Kutztown University associate professor of psychology, Dr. Avidan Milevsky, will deliver the spring 2016 Chambliss Faculty Research Awards lecture on Wednesday, March 16 at 4:30 p.m. in the McFarland Student Union Alumni Auditorium (183). The lecture is free and open to the public.
Milevsky’s lecture is entitled “The complexity and promise of the sibling bond: Creating closeness in childhood and repairing strife in adulthood” and explores how the most long-lasting and enduring relationship an individual can develop is with a sibling. Sibling closeness has been shown to impact lifelong psychological well-being. Milevsky’s lecture will highlight his research on sibling relationships throughout life. He will specifically examine what parents can do to enhance the sibling relationships of their children, and will suggest ways adults can repair strained sibling connections.
Milevsky’s research on families has produced more than 100 presentations and 20 peer-reviewed articles published in such prestigious journals as the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Social Development, Educational Psychology, the European Journal of Developmental Psychology, Child and Family Studies and the Journal of Adult Development. He has presented and lectured to conferences and audiences in the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and the Middle East.
Milevsky is currently consulting for the Pennsylvania State House’s Children and Youth Committee in an effort to introduce legislation that would strengthen sibling visitation rights in family court and recognize the importance of sibling relationships on the emotional and psychological development of children and adolescents. His five books include Sibling Relationships in Childhood and Adolescence: Predictors and Outcomes; Understanding Adolescents for the Helping Professional; and Sibling Issues in Therapy. Dr. Milevsky also currently serves as an advisory board member for The National Quality Improvement Center for Adoption and Guardianship Support and Preservation (QIC-AG), a national project designed to improve adoption and guardianship preservation and support.
For more information, please contact Sharon Reed at sreed@kutztown.edu.
