Education/Degrees
- Ph.D. – University of California Santa Barbara
- M.A. – California State University Northridge
- M.A. - Fuller Theological Seminary
- M.Ed. – Harvard University
- B.A. – Psychology University of California Berkeley
Honors/Awards
- 2016 eLearning Project and Institute Grant
- 2015 The Five Gears Learning Centered Projects Grant
Memberships
- American Academy of Religion Society of Biblical Literature American Psychological Association
- Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality Society of Research in Adolescence
- Society of Research in Child Development American Educational Research Association
Research Interests
Children and adolescents develop through social interactions with peers and significant adults, namely parents, teachers, church mentors, and other adults from the community. My research focuses
on how these social connections contribute to Positive Youth
Development, specifically spiritual development and healthy
psychological functioning, among adolescents and children in their
formative years. In addition to a longitudinal (2008 2012 2016)
quantitative investigation of adolescent social context, I am currently
examining the processes of spiritual development as well as the
quality of family and mentor relationships through qualitative data
collection/analyses of videotaped interviews and interactions among
students, mentors, and parents. In terms of methodology, I employ
both qualitative (behavior observation & discourse analysis of video recorded
interactions) and quantitative approach (Structural
Equation Modeling using Mplus).
I am also involved in church curriculum development projects for
Biblically sound, standard based, developmentally appropriate, and
multicultural (heritage education) Christian education curricula for
children and adolescents (preschool to college) of ethnic/linguistic
minority descent.
Scholarly Work and Publications
- Kang, P. (2016). Adolescent Spiritual Development & Church Mentoring Relationships: Qualitative Analysis. The Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (American Psychological Association, Division 36) Conference on Psychology, Religion and Spirituality. Brooklyn, NY
- Kang, P. (2015). The Role of Church Mentoring Relationships on Immigrant Youth’s Future Outlook and Involvement in Risky Behaviors: Mixed Method Analysis. Western Psychological Association. Las Vegas, Nevada
- Ecklund, K., Jung, A., Kang, P., & Visser, S. (2015). Classroom Discourse on Diversity & Cultural Identity Formation. Workshop on Preparing Students for Intercultural Competencies. Christians on Diversity in the Academy Conference. Claremont, C
- Kang, P. (2014). Building Meaningful Mentoring Relationships. Young Nak Teacher/Leader Conference. Los Angeles, CA
- Kang, P. (2013). Mediating Effects of Mentoring Relationship Quality on Religiosity/Spirituality and Adolescent Developmental Outcomes. Society for Research on Child Development. Seattle, WA
- Kang, P. (2012). The Educational System in North Korea. Encyclopedia of International Education. M.E. Sharpe, New York, NY.
- Kang, P. and Romo, L. (2011). The role of church engagement, spirituality, and mentoring relationships in developmental outcomes of Korean American adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 34, 767 778.
- Lee, J., Kang, P., & Jeong, E. (2011). Multiple Pathways of Heritage Language Maintenance: A Look at Korean and Mexican Immigrant Children. American Educational Research Association. New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Kang, P. and Romo, L. (2010). The role of church engagement, spirituality, and mentoring relationships in developmental outcomes of Korean American adolescents. Society of Research on of Korean American adolescents. Society of Research on Adolescent Development. Philadelphia, PA.
- Lee, J., Kang, P., Fernandez, G., Jeong, E., & Lopez, V. (2010). Understanding the influences of settings on dual language competence among Korean and Mexican Immigrant Children. American Educational Research Association. Denver, CO.
- Kang, P. and Romo, L. (2009). Mother daughter sexual health communication in adolescence: A comparison of Latinas and Asians. Society for Research on Child Development. Denver, CO.
- Kang, P. and Kyratzis, A. (2005). The functions of Codes witching for English Korean bilingual children. International Congress for the Study of Child Language. Berlin, Germany.
- Kang, P. (2003). The gestures of direction in Korean storytelling. California State University, Northridge Graduate Student Symposium. Northridge, CA.
- Kang, P. (manuscript in preparation). Adolescents, parents, & church mentors: Qualitative examination of faithbased youth mentoring. (Psychology of Religion and Spirituality)
- Kang, P. (manuscript in preparation). Mediating effects of church mentoring on depression & future outlook among ethnic/linguistic minority youth.
- Kang, P. (manuscript in preparation). Anatomy of the Bible: Historical and Geographical Background. Study guide.
What year did you begin teaching at TFC
2016
What is your favorite aspect of teaching at TFC
Students’ willingness to listen to God’s calling & the beautiful trees on campus.
What courses do you teach at TFC
- BSF103 Foundations of Spiritual Formation
- MIN113 Foundations of Christian Ministries
- FAM233 Marriage & Family Relationships
- FAM243 Ministry to Families
- FAM253 Foundations for Children’s Ministry
- MIN313 Ministry Leadership & Society
- FAM443 Family Ministry Strategies
- FAM453 Curriculum Development
When I’m away from the classroom, I enjoy
walking around, listening to operas, and doing jigsaw puzzles.
People might be interested to know
that my family has driven from California to Alaska in an RV, visited Yosemite for more than 50 times & been to Yellow Stone and Grand Canyon. Next stop, Smoky Mountains!
Favorite verses/quotations
II Timothy 3:1617 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (ESV)