{"id":42181,"date":"2019-05-09T14:34:43","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T18:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=42181"},"modified":"2020-08-25T13:48:11","modified_gmt":"2020-08-25T17:48:11","slug":"psychology-professor-and-india-crosscultural-leader-kim-brenneman-retires-after-30-years-at-emu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2019\/psychology-professor-and-india-crosscultural-leader-kim-brenneman-retires-after-30-years-at-emu\/","title":{"rendered":"Psychology professor and India crosscultural leader Kim Brenneman retires after 30 years at EMU"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kim Gingerich Brenneman<\/b>\u2019s calling to teach at Eastern Mennonite University came as a literal, \u201cout of the blue\u201d phone call from her former EMU professor and then-psychology department chair <\/span>Galen Lehman<\/b>. She had been working at a community mental health center, but didn\u2019t take much convincing: \u201cGo back to EMU and teach with my professors? How cool was that!\u201d she recalls thinking. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This summer, 30 years later, Brenneman is retiring. She is known for her astute scholarship and strong mentoring relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Professor Kim Brenneman researched about and taught within the experiential learning environment, leading four crossculturals to India. Such experiences, she says, are “the ideal setting for education.” (Photo by Macson McGuigan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A 1985 EMU alum, <\/span>Brenneman<\/span><\/a> earned a master\u2019s degree and an EdS in counseling from James Madison University and her PhD in developmental and educational psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She has conducted research in nurturing the growth mindset in college classrooms, cross-cultural experiential learning and cultural sensitivity, and building hopeful thinking in the classroom. <\/span><\/p>\n

A \u201cphenomenal scholar,\u201d Brenneman is \u201cequally at ease discussing positive psychology and cross-cultural pedagogy,\u201d said psychology professor <\/span>Gregory Koop<\/b>, and \u201cembodies collegial, yet rigorous academic discourse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She taught undergraduate and graduate psychology courses, plus led four groups on semester-long cross-culturals to India, where she had lived during high school. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a remarkable experience for me to be able to share my love for India with students,\u201d she said. <\/span>\u201cThis also provided me a new opportunity to teach more experientially: no PowerPoints, no desks, sometimes no electricity, no white board. Teaching in the moment. Experiential learning. To me, this is the ideal setting for education.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She also always had time to develop relationships with colleagues and students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe mentored me through my start as a faculty member,\u201d Koop said, \u201cbut over the last five years I\u2019ve come to realize that more than colleagues, Kim and I are friends.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Students saw her as a role model and source of guidance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHer ability to always treat me with the highest respect for both who I am and the emotions that tag along with me has had an impact that will last throughout my entire life,\u201d said <\/span>Emily Suttles<\/b>, who completed her psychology degree in 2016. \u201cI have met many people who are good listeners, but she definitely tops the list, and I continue to strive to be that same type of listener for other people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Professor Kim Brenneman will lead an Alumni and Friends tour to India with her husband in 2021. (EMU file photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Brenneman kept a yellow bucket on her desk well stocked with candy for students \u2013 and colleagues.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I hit a wall in grading, I knew I could trot down the hall and find Kim with a willing ear to hear my complaints, and a piece or two of chocolate to spur me on,\u201d said Bible and religion instructor <\/span>Carmen Schrock-Hurst<\/b>. \u201cKim\u2019s infectious laughter brightened conversations for many of us while we waited for the photocopier to finish or the hot water to boil.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Even more important, though, was that Brenneman\u2019s office was a \u201cwelcoming home and safe place,\u201d Schrock-Hurst said. \u201cShe provided a home away from home for my son, her son and their buddies. But I think she also did that for many students and faculty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That was a logical extension of Brenneman\u2019s experience as a new, young faculty member.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI began working with senior faculty who were my professors when I was in school,\u201d she said. \u201cAt some institutions, this might be intimidating, or it may be hard for faculty to see one of their students as their equals, but I was fully embraced at EMU and easily made the transition. When I became department chair after having been at EMU for a few years, I was encouraged and supported by my colleagues.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While she is \u201ctrying to leave the future open to see what might present itself,\u201d Brenneman isn\u2019t totally unbooked: In 2021, she and her husband will lead an <\/span>EMU Alumni and Friends tour to India<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

More immediately, though she anticipates having her Shih tzu and miniature poodle puppy Jampa (which means <\/span>compassion<\/span><\/i> in Tibetan) trained and certified as a therapy dog for visiting in retirement centers, memory care units and hospitals.<\/span><\/p>\n

Good wishes to Kim are welcome in the comments box below. Each message will be shared with her.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kim Gingerich Brenneman\u2019s calling to teach at Eastern Mennonite University came as a literal, \u201cout of the blue\u201d phone call from her former EMU professor and then-psychology department chair Galen ... read more about Psychology professor and India crosscultural leader Kim Brenneman retires after 30 years at EMU<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":265,"featured_media":42211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17562,5642,5593,5603],"tags":[6795],"feature":[17427,17241],"class_list":["post-42181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digest","category-faculty-and-staff","category-intercultural","category-psychology","tag-diversity","feature-emu-home-page-feature","feature-news-feature"],"yoast_head":"\nPsychology professor and India crosscultural leader Kim Brenneman retires after 30 years at EMU - EMU News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2019\/psychology-professor-and-india-crosscultural-leader-kim-brenneman-retires-after-30-years-at-emu\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Psychology professor and India crosscultural leader Kim Brenneman retires after 30 years at EMU - 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