Browns Bay Auckland 0630 Ph: 09 478 5363 Email K.menon2@gmail.com Curriculum Vitae Karin Menon Personal Profile Karin s interest in working with people from culturally varying backgrounds is born out of her German/Canadian nationality; extensive travels, and life in multi-cultural communities. She is fluent in German and English languages. She has completed her education in Child and Adolescent Psychology and teaching in Germany; and her BA, BA Honors, Master, and PhD in Business Psychology/Social Psychology. Karin has some years experience in teaching and counseling socially disadvantaged children and parents. She has completed her PhD on Samoan women s adjustment in New Zealand. She has also worked closely with academics of New Zealand and Samoan nationality and has co-authored articles, engaged in community education, and researched minority cultures skills and needs at work. OVERVIEW Achievements and skills PhD/MA/HONS Psychology Massey University; BA Organizational Psychology Ten years of experience of teaching at Massey University and AUT Running and improving a new online-program (pioneer project) by using effective problem-solving and making effective changes Successfully coordinating and teaching an academic pre-degree course on short notice; producing good student learning outcomes Mentoring students in multi-cultural settings to overcome language and cultural barriers and improve their academic output Managing research projects in psychology and sociology at Massey University Establishing cross-cultural networks between Massey University and University of Applied Sciences Lüneburg, Germany Establishing non-threatening, positively focused learning environments, using relationship and team building skills Current employment Counseling Placement Practical counseling in fulfillment of the Counseling Diploma and full registration NZAC Individual, relationship and family counseling, eclectic approach EDUCATION 2011 Counseling Diploma (Theory and Practice) NZ Institute for Professional Counseling 2010 Completion of oral exams in fulfillment of the requirements of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology 1
2009 PhD Psychology, Massey University, New Zealand. Thesis: The meaning of work for Samoan migrant women s sense of identity in Auckland/Aotearoa 2003 MA Psychology, Massey University 2002 BA Honors 1st class Business Psychology, Massey University 2001 BA Business Psychology, Massey University Child psychology and pedagogies graduate (4 year college training) Germany Counseling skills level 1, 2, and 3, Pathways Counseling Training Auckland Other relevant training and experience Learning and Teaching: Workshop Resources; TDU, Massey University Auckland Research and Funding; TDU, Massey University Auckland Micro Skills in Counseling Management of Small Businesses Public Speaking Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Endnote Customer Services and Management Skills Pasifika Culture, Seminar Series (Prof. Cluny Macpherson), Massey University PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Lecturing and tutoring roles at Auckland University of Technology 2010 AUT North Shore Lecturer Psychology and Human Development 2008 AUT North Shore Tutor for psychology AUT City Campus Paper coordinator and lecturer for Human Development & Social Behavior Lecturing and tutoring roles at Massey University Auckland -2008 School of Psychology Tutor for psychology; Graduate Research Assistant & 2007 School of Management and Business Paper Coordinator; 219.307 Interpersonal Communication Lecturer and Tutor School of Psychology: 175.343 Personnel & Career development 175.733 Groups in organizations, postgraduate block course, Women in teams and leadership (postgraduate) 175.345 Organizational psychology, gender in organizations 2
175.101 Introduction to psychology; 175.102 Psychology as a science School of Psychology Guest Lecturer School of Social Work : 179.230 Well-being in Polynesian context Tutor School of Psychology: 175.101 Introduction to psychology 2002-2003 Tutor for psychology Assistant for disabled students Mental Health Work Experience 2008 2010 Drake Medox Auckland Mental Health Care Giver 2008-2009 Waitemata District Health Board Mental Health Care Giver 1998-2001 Relationship Services Takapuna Client services and help desk OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE Rangitoto College; community education (Healthy Living); Tauhara Center Taupo, customer care OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE Pedagogue and counselor for socially disadvantaged and behaviorally challenging school children and adolescents and their families in Frankfurt and Hamburg, Germany; Waldorf communities, anthroposophist education MENTORING Participating in the Mentoring Project Te Rau Puawai () for Maori psychology students in the School of Psychology, Massey University Auckland. EVIDENCE OF WORK AND OUTCOMES SECAT RESULTS from students survey for. Written student feedback for and References and written commendations; Massey University Scholarships based on achievement; Massey University, BRCCS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Participating in the NZ Malofie Arts Research and Social Services Incorporated Society, 43 Cartwright Rd, Kelston West Auckland, New Zealand. 3
