Gemma Skillman

Gemma Skillman serves as a Senior Lecturer and Faculty Coordinator for Online Instruction in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Dakota. A licensed psychologist in South Dakota, she integrates developmental, contextual, and resiliency perspectives within family and community settings, emphasizing cultural and indigenous contributions to health and well-being through her research and teaching.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Clinical Psychology, Syracuse University, 1999
• Pre-Doctoral Fellow II in Clinical Psychology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 1998
• Pre-Doctoral Fellow I - APA Clinical Psychology Internship, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 1997
• MS in Psychology, Syracuse University, 1994
• BA in Psychology, University of Alaska - Anchorage, 1991

Dr. Skillman's research centers on developmental-contextual-resiliency processes within family and community contexts, focusing on pathways of help-seeking, cultural protective factors for Native American/Alaskan Native communities, and culturally appropriate assessment tools. Her recent work emphasizes wellness and resiliency within a developmental-positive psychology framework, particularly examining the socialization of wellness in emerging adults through both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on cultural psychology and developmental contexts, notably her 2008 scale development work with Dakota/Nakota/Lakota communities and 2000 analysis of gender dynamics in family narratives. These reflect a career-long integration of indigenous perspectives, mental health assessment, and contextual developmental processes.

Her notable awards include:

• CTL Open Textbook Fellowship (2022)
• USD Chapter of Psi Chi's Outstanding Psychology Faculty (2009)

While specific grant details and student advising records weren't provided in available materials, her research presentations indicate active scholarly engagement across multiple professional conferences.

She leads the Skillman Research Team, which employs mixed-methods approaches to investigate help-seeking behaviors, cultural protective factors in Native American communities, and culturally responsive assessment tools, maintaining strong connections with indigenous populations through community-based research partnerships.