About Bill Buskist
Professor Emeritus

Dr. Buskist retired from his faculty position in December 2016. He now lives in Salida, Colorado and is continuing with his professional writing and speaking in several areas within college and university teaching and learning, including his work on excellence in college teaching, peer review of teaching, and the Teacher Behavior Checklist (TBC). 

He was the Distinguished Professor in the Teaching of Psychology and a Faculty Fellow at Auburn’s Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. In his 34 years at Auburn, he taught nearly 36,000 undergraduates. He taught courses in introductory psychology, research methods, and college and university teaching. As a faculty member, his primary research interests included the professional development of graduate students, excellence in teaching, and effective student learning. He has written and edited over two dozen volumes on college and university teaching. He is currently co-editing an issue of New Directions in Teaching and Learning on student engagement with his long time friend and collaborator Jim Groccia and is working on two books about college and university teaching.

In 2005, he was a co-recipient (with Leanne Lamke) of Auburn University’s highest teaching honor, The Gerald and Emily Leischuck Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. In addition, he was the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2005 Harry Kirke Wolfe lecturer. He also is a recipient of the 2000 Robert S. Daniel Teaching Excellence Award from the Society of the Teaching of Psychology (STP; APA Division 2), the 2009 Fred S. Keller Behavioral Education Award (APA Division 25), and the 2009 American Psychological Foundation’s Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award. In 2011 and again in 2014, he received Auburn University’s Honor’s Program Teacher of the Year award. He also twice received the Psi Chi Outstanding Teacher award (2000 and 2015). In 2013, he received a Presidential Citation from STP for lifetime contributions to the teaching of psychology. He is a Fellow of APA Divisions 1 (General Psychology), 2 (Society for the Teaching of Psychology), and 52 (International Psychology). His proudest career achievement is having seven of his graduate students honored with national teaching awards.

Representative Publications

Recent Publications

Liu, S., Keeley, J., & Buskist, W. (2019). What constitutes poor teaching? Perspectives from Chinese college students. Teaching of Psychology, 1-5.

Buskist, W., & Keeley, J. W. (Eds.). (2018). Habits and practices of master teachers: International perspectives on excellent teaching. New Directions in Teaching and Learning, No. 156. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 

Kirby, L. A. J., Busler, J. N., Keeley, J. W., & Buskist, W. (2018). A brief history of the Teacher Behavior Checklist. In W. Buskist & J. K. Keeley (Eds.), Habits and practices of master teachers: International Perspectives on excellent teaching. New Directions in Teaching and Learning, no. 156 (pp. 21-29).  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Buskist, W., & Keeley, J. K. (2018). Searching for universal principles of excellence in college and university teaching. In W. Buskist & J. K. Keeley (Eds.), Habits and practices of master teachers: International Perspectives on excellent teaching. New Directions in Teaching and Learning, no. 156 (pp. 95-105). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Groccia, J. E., & Buskist, W. (Eds.). (2018). Student engagement: A multidimensional perspective. New Directions in Teaching and Learning, no 154. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Buskist, W., Kirby, L. A. J., & Busler, J. N. (2018). Rules of (student) engagement. In J. E. Groccia, & W. Buskist, (Eds.). Student engagement: A multidimensional perspective. New Directions in Teaching and Learning, no 154 (pp. 55-63). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Buskist, W., & Groccia, J. E. (2018). The future of student engagement. In J. E. Groccia, & W. Buskist, (Eds.). Student engagement: A multidimensional perspective. New Directions in Teaching and Learning, no. 154 (pp. 109-111). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Kirby, L. A. J., Busler, J. N, & Buskist, W. (2017). Five steps to becoming a student-centered teacher. In Obeid, R., Schwartz, A. M., Shane-Simpson, C., & Brooks, P. (Eds.) GSTA guide to student-centered teaching. Available at http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/index.php

Busler, J., Keeley, J. K., Kirk, C., & Buskist, W. (2017). What constitutes poor teaching? A preliminary inquiry into the misbehaviors of not-so-good instructors. Teaching of Psychology, 44, 330-334.

Keeley, J. K., Ismail, E., & Buskist, W. (2016). Excellent teachers’ perspectives on excellent teaching. Teaching of Psychology, 43, 175-179. 

Liu, S., Keeley, J., & Buskist, W. (2016). Chinese college students’ perceptions of excellent teachers across three disciplines: Psychology, chemical engineering, and education. Teaching of Psychology, 43, 70-74. 

Liu, S., Keeley, J., & Buskist, W. (2015). Chinese college students’ perceptions of characteristics of excellent teachers. Teaching of Psychology, 42, 83-86.

Buskist, W. (2013). Preparing the new psychology professoriate: Past, present, and future. Teaching of Psychology, 40, 321-327. (Invited article)

Buskist, W., & Benassi, V. A. (Eds.). (2012). Effective college and university teaching: Strategies and tactics for the new professoriate. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Groccia, J. E., Al-Sudairy, M., & Buskist, W. (Eds.). (2012). Handbook of college and university teaching: Global perspectives. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Buskist, W., & Groccia, J. E. (Eds.). (2011). Evidence-based teaching. New Directions in Teaching and Learning, no. 128. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.