KU News Release

Applied behavioral science professor gets final Lawrence campus Kemper fellowship

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas surprise patrol today presented the final Lawrence campus Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence to Michael Roberts, professor of applied behavioral science.

The Kemper fellowships, which come with checks for $5,000, are given in recognition of faculty members’ excellence in teaching and advising. Four more fellowships will be given to faculty members at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. In all, 20 fellowships and $100,000 will be distributed.

The fellowships recognize outstanding teachers and advisers at KU as determined by a seven-member selection committee. Now in their 12th year, the awards are supported by $650,000 in gifts from the William T. Kemper Foundation (Commerce Bank, trustee) and $650,000 in matching funds from KU Endowment.

The William T. Kemper Foundation was established in 1989 after the death of the Kansas City, Mo., banking executive and civic leader. The foundation supports Midwest communities and concentrates on initiatives in education, health and human services, civic improvements and the arts.

More about today’s winner:

Michael Roberts, professor of applied behavioral science
Since 1991, Michael Roberts has been a professor at KU and director of the university’s Clinical Child Psychology Training Program. In 2006, the American Psychological Association’s Board of Educational Affairs gave Roberts the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology. Roberts sets high standards not only for himself but for his students as well. According to Gregory Simpson, chair of the psychology department, “He is a demanding teacher, mentor and leader, but the fruits of these characteristics are easy to see in the success that his students have in obtaining internships and ultimately, career positions.”

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.