Meet the Faculty: Kendall Cotton Bronk

This is Kendall Cotton Bronk, who teaches at the School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation’s Division of Behavioral & Organizational Sciences (DBOS). She received her PhD from Stanford University.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO CGU?
My research centers on positive youth development. I came to CGU so I could study optimal human development with leaders in positive psychology.

WHAT ARE YOUR RESEARCH INTERESTS?
I am interested in gaining a better understanding of how young people develop a purpose in life, what difference it makes to lead a life of purpose, and how we can more intentionally help foster a sense of purpose in the lives of young people.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU COULD GIVE SOMEONE TO GET THEM INTERESTED IN YOUR FIELD?
A favorite of mine is Peter L. Benson’s All Kids Are Our Kids. The book outlines the importance of communities investing in youth so that youth are prepared to and interested in investing in their communities. Not only does it explain what positive youth development is, but it also helps explain how we can foster it and why we should bother to try.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST COMMON FORM OF PROCRASTINATION WHEN TRYING TO GET WORK DONE?
I clean! My house and office are never cleaner than when I have a deadline looming.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE GRAD STUDENTS THAT YOU YOURSELF DIDN’T LEARN UNTIL AFTER YOU RECEIVED YOUR PHD?
When I graduated from school, I worried that my education was done, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Grad school is just the beginning of your learning process!