Originally Posted: May 2, 2017
Ernest N. Jouriles, Dedman Family Distinguished Professor in SMU’s Department of Psychology and an internationally recognized expert in the psychology of family and relationship violence, has been named the University’s first G. Dale McKissick Endowed Professor of Psychology. He will begin his new duties on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017.
The professorship was made possible in 2014 through the estate of SMU alumnus McKissick, who graduated with a B.B.A. degree in 1950 and M.B.A. degree in 1954.
Jouriles has several programs of research (in collaboration with SMU Professor of Psychology and Dedman College Senior Associate Dean for Research Renee McDonald). One program focuses on violence in adolescent romantic relationships and is dedicated to reaching a better understanding of risk factors for sexual and relationship violence among adolescents, and using this knowledge to develop and evaluate interventions for preventing such violence.
A second program focuses on children’s exposure to interparental conflict and violence. Through this research, Jouriles aims to better understand why children’s exposure to interparental conflict and violence sometimes leads to mental health problems and sometimes does not. He also uses this knowledge to develop and evaluate interventions to assist children in high-conflict and violent families.
Jouriles received his Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology from Stony Brook University in 1987, at which time he began work as an assistant professor at the University of Houston. He joined SMU as chair of the Department of Psychology in 2003 and served in that position for 12 years, until summer 2015. During that time, he established the department’s APA-approved doctoral program in clinical psychology.
He has published more than 100 scientific articles, chapters and books, and his research has appeared in journals including the Clinical Psychology Review, Psychology of Violence, Journal of Adolescent Health, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology and Behavior Therapy, among others. In addition, he has directed or co-directed numerous funded research projects. He also teaches research methods and developmental psychopathology at SMU and assists agencies in the Dallas community in helping them provide empirically supported services to families and children. READ MORE