Scholars

Dr. Amy Brausch is a Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and a Scholar for the LifeSkills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research. Originally from Ohio, Dr. Brausch earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bowling Green State University, and a master’s and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Northern Illinois University. She completed her clinical internship at Utah State University Counseling and Psychological Services, and post-doctoral clinical work at Indiana State University’s Counseling Center. She regularly provides training for clinicians on evidence-based treatments for suicide risk, and provides consultation to clinical agencies, schools, and healthcare systems. Dr. Brausch’s research focuses on risk and protective factors for suicide and self-harm in youth and improving assessment and intervention for individuals experiencing suicide risk using evidence-based tools and treatments. Her work has been funded by KY INBRE, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

amy.brausch@wku.edu

270-745-4407

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Dr. Jenni Redifer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and a Scholar for the LifeSkills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research. Dr. Redifer earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University), and a master’s and Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Florida. Dr. Redifer’s research focuses on cognitive factors that influence academic performance, including working memory capacity, cognitive load, and use of retrieval strategies. Dr. Redifer previously worked in the child welfare system in a quality assurance role, and serves as a program evaluator in a variety of settings. She regularly provides training on effective learning strategies, focusing on the translational delivery of applied research.

jenni.redifer@wku.edu 

270-745-4081

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Dr. Diane Lickenbrock is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences and a Scholar for the LifeSkills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research. Dr. Lickenbrock earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Saint Louis University, and obtained her Master’s and Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to joining the faculty at WKU, she was also postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Lickenbrock’s research examines social and emotional development across early childhood within the context of the family. She is particularly interested in the development of emotion regulation and parent-child relationships, as well as the role of the father in his child’s development. Dr. Lickenbrock’s research has been funded by KY INBRE (formerly KBRIN).

diane.lickenbrock@wku.edu 

270-745-3918

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Dr. Kim Link is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Western Kentucky University and an Associate for the LifeSkills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Western Kentucky University, her Master of Nursing from Vanderbilt University, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Western Kentucky University. Dr. Link is currently involved in research examining the overall wellness of Child Welfare Professionals. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. Link practices as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in the local community where she works with a variety of individuals and families with mental illness.

kim.link@wku.edu

270-745-5022

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