Francis T. McAndrew Ph.D.
Social Psychologist
about me -
PROFESSIONAL TRIVIA:
*I taught at Knox College for 46 years, and in the almost 200-year-history of Knox, only four professors served longer. I still teach an occasional course in retirement.
*When I am not teaching or conducting psychology experiments, I write for the average person-on-
the-street. I am especially interested in the psychology of everyday life, so 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 haunted
*I appeared in more than a half-dozen documentary films. Click HERE to see a trailer from the most
recent one, HERE for another recent one, and HERE and HERE to see different trailers from one of my
earlier documentary appearances.
*In October of 2025, I gave a TEDx Talk in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The video of the talk is not yet
available, but here is a picture of me taken shortly before it happened. By clicking on the picture, you
can see photos & Bios for each of the speakers at this conference.
(The photo is courtesy of "the Girl in Overalls Photography" & TEDxArlington Heights.)
*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.
*I was always deeply engaged with the day-to-day life of the college. Among many other things, I
coached the wrestling team, founded the environmental studies department, worked with the McNair
Scholars Program, and organized the annual Flunk Day softball game. My family and I even lived in the
dormitories for four years as Residence Hall Directors.
Learn more about my professional journey on the
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 currently reside on the prairie in
*I am the oldest of five children and I attended Catholic Schools for 17 years.
*I was a wrestler in high school and college, and many of my students and colleagues are unaware that I
masqueraded as a college wrestling coach for over 30 years, with 12 years as a head coach.
*Like most people from my generation and socioeconomic background, I worked at a variety of part-time
and summer jobs in high school and college. My first paying job as a kid was in a Circus, and I was last
employed outside of Academia as a Bank Teller.
*My wife (Maryjo) and I have two grown children (Tim & Maura), one ungrown grandchild (Colleen), and a
dog named Audrey Hepburn.
*Click HERE to see recent pictures of whitewater rafting in Costa Rica.
*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)
(with a concentration in English Literature)
The founding mission of King's College
was "to educate the sons of coal miners."
A video history of King's College
West Side Central Catholic High School
Kingston, Pennsylvania (1966-1970)
(now defunct)
Miscellaneous Dabbling
Animal Behavior
Clinical, Happiness, & Health Psychology
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Personality
Sport Psychology
Teaching of Psychology
