Professor, Department of Psychology
1987
Bio:
Dr. Justin Pikunas was born in Lithuania, immigrated to the United States in 1950, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1956. He earned a Ph.B. in Philosophy from Vytautas the Great University, Kaunas, Lithuania (1943), a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Munich, Munich, Germany (1949), and completed post-doctoral research in psychopathology and psychodiagnostics, University of Paris (1950).
He joined the University of Detroit as an Instructor of Psychology in 1951, became an Assistant Professor in 1952, Associate Professor in 1956, and full Professor in 1961. He taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate courses included general, developmental, child, and adolescent psychology, psychology of exceptional children, psychology of personality, psychology of adjustment, and abnormal psychology. On the graduate level he taught Rorschach interpretation, diagnostic testing, individual psychological measurement, projective techniques, and clinical psychology.
Dr. Pikunas served as the Director of the School Psychology Program and Director of the Children’s Psychodiagnostic Center from 1970-1974. In 1974 he was named Chairman of the Department of Psychology. He also served as a member of the university rank and tenure committee, University of Detroit Senate, and the University Faculty Council.
Dr. Pikunas authored Human Development: A Science of Growth, Instructor’s Manual for Human Development, Fundamental Child Psychology, The Graphoscopic Scale: Manual, Fundamental Child Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and the international student edition of Human Development.
In the letter informing Dr. Pikunas of being awarded Professor Emeritus status, the president noted “You have been a dedicated member of the Psychology Department for thirty-five years. You have earned a reputation for distinguished scholarship through your many books and other publications. You have also brought distinction to the University through your work with the Psychology Department’s Children’s Diagnostic Center.”
Professor Emeritus status was awarded to Dr. Justin Pikunas by Fr. Robert A. Mitchell, President, University of Detroit on February 28, 1987.
Dr. Pikunas entered eternal life on April 26, 2018.