Contact Information

Location: University of Denver
Department of Psychology
Frontier Hall

Mailing Address
The Relationship Center
2155 South Race Street
Denver, CO 80208

Phone#: 303-871-3806
Fax#: 303-871-4747
Director: Wyndol Furman
ProjectSTAR@du.edu

Wyndol Furman did his undergraduate work at Duke University. He was originally a mathematics major and then a philosophy major, but he ultimately decided to became a psychology major because it was both a science and was people-oriented. He became especially interested in clinical psychology after working in the summers in the South Carolina State Psychiatric Hospital. He began with graduate work in child clinical psychology at George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. During this time, he worked in two treatment centers for autistic and severely retarded children. This experience convinced him of the great need for research on children having problems. He transferred to the University of Minnesota where he got his degree in child clinical psychology in 1978. He worked with John Masters and Bill Hartup at the Institute of Child Development. For his dissertation, he developed and evaluated a treatment program for socially withdrawn children.

He then took his academic job at the University of Denver. In the 30 years, he has been here, he has focused on studying social development and problems in social development. Much of his early work focused on peer relations and friendships. He developed and evaluated several programs for helping children who are not liked by their peers, including one that was implemented in over 60 elementary school classrooms in the Denver area.

Wyndol also has a conducted a series of studies on sibling relationships and on social networks. In the last ten years, he has found his true love-adolescent romantic relationships. The Adolescent Relationship Project focused on twelfth graders' romantic relationships, and Project Star is focused on the development of relationships through the high school years. He has edited a book on the topic (The Development of Romantic Relationships in Adolescence (Cambridge University Press) and published over 70 articles in scientific journals and books. He received a W.T. Grant Faculty Scholar Award and the Distinguished Scholar Award at the University of Denver. In 2005 Dr. Furman received the John Evans Professorship Award. Dr. Furman was honored with this award for his outstanding research and other creative, scholarly achievement that has significantly affected his field. He has appeared frequently in national or international media, including MSNBC, BBC, the NYTimes, and the Boston Globe. He has also appeared in local radio and television programs.

In addition to doing research, he teaches several classes at DU and is the Director of Clinical Training. The loves of his own life are Harry, Grover and Donna. Taking advantage of the Colorado environment, he has been an avid skier, boarder, mountain biker, and climber. He also appeared in several local plays, and follows the local theatre and art scene.