In the 2005-2006 academic year, Dr. Sarkisian joined the AULA faculty and teaches primarily in the Applied Community Psychology (ACP) specialization of the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (MAP) program. Gregor’s current teaching interests include community psychology, social ecology, teaching community psychology practice, qualitative methods, social power, community change processes, social policy, and program evaluation.
Dr. Sarkisian has made significant contributions to the development and integration of community psychology practice competencies into Master’s level educational programs. Along with his colleague, Sylvie Taylor, PhD, they have published their work with students as coresearchers exploring empowering pedagogical approaches. In 2011-2012, Dr. Sarkisian was part of a working group that developed and published the first draft of community psychology practice competencies. Gregor has also worked at the national level through the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) (Div. 27 of the American Psychological Association) to promote community psychology education through his service and leadership on the Council of Education Programs (2008-2012) and his service as coeditor of The Community Psychologist (2012-2015).
In 2015, Dr. Sarkisian began a partnership with the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation that provides surf therapy to youth At-Promise, Veterans, and active-duty military service members. Gregor has served as a surf instructor with all three populations, and he currently serves as the Principal Investigator on two Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved studies – one with youth At-Promise and one with Veterans. Dr. Sarkisian has also been an active member of the International Surf Therapy Organization (ISTO) since 2018 and has served as a program evaluation consultant, collaborator, and coalition builder. Between 2018 and 2020, Gregor was the lead guest editor in publishing the first of its kind Special Focus Issue on Surf Therapy Around the Globe in the Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice. In addition to publishing his work with the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation, he coauthored a scoping review on surf therapy with an Antioch alumnus from the ACP specialization and coauthored the introductory and concluding articles with his coeditors.
