Brien K. Ashdown, PhD

Current Title & Duties

Professor of Psychology

Miami Campus

As a Professor of Psychology and full-time faculty member, Dr. Ashdown mostly teaches undergraduate psychology courses online, such as Statistics and Research Methods.

Biography

Dr. Brien K. Ashdown is Professor of Psychology at Albizu University in Miami, Florida. Before joining Albizu University, he was an Associate and Assistant Professor at institutions in Alaska, New York, and the United Arab Emirates. He holds an M.S.(R) and a Ph.D. (2009) in cultural and developmental psychology from St. Louis University in Missouri, USA, and a B.A. (2003) in Spanish and psychology from Weber State University in Utah, USA.

He teaches classes on developmental psychology, cultural psychology, social psychology, community psychology, statistics, and research methodology/design. His scholarship, which is both quantitative and qualitative in nature, concentrates on how culture influences the social development of adolescents and emerging adults (particularly in Latin America - with a special focus on Guatemala). He also does work in the field of community development, mostly on how and why community developers should ensure they are engaging in practices that support and protect cultural capital in local communities. He has published nearly 50 peer-reviewed articles and more than ten book chapters. He has also co-edited a book and two special issues of a peer-reviewed journal. In addition, he has presented more than 50 podium talks and over 40 research posters at regional, national, and international conferences. His research has been supported via competitive grants from Jazan University (Saudi Arabia) and the Early Childhood Authority of Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Research / Research Interests

Dr. Ashdown’s research interests mainly focus on two areas: adolescent social development and ethical community psychology/development. He approaches both of these research interests from a cultural perspective. He explores how cultural values impact the development of concepts like identity development and the daily lives of teenagers. He also researches how international community development occurs in order to help establish best practices. Much of his research takes place in Latin America, particularly in Guatemala.

Academics, Education, Certifications

Dr. Ashdown received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, USA in 2003. He then attended graduate school at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA and earned a master’s degree (2005) and a PhD (2009) in developmental and cultural psychology. He has worked as a professor in Alaska, New York, and Dubai before coming to Albizu University.

Recent Publications

• Ashdown, B. K., Hackathorn, J., Antenucci, R., Mings, J., & Dimitrakopoulou, S. (2023). Perceptions of sexual harassment in the United States: Empathy predicts derogation of victims of perpetrators. Sexuality & Culture, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-023-10134-7
• Ashdown, B. K. (2023). Harmful, helpful, or both? A commentary on postmodernism and critical theories in community development education. Community Development, 54(6), 787-796. https://doi.org/10.1080/15575330.2021.2006255
• Talmage, C. A., Allgood, B., Ashdown, B. K., Brennan, A., Hill, S., Trevan, E., & Waugh, J. (2022). Tethering natural capital and cultural capital for a more sustainable post-COVID-19 world. International Journal of Community Well-Being, 5, 657-678. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-021-00151-5
• Ashdown, B. K., Owens, G., DiPhilippo, A., Zhang, Y., Deku, A., Draznin-Nagy, S., & Brown, C. M. (2022). Guatemalan teenagers’ hopes and dreams: A qualitative study of drawings and characteristics of future selves. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation,11(2), 5-79. https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000031
• Ashdown, B. K., Brown, M. E., Liu, M., Nichols, H., & Urquiza, I. (2022). Indigenous community members’ views about water quality in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Local Environment, 27(1), 32-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2021.2001447
• Ressel, K., Ashdown, B. K., Ethier, C., Bowers, S., Cohn, J., & Capobianco, N. (2022). An early childhood education program in rural Guatemala prepares students for first grade. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 36(3), 449-465. https://doi.org/10.1080/02568543.2021.1974615