Wilhelm Wundt played a key role in establishing modern psychology by founding the first psychological laboratory in 1879 at the University of Leipzig. He is often referred to as the "father of experimental psychology," emphasizing the importance of empirical research and scientific methods in studying the human mind. Wundt's work laid the groundwork for psychology as a distinct scientific discipline, separating it from philosophy and paving the way for subsequent developments in theories and practices within the field.