Professor Patrick Heaven, prominent psychology academic and expert, has been appointed Dean of Research at Australian Catholic University (ACU).

 

Professor Heaven comes to ACU from the University of Wollongong (UOW), where he was Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. Prior to that, he was Head of the School of Psychology at UOW from 2001 to 2010.

 

Patrick holds several qualifications including a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Orange Free State; a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Stellenbosch; a Master of Arts (Research) from the University of the Orange Free State; and a Doctorate of Literature and Philosophy from the University of South Africa. His publication record includes more than 150 research articles, six books, and major research funding of approximately $1 million.


Patrick was instrumental in establishing the Wollongong Youth Study, a significant longitudinal study of the social and emotional development of youth. He is similarly involved in the Australian Character Study, another longitudinal study which documents changes over time.  Both projects have received funding from the Australian Research Council.


Professor Heaven is a former Editor of the Australian Journal of Psychology and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Adolescence.