Wayne Duehn ’61 named to North Central’s Wall of Witness

North Central College is honoring Wayne Duehn ’61, Ph.D., of Arlington, Texas, by adding his name to the College’s Wall of Witness.

Duehn and five others will be honored during the College’s Homecoming Convocation at 4:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville.

North Central College’s Wall of Witness recognizes alumni whose lives have embodied the values of the College’s mission and heritage. Names of honorees are displayed in Kiekhofer Hall, which houses the College’s Koten Chapel.

Duehn has focused his career on advocating for the health of families and the prevention of child abuse. Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work, he developed a child abuse prevention program for the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, which has been implemented worldwide, and conducted training seminars for medical personnel serving in the Air Force, Navy and Army in the United States and abroad.

Throughout his career, Duehn has been a lecturer, trainer and consultant for such organizations as The Casey Family Programs, National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA), Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association and National Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers.  

After joining the University of Texas faculty in 1970, he developed one of the first research-oriented, evidence-based practice curriculums in graduate social work education. He continues to be engaged in clinical research on sexually abusive parents and juvenile sex offenders and is a recognized authority and educator in the treatment of sexually abusive families. Duehn is a co-founder of Praesidium, Inc., an abuse risk management firm for organizations.

A 1961 graduate of North Central College, Duehn majored in psychology and sociology and went on to earn his master’s degree in social work from Loyola University, followed by a doctorate in psychology and social work from Washington University in St. Louis. He has been a research associate at the Masters and Johnson Institute in St. Louis and completed post-doctoral work at the University of Hawaii.

Others being honored during Homecoming Convocation are Outstanding Alumni Award recipients Maria Wynne of Chicago, Priscilla Gallagher of Chicago, Fred Janzen of Ames, Iowa, and Eric McLaren of Aurora; and Alumni Recognition Reward recipient Matthew Brill of Pottstown, Penn.