Denise Kennedy, Ph.D.

Dr. Denise Kennedy is an Associate Professor of Education at the University of LaVerne. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University at Dominguez Hills and a Ph.D. in Human and Community Development from the University of Illinois. She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Michigan in Developmental Psychology and contributed to the longitudinal Family Transitions Study. Dr. Kennedy’s research centers on enhancing the social and emotional development of children and families in the context of sibling, parent-child, and marital relationships, with particular attention to how children learn to regulate emotions. The scope of her research has expanded recently to focus on parents’ and teachers’ efficacy— the belief that they will be able to work successfully with children. While a doctoral student at the University of Illinois, Dr. Kennedy helped to develop and implement the original More Fun With Sisters and Brothers Program.