Frank T. McAndrew, Ph.D.
Psychologist/Professor/Essayist
about me -
I study human social behavior from an evolutionary perspective, and when I am not conducting or writing up psychology experiments, I write for the average person-on-the-street. I cover topics as diverse as why we grieve so deeply over the death of our dogs, why old people hate new music, and why clowns creep us out. I have also appeared in several documentary films. (See a trailer for one of them.)
I am the longest-serving psychology professor in the history of Knox College (44 years & counting), and in the almost 200-year-history of the college, only eight professors in any department served longer.
I have always been deeply engaged with the day-to-day life of the college. Among other things, I founded the environmental studies program, served as the associate dean of the college, and chaired the psychology department for a decade. On the side, I also worked with the McNair Scholars Program and coached the wrestling team for many years, and I organized the annual Flunk Day softball game for longer than I can remember. My family and I even lived in the dormitories for four years as "Head Residents."
Last, but not least, I had the distinct privilege of serving as Stephen Colbert's host and introducing him when he delivered the 2006 commencement address at Knox College.
PERSONAL TRIVIA:
*I was born on a U.S. military base in Germany and I grew up in the anthracite coal region of
Northeastern Pennsylvania. I also lived in Maine for five years, and I now reside on the prairie
in Western Illinois in a house that is 115-years-old.
*I am the oldest of five children and I attended Catholic Schools for 17 years.
*I was a wrestler in high school (two-time state placewinner) and in college (team captain in an
NCAA Division II program), and most of my students and academic colleagues are unaware that I
masqueraded as a college wrestling coach for 30 years, with 12 years as a head coach.
*My wife (Maryjo) and I have two grown children (Tim & Maura), one ungrown grandchild
(Colleen), and a dog named Audrey Hepburn.
* Maryjo was a long-suffering kindergarten teacher who eventually found a second career as a
college archivist. She very recently retired.
* Tim has degrees from Kenyon College & Washington University (St. Louis), and he is a
member of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Tim's spouse, Rose Dunphy McAndrew,
earned a doctorate in Occupational Therapy and has held faculty positions at several
universities after putting in many years as a practicing therapist; their daughter Colleen
is a 5th grader who plays the viola and enjoys swimming, mathematics, online video games, &
anything related to Harry Potter or Wednesday Addams.
* Maura has degrees from Macalester College & the University of Pittsburgh. She is a
writer, musician, editor, media specialist, and adjunct instructor at the University of
Oklahoma where her spouse, Robert Bailey, is an Associate Professor of Art History.
*I have been lucky enough to have experienced the animals of South Africa and Tanzania in the
wild. (Click on the elephant to see pictures of an elephant attacking my car.)
Research Interests
Social Psychology
Education
B.S. in Psychology (1974 - magna ignoramus)
The founding mission of King's College
was "to educate the sons of coal miners."
West Side Central Catholic High School
Kingston, Pennsylvania (1970)
(now defunct)
Miscellaneous Dabbling
Animal Behavior
Clinical, Happiness, & Health Psychology
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Personality
Sport Psychology
Teaching of Psychology
