Faculty Emeritus Establishes Psychology Endowment, Funds WFIT Psychology Science Minute

MELBOURNE, FL—Faculty Emeritus Juanita Baker, Florida Institute of Technology professor of psychology, who retired in 2007, has fully funded the Psychology Science Endowment in the School of Psychology. The endowment, begun with her $25,000 donation, will support a weekly broadcast on WFIT 89.5 FM radio, to be called the Psychology Science Minute. The “minute” will begin in late spring.

The endowment’s mission is to inform the public about the science of psychology, the value and importance of psychological research and its applicability to people’s lives. This will be accomplished by developing and airing on WFIT brief reports on psychological research that has important implications for people’s lives and well-being. Some of the minutes will highlight the research of Florida Tech faculty members by focusing on their interest areas and expertise.

The endowment will provide funding for a psychology student or graduate to do background research and write the minutes, as well as design and update a linked Psychology Science Minute website.

Baker, a resident of Sebastian, joined Florida Tech’s Department of Psychology in 1984 and conducted research and taught courses related to her work as the director of the Family Learning program. The program treats children and adolescents who are victims of caretaker sexual abuse, their non-offending caregivers, siblings and their offenders.

Upon Baker’s retirement Paula Wolfteich, Ph.D., took over this program, which not only provides a needed community service, but also gives psychology doctoral students a depth of field experience working with children, parents, offenders and community agencies.

For more information about the Psychology Science Endowment, contact Mary Beth Kenkel at mkenkel@fit.edu.