Michael A. O'Donnell (born June 17, 1956, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania) is an American writer and researcher and co-principal investigator of the Adolescent Wellness Research Project, jointly with

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and la ...

family strengths scholar Nick Stinnett. Their research on adolescent wellness was published in the book ''Good Kids'' ( Doubleday 1995) and they were invited to speak on this study before the

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, in 1995.

Biography

O'Donnell received his

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is a ...

from

Kansas State University Kansas State University (KSU, Kansas State, or K-State) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Manhattan, Kansas, United States. It was opened as the state's land-grant college in 1863 and was the first public instit ...

in 1986.

The International Family Life Institute

In the late 1980s, O'Donnell, then an Assistant

Professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

of Family Studies, Dean of Professional Studies at

Faulkner University Faulkner University is a private Christian university in Montgomery, Alabama. It is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. History The university was founded in 1942 by Dr. Rex Turner, Dr. Leonard Johnson and Joe Greer as Montgomery Bible Sch ...

and a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE), and Stinnett co-founded The International Family Life Institute, Inc., Montgomery, AL. The Institute helped pioneer the first

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degree completion program in

Family Life Education Family life education is defined by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) as "the educational effort to strengthen individual and family life through a family perspective. The objective of Family Life Education is to enrich and improve t ...

on the campus of Spring Arbor University, Mich., leading to certification for professionals as Certified Family Life Educators (CFLE) through the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). The Institute was a for-profit enterprise offering assistance in curriculum development, prevention-through-education seminars, and research and writing projects in the area of

family and consumer science Home economics, also called domestic science or family and consumer sciences, is a subject concerning human development, personal and family finances, consumer issues, housing and interior design, nutrition and food preparation, as well as texti ...

and practice.

Southwest Center for Fathering

In the early 1990s, O'Donnell was also an associate

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

of family studies and the founding executive director of the Southwest Center for Fathering on the campus of

Abilene Christian University Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a Private university, private Churches of Christ, Christian university in Abilene, Texas. It was founded in 1906 as ''Childers Classical Institute''. ACU is one of the largest private universities in the Sout ...

. The Center was the first university-based center for fathering in the

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. O'Donnell was interviewed for his work in the area of fathering in ''

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''. O'Donnell trained over 400 certified fathering small group leaders in the U.S. and overseas. Also, the Center for Fathers and Families in

Sacramento ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...

, Calif., was formed after attendees returned from a seminar held by O'Donnell at Abilene Christian University.

Author

In 1995, O'Donnell, a Professor of Family Studies and Department Chair of

Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

Behavioral Sciences Behavioral sciences explore the cognitive processes within organisms and the behavioral interactions between organisms in the natural world. It involves the systematic analysis and investigation of human and animal behavior through naturalistic o ...

with

Rochester University Rochester University (formerly Rochester College) is a private Christian college in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It was founded by members of the Churches of Christ in 1959. Rochester University is primarily undergraduate (though it offers some ...

in Mich., had authored or co-authored seven books, including: ''Home from Oz'' ( Thomas Nelson & Word 1994), ''A Question of Honor'' (

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& Zondervan 1995), and ''How A Man Prepares His Sons for Life'' ( Baker Publishing Group & Bethany House 1995). These books have been the focus of numerous radio, TV and print features such as in ''

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'', ''Better Homes and Gardens'' and ''

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'' magazines;

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Business Network,

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and the

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nationally syndicated radio program

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Personal life

He is the

identical twin Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of TwinLast Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two em ...

brother A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familia ...

of award-winning

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

Richard O'Donnell Richard Mark O'Donnell (born 12 September 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Blackpool. Having started his career with Sheffield Wednesday's youth system, O'Donnell progressed to the first team where he ...

. He is married and has three children (one deceased) and three grandchildren.

