Dr. John Willett

Biography

John B. Willett is a Professor Emeritus at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he has made significant contributions to the field of educational research, particularly in statistical methods for analyzing the timing and occurrence of events. He is recognized for his influential work in applied longitudinal data analysis alongside his colleague Judy Singer. Willett's collaborative publications include 'Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis: Modeling Change and Event Occurrence' and 'Methods Matter: Improving Causal Inference in Educational and Social Science Research', co-authored with Richard Murnane. Born in northern England, Willett was educated at Harrogate Grammar School and Oxford University before obtaining his Ph.D. in applied statistics from Stanford University in 1985. Throughout the 1970s, he taught high school physics and mathematics in Hong Kong, where he authored a physics textbook and presented a weekly science television show. After moving to the U.S. in the 1980s, he continued his academic journey at Harvard, where he also served as Academic Dean. Willett is dedicated to mentoring students, focusing on their professional development and contributions to the field.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards