UMSL Chancellor Tom George (left) presents Don Gouwens, associate clinical professor of educational psychology, with a Chancellor's Award for Excellence on June 8.
University of Missouri–St. Louis Chancellor Tom George surprised Donald Gouwens last week when he presented the associate clinical professor of educational psychology with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence to a Non-Tenure Track Faculty Member.
The award recognizes and honors outstanding achievement in teaching, research, service or other contributions to undergraduate education, graduate education or both by individuals who hold full-time academic non-tenure track appointments. A plaque and honorarium of $1,000 is presented at the chancellor’s State of the University Address in the fall.
Gouwens, a resident of Chesterfield, Mo., teaches advanced graduate courses in the school psychology and counselor education programs within the College of Education’s Division of Educational Psychology, Research and Evaluation. He also serves as the coordinator of the School of Psychology Program and provides supervision for school psychology practicum and internships. He has been with UMSL since 2001.
Gouwens was instrumental in creating the educational specialist degree in school psychology in the College of Education and obtaining accreditation from the National Association of School Psychologists. He also created the certificate program in school psychology, which allowed school psychologists to obtain state certification before the EdS degree was approved. He has taught or created 19 different courses, a total of 58 sections, at the undergraduate and graduate levels since he started at UMSL.
His research interests include professional issues and training in school psychology, the development and evaluation of prevention/early intervention and behavior management programs. He is particularly interested in the educational and psychosocial outcomes for at-risk learners who are referred but do not qualify for special education.
Gouwens earned his doctorate in school psychology from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. He is a certified school psychologist and licensed psychologist in Missouri and a nationally certified school psychologist. He also is listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.
