Faculty

Michael Gibbons

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Professor Michael Gibbons

“I’ve dedicated my professional life to learning about and working with persons who have very real problems. My teaching, and my professional interests, are centered around how to make a life worth living—even with those very real problems. Life is more than just avoiding the bad things. It is about cultivating the good things. Life is good.”

Education

  • M.A., Psychology, Fisher College, 2022
  • M.S.W., Brigham Young University, 1992
  • B.S., Developmental Psychology, Brigham Young University, 1990
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Virginia, 2003
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Utah, 1994

Courses

  • Psychology Major: Positive Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, Social Psychology, Theories of Personality, Mental Health Professions, Mental Health First Aid, Psychology of Leadership, History and Systems
  • Family and Human Development Major: Introduction to Social Work, Interventions with At-risk Families, Social Problems and the Family, Human Services Administration
  • Physical Education: Mental and Emotional Wellness
  • Freshman Seminar: Becoming a Knight
  • Honors: Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, King’s Strength to Love

Teaching Positions & Professional Experience

  • Joined the Southern Virginia University faculty in 2019
  • Dean of Students, Southern Virginia University, 2017–19
  • Teach Sociology and Social Problems at Dabney Lancaster Community College, 2005–present
  • Director of Student Wellness Center, Southern Virginia University, 2003–17
  • Taught Introduction to Social Work at the University of Utah, 2000–01
  • Taught Introduction to Social Work at Utah State University, 1999–2000
  • Taught Psychology and Sociology at the College of Eastern Utah, 1994–2003
  • Worked in Utah in Child and Family Services and Community Mental Health as counselor, program director, and administrator, 1992–2003
  • Taught Social Casework and Groupwork at Brigham Young University, 1990–92

Scholarship & Creative Work

  • “The Happiness Advantage and Gratitude,” Southern Virginia University Thanksgiving Week Forum, November 2019
  • “Perception is Reality, Change Your Mind and Change Your Mood,” Southern Mississippi University, Six Stake Youth Conference, LDS Church, July 2018
  • “A Paradigm of Positivity, More Applications of Positive Psychology,” Southern Virginia University Convocation, February 2018
  • “Hardwiring for Happiness, Applications of Positive Psychology,” Southern Virginia University Convocation, February 2016
  • “A Community of Knights, Do Unto Others,” Southern Virginia University Honor Forum, February 2014
  • “Strengths-based Assessment and Individualized Community-based Care,” Children’s Mental Health Services Program Coordinators Annual In-service, State of Utah, Division of Mental Health, May 2003
  • “Diversity and Faith-based Systems of Care,” National Institute of Mental Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Child and Adolescent Branch, Washington, D.C., July 2002
  • “Transformational Leadership Skills,” Utah Head Start, Annual Meeting, May 2001
  • “Individualized Assessment and Care for Youth with Serious Emotional Disturbances,” Utah Child Welfare League Annual Meeting.  Provo, Utah, June 2000

Awards, Leadership & Service

  • Dean of Students, Southern Virginia University, 2017–19
  • Directed or co-directed groups of university students on summer service trips and alternative spring break service trips to Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Ecuador, Costa Rica and twice to the Dominican Republic
  • Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Caracas, Venezuela, 1985–86