Clifford E. Lunneborg attended the public schools of Spokane, Washington, graduating from North Central High School in 1950. He attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon, with the Class of 1954 before transferring to the University of Washington where he received his BS, MS, and PhD in psychology. He was married to Patricia Wells Lunneborg. He served as Assistant Professor of Psychology and Measurement Psychologist in the Testing and Counseling Center at the University of Texas, Austin, from 1959 through 1962, then joined the faculty of the University of Washington, initially in Psychology and as Director of the Educational Assessment Center. He retired in 1991, but continued to teach part time through 2003. He died in Seattle, Washington, on August 10, 2005.