Who am I? I grew up as a military “brat,” living on several continents while attending public schools. Later, I married into the military, and my husband and I raised three, now grown, daughters. Today, one is an outstanding public school art teacher and two proudly serve in the military.
For more than 27 years, I have worked as a civilian for the military, focusing on education, sexual violence prevention and response, training and education, and leadership and character development. My career has taken me from the Pentagon to the classroom as an assistant professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Outside of work, I love being outdoors—running, hiking, and biking—as well as reading, traveling, and spending cherished time with family and friends.
Some background I began my academic journey at the University of Colorado Boulder, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus on biological sciences, followed by a Master of Science in Educational Psychology and a certification in secondary education. This training allowed me to teach at the high school level with both a strong understanding of how the brain learns and practical skills to maximize student retention.
I went on to complete a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling at Texas A&M University–Central Texas in Killeen, where I became a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and worked with children and military service members. A few years later, I earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.), conducting my dissertation on women leaders in the military. I then completed a two year certification program at the University of Michigan in Sex Education, Therapy, and Counseling, which sparked my interest in healthy relationships and sexual health. Most recently, I completed a Master of Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania which allows me to help individuals and teams focus on creating purpose, happiness, well-being, and to thrive.
It’s fair to say I love learning and studying! Yet I believe knowledge alone isn’t enough, we must find ways to apply it meaningfully. My passion is translating research into practice, helping people use science to thrive at work and in life. I partner with leaders and teams to boost productivity and performance, support parents and families in raising healthy children, and am inspired by working with girls and women’s groups.
Samples of work Here are some samples of my work. Please let me know if you want any more or have any questions. Peer reviewed articles: Dickman, K. (2025). Resilience expectations: A source of hope or harm? Air & Space Operations Review, 4(1), 68-78.
Garcia, L. C., Ulbig, S., & Dickman, K. (2024). Sisters in Arms: Lowering Rape Myth Acceptance in a Hypermasculine Environment. Sex Roles, 90(6), 761–778. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-024-01479-w.
Dickman, K. (2023). Forging connections and fostering belonging: The role of positive psychology in the virtual classroom. Journal of Teaching and Learning With Technology, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.14434/jotlt.v12i1.36379.
Bowles, S., Carter, S., Mallonee, S., Dickman, K., Schmid, B., & Saboe, K. (2024). Military married couples: Resilience-building resources that contribute to well-being. In U. Kumar (Ed.), The Routledge international handbook of psychosocial resilience (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003603115-29 Podcast guest: Military Child Education Coalition. Topic: High Quality Connections: https://militarychild.org/podcast/high-quality-connections/
Free Yourself Podcast and Flourish. Topic: Creating Space to Flourish with Positive Psychology Specialist Dr. Kimberly Dickman: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-5-creating-space-to-flourish-with-positive/id1819402261?i=1000713333673 Video Seminar/Keynote: National Character and Leadership Seminar (2021). Topic: Mastering Habits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH3ywkUuR4c
Airlift/Tanker Association (2023). Keynote address: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/904715/dr-kimberly-dickmans-keynote-address-ta-2023 Articles about my presentations: University Pittsburgh: https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/2/2/general-off-script-dr-kimberly-dickman-visits-pitt
Texas A&M University Central Texas Convocation: https://www.tamuct.edu/air-force-academy-professor-to-speak-at-am-central-texas-convocation/