News Release
Michael Gibbons to Speak on Positivity Feb. 19
Michael Gibbons, student support director and an adjunct instructor of family and child development at Southern Virginia University, will deliver a forum address titled “A Paradigm of Positivity: Hardwiring the Brain for Happiness” on Friday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m. in the Stoddard Center at Southern Virginia.
Gibbons has held his positions at Southern Virginia since August of 2003. Prior to working at Southern Virginia, he worked as the clinical director of a federal research project studying and implementing community based systems of care for struggling children and families. He has experience working in the child and family services and mental health communities as a counselor, program director and administrator. He also has extensive teaching experience and has taught courses in psychology, sociology, social work, and child and family development at the College of Eastern Utah, Utah State University, University of Utah and Brigham Young University, among others. He has presented and given keynote presentations at numerous national-level conferences.
He was honored by the Utah Child Welfare League as recipient of the Marty Palmer Award for leadership in developing a system of care for children and their families.
Gibbons received a bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology and a master of social work degree from Brigham Young University. He is also a licensed psychotherapist and clinical social worker (LCSW).
Currently, Gibbons and his wife, Kristie, live in Buena Vista, Va. The couple have four children, two of whom are Southern Virginia graduates.
Community members and Southern Virginia faculty, staff and students are invited to hear forum and devotional speakers each Friday morning at 11 a.m. in the Stoddard Center. Recordings of past forum and devotional speeches may be accessed online.