Dr. Richard J. Whelan is a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Kansas. His earliest professional experiences were at the Children's Hospital (Southard School) of the Menninger Clinic, where he served as a recreational therapist, teacher, and director of education. During his career at the University of Kansas and the KU Medical Center, he held an academic appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and was a professor of pediatrics, education, and special education. He also held the administrative posts of chairperson of the Department of Special Education, dean of a Graduate Division, dean of the School of Education, and director of education for the University Affiliated Facility interdisciplinary clinical and research programs at the KU Medical Center. In this interview, Dr. Whelan looks back on his career and describes how he entered the field of emotional and behavior disorders and identifies the influential events, policies, innovations, and people who impacted the field. He visualizes the current state of the field and offers advice for practitioners entering the field. (Contains 1 note.)