Academic and popular books

*''The Oz Syndrome: Coming Home to Find Contentment in the Sacredness of the Family'', Faith Happenings Publishers, Denver, Colorado, 2020. *''What A Son Needs from His Dad'', Baker Publishing Group, Minneapolis, Minn., 2018. *''什么是儿子从他的父亲需要", Anhui Publishing House, China, 2015. *''وهات أ أ سن ندس فروم حيث'', Dar El Thaqafa Communications House, Arabia, 2014. *''What A Son Needs from His Dad'', Baker Publishing Group, Minneapolis, Minn., 2011. *''你和你的孩子们可以成功驾驭十几岁的年龄'' (w/ N. Stinnett), Centre for Fathering, Ltd, Singapore, 2001. *''The Oz Syndrome'', Hillcrest Publishers,

Abilene, Texas Abilene ( ) is a city in Taylor and Jones Counties in Texas, United States. Its population was 125,182 at the 2020 census, making it the 27th-most populous city in the state of Texas. It is the principal city of the Abilene metropolitan statis ...

, 2001. (See

Adaptations of The Wizard of Oz ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' is a 1900 children's novel written by American author L. Frank Baum. Since its first publication in 1900, it has been adapted many times: for film, television, theatre, books, comics, games, and other media. Film ...

, under ''Books''.) *''어떻게 사람이 인생에 대한 그의 아들을 준비'', Compass House Publishers, Seoul, Korea, 1997. *''A Question of Honor'' (w/ J. Gantar and T. Patten),

/ Zondervan, New York, NY, 1996. *''Good Kids: How You and Your Kids Can Successfully Navigate the Teen Years'' (w/ N. Stinnett), Doubleday, New York, NY, 1996. *''How A Man Prepares His Sons for Life'', Bethany House, Minneapolis, MN, 1996. *''Heart of the Warrior: A Battle Plan for Christian Men'', College Press Publishers, Joplin, Mo., 1996. *O’Donnell M.A., et al. ''Initiatives for Families: Research, Policy, Practice, and Education.'' Minneapolis, MN: National Council on Family Relations, 1995. *''Home From Oz: Finding Contentment In Your Family'', Thomas Nelson/Word, Dallas, Texas, 1994; Novo Ink, E-Book, 2011. (See

, under ''Books''.) *''Heart of the Warrior: A Battle Plan for Fathers to Reclaim Their Families'' (with Michelle Morris),

Abilene Christian University Press Abilene Christian University Press, also known as ACU Press, is an Abilene, Texas-based university press that is connected with Abilene Christian University. Since being formed it has released or acquired 456 titles and the press releases, on a ...

, 1993. *''Human Life Cycle I: Instructor's Manual'', Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI, 1991. *''Human Life Cycle II: Instructor's Manual'', Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI, 1991. *''The Professional Family Life Educator: Instructor's Manual'', Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI, 1991. *''Grief Management I: Instructor's Manual'', Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI, 1990. *''Grief Management II: Instructor's Manual'', Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI, 1990. *''Parenting and Family Skills: Instructor's Manual'', Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI, 1989. *''Family Theory: Instructor's Manual'', Editor, Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI, 1989.

Awards and honors

Some honors and awards include: In 1992, then-Governor President

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

appointed Dr. Michael O'Donnell as an "Arkansas Traveler"; he also has had induction into

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Family and Consumer Sciences Honor Society (1991); inducted into Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society (1997); selected as the Coons-Farrar Lecturer for

Harding University Harding University is a private university with its main campus in Searcy, Arkansas. It is the largest private university in Arkansas. Established in 1924, the institution offers undergraduate, graduate, and pre-professional programs. The uni ...

(1992); selected as the President B. Garrison Lecturer for Henderson State University (1993); a Fine Arts Lecturer on Fathering and the Media for

Lander University Lander University is a public university in Greenwood, South Carolina. Campus and housing Lander University is located approximately one half-mile from uptown Greenwood, South Carolina. The main campus sits on 190 acres of land, though this doe ...

(1994); selected as the Dr. Bruce Everist Endowed Lecturer for

Louisiana Tech University Louisiana Tech University (Louisiana Tech, La. Tech, or simply Tech) is a public research university in Ruston, Louisiana. It is part of the University of Louisiana System and classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activ ...

. He was invited in 2002 by then-

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

Goh Chok Tong to be the

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’s National Week of the Family. In 2012, he was selected as a Catholic Press Association Award-Winner for his monthly column, ''Family Matters'' in ''The Colorado Catholic Herald''.http://www.coloradocatholicherald.com/ArticleDetails/tabid/716/ArticleID/517/Default.aspx "Herald wins two Catholic Press Association awards," July 6, 2012.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Odonnell, Michael A. 1956 births Living people Cincinnati Christian University alumni People from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania American male writers