, and published articles and book chapters on difficult challenges in psychotherapy and the applications of attachment theory to adult psychotherapy. Though her professional and academic accomplishments were numerous, her true passion was the intellectual challenge of individual psychotherapy. Cynthia treated each patient relationship as unique. She is described by her patients using such terms as brilliant, lifesaving, remarkable, compassionate, dedicated, insightful, and patient beyond expectation.

Cynthia’s years at Barnard were formative. She remembered her Barnard experience throughout her life and planned to make a gift through her will to the College to support future generations of students. Upon her passing, Cynthia’s husband, Robert Shilkret, is honoring her wishes and memory by making a planned gift to Barnard. His gift will establish several scholarships in Cynthia’s name. Cynthia had a transformative impact on students, patients, family, and friends throughout her life. Now, her legacy will continue to support transformational educational opportunities in perpetuity.