Dr. Priest began his professional career working with juveniles who were referred for residential treatment through the juvenile court system. After completing his Master’s degree, he worked as a therapist for a mental health agency for three years, serving older adults and the severely mentally ill in a partial hospitalization program. After completing his Ph.D. in counseling psychology, he worked for another mental health center as an outpatient psychologist and a supervisor of Ph.D. student interns.

This practical experience has been enlightening and growth-producing. It also informs his teaching. He has been teaching General Psychology part-time since he was working on his master’s degree. He has taught full-time for the last couple of decades, and especially loves his classes in Group Dynamics, Social Psychology and General Psychology.

Dr. Priest has a seminary degree and is very interested in how knowledge gained through scripture and knowledge gained through the scientific method cohere. Both try to help us understand who we are and what motivates us. Dr. Priest is a professor and chair of the psychology department. He is married to AU alumnae Sharon Gray Priest and has two girls, Leah & Anna. He enjoys carpentry work and genealogy. He runs and walks to stay fit only because it’s healthy!

Dr. Priest has served at Anderson University since 2009.

wpriest@anderson.edu
B.A. in psychology & religion studies, Anderson University
M.A. in Religion, Anderson University School of Theology
M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Ball State University
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Ball State University