Congratulations to Professor Emeritus Rob Horner, PhD, who was inducted into the Multi-Tiered System of Supports Hall of Fame
Professor Emeritus Rob Horner, PhD, whose groundbreaking work has helped schools nationwide implement proactive systems that promote positive behavior, strengthen school climate, and support student success, was inducted into the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Hall of Fame at the Global MTSS Summit on July 31, 2026. The honor recognizes his role in the co-creation of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).
Throughout his career at the University of Oregon, Horner has been a driving force in advancing research and practice that improve outcomes for students and schools. Horner has served in several roles during his time at the University of Oregon including Department Head, Director of Educational and Community Supports, Alumni-Knight Endowed Professor, and Associate Dean for Research and Outreach.
His scholarship has focused on applied behavior analysis, positive behavior support, multi-tiered instructional systems, educational equity, and systems change. Over the course of his distinguished career, Horner has authored more than 130 books and book chapters, helping shape the field's understanding of how schools can create environments where all students thrive. Among his most influential contributions is the development and implementation of School-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a framework he has advanced alongside longtime colleague George Sugai for more than two decades. Today, PBIS is implemented in more than 26,000 schools nationwide.
Horner's impact on education has been recognized through numerous honors and awards that include the 2017 Northwest PBIS Network Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016 Kauffman-Hallahan Distinguished Researcher Award from the The Division for Research of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and the 2014 Distinguished Researcher Award from the American Educational Research Association.
Horner’s induction into the MTSS Hall of Fame is a fitting recognition of a career dedicated to transforming educational systems and improving opportunities for students across the country.