Purdue Psychological Science professor dedicates clinical psychology career to fostering well-being in the classroom, lab and beyond

Written By: Rebecca Hoffa, rhoffa@purdue.edu 

David Rollock congratulates a former student at graduation.(Purdue University photo/Rebecca Robiños)

From individual interactions to cross-culture transitions, David Rollock, 150^th Anniversary Professor in the Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences (PSY), is interested in the ways people cope.  

Specifically, Rollock is investigating the strengths and challenges that contribute to individuals’ and groups’ overall well-being, with a particular emphasis on individuals from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. 

“We’re doing work that I think is on the cutting edge,” Rollock said. “We’re doing work that can be helpful to specific populations that have been underrepresented but need our services, but also to make our science better.” 

David Rollock(Photo provided)

Early in his career at Purdue, Rollock’s research focused on interethnic contact between African American and Euro-American populations, understanding how people’s responses determine the tone of an encounter while also having significant scientific implications for how people’s responses are measured. Rollock also has heavily focused on the experiences of East and South Asian populations, particularly looking at how college students in these populations adjust and the implications of various personality instruments on these populations.  

Currently, Rollock is working on a project exploring how relationships help bolster coping and well-being among Latino and African American populations in collaboration with fellow Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences clinical psychology professor Susan South.   

“All of this has to do with: How do people adjust? How do they cope? What promotes their well-being and prevents distress?” Rollock said. 

When he was younger, Rollock was always the go-to person other kids went to for advice, so choosing a clinical psychology route seemed like a natural fit. However, when Rollock got to high school, he noticed the textbooks he was reading were limited when discussing the differences among ethnic and cultural groups, and this began his passion for advancing the knowledge in this area. 

“The opportunity to go into a research-oriented position was a good way to help broaden the evidence base that the best mental health interventions, theories and applications can grow from,” Rollock said. “We should be making sure our textbooks and applications provide opportunities for optimal functioning for all people.” 

At Purdue, Rollock has also mentored many graduate students as they’ve excelled in their own contributions within the psychology field. In 2019, he was honored with the Charles and Shirley Thomas Award from the American Psychological Association for his work in student mentoring and development. 

“I’m grateful to say that at least a good cohort of my students felt that I’d contributed positively to their development to nominate me for this award,” Rollock said. “That includes students who are in academia, private practice and public service. They’re responsible members of the professional community, and they’re doing things that attempt to move the needle and move our field forward.” 

David Rollock (center) was named 150th Anniversary Professor in 2018.

In addition to his graduate student mentorship, Rollock is also a member and former chair of the Purdue Teaching Academy; has a named professorship that honors teaching; and received the Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, the university’s highest teaching honor. For Rollock, helping to shape the minds of his students is one of the most rewarding parts of his job as a faculty member. 

“If I can control the context that allows people to learn, that opens their eyes to help make them different than when they first walked in, I enjoy that,” Rollock said. 

Rollock recalls one example in which he asked a student in his PSY 35000 (Abnormal Psychology) course with autism spectrum disorder to be a guest speaker during a lecture where that diagnosis would be the focus. The student enthusiastically gave a full picture of his experience, from the diagnostic characteristics to traveling the world as a Special Olympian to often being dismissed in ways that made it hard to establish satisfying relationships. At the end of the lecture, the student was given a standing ovation. One student even approached Rollock afterward and mentioned the clarity the presentation brought them about their own family. 

“Being able to give students a voice to share in the teaching mission of the university is something I am glad to be able to do,” Rollock said. “It made those classes special when I could offer them and was reinforcing for those students who had their own challenges. I hope they felt seen as a function of that. It is about: How do we make the things we talk about come alive? How do we make the evidence-based practice real?” 

Within the department, Rollock also served as department head as well as director of the clinical psychology program, which has allowed him to have an additional impact on PSY students, faculty and staff.  

“Purdue’s clinical psychology doctoral program was one of the first in the nation accredited by the American Psychological Association back in 1948,” Rollock said. “We’re a stalwart. Being the director in this kind of a program was important for how I helped contribute to the development of the next generation of psychologists.” 

Rollock also is a member of a variety of local, state and national organizations. He currently leads the Black Caucus of Faculty and Staff at Purdue, a voluntary, donation-funded organization that provides a space for Black faculty and staff to network and focus on issues relevant to them. Additionally, Rollock recently completed his term as president of the Indiana Association of Black Psychologists, which aims to provide support, workshops and networking for Black psychologists and students throughout the state. 

Ultimately, Rollock noted none of his achievements would be possible without the community of support behind him at Purdue. 

“In many ways, I feel myself as part of a community of people who are dedicated to what a university can do, and to the extent that they are excellent, that gives me motivation to do no less than my best to help the students and the discipline that I care about,” Rollock said.