Curriculum Vitae 1. General information Title, name and surname: Dr Karen van der Merwe Maiden name: De Waal ID nr: 541116 0083 089 Date of birth: 1954-11-16 Gender: Female Race: White Marital status: Married Citizenship: RSA Professional registrations: HPCSA (Educational Psychologist) SAAM (Family Mediator) 2. Contact details Organisation where based: North-West University (Vaal Triangle Campus) Faculty or School: School of Behavioural Sciences Work telephone number: 016 910 3417 Work fax number: 016 910 3424 Cell phone number: 082 821 9664 E-mail address: Karen.vandermerwe@nwu.ac.za Website address: Work postal address: PO Box 1174, VANDERBIJLPARK, 1900 Work physical address: Building 7, Hendrik van Eck Blvd, VANDERBIJLPARK 3. Qualifications PhD Psychology of Religion North-West University Year obtained: 2009 M Ed 1
Educational Psychology University of Pretoria Year obtained: 1995 Honours (Cum Laude) Psychology PU for CHE Year obtained: 1993 M Ed Teacher Education Vista University Year obtained: 1989 B Ed Education PU for CHE Year obtained: 1987 HED Education University of Pretoria Year obtained: 1976 BA Humanities University of Pretoria Year obtained: 1975 4. Employment history Position: Organisation Appointed from to: Administrative Officer University of Pretoria Jan 1976 Aug. 1977 2
Lecturer Vista University which became part of North-West University Jan. 1987 to date 5. Teaching and Learning 2012 Institutional Teaching Excellence Award Category B awarded at ITEA function 18 March 2013 Developer of Study Guides and Course co-ordinator for: Personality Psychology 2 nd year level Psychological Evaluation Psychology Honours level Research and ethics: theory and practice Psychology Honours Teaching Undergraduate: Developmental Psychology Personality Psychology Psychometry and Research Psychology Community and Social Psychology Know and understand the world of health Honours Positive Psychology Community Psychology Psychological Evaluation Psychometrics Research Psychology Facilitation of Community Well-being 6. Research expertise Scientific domain: Main research field: Psychology Psychology of Religion, Community Psychology, Epistemology and worldview 3
Fields of specialization: NRF rating and year rated: Qualitative research None 7. Publications Hay, J & van der Merwe E. K. (2000). Embracing inclusive education after an excluding past. Conference Proceedings 5th International Special Education Congress. ISBN: 1-903618-13-4 Van der Merwe, K. (2006). The phenomenology of experiencing poverty an exploration. The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, 2(1) 131-144. Van der Merwe, E.K., Van Eeden, C. & Van Deventer, H.J.M.(2010), A psychological perspective on god-belief as a source of well-being and meaning, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 66(1), Art. #332, 10 pages. DOI: 10.4102/hts.v66i1.332 Van der Merwe, K. (2010). A psychological perspective on the source and function of religion. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 66(1), Art. #331, 8 pages, DOI: 10.4102/hts.v66i1.331 Walker-Williams, H. J., Van Eeden, C. & Van der Merwe, K. (2012). The prevalence of coping behaviour, posttraumatic growth and psychological well-being in women who experienced childhood sexual abuse Journal of Psychology in Africa 22(4), 617 626 Van der Merwe, K., & Nell, W. (2013). Knowledge and learning: Views of a sample of South African higher education students. Journal of Psychology in Africa 23(1), 61 68 Walker-Williams, H.J., Van Eeden, C, & Van der Merwe, E.K. (2013). Coping Behaviour, Posttraumatic Growth and Psychological Well-being in Women with Childhood Sexual Abuse. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 23(1), 89 98 Chapter submitted for editor s review for new Oxford University Press Personality Psychology text book to be published September 2015. This chapter is the result of collaboration with Kayi Ntinda (University of Saziland) and Prof Mpofu (University of Sydney). 4
Van der Merwe, K., Ntinda, K., & Mpofu, E. Between globalisation and localisation: Syndromes in cultural personality characterisation 8. Conference papers delivered 9 th European Congress of Psychology (ECP). 3-8 July 2005. Granada Spain Van der Merwe, K. The phenomenology of experiencing poverty an exploration. 27 th International Congress of Applied Psychology (ICAP 2010). 11-16 July 2010. Melbourne Australia Van der Merwe, K., Van Eeden, C & van Deventer, H. A psychological perspective on God-belief as source of well-being and meaning. 27 th International Congress of Applied Psychology (ICAP 2010). 11-16 July 2010. Melbourne Australia Van der Merwe, K., & van Aswegen, L. The effect the experiences of volunteer HIV counsellors have on their own wellbeing: A case study 21 st Conference of Crosscultural Psychology (IACCP). Stellenbosch. 17 27 July 2012 Nell, W & Van der Merwe, K. Decoding the role of personal epistemology in the South African tertiary education context 30 th International congress of Psychology (ICP) Cape Town. 22-27 July 2012 Van der Merwe, K. & Nell, W. Exploring the views and beliefs about knowledge in a South African tertiary education contex 2nd South African Symposium on Positive Social Sciences 2013: Towards Thriving Youth Van der Merwe, K, Hons Psych students 2013. A tale of two communities: Psychology research students and mentors of orphans and vulnerable children 5
Vanderbijlpark 28-29 October 2013 2nd South African Symposium on Positive Social Sciences 2013: Towards Thriving Youth Vanderbijlpark 28-29 October 2013 Van der Merwe, K., Karen van der Merwe, Bekker, C., Kruger, G., Rasoaisi L, & Jefferis, T. Unsung heroes: Religious coping of grandmothers who foster children 9. Continuous professional development: Additional courses currently registered for Post Graduate Certificate in Mindfulness-Based University of Stellenbosch Interventions Registered 2014 and will complete October 2015. 10. Community Involvement 11.1 In my capacity as NWU lecturer Father a Nation mentoring project A 5 year project has been registered in which I involve Hons in Bophelong Psychology students. The project has 3 aims: 1. Training Hons students in research. 2. Providing scientific research results to the FAN managements that may help them improve their programme. 3. Publishing articles with students 11.2 In my personal capacity FAMSA (Families South Africa) 2000 to date: Member of the Management Committee of FAMSA Vaal Triangle 2010 2012: Member of the National Board of FAMSA 2010 to date: Chairperson of the Management Committee of 6
FAMSA Vaal Triangle 11. Post-graduate work MA: 4 PhD 3 (co-supervisor) 7