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Kowalczyk Honored as Teacher-Scholar

Bill Kowalczyk, associate professor of psychology and department chair, knows that research isn’t just about what goes on in the lab.

“I’ve taught an FLP course on how to look at data and we start by planning a trip to Paris,” he said. “So we look at the weather, how much it costs at this time versus that time, how many people go to the Louvre on what days – so students learn how to make decisions based on data, rather than winging it.”

That kind of thoughtful, hands-on approach to teaching is one reason Kowalczyk received the 2025 Teacher-Scholar Award at Honors Convocation. “It’s a great honor,” he said. “I really appreciate being recognized for the fact that I take great pains to help our students learn how to do research.”

Cherilyn Lacy

“Supporting faculty as scholars is, ultimately, supporting them as teachers. Engaging in their own scholarly pursuits keeps faculty connected to the development of knowledge in their fields and helps sustain the spark of curiosity that makes for great teaching.”

Cherilyn Lacy

Assistant Provost

Well-known by students and faculty alike for his research on binge drinking, substance use disorder and other topics, Kowalczyk knows how important it is to get students to understand how to conduct research, no matter their major.

Bill Kowalczyk

“It’s not just about the research. It’s asking ourselves, as faculty, how do we take that info we’re learning and bring it back to the classroom?”

Bill Kowalczyk

Associate Professor of Psychology and Department Chair

In addition to teaching students, he often involves students directly in his research, such as asking his students to take breathalyzers to bars to gather data on their peers’ drinking habits. He is also active in guiding students in their own research projects and has frequently taken students to conferences, including the Eastern Psychological Association, to present their posters. Read more about this work.

Lacy shared a quote from his nomination. “Bill was nominated for, and won, this award because, in the words of a colleague, ‘his enthusiasm for research is contagious and he serves as an inspiration to our students. His commitment to involving students in research projects sparks their intellectual curiosity and offers them invaluable hands-on experience, preparing them for future academic or professional endeavors’.”

Looking ahead, Kowalczyk is putting together a new slate of research topics, including how sexual arousal and alcohol impact decision-making in young men.

“I might be doing great research, but if I’m not sharing it in my classroom, I’m not doing my job,” he said. “That’s what sets Hartwick apart.”

May 13, 2025
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