Stefan Schulenberg
Professor of Psychology
Phone Number: (662)915-3518
Email: sschulen@olemiss.edu
http://psychology.olemiss.edu/stefan-e-schulenberg/

Key Words: disasters, positive psychology, meaning in life, purpose in life, resilience, posttraumatic growth

Research Description: Stefan E. Schulenberg received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in Clinical-Disaster Psychology, from the University of South Dakota in 2001. He is a licensed psychologist in the state of Mississippi, a Professor in the University of Mississippi’s Psychology Department, and a Logotherapy Diplomate. Dr. Schulenberg is the Director of the University of Mississippi’s Clinical-Disaster Research Center (UM-CDRC), an integrated research, teaching, and training center with emphases in disaster mental health and positive psychology. He is also the Director of the University of Mississippi’s interdisciplinary minor in Disaster Sciences (DSci), a joint effort across the departments of psychology, criminal justice, social work, and sociology. Dr. Schulenberg has authored/co-authored over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters in scholarly texts. He is the editor of Clarifying and Furthering Existential Psychotherapy (2016), the co-editor of Clinical Perspectives on Meaning: Positive and Existential Psychotherapy (2016), and part of the authorship team that produced Disasters that Shaped Emergency Management: Case Studies for the Homeland Security/Emergency Management Professional (2018). Dr. Schulenberg’s research interests include clinical-disaster psychology, positive psychology, and logotherapy, concepts such as perceived meaning, purpose, resilience, posttraumatic stress, and posttraumatic growth. He has conducted research on the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and other disaster-related events (e.g., tornadoes, flooding). He offers workshops and provides training on disaster preparedness, psychological first aid, disaster response, meaning and purpose in life, resilience, and posttraumatic growth. Dr. Schulenberg has served as a disaster mental health volunteer and supervisor in the American Red Cross, and has worked previously with various other volunteer organizations, such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He teaches the graduate cognitive assessment course for the University of Mississippi’s doctoral program in clinical psychology. At the undergraduate level, Dr. Schulenberg teaches courses in disaster mental health, positive psychology, and psychology and law. Expectations Students are expected to attend weekly lab meetings and to work additional hours each week in the laboratory (e.g., collecting data, entering/double-checking data, conducting literature searches, reading/discussing articles, developing papers or posters, assisting with our team's community volunteer efforts). Dr. Schulenberg's research team is involved with a variety of research, teaching, training, and service projects, which present varied opportunities for student participation in the community. Prerequisites Required: An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, along with consent of the instructor. Recommended: PSY 417 (Disasters and Mental Health) or PSY 430 (Positive Psychology). Students interested in registering for Dr. Schulenberg's section of PSY 420 or PSY 405 may contact him at sschulen@olemiss.edu for further information.

Honors Theses:

Veazey, Lillie Grace (2020) A Validation of the Claremont Purpose Scale (CPS) within an Emerging Adult Population (full text)

Gawlik, Emily A. (2019) Examining the impact of meaning and resilience on survivors' life satisfaction after Hurricane Harvey (full text)

Holland, Calli Faye (2019) Active Shooters on Campus: University of Mississippi Employees' Perceptions and Preparedness (full text)

Mulvey, Victoria (2018) Active Shooters on Campus: Student Perceptions and Institutional Recommendations at the University of Mississippi (full text)

Blackwell, Meredith (2016) Meaning and Resilience as Predictors of Posttraumatic Growth Among College Students. (full text)

Davis, Christal (2016) Perceptions and Attitudes Regarding Preparedness for Campus Crises: A Focus Group Study of Undergraduates at a Southern University. (full text)

Allen, Sarah Elizabeth (2013) "Self-Efficacy and Perceived Meaning in Life as Predictors of Life Satisfaction in Adolescents: A Clinical Study Following the Gulf Oil Spill"

Lambdin, Karen Keyes (2013) "The Relationship Between Perceived Meaning, Depression, and Suicidality in a Sample of College Students"

Pollard, Mary Ward (2012) "Alcohol Use and Abuse, Suicidality, and Perceived Meaning in Life in College Students"

Cathcart, Natalie Lynn (2004) "A Psychometric Investigation of Measures of Meaning, Gratitude, and Psychological Health"