In Memoriam: Robert Haskell, professor emeritus

We are saddened to share that Robert Haskell, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the Psychology Department at the University of New England, died Saturday, July 17, 2010 following a brief illness. 

Dr. Haskell began teaching at the University of New England in 1979 and he served as chair of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, and co-founder of The New England Institute of Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology, (www.une.edu/nei).

He was an active scholar most notably in the areas of transfer of learning, small group leadership, language and communication, unconscious cognition, and analogical reasoning. He developed a novel logico-mathematic, structural methodology for the analysis and validation of sub-literal (SubLit) language and cognition, and he authored seven books and over 65 research papers including invited entries for the Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology and The Academic American Encyclopedia.

Dr. Haskell also served on several journal editorial review boards and was the associate editor of The Journal of Mind and Behavior.

Dr. Haskell earned his Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University in psychology and social relations, and both his M.A. and B.A. from San Francisco State University.  He was a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), and a charter member of The American Psychological Society (APS). 

"Rob will always be remembered by his colleagues and students at UNE as someone who was completely unable to tolerate mediocrity, and he inspired us all to do better, professionally and personally," writes Linda Morrison, Ph.D., chair of UNE's Department of Psychology.  "He was always up for a debate, and his intelligence, quick wit, and rocking chair politics are legendary in the fabric of the institution.  Rob's legacy lives in the strength of both the Psychology and Sociology programs at UNE and in the lives of the students he inspired.  He will be missed."

At Dr. Haskell's request, there will be no memorial service.