By Joey Wilkerson
Professor Spotlight: Dr. Stanley Frager
University of Louisville psychopathology professor Dr Stanley Frager will have been with the Kent School of Social Work for 30 years this January. “I love teaching. I try to give the students a lot of good stuff that they can really use in their careers later on,” said Dr. Frager about being at U of L so long. “I like the college atmosphere, as I’ve watched it grow in many different ways over the years.”
Frager did his undergraduate work at Washington University in St. Louis. From there, he earned his master’s degree and a Ph.D. from UCLA in Los Angeles. He currently teaches psychopathology, which is the diagnosis of mental illness.
U of L isn’t his only forum; Frager has been in the public eye for some time now. He had a television show which aired on WHAS for 12 years, and he currently hosts a radio show focusing on social work issues, which airs on WAVG 1450 AM. “The show is basically a potpourri of different topics dealing with the human relation,” said Frager.
“Having this show has allowed me to meet a lot of interesting people with different interests,” he explained. “This has allowed me to learn a lot about various subjects. I always read my guests’ books before they come on the air. I just like learning; it’s fun.”
In addition to the radio show, he offers a website with a large number of links that relate to the show’s weekly topic. He also offers an open call-in line for the show. “The open line is where people can call in; however, it’s not on-air therapy,” said Frager. “It’s more of us just assessing the situation and referring them to a place where they can get good help.” If that’s not enough, former The Louisville Cardinal Editor-in-Chief Sarah Dailey produces the show.
A professor, a television star, and a radio personality. Is there anything else that this man can do? The answer is yes. He is currently the president of the National Speakers Association for the Kentucky Chapter. In the past, Dr. Frager has been a sports psychologist for many college sports teams. He was the U of L baseball team’s assistant coach, and he also worked with UK’s basketball program for four years. He has worked with Olympic and professional athletes, and he also sits on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America (he has been a scout for 45 years and just stepped down from being a scoutmaster after 22 years) ; his work with the Boy Scouts earned him a Bell Award.
With all of this under his belt, one might wonder what Dr. Frager’s true love is. He answers that question simply: “Teaching. Because learning is fun.”
