John M. McConnell

John M. McConnell, Ph.D. is a faculty member in the Psychology Department at Ball State University, where he serves as faculty co-director of The Multicultural Peace and Justice Collaborative. He is also the Diversity and Justice Coordinator for the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program. With six years of experience as a clinician in the Veterans Health Administration, Dr. McConnell specializes in neuropsychology assessment, psychotherapy, and geropsychology.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Ball State University (2014)
• M.A. in Counseling, Ball State University (2009)
• B.S. in Psychological Science, Ball State University (2007)
• Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Residency, Captain James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center (2016)
• Clinical Psychology Predoctoral Internship, South Texas Veterans Health Care System (2014)

Research Interests:

Dr. McConnell's research focuses on peace psychology, social justice, and forgiveness studies, particularly examining how these concepts apply to underserved populations including the elderly, prisoners, and victims of war. His work integrates neuropsychological assessment with clinical practice, emphasizing research methodology and statistical analysis. He directs The Multicultural Peace and Justice Lab, which conducts research on diversity, equity, and inclusion within psychological contexts.

His scholarly contributions span multiple domains including moral injury, self-forgiveness, clinical judgment errors, and geropsychology. His research particularly examines the intersection of psychological assessment with aging populations, including studies on dementia and decision-making capacity.

Publications Overview:

Dr. McConnell's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on forgiveness psychology, with particular emphasis on self-forgiveness frameworks and their clinical applications. His work bridges theoretical models with practical therapeutic interventions, contributing to both basic and applied social psychology literature.

Professional Affiliations:

• American Psychological Association

Research Mentorship:

Dr. McConnell actively mentors graduate students through his role as faculty director of The Multicultural Peace and Justice Collaborative. His lab includes multiple student researchers who have co-authored presentations and publications with him, focusing on topics such as moral injury, racial reconciliation, and peace psychology. He provides clinical supervision and research advising to Psy.D. students in the Clinical Psychology program.

Research Lab:

Dr. McConnell directs The Multicultural Peace and Justice Lab within the Psychology Department, which serves as a collaborative research environment for investigating issues related to diversity, social justice, and peace psychology. The lab focuses on both theoretical research and applied interventions, particularly serving marginalized and underserved populations.