PUBLICATIONS 2008 Samoan migrant women in Auckland: Skills, competencies, work, and sense of self. (Ms Karin Menon), journal article, accepted and to be published in National University of Samoa NUS Journal of Conference Proceedings. 2007 Sense of connectedness and empowerment in story telling and its therapeutic effect on Polynesian women. (Ms Karin Menon, Mr. Tafa Mulitalo) Peer-reviewed journal article, International Journal on Women, Diversity and Human Rights. The socio-cultural meaning of nightlife to Samoan women in Auckland: observed variations in females behavior on the dance floor. (Ms Karin Menon, Mr. Tafa Mulitalo) Peer-reviewed journal article, Journal on Women, Diversity and Human Rights. Art Therapy and Pacific Island Peoples in New Zealand: A Preliminary Observation and Evaluation from a Pacific Island Perspective. (Mr. Tafa Mulitalo, Ms Karin Menon) Peer-reviewed journal article, Tu Mau Journal for Social Work. Reciprocity and Employment Relations in New Zealand: A Samoan example for employee and employer relationships. (Mr. Tafa Mulitalo, Ms Karin Menon) Journal article published in Industrial Relations Journal (October ). Pasifika Art therapy acknowledgment in mainstream psychology; published in Massey News, August issue, Massey University. Organizational change: coping strategies in cultural minority and majority groups; abstract of Australasian Psychology Conference (33 rd Meeting, Auckland); published in Australian Journal of Psychology, Vol. 56, Supplement. CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS 2007 Biennale Oceania Development Network. Held at National University of Samoa, Apia, 29 October - 1 November 2007, Work and sense of identity - 20 Samoan migrant women in Auckland. The meaning of paid work from the Samoan women s perspective lived experiences of being in the world of work NZPS. Held at Waikato University Hamilton, 16 August 2007, Samoan migrant women s experiences at work in New Zealand: knowledge, skills, and identities The Sixth International Conference on Cross-Cultural Knowledge. Held at the Frije Universiteit Amsterdam, July 2007, Samoan migrant women s experiences at work in New Zealand: Knowledge, skills, and identity. BRCCS Conference. Held at Auckland University, February 2007, Samoan migrant women s experiences at work in New Zealand: knowledge, skills, and identities Joint Conference of the APS & NZPsS, Auckland Convention Center, 27 th September, professional forum: Improving the standards of postgraduate research supervision (joint presentation) The Sixth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture and Change in Organizations. Held at the Monash University Center in Prato, Italy, 11-15 th July; two presentations: a) The Practice of Reciprocity among Pacific Island Peoples in Employment Relations in New Zealand (Mr. Tafa Mulitalo, Ms Karin Menon) b) Coping Strategies in Cultural Minority Groups in New Zealand and Germany: Are the Skills of Employees from Cultural Minorities Utilized Effectively? (Ms Karin Menon, Mr. Tafa Mulitalo) WSA Auckland, Women s Studies Association Conference, November 25-27; participation, symposium sustaining women. 4
Symposium on Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations; Melbourne, December 7 th - 8 th ; presenting two topics: a) Sense of connectedness and empowerment in story telling and its therapeutic effect on Polynesian women (Ms Karin Menon, Mr. Tafa Mulitalo) b) The socio-cultural meaning of nightlife to Samoan women in Auckland: observed variations in females behavior on the dance floor (Mr. Tafa Mulitalo, Ms Karin Menon) SASP Auckland, 33 rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Australasian Social Psychologists, April 15-18; one presentation. Topic on organizational change and adjustment of cultural minority and majority groups SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS 21 May, Massey University Auckland. Seminar Presentation to the School of Social and Cultural Studies Seminar series. Topic on Pacific Island Peoples in New Zealand: Samoan women and work. 3 August, Massey University Auckland. Seminar Presentation to the School of Social and Cultural Studies Seminar series. Topic on Pacific Art Therapy and Pacific Island Peoples in New Zealand. 31 August, Massey University Auckland. Seminar Presentation to the Pasifika Graduate Research Group Atrium Building, Topic on Western theory, Pasifika knowledge, and culturally diverse approaches to art therapy in New Zealand. 14 July - Presentation at Pacificare Trust 98 St George Street, Papatoetoe (staff and clients together) on Pasifika Art Therapy and Pacific Island clients. 2001, 2003,, ; Massey University Research Day presentations. RESEARCH INTERESTS Main focus on migration, cultural identity, identity processes, work-life adjustment experiences; intercultural research, Polynesian Peoples, New Zealand job market skill needs. UNPUBLISHED MASTERS THESIS Organizational change: Coping strategies in cultural minority and majority groups in Germany and New Zealand. Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master Department of Psychology. Massey University, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 2003. RADIO BROADCASTS Featured on Radio Samoa, August, on the topic of The applicability of art therapy for Pacific Peoples and the Samoan community in New Zealand. Interviewed for National Radio (David Steemson), 28 September, topic on Meaning of symbols and artifacts & the use of art therapy in Polynesian context. Referees Dr. Dianne Gardner, Massey University School of Psychology; Senior Lecturer D.h.gardner@massey.ac.nz Phone: 4140800 41225 Ms. Anja Isaacson, Clinical Psychologist, Department of Corrections Anja.ISAACSON@corrections.govt.nz Phone: 4764314 Ms. Anne Rundle, Interpersonal Development Company; academic staff member idco@xtra.co.nz ; Phone: 4153266 5