DU's Dr. Love
DU's professors are dedicated to research that improves our society.
Howard Markman, a psychology professor and co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies, is internationally known for his research on one of American society’s greatest issues—divorce.
DU's Dr. Howard Markman has worked in divorce counseling for the past 30 years.
Over the years, he has conducted extensive research about what predicts and prevents divorce. Using his research, he and DU Research Professor Scott Stanley developed the PREP program, a research-based marriage education program to help couples communicate more effectively with the goal of improving relationship satisfaction.
"Over the past 30 years, Howard has helped define the field that tries to understand the nature of family relationships and marriage," says Rob Roberts, associate professor and chair of the psychology department. "It's extraordinarily rare when behavioral science research has a significant impact on the general public as well as with scientists and theoreticians in the discipline."
Nationally recognized expert
Markman has co-authored 12 books, including 12 Hours to a Great Marriage and the best-seller Fighting For Your Marriage. Markman’s research team has written more than 150 journal articles and papers. He's a go-to source for USA Today, The New York Times and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
His work has been funded by federal agencies such as the National Institute of Mental Health and the Administration of Children and Families. Markman oversees nearly $9 million in active federal grants for projects looking at:
- long-term effects of premarital intervention
- marriage education in the Army
- marriage education to foster investment in fatherhood
- cohabitation on the pathways toward marriage
One of DU's best
Markman received DU's Distinguished Scholar Award in 2007. The award recognizes significant achievement in the professional scholarship, as demonstrated by publications and their positive effect in the classroom.
"This is one of the biggest honors a DU professor can earn," says Markman. "I'm so humbled to have been nominated and to receive the award."
In addition to his research, Markman reaches a full load of undergraduate and graduate courses.
"The quality of the students at DU is really terrific. The opportunity to get into the classroom, to get fresh ideas from the students in my classes, has kept me at DU for all of these years," Markman says. "Our students are the best on the planet."
Published on Feb. 4,2008