معرفی
Penny Van Bergen is an Associate Professor in Educational Psychology at Macquarie University's School of Education. She holds an Honorary Professor title and leads the Centre for Children’s Learning in a Social World. Her research focuses on memory/emotion skill development in children and adolescents, and the role of student-teacher relationships in fostering learning. She has held leadership roles including Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching (2019-2020), Director of Research (2013-2016), and faculty governance positions. Her teaching contributions include nine awards between 2011-2018 for excellence in educational psychology instruction and curriculum development.
Research interests include: 1) How families, educators, and communities shape children’s memory and emotional skills through reminiscing practices; and 2) Mapping relational factors in teacher-student dynamics across educational levels. Recent projects investigate LGBTQ+ school climates, delayed school entry (redshirting), and pandemic schooling impacts.
Award highlights include: Australian Psychological Society Early Career Teaching Award (2013), Macquarie University Teaching Excellence Award (2017), and HDR Supervision Excellence (2021). She has supervised numerous research projects and contributed to initiatives like the MQRIS educational test library.
Leadership roles include ongoing membership on the university's academic appeals committee and faculty board representation (2019-2023). Her teaching philosophy emphasizes undergraduate research opportunities and has developed curricula for seven courses in educational psychology and child development.
