For Brandon J. Griffin, Ph.D., the value of an SBU education is found in the relationships
formed, particularly with SBU faculty members who helped shape and guide his academic
and career goals.
“The faculty of SBU is the life-blood of the University,” said Brandon. “Professors challenged me to both expand my academic breadth and specialize in areas that interested me.”
Two faculty members in particular, Chris Dinwiddie, Ph.D., and Shelley Kilpatrick, Ph.D., contributed to guiding Brandon to where he is today. Dinwiddie and Kilpatrick both were involved with a community-based forgiveness intervention known as The Campaign to REACH Forgiveness and gave their students the opportunity to participate as well.
“Participating in this campaign was my first experience to the study of forgiveness,” recalled Brandon. “This experience started me on the path to become a military health provider and expert in forgiveness science.”
After graduating from SBU, Brandon completed a Ph.D. in psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and an APA-accredited residency with the Veterans Health Administration. He now works as a clinical and translational researcher at the San Francisco VA Medical Center where he specializes in positive health psychology and develops interventions for military veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Looking back on his time at SBU, Brandon credits the faculty’s expertise and caring guidance for helping equip him for success.
“I love SBU because professors are both challenging and supportive,” Brandon stated.
Brandon still maintains relationships with SBU faculty today, as well as other relationships built at SBU with classmates and teammates. As a member of the SBU Men’s Club Soccer Team, participant on a mission trip to Mexico, and resident in SBU housing, Brandon learned the value of living in community.
“I formed lasting relationships with a number of my fellow players (on the soccer team), gained leadership experience, was encouraged by my peers to own my faith, and witnessed the value of Christian community,” said Brandon. “I recognize how lucky I was to find a campus community where I built life-long friendships with both students and faculty.”
The relationships formed with both faculty and peers combined with the academic and career preparation received created incredible value for Brandon.
“I found that SBU offered an ideal place to develop my academic interests at an affordable price for a personalized education and with a Christian culture in which my faith was challenged and matured.”