Associate Chair, Department of Counseling and Family Sciences
Assistant Professor, Counseling and Family Sciences
Director, Child Life Specialist MS Program
Contact Information
Email maminyard@llu.edu
Phone 909-558-4547, ext. 47072
Fax 909-558-0417
Department of Counseling and Family Sciences
Loma Linda University, Griggs Hall, Office 112
11065 Campus St., Loma Linda, CA 92350
Degrees and Certifications
- MS, Child Development/Child Life - University of La Verne, 1995
- Certificate, National Bereavement Facilitator II - American Academy of Bereavement, 2000
- Certificate, Child Life Specialist - Association of Child Life Professionals, 1999
Areas of Specialization
- Child development
- Stress and coping in the hospital environment
- Grief and loss
- Program development
Professional Memberships
- Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP)
- Awards Committee (member and Chair-Elect in 2023) (2021-present): Present the ACLP Board of Directors with the recommended winner for the Distinguished Service Award and the Mary Barkey Clinical Excellence Award.
- Mentorship Program (mentor) (2020-2019): Participated in a formal mentorship program, allowing for mentors to be identified and partnered with mentees.
- Graduate Accreditation Task Force (Co-chair) (2013-2019): Facilitate and lead initiatives for future accreditation of graduate programs in the United States and Canada.
- Students and Emerging Professionals Committee (member) (2017-2018): Creating a strategic, coordinated, and collaborative relationship among other task force leaders and key stakeholders to discuss student issues.
- The Child Life Certifying Committee (member) (2007-2016): Committee was established to initiate, evaluate, maintain and oversee the CCLS credentialing program. Positions held: Item writer, reviewer, exam assembler and ethics committee member for the Child Life professional certification examination.
- Member of the Education and Training Committee (member) (2008-2012): To promote the quality and consistency of academic and clinical preparation programs.
- Conference Planning Committee, San Diego Conference (member) (2009): Plan and implement the Annual Child Life Conference.
- Association for Play Therapy (APT)