Baylor Professor Roger E. Kirk Receives Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award

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WACO, Texas (Dec. 4, 2017) — Roger E. Kirk, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Statistics and Master Teacher at Baylor University, recently was awarded the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Psychological Association.

Kirk’s contributions to the field of psychology extend over six decades. He is best known for his contributions to experimental design and statistics, including his 1968 book “Experimental Design” that virtually defined the topic for generations of behavioral researchers and remains the standard by which all other texts are judged, said Charles Weaver, Ph.D., department chair and professor of psychology and neuroscience. His undergraduate textbook in statistics is in its fifth edition and has been used by tens of thousands of students.

“Dr. Kirk’s dedication to academic excellence and his love of teaching students is awe-inspiring. As accomplished as he is in the classroom, he always looks to improve,” Weaver said. “Students often come into his class with some trepidation, but they leave knowledgeable and with a great respect and affection for Dr. Kirk. He is simply a remarkable individual, world-class scholar, and a magnificent colleague.”

Kirk has received Baylor’s most prestigious honor, the Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year, and was one of the university’s first faculty members designed as Master Teacher. He also was awarded the 2015 Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award by the American Psychological Association.

Weaver said for all Kirk’s professional accomplishments, he is best known to Baylor psychology majors as their kind, dedicated and hardworking statistics professor. Almost every psychology major of the past 40 years has taken his class as an undergraduate, and he still teaches more than 100 students each year. He supervised nearly two dozen Ph.D. students as well, many of whom have gone on to their own distinguished careers.

“Baylor University has been blessed to have him on faculty, teaching statistics, since 1958,” said Sara Dolan, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience. “Today’s award represents his outstanding contributions to psychology in the state of Texas, and I consider myself fortunate to have worked with him as a colleague.”

“It is an honor to be one of Dr. Kirk’s colleagues,” said Michael Scullin, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience. “He has led a distinguished career, and he continues to set an example for teaching and scholarly excellence. It is wonderful to see his career achievements recognized by this award.”

by Joy Moton, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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