Kim Gingerich Brenneman

Kim Gingerich Brenneman, graduate of the EMC class of 1983, began her teaching career at Eastern Mennonite College in the fall of 1989. She received her Ph.D. in the spring of 2001 in Developmental and Educational Psychology. Her dissertation was titled The Well-being of Internationally Mobile Adolescents. She continues her interest in the well-being of Third Culture Kids.
Currently, Brenneman is conducting research on the relationship between cross-cultural experiential learning, hopeful thinking, and multicultural adaptation.
Brenneman is continuing to research the application of positive psychological principles to education, particularly in the development of hopeful thinking. Direct application of these principles is in the development of courses, assignments and seminars that integrate these, as well as other positive psychological concepts.
Kim has led four groups of EMU college students in semester-long cross-culturals to India in 2007, 2009, and 2011 and 2018 and believes this is a positive life-changing experience for all involved!
Kim is married and has two children. She is an active member of Weavers Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, VA.

I believe that it is important for students to identify their character strengths (as indicated by positive psychological theory) and to learn to apply them to their everyday living (course work assignments, social interactions). When students strengthen their strengths, that were given to them by God, they can have more positive experiences and can become more confident academically.
One of my goals as professor is to assist and facilitate students to develop interest and excitement in learning. Another is to help students identify their strengths and encourage and assist them to use their strengths in their academic career, and everyday life.

Brenneman, K.G. (2017). Nurturing the growth mindset in college students. Poster presented at 2017 Developmental Science Teaching Institute, April 4, 2017, Austin, TX.

Gates, J. & Brenneman, K.G. (2016). Do differences exist between social sciences and business majors in cultural sensitivity? Poster presented at the 2016 Society for Research in Adolescence, April 1, 2016, Baltimore, MD.

Brenneman, K.G. & Gates, J. (2015). Cross-cultural experiential learning as an approach to expanding cultural sensitivity. Poster presented at the 2015 Developmental Science Teaching Institute, March 18, 2015, Philadelphia, PA.

Brenneman, K.G. (2013). Building hopeful thinking by developing character strengths in a college classroom. Poster presented at the 2013 Society for the Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, April 19, 2013, Seattle, WA.

Special Lectures, Presentations at EMU

The flourishing field of positive psychology, Invited guest speaker, EMU Psychology Club, October 8, 2015.

Introduction to play therapy, Invited guest speaker, Developmental Psychology Case Study classes, February, 2015.

Flourishing field of positive psychology, Invited guest speaker, General Psychology classes, November, 2014.

Positive group leadership, Invited presenter at Leadership Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, September 29, 2012.

The flourishing field of positive psychology across the life-span, Invited guest speaker, General Psychology class, September, 2012 and January, 2013.

Introduction to play therapy, Invited guest speaker, Developmental Psychology Case Study class, January, 2013.

The flourishing field of positive psychology across the life-span, invited guest speaker, General Psychology class, January 30, 2012 and September 21, 2011.

Play: The work of the child, Invited guest speaker in Developmental Psychology Case Study, October 12, 2010.

Play: The work of the child, Invited guest speaker in Developmental Psychology Case Study, October 11, 2010.

The Flourishing Field of Positive Psychology, Invited guest lecture in General Psychology, September 24, 2010.

The Flourishing Field of Positive Psychology, Invited guest lecture in General Psychology, Eastern Mennonite University, February 3, 2010.

Developing Character Strengths, guest lecture in Developmental Psychology, Eastern Mennonite University, Fall 2009.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and its use in the counseling setting. Invited guest lecture in Psychological Testing and Assessment course, Eastern Mennonite University, October 27, 2008.

Play therapy and its use with young children. Invited guest lecture in Developmental Psychology Case Study, Eastern Mennonite University, VA, October 7, 2008.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Two hour introductory workshop for Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCP), Eastern Mennonite University, VA, October 6, 2008.

Play therapy and its use with young children. Invited guest lecture in Developmental Psychology Case Study, Eastern Mennonite University, VA, October 6, 2008.

Brenneman, K.G. Ecological transitions and their influence on development. Invited guest lecture in General Psychology course, Eastern Mennonite University, September 2006.

Benefits of light therapy. Invited guest lecture in Physiological Psychology course, Eastern Mennonite University, Spring 2006.

Understanding your developmental niche, invited guest lecture in General Psychology, Eastern Mennonite University, Fall 2005.

Actions & Perceptions, invited guest lecture at Royals Society meeting, Eastern Mennonite University, Fall 2005.

National Certified Counselor, 1989 Certification # 21853

International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA)
Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)
Society for Research in Adolescence (SRA)
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Honor Society (CSI)

2016-17

Society for Research in Child Development, Austin, TX, April 5-8, 2017.

_Developmental Science Teaching Institute), Austin, TX, April 4, 2017.

2015-16
_Society for Research in Adolescence (SRA), Baltimore, MD, March 31-April 2.

2014-15
Developmental Science Teaching Institute, Philadelphia, PA, March 18, 2015.

_Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Philadelphia, PA. March 19-21, 2015.

2013-14
_Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) _ Biannual Conference, Washington, D.C., April 3-6, 2014.

2012-2013
Developmental Science Teaching Institute, Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA, April 17, 2013.

Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Conference, Seattle, WA, April 18-20, 2013.

Love, 2.0, Positive Psychology Leadership Series, International Positive Psychological Association, webinar with Barbara Fredrickson, March 18, 2013.

The Myths of Happiness, Positive Psychology Leadership Series, International Positive Psychological Association, webinar with Sonja Lyubomirsky, February 20, 2013.

School for Leadership Training, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, EMU, January 22-23, 2013.

Gratitude, Positive Psychology Leadership Series, International Positive Psychological Association, webinar with Robert Emmons, November 28, 2012.

2013-14
Behavioral & Social Science Principles

2012-2013
Topics in Psychology: Positive Psychology

2014- Undergraduate Council, Member 2017
2014- Cross-cultural Committee, Member 2017
2014- MA in Biomedicine Admissions Committee Member 2017