Karen Vander Ven

Karen Vander Ven
School of Education
University of Pittsburgh
5809 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
PHONE: 412-624-6945
EMAIL: kvander@pitt.edu

Full Time Faculty - Professor

Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. Karen VanderVen worked directly with both normal and exceptional children, and families, in a variety of settings. These included early childhood programs, psychiatric treatment facilities, and community mental health.

Among her major professional activities are currently serving as Senior Visiting Fellow at the SEARCH Institute; in the past she has been a Visiting Scholar at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a founder of the North American branch of the International Federation of Educative Communities (FICE), and Project Director of the Conference-Research Sequence in Child Care Education.

Dr. VanderVen's interests include early childhood education with a special focus on play, professionalization of early childhood and child and youth work, leadership development, the developmental role of activity, practical strategies for activity programming, intergeneratiional and life span practices. She is also interested in analogical scholarship e.g. application of non-linear dynamical systems theory (chaos and complexity), game theory, hermeneutics, to developmental issues and practices.

Dr. VanderVen is a former professional journal editor, is on the editorial boards currently of 5 professional journals, and is the author of over 200 professional works including books, monographs, columns, chapters and articles. In her professional work, Dr. VanderVen has traveled and presented all over the world. She has also been adjunct faculty at Wheelock College and Nova Southeastern University.

School Affiliations

Department: Psychology in Education - Professor
Program: Applied Developmental Psychology

Education

Certified child and youth care practitioner, The Association for Child and Youth Care Practice, Inc., 2/2007
Certificate of Achievement, Geriatrics/Gerontology, Geriatric Education Center of PA, 1988
Certified to teach elementary school, special education for emotionally disturbed children, nursery school and kindergarten, PA State Board of Private Academic Schools, 1969
A.B., Psychology, Vassar College
M.S., child development and child care, University of Pittsburgh
Ph.D., Education, University of Pittsburgh

Recent Publications

Journal Articles

Why focusing on control backfires: A systems perspective. In journal RECLAIMIING CHILDREN and YOUTH.

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Recent Course Instruction

Spring 2010 (2104)

Fall 2009 (2101)

Summer 2009 (2097)

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Recent Presentations

Beyond Point and Level Systems to Strengths Building Through the Circle of Courage
At Roots and Wings Seminar, Detroit, MI
From play forms to trading zones: Towards the development of contemporary scientific thinking
American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA

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Current Professional Participation

United Way of Allegheny County
- Member, Advisory Committee on Youth Development Proposal Reviewer and Site Visitor

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Recent Fellowships, Awards, and Honors

Lifetime Achievement Award
LIfe Time Achievement Award for your commitment, dedication, and contributions to the field of child and youth care. Presented by the Academy of Child and Youth Care Professionals at International Child and Youth Care Conference

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