First Class of 1948 Herman B Wells Professor named

By Jayne Spencer

A faculty member in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at the IU School of Education in Bloomington since 1970, she also is well known for her role in faculty governance, having served as president of the Bloomington Faculty Council and as co-chair of the University Faculty Council.

The endowed professorship is named in memory of IU’s beloved university chancellor, who served as president of the university from 1938 to 1962. Wells died at the age of 97 on March 18, 2000.

“I am extremely honored to be named to an endowed professorship. But to have it named for Herman B Wells greatly magnifies the honor,” Scott said. “Wells was, and is, one of my greatest heroes, a true visionary in higher education and in policy.”

Scott’s long history of university, campus, departmental and community service is evidence of a career dedicated to the academic growth of individuals as well as to the growth of the university.

She developed and implemented IU’s Intellectual Property Policy during the presidency of Thomas Ehrlich and spent five years on the Bloomington campus long-range planning committee. Her research has been primarily in two areas: theories of development and ecological psychology, a focus for which she developed new methods to study human behavior in the natural habitat. Her research has generated a study of children’s problem-solving skills.

Scott was the obvious choice for the honor, said Moya Andrews, dean of the faculties on the IU Bloomington campus. “Myrtle has been selfless in her devotion to her students and colleagues and to the university community,” Andrews said. “She has been a leader in her field, in her school and in faculty governance.”

“I have long admired Myrtle Scott for her academic integrity, scholarship and commitment to higher education and the Bloomington campus,” said Ken Gros Louis, chancellor of the IU Bloomington campus. “She is a superb choice as the first Wells Professorship because she exemplifies many of the values for which we justly celebrate Chancellor Wells and cherish his memory.”

Scott will receive a grant for up to five years and will be asked to consult on enriching the undergraduate experience on the Bloomington campus.