The Dr. Mark Roberts Scholarship: In Honor of an Influential Trail-Blazer

Early in his career at Idaho State University it was easy to see that Mark Roberts was likely to contribute to the growth of the Psychology Department. In January of 1978 he organized and directed the first ISU Psychology Clinic, a critical departmental program for training graduate students and performing clinical research. He helped develop the ISU Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team in 1987, an inter-disciplinary program involving professionals and students from across ISU’s many health professions. He spearheaded the department’s successful effort to construct an accredited doctoral program in clinical psychology, serving as its first Director of Clinical Training from 1993 to 2015.   

As a reflection of his impact on the department, university, and the community, Dr. Roberts was honored with The Dr. Mark Roberts Scholarship that was established in his name. Former students, faculty, staff, friends, and family contributed to this endowment in his honor and he was awarded the honor amongst a room full of individuals he has impacted.

Roberts is, in large part, responsible for the development and ongoing success of the ISU doctoral program in clinical psychology. Partly because of his work and commitment to quality clinical training, ISU now has a nationally ranked clinical psychology doctoral program that attracts students from all over the country.

As an ISU professor, Dr. Roberts taught courses in clinical psychology, child development, behavioral assessment, advanced psychometrics, and clinical practicum. Dr. Roberts had the special ability to connect with his students. Time and time again Dr. Roberts’ supervisors learned via student course evaluations that he was a conscientious professor with high standards, and how good of a person he was.

During his long career from 1977 to 2019 Dr. Roberts was recognized for his instructional, scholarly, and administrative abilities. He received numerous awards from ISU, including Master Teacher in 1987, Outstanding Researcher in 1989 and 1993, and Outstanding Public Service in 2004. In 2001 he was awarded the John Cabareri Award for Excellence by the Idaho Psychological Association. In 2019 his academic productivity in clinical research with noncompliant and aggressive children was recognized with the Trailblazer Award by the Parenting & Families Special Interest Group of the Association of Behavior & Cognitive Therapy. Between 1976 and 2020 Dr. Roberts published 47 clinical research articles in peer reviewed journals with his many student and colleague co-authors.

As well as his impact on ISU and the community, Dr. Roberts raised two wonderful children, Jeff and Liz. 

The Dr. Mark Roberts Scholarship benefits students in the Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology Program. Dean Turley-Ames commented, “Dr. Roberts had a clear vision for clinical training at ISU. He knew that southeast Idaho was in need of highly trained professionals, and he took it upon himself to develop a program that would improve the community that he cared so much about. What a legacy he has left ISU and the state of Idaho! So many more Idahoans have been served by the graduates of this program than you can ever imagine. We are all very grateful to Dr. Roberts.” 

For more information about the Dr. Mark Roberts Scholarship Endowment Fund, please contact Sonia Gomez, Director of Development, at 208-282-1404, soniagomez@isu.edu.