Dr. Kristopher Preacher is a preeminent scholar whose pioneering work has fundamentally reshaped quantitative methodology in the social sciences. He currently holds the distinguished position of Professor in the Quantitative Methods program at Vanderbilt University where he is honored as the Lois Autrey Betts Chair in Education & Human Development and serves as Associate Chair of the Department of Psychology & Human Development. After earning his Ph.D. in Quantitative Psychology at Ohio State University under Robert MacCallum, he established his academic career at Vanderbilt University in 2011, progressing rapidly from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor in 2014 and ultimately to full Professor in 2016. His professional trajectory exemplifies extraordinary scholarly excellence and leadership in advancing methodological rigor across psychological and educational research.
Dr. Preacher's transformative research has revolutionized the analysis of complex longitudinal and hierarchical data through his seminal contributions to structural equation modeling, multilevel modeling, and mediation analysis techniques. His methodological innovations, particularly in testing mediation and moderation effects within complex frameworks, have garnered over 156,000 citations according to Google Scholar, reflecting profound impact across multiple disciplines. His authoritative 2008 book 'Latent Growth Curve Modeling' established foundational frameworks that remain essential references, while his influential papers on centering categorical predictors in multilevel models and assessing model fit have become indispensable resources for researchers worldwide. These contributions have successfully bridged theoretical constructs with practical statistical implementation, enabling scientists to test increasingly sophisticated hypotheses with greater precision and confidence.
Beyond his scholarly output, Dr. Preacher has profoundly influenced the field through his editorial leadership as Associate Editor of Psychological Methods and service on the editorial boards of premier methodology journals including Behavior Research Methods, Organizational Research Methods, and Journal of Educational & Behavioral Statistics. He has developed widely adopted computational tools that have democratized access to advanced statistical techniques for researchers across psychology, education, and the social sciences, demonstrating his commitment to methodological transparency and accessibility. As an exceptional mentor, he has guided numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have established successful careers in quantitative methodology, continuing his legacy of methodological excellence. Currently, his research continues to push boundaries with cutting-edge work on multilevel structural equation modeling, addressing collinearity consequences in hierarchical models, and developing innovative approaches to predictor centering in complex data structures.
