Online Edition | Washington State University | Pullman, Washington | Friday, February 22, 2002

Eminent Faculty Award
Dillman nabs top faculty prize
By Tim Marsh, University Relations

Don A. Dillman, Washington State University social scientist and internationally known statistical survey expert, has been named the recipient of the 2002 Eminent Faculty Award, the university’s top faculty honor.

"Don Dillman epitomizes the WSU motto, ‘World Class. Face to Face.’" said WSU President V. Lane Rawlins. "The strength of our university is reflected in his excellence," Rawlins said.

One of Dillman’s nominators noted, "No other social scientist has been as influential in developing the scientific basis for survey research methodology over the last 25 years."

Dillman and five other faculty award winners will be saluted during the annual WSU Faculty Honors Convocation, set for 3 p.m. Thursday, April 4, in Bryan Hall Auditorium.

Dillman is the second faculty member to receive the award, created last year by Rawlins.

The honor includes a cash award of $15,000.

In his 33rd year at WSU, Dillman is the university’s Thomas S. Foley Distinguished Professor of Government and Public Policy in the Departments of Sociology and Rural Sociology.

He is deputy director for Research and Development in the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center at WSU. In 1970, he was founding coordinator of the SESRC’s Public Opinion Laboratory, one of the first university-based telephone survey laboratories in the United States. He directed SESRC for 10 years, 1986 – 96.

Dillman is recognized internationally as a major contributor to the development of modern mail and telephone survey methods. His book, "Mail and Telephone Surveys: The Total Design Method," was the first to provide detailed procedures for conducting surveys by these methods.

In all, he has written nine books and 180 publications and served as investigator on 71 grants and contracts worth nearly $10 million.

From 1991 – 95, he was senior survey methodologist in the Office of the Director, U.S. Bureau of the Census. He provided leadership for the development of new questionnaire designs and procedures for the 2000 Decennial Census and other government surveys.

Dillman is president of the American Association of Public Opinion Research and winner of numerous awards.

He is a graduate of Iowa State University, from which he also earned his master of science and doctoral degrees.