HYDERABAD, India — Woxsen University, Hyderabad, will confer an Honorary Doctorate upon Dr. Roy Frederick Baumeister, social psychologist and Professor Emeritus at The University of Queensland, during its Annual Convocation in July 2026. Dr. Baumeister will also grace the ceremony as the Chief Guest.
With an academic output comprising over 700 publications, more than 40 books, over 300,000 citations, and an h-index of 216, Dr. Baumeister is among the most cited scholars globally. His research spans areas such as self-control, decision-making, motivation, belongingness, human sexuality, free will, and social behaviour.
Dr. Baumeister is best known for his work on ego depletion and self-control, including the strength model of willpower, which examines self-control as a limited but developable resource. His paper, ‘The Need to Belong,’ co-authored with Mark Leary, has received over 41,000 citations and continues to shape thinking on human connection and social behaviour.
Dr. Baumeister’s work has influenced leadership, organisational behaviour, and public policy, offering research-backed perspectives on human decision-making and performance. His book, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, brought many of these ideas to a broader audience.
Dr. Raul Villamarin Rodriguez, Vice President, Woxsen University added, “We are deeply honoured to recognise Dr. Roy F. Baumeister with Woxsen University’s Honorary Doctorate. His remarkable scholarship has shaped global understanding of human behaviour, willpower, belonging, and decision-making, leaving a lasting legacy in psychology and beyond. It is with great pride that we welcome him as the Chief Guest for our Annual Convocation 2026.”
Dr. Roy F. Baumeister said, “I am deeply honoured by this opportunity, and I am excited to travel to Hyderabad and meet with scientists and intellectuals there. Sharing ideas with thinkers from different backgrounds has always been a passion of mine.”
Dr. Baumeister earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University and has held senior positions at leading institutions, including Francis Eppes Eminent Scholar at Florida State University, and the Elsie Smith Professorship at Case Western Reserve University. He is also a Fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology and the Association for Psychological Science.
The Annual Convocation 2026 of Woxsen University will bring together graduating students, PhD scholars, faculty, and distinguished guests to mark the completion of academic programmes across disciplines.
