LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ -- Dr. John M. Baer (left) of Wenonah, NJ, associate professor of education at Rider University, has been appointed chairperson of undergraduate education.

Holder of a M.S. and Ph.D. in psychology from Rutgers University, Dr. Baer came to Rider in 1992 after spending two years as an examiner with Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ. Prior to that, he served on the faculty of Rutgers, Rowan University, Gloucester County College, and Western Maryland College. He received his M.A. from Hood College and B.A. from Yale University.

At Rider, Dr. Baer teaches courses educational and developmental psychology. His research in the area of creativity was honored by the American Psychological Association in 1992 when he received the Berlyne Prize for the year's best new research.

Earlier this year, he moderated a panel at the Eighth National Conference on College Teaching and Learning in Jacksonville, FL, and made a presentation on "Creativity and Divergent Thinking in College Teaching." He received the conference's Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology Award.

Rider University is an independent, coeducational, nonsectarian institution with a 353-acre campus in Lawrenceville, NJ, and a 23-acre campus in Princeton, NJ. The University offers 58 undergraduate programs and 15 graduate programs in business, liberal arts, science, education, and music. Ninety-five percent of Rider's faculty members hold doctoral or other appropriate terminal degrees. U.S. News and World Report has again ranked Rider in the top tier of northern universities based on the quality of its programs.