Professor emeritus, 85, investigated productive rehabilitation procedures
Former psychology professor Jerold Bozarth, who integrated research activities with contributions to practitioners and community organizations, passed away on January 25, 2018. He was 85.
During his tenure at the University of Georgia, Bozarth served as chair of the department of counseling and human development services, director of the rehabilitation counseling program and director of the Person-Centered Studies Project. As a licensed psychologist in Georgia, he also worked as a professional counselor and family therapist.
On an international scale, Bozarth served as a person-centered training consultant in the Czech Republic and Portugal and the scientific director for person-centered learning programs at the Institute for Person-Centered Learning in England.
Bozarth discovered the person-centered approach after working with long-term patients considered “difficult” to help by other organizations and was the author of over 400 articles, book chapters and technical manuals, including four books related to American psychologist Carl Rogers’ humanistic approach to psychology.
Over the course of his career at UGA, Bozarth taught nearly 100 different content courses, including specialized courses in student personnel in higher education, clinical supervision, psychotherapy and assessment and research design. During this time, Bozarth developed an international reputation as a facilitator of learning in Eastern and Western Europe.
Bozarth also provided in-service training for rehabilitation agencies both on and off campus. In 1987, he founded and continued to coordinate an annual international professional development workshop focused on the empowerment of practitioners, educators, administrators and others.
As a researcher, Bozarth integrated his studies with contributions to practitioners and community organizations by working with nearly every state rehabilitation agency in the nation. In the early- and mid-1970s, he worked closely with mental health centers in Iowa to develop evaluation procedures and provide continuing education programs.
In addition to person-centered research, Bozarth taught and studied conflict mediation, large community group facilitation, psychotherapy outcome research and organizational facilitation.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Bozarth; daughter, Amy Bozarth; three grandchildren, Caitlin Giles, Bridget Shenkel and Edward Shenkel; and two sisters, Karen Bozarth and Joyce Covington.
Gardenview Funeral Chapel of Athens is in charge of arrangements.