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Positive People Development:
Systems & Prevention Science

PhD in Applied Psychology

Pennsylvania State University

When I returned to Malaysia from Illinois, I started the first program in undergrad psychology, was teaching and working as a Counseling Psychologist for university students. 
While developing a universal intervention for substance use prevention (Addicted-2-Life), I realized there was a great need for evidence-based preventative intervention development that takes a systems perspective. 

Right after the Columbine School shooting, Penn State started one of the first Prevention Research Centers. I wrote to the Founder & Director Dr Mark Greenberg and shared my interests. I shared how I was concerned by the exponential growth of mental health issues in US and Malaysia, and where psychological treatment alone wasn't going to be enough to help stem the rise. And, my interest in prevention interventions.

Coincidentally, I "stumbled" into applying for the US Fulbright award. It was a long-shot as there were so many more brilliant people in the country. By God's grace, I was successful.

I was able to use the Fulbright at Penn State to work at the Prevention Research Center while picking up a PhD in Applied Psychology (HDFS). The work gave me the opportunity to work on multi-facet & large-scale community prevention efforts (collaborating with key stakeholders), while the PhD gave me the opportunity to pursue my interests in Positive Psychology / Positive Youth Development - taking a strengths-based perspective and focusing on building protective factors while addressing risk factors within schools and communities; and learning research skills (data and assessments) for large-scale evidence-based efforts. Most of my professors were Clinical and School Psychologists.

I am so thankful for the wonderful community at Penn State (and God) that helped me achieve a top-score of a 3.95 GPA, and more importantly skills that I could use in communities, schools and organizations across the world. 
Picture

Applied Psychology (HDFS):
​A Systems Approach to People Development

Applied Developmental Psychology (also known as Applied Developmental Science or Human Development and Family Studies) focuses on how knowledge and research regarding the psychology of human development can be used to help solve real problems in people systems including in organizations, communities and families.
​

It focuses on the use of developmental and systems framework to promote positive developmental outcomes in individuals, organizations, families, and communities. 

The program emphasizes methodology, logic models and research on development within changing social, cultural, and historical contexts across the life-span. ​

Students are trained on how to use psychological science-based data for many practical applications to promote healthy behavioral, social, cognitive, emotional, and biological development in persons of all ages.  These applications include developing and administering psychosocial assessment procedures that measure important developmental processes or important contextual influences on these processes (e.g., family environment, teaching strategies, cultural standards), designing and implementing interventions that promote optimal development with a particular emphasis on the prevention of developmental disorders, and disseminating information that promotes healthy development to the public, to professionals, and to policy makers.

Penn State's HDFS - Top-5 in the US

Most of our faculty hold Ph.D.s in Psychology, and we have strong collaborative ties to the Psychology Department here at Penn State.  Earning a Ph.D. in HDFS is generally considered equivalent to a degree in Psychology, and a large number of our graduates go on to hold faculty positions in Psychology Departments. 

​
https://hhd.psu.edu/hdfs/graduate-program-faq

Doctoral Courses Completed

 GPA 3.95

Partial list below:
HDFS 501 Issues in Human Development

HDFS 503 Human Development Interventions

HDFS 504 Consultation in Human Development Interventions
Faculty Link: Prof Dr Mark Greenberg (PhD in Developmental Psychology)

HDFS 522 Risk & Resilience
Faculty Link: Prof Dr Doug Coatsworth (PhD in Clinical Psychology & Child Development)

HDFS 506 Program Evaluation
Faculty Link: Prof Dr Ed Smith

HDFS 508 School-Based Interventions
Faculty Link: Prof Dr Scott Gest (PhD in Developmental-Clinical Psychology)

HDFS 539 Adolescent Development Seminar
Faculty Link: Prof Dr Jen Maggs (PhD in Developmental Psychology)

YFE 535 Youth Civic Development

HDFS 525 Family Relations Theory
Faculty Link: Prof Dr Ann Crouter (PhD in HDFS, Cornell University)
PhD Research ​& Methodology Papers

Penn State's HDFS Ranking in the US

Overall Comparison: #1 (of 48) HDFS programs across the US
Adolescent Development: #1 (of Top-5) programs across the US
Child Development: #2 (of Top-5) programs across the US
Family Science: #1 (of Top-5) programs across the US

​https://u.osu.edu/adventuresinhdfs/the-hdfs-report-claire-kamp-dushs-ranking-of-hdfs-programs-in-north-america/

International & MultiCultural Community
​@ Penn State

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  • Home
    • Message from Dr B
    • Qualifications >
      • Fulbright Scholar
      • PhD @ Penn State
      • MA Counseling Psychology @ Lewis
      • My Personal Development
    • Work Experience >
      • People Transformers
      • PETRONAS
      • Air Asia
      • HELP University
      • Nottingham University
      • Penn State University
      • Lewis University
      • Other Work Experiences
    • Testimonials
    • What I Enjoy
  • Corporate
  • University Teaching
    • Psychology & Human Development
    • Workplace Psychology
    • Teaching Philosophy
    • Roles & Events >
      • Assistant Professor @ Nottingham University >
        • Nottingham Graduation
      • Psychology & Leadership @ HELP University >
        • Center for Psychology
        • ARCCADE
        • Rick Shuhmann
        • Senior Management
        • Collaborative Leadership
        • CREST
        • Annual Ball 1999
        • MOU HELP-Lewis
      • Assistant Professor@Massey University >
        • Human Development
        • Research Methods
        • Problem-Based Learning
        • Post-Grad in People Dev & Sustainability
        • International Linkages
        • Proposal for College of Health
    • Youth / Student Engagement >
      • International Students & Program Coordinator
      • Prom 2008
      • Prom 2007
      • MA Counseling Graduation
      • HELP 2000 Graduation
      • Christmas 99
      • Student Camp
  • R & D (Org & Youth)
    • Prevention Science & Youth Development >
      • Mentoring Youth United Nations
      • Communities That Care
      • MCAW - Malaysian Child & Adolescent Wellbeing Study >
        • Research Supervision
        • MCAW in 10mins
        • MCAW at SPR Canada
        • PWB Scale Dev using CFA
        • MCAW Larger Findings
      • PROSPER
      • Teen Pregnancy & Baby Abandonment
      • Asian Research Center - ARCCADE
    • Cancer Research - Genetics
  • Coaching & Personal Development
  • Non-Profit & Media
    • Media
    • Government Events
    • Psychologists & Networks