Interim 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
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)
Recent Publications and Presentations
Presentations
- March 2021. The Future of Behavioral Health through a Post-COVID Lens. Panel member. Loma Linda University Health, LLUH Virtual Homecoming 2021. Loma Linda, CA.
- July 2020. Student Interns and Internships during COVID. Panel member. Western States Child Life Symposium, Miller Children's and Women's Hospital. Long Beach, CA.
- August 2018. Therapeutic Play for the Hospitalized Child. The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Hangzhou, China Nursing Department.
- August 2018. Therapeutic Play for the Hospitalized Child. Women and Children’s Healthcare Hospital Quzhou, China Health Care Conference.
Community Engagement
- Your Village: ASD Support Group-Supervisor (2022)
- Parent Teacher Group, The Grove School (2022)
- Child Life IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Awareness) Group-Supervisor (2020-present)
- Pediatric Brain and Spine Tumor Support Group (2018-present)
- Volunteer PTA member at Kimberly Elementary (2013-present)
- Parent-Teacher Association (2012-2019)
- Co-leader of Girl Scout Troop (2013-2018)