Gloria Park Perin, MAPP

Gloria Park Perin, MAPP, is interested in examining the role of the body as an enabler of thriving and well-being. Through marrying positive psychology with sport and exercise psychology, Gloria hopes to promote mind/body health and wellness with individuals, communities and organizations, examine the role of sport and physical activity in positive youth development, and develop interventions to enhance performance in sport and other domains.

Gloria was a competitive figure skater for over 14 years until she sustained a career-ending injury. After reconciling her lost possible self as an athlete, she found a new calling in the field of psychology. She graduated as a member of the vanguard class of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006, and is now a doctoral candidate in Kinesiology/Sport and Exercise Psychology at Temple University. She serves as assistant instructor to Dr. James Pawelski in the MAPP program, and is a community facilitator for the University of Pennsylvania College of Liberal and Professional Studies Open Learning Commons.

Professionally, she has been heavily involved with academic research and nonprofit management. Her research background includes youth suicide and depression, adolescent health, post traumatic stress, and health behavior interventions such as the use of motivational interviewing and family-centered life skills training for youth with HIV, and expressive writing with cancer patients. She is the founder of Bensoma.com, which is scheduled to launch in the Fall of 2009