معرفی
Karen Brakke, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Spelman College, a historically Black liberal arts college for women in Atlanta, Georgia. A faculty member since 1999, she previously chaired the Psychology Department (2008-2014) and served as Special Assistant to the Provost (2014-2015). Her career bridges developmental research and educational innovation within undergraduate psychology.
Education:
- Ph.D. and M.A. in Psychology, Georgia State University
- B.A. in Psychology, Carleton College
Dr. Brakke's research spans two interconnected domains: the ontogeny of manual skills in infancy/toddlerhood and evidence-based pedagogy in psychology education. Her motor development work examines bimanual coordination, tool use acquisition, and cognitive-motor integration through longitudinal observational studies. In teaching scholarship, she pioneers narrative-based instructional strategies, focusing on storytelling efficacy, statistics education, and culturally responsive practices for Black women in HBCU settings. Recent publications increasingly address well-being frameworks for young Black women through hope theory and narrative identity constructs.
Her 15 most recent publications reveal a dual trajectory: developmental studies increasingly incorporate cultural context while pedagogical research emphasizes identity-affirming practices. Motor development papers document precise ontogenetic patterns in tool use and coordination, while education-focused works analyze storytelling's impact on community building, statistics self-efficacy, and student success frameworks. The 2022-2020 publications notably expand into positive psychology applications for Black women's college experiences.
Scientific Awards:
- President, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA)
- Active leadership roles in Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) and American Psychological Association (APA)
Dr. Brakke has directed NIH-funded undergraduate research programs including U*MARC, NIMH-COR, and BP-ENDURE, mentoring dozens of students through these initiatives. She serves as co-director for Spelman's faculty development initiatives, notably the "Our Beloved Journey" storytelling project that strengthens institutional community. Her grant work consistently targets underrepresented student success in STEM pathways through cognitive and socioemotional support frameworks.
She co-founded Spelman's faculty storytelling collective to foster professional community and has been instrumental in developing living-learning communities that integrate academic and residential experiences. Her current work expands narrative pedagogy applications to faculty development while maintaining active longitudinal studies of toddler motor development.
