Vytautas Juozas Černius

Garbės profesorius / Honorary Professor (Suteiktas vardas 2006-12-20)

Vytautas Juozas Černius, a Lithuanian diaspora scholar in the USA, educologist, psychologist, and Professor Emeritus, established the Pedagogy Centre at Vytautas Magnus University in 1991 and became its director. In 1997, he became the long-serving Head of VMU Centre for Education Studies. From 1989 to 1996, he was also a member of VMU Re-establishment Senate.

He was born on 26 April 1926. From 1946 to 1951 he studied natural sciences at the Baltic University and the University of Münster in Germany. After moving to the USA, he studied biology at Boston University from 1952 to 1953. Later, after developing an interest in the social sciences, he studied counselling and school psychology at the University of Chicago’s Department of Education from 1955 to 1957 and from 1958 to 1966.

After completing his studies, he continued his career in this field. From 1957 to 1959, he worked as a teacher at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, and from 1959 to 1962, he held the position of department head. In 1962, he moved to Thornton where he worked as a psychologist for the school association until 1996. That same year, he became an associate professor at Indiana State University, the Director of Education at the Laboratory Schools, and a psychologist. In 1967, he joined Temple University in Philadelphia as an associate professor and was promoted to professor in 1978, a position he held until 1997. From 1981 to 1983, he served as Chair of the Department of Psychoeducational Processes, from 1990 to 1996 as coordinator, and from 1983 to 1986 as the Director of the International Education Center at the College of Education. From 1991, he was a visiting professor at VMU and from 1995 to 1997, he was the Director of VMU Pedagogy Centre. In 1997, he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus.

He published around 50 publications in English, Lithuanian and German, including the books “Mokytojo pagalbininkas” (Teacher’s Assistant) (1992), “Tėvų ir mokytojų pagalbininkas” (Parent and Teacher Assistant) (1997), and “Žmogaus vystymosi kelias. Nuo vaikystės iki brandos” (The Path of Human Development: From Childhood to Adulthood) (2006). He also worked as an organiser, consultant, and leader for numerous conferences, consultations, courses, and seminars in the USA, Mexico, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Nigeria. In addition, he led the summer and winter training courses (in 1991, 1992, 1993, and1994) organised by VMU Pedagogy Centre. He also initiated the establishment of the January 13th Foundation in Vilnius, which raised over 19,000 USD.

Prof. Vytautas Juozas Černius was a member of the Lithuanian Scouts, the American Psychological Association, and the World Lithuanian Community.

Based on information provided by VMU Library.