David Powers, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

David Powers, PhD

Profile Type:

Professor of Psychology and Dean Emeritus

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Biography

David V. Powers CV

David V. Powers, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology and Dean Emeritus of the College of Arts & Sciences at Seattle University. He served as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences from 2009 - 2024

Before coming to Seattle University, he was a professor in the Psychology Department at Loyola University in Maryland from 1997 to 2009, serving as department chair 2003 to 2009, and as president of the Epsilon of Maryland chapter of Phi Beta Kappa 2004-09.

He served as President of the Society for Clinical Geropsychology from 2010 to 2012 Dr. Powers served as the representative for both the American Psychological Association and Psychologists in Long Term Care to the National Coalition for Mental Health and Aging, and was a founding member of the APA/ABA Assessment of Capacity in Older Adults Joint Working Group. He also served as the Aging Special Interest Group (SIG) Leader for the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and as the APA Liaison to the Commission on Law and Aging of the American Bar Association. Dr. Powers worked in part time private practice with Comprehensive Geriatric Services in Towson, Maryland from 1998 – 2002. He has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications, a treatment manual and invited articles in psychotherapy outcomes, cognitive-behavioral therapy, clinical geropsychology, Alzheimer’s caregiving, psychotherapy in nursing homes, assessment of capacity and related to faculty career development.

Dr. Powers was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Humanities Washington by Governor Jay Inslee in 2013 and served as Board President from 2019-2021.

Education

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Stanford University Medical School, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 1995-1997
  • Ph.D., Psychology, Clinical Geropsychology Track, Washington University, St. Louis, MO (APA Approved), 1995
  • Clinical Psychology Internship, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA (APA Approved), 1995
  • M.A., Clinical Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO., 1993
  • B.S., Psychology, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 1989

Courses Taught

  • Abnormal Psychology (Undergraduate)
  • Psychology of Personality (Undergraduate) – Community-Engaged Learning course
  • Psychological Research Methods I (Undergraduate)
  • Psychological research Methods II (Undergraduate)
  • Introduction to Counseling and Psychotherapy (Undergraduate)
  • Theories of Counseling (Master’s & Doctoral level)
  • Advanced Topics: Psychotherapy with Older Adults (Doctoral level)
  • Developmental Psychology: Adulthood and Aging (Masters level)
  • Research Seminar (Masters level)
  • Research Methods I – Thesis track (Masters level)
  • Research Methods II – Thesis track (Masters level)
  • Life-Span Development (Doctoral level)
  • Doctoral Research Methods I (Doctoral level)
  • Advanced Techniques: Cognitive Models (Doctoral level)

Publications

Journal Articles

Powers, D. (2019). Recruiting and retaining Jesuit faculty: Flexibility and preparation are key. Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education 55(1), 40-41.

Lehavot, K., Barnett, J. E., & Powers, D. V. (2010). Psychotherapy, professional relationships, and ethical considerations in the MySpace generation. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 31(2), 160.

Thompson, L. W., Dick-Siskin, L., Coon, D. W., Powers, D. V., & Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2009). Treating Late-Life Depression: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach. New York: Oxford University Press USA.

American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging & American Psychological Association. (2008). Assessment of older adults with diminished capacity: A handbook for psychologists. Washington DC: American Bar Association and American Psychological Association. (Contributor as member of Working Group)

Cramer, R. J., Griffin, M. P., & Powers, D. V. (2008). A Five-Factor analysis of spirituality in young adults: Preliminary evidence. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 19, 43-58.

Powers, D. V., (2008a). Psychotherapy in long term care I: Practical considerations and the link to policy and advocacy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38(2), 251-256.

Powers, D. V. (2008b). Psychotherapy in long term care II: Empirically based psychological treatments and other outcome research. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38(2), 257-263.

Powers, D. V., Thompson, L.W., & Gallagher-Thompson, D., (2008). The benefits of using psychotherapy skills following treatment for depression: An examination of “afterwork” and a test of the skills hypothesis in older adults. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. 15(2), 194 – 202.

Powers, D. V., Cramer, R.J., & Grubka, J.M., (2007). Spirituality, life stress, and affective well-being. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 35, 235-243.

Snow, A.L., Powers, D., & Liles, D. (2006). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for long term care patients with dementia. In R. Intrieri and L. Hyer (Eds.). Clinical applied gerontological interventions in long-term care. (pp.265-293). New York: Springer.

American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging & American Psychological Association. (2005). Assessment of older adults with diminished capacity: A handbook for lawyers. Washington DC: American Bar Association and American Psychological Association. (Contributor as member of Working Group)

Kabitsi, N., & Powers, D. V. (2002). Spousal motivations of care for demented older adults: A cross-cultural comparison of Greek and American female caregivers. Journal of Aging Studies, 116, 383 – 399.

Powers, D.V., Gallagher-Thompson, D., & Kraemer, H. C. (2002). A longitudinal examination of coping and depression in Alzheimer’s caregivers. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences, 57B, 205 – 211.

Powers, D. V., Thompson, L., Gallagher-Thompson, D., & Futterman, A. (2002). Depression in later life: Epidemiology, assessment, impact and treatment. In I. Gotlib and C. Hammen (Eds.), Handbook of depression, (3rd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

Thompson, L. W., Powers, D. V., Coon, D. W., Takagi, K., McKibbin, C., & Gallagher-Thompson, D (2000). Older adults. In J. R. White and A. S. Freeman (Eds.). Cognitive behavioral group therapy for specific problems and populations. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

Jefferson, A. L., Powers, D. V., & Pope, M. (2000). Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in older women. Clinical Gerontologist, 22, 3-12.

Gallagher-Thompson, D., Coon, D. C., Powers, D. V., Rivera, P., & Zeiss, A. (1998). Family caregiving: Stress, coping, and intervention. In M. Hersen and V. B. Van Hasselt (Eds.). Handbook of clinical geropsychology New York: Plenum.

Gallagher-Thompson, D., & Powers, D. V. (1997). Primary stressors and depressive symptoms in caregivers of dementia patients. Aging and Mental Health, 1 (3), 248 - 255

Peer-reviewed Newsletter publications

Powers, D. V. (2004). Jobs, life, and tenure at a “teaching college.” the Behavior Therapist, 27, 7.

Powers, D.V. (2002). Aging and BT/CBT. the Behavior Therapist, 25 (1), 3.

Clinical Therapy Manual for Professional Audience

Dick, L. P., Gallagher-Thompson, D., Coon, W. C., Powers, D. V., & Thompson, L. W. (1996). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for late-life depression: A client manual. Published by the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.