Valpo Professor Honored for Excellence in Research and Creative Work and Designated a Fulbright Specialist

David L. Rowland, Ph.D., who has been a member of the Valparaiso University psychology department for more than 35 years, received the 2018 Valparaiso University Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Work by the Creative Work and Research Committee (CWRC) and has been designated a Fulbright Specialist.

Rowland, a professor of psychology, has authored 180 publications, including refereed articles, book chapters and three books, many of which have been co-authored by students. The majority of these research publications have appeared in high quality journals or advanced clinical medical or psychological textbooks. Rowland has also delivered many presentations to international congresses or conferences and respected professional organizations.

“It is particularly noteworthy that David has achieved his level of exemplary scholastic production and contribution to his field of specialization despite having heavy administrative responsibilities,” said Stewart Cooper, Ph.D., director of Counseling Services, who nominated David Rowland for the Excellence in Research and Creative Work award. “His accomplishments are truly remarkable.”

Rowland has also been involved in many national and international collaborations, including with colleagues at Valpo and domestic institutions such as Stanford and Johns Hopkins as well as those from Hungary, Pakistan, Romania, Netherlands, Italy and Norway.

As a Fulbright Specialist, Rowland will gain further global experience and extend his impact around the world. The Fulbright Specialist Program, part of the larger Fulbright Program, was established in 2001 as a means of pairing U.S. faculty and professionals with host institutions around the world to serve as academic consultants, sharing their expertise in areas such as curriculum, faculty development, institutional planning and related subjects in support of host institutions and their particular needs.

Rowland has been selected to serve a three-year term, which will take him abroad for up to six weeks annually to work on site at host institutions. It is anticipated that Rowland will focus his attention on Pakistan and several other developing nations, where his interests align well with the needs of the institutions.

At Valpo, Rowland has served in many administrative capacities, first as chair of the psychology department and then later for 17 years as the dean of the Graduate School, associate provost and executive director of innovation. He has served on the editorial boards of four international journals, served as editor–in-chief of the Annual Review of Sex Research for a five-year term, served as a consulting editor for more than 20 different journals and recently co-founded and is currently the co-editor of the Journal of Mind and Medical Science, which helps authors from emerging nations find an outlet for their research.