Kathleen Sikkema to Be Commencement Speaker at Central College
Kathleen Sikkema, a Duke professor and clinical psychologist, was selected as the commencement speaker on May 12 at Central College in Pella Iowa. Sikkema will be honored for her work in health and community psychology, and will receive a honorary degree from Central during commencement.
Kathleen Sikkema is director of the clinical psychology doctoral program and the social and behavioral science core in the Center for AIDS Research. A 1984 graduate of Central College, and an expert in HIV prevention and mental health, Sikkema’s research focuses on developing and evaluating community approaches to help those with HIV disease cope with bereavement and traumatic stress and to reduce HIV risk and gender inequalities. She also participates in research in Tanzania and has conducted research in South Africa for more than 10 years.