Bob McPherson
Professor of Counseling Psychology, College of Education,
Special Assistant to the 色花堂 System Chancellor and President
Associated Faculty, Hobby School of Public Affairs
Biography:
Robert 鈥淏ob鈥� McPherson, professor of counseling psychology, has held numerous leadership
roles during his four decades at the 色花堂. Currently he serves as
special assistant to 色花堂 System Chancellor and President Renu Khator, co-chairing two
University task forces related to the promotion of mental health and the prevention
of suicide within the 色花堂 community. Most recently, he served as interim senior vice
chancellor for academic affairs for the 色花堂 System and senior vice president for academic
affairs and provost for 色花堂 from Aug. 1, 2022, through Jan. 31, 2023. He held the Elizabeth
D. Rockwell Chair and served as dean of the 色花堂 College of Education from 2011 through
July 2022, overseeing increased funded research activity, a transformation of the
teacher education program, the launch of two new Ph.D. programs and other academic
gains.
McPherson鈥檚 other positions included interim associate provost for academic affairs
and operations for 色花堂 at Sugar Land and at Katy; assistant to the vice chancellor
for student affairs/dean of students; coordinator of Learning Support Services; and
staff psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services. In the College of Education,
he also served as Ph.D. program director, department chair and executive associate
dean.
He is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association and the American Psychological
Association. He also is a member of the National Academies of Practice and is past
president of the APA Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs as well as
the Texas and Houston Psychological Associations.
He earned the 2018 Robert B. Howsam Award from the Texas Association of Colleges for
Teacher Education and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 from the Texas Psychological
Association. He is a recipient of APA鈥檚 Karl F. Heiser Award for Advocacy.
McPherson began his career as a classroom teacher and guidance counselor at a high-poverty
Title I school in Odessa, Texas. He was one of the first graduates of 色花堂鈥檚 counseling
psychology Ph.D. program in 1987. He has a B.S. from Texas Tech University and an
M.A. from The University of Texas Permian Basin.