College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Heather R. Kennedy

  • School of Applied Human Sciences, Family Services

    Faculty - Assistant Professor of Family Studies



    Area

    Family Studies

    Degrees

    B.S. from University of Nebraska, Omaha.
    M.S. and Ph.D. from University of Nebraska, Lincoln

    Courses Taught

    Human Identity and Relationships

    Strategies and Issues in Family Services

    Interpersonal Relationship Dynamics

    Management in Family Resources

    Culture and Marriage

    Research Interests

    The development, health and well-being of underrepresented and marginalized individuals and families. Most recently her research has focused on the welfare of the LGBT community and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

    Service

    More than 10 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor, providing therapeutic services to adults, adolescents and families.

    Selected Publications

    Kennedy, H. R. & Gruber, A. M. (2020).  Critical thinking in a service-learning course: Impacts of information literacy instruction. Communications in Information Literacy, 14(2).

    Kennedy, H. R., & Dalla, R. L. (2020).  “It may be legal, but it is not treated equally”: Marriage equality and well-being implications for same-sex couples.  Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 32(1), 67-98.  DOI: 10.1080/10538720.2019.1681340

    Kennedy, H. R., Dalla, R. L., & Dreesman, S. (2018).  “We are two of the lucky ones”: Experiences with marriage and well-being for same-sex couples.  Journal of Homosexuality, 65(9), 1207-1231.  DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2017.1407612

    Dalla, R. L., & Kennedy, H. R. (2015). “I Want to Leave—Go Far Away—I Don’t Want to Get Stuck on the Res[ervation]”:  Developmental Outcomes of Adolescent-Aged Children of Navajo Native American Teenage Mothers. Journal of Adolescent Research, 30(1), 113-139.

    Kennedy, H. R. & Dalla, R. L. (2014). Examining identity consolidation processes among ethnic minority gay men and lesbians. The Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 26(4), 465-501.

    Dalla, R.L., Xia, Y., & Kennedy, H. (2003). “You just give them what they want and pray they don’t kill you.” Violence Against Women, 9(11), 1367-1394.