Training Needs Assessment and Evaluation of the Overcome Academy: A Collaboration between ODU and Combat Wounded Coalition
ODU researchers led by Dr. Konstantin Cigularov are assisting the non-profit Combat Wounded Coalition founded by Jason "Jay" Redman, a wounded ex-Navy seal, in developing and evaluating a two-week leadership training program for wounded warriors called Overcome Academy. This collaborative project is ongoing and includes two phases: training needs assessment in Fall 2017 and training evaluation in Spring 2018.
Dr. Cigularov, who is an Associate Professor in the Industrial-Organizational Psychology Ph.D. program, and five doctoral students in his Fall 2017 Human Resource Development doctoral seminar, together with Dr. Michelle Kelley (Professor and Chair of Psychology), identified specific critical competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) wounded warriors need for a successful transition to civilian life.
Results from their research were used to guide the development of the Overcome Academy, which is currently taking place in Virginia Beach. The findings will also be presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in August 2018. The Overcome Academy is a two-week targeted curriculum to train wounded warriors leadership, resiliency, and professional skills while supporting physical fitness and nutrition and engaging in civilian and youth mentorship.
The Overcome Academy will graduate its first class of 13 combat wounded veterans on March 2, 2018. Drs. Cigularov and Kelley and their team are conducting the evaluation of this program, the findings of which will inform the next version of the Overcome Academy, which is planned for late spring. Engaging students in community service-oriented, applied research projects is a teaching tool Dr. Cigularov uses in his doctoral courses as part of the Industrial-Organizational Psychology Ph.D. program.
ODU Research Team Members & Role:
- Dr. Konstantin Cigularov, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Psychology - Principal Investigator
- Dr. Michelle Kelley, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology - Co-Principal Investigator
- Phillip Dillulio, M.S., Doctoral Student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology - Project Team Leader
- Andrew Collmus, M.S., Doctoral Student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology - Team Member
- Katelyn Reynoldson, Doctoral Student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology - Team Member
- Chad Kenneally, Doctoral Student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology
- William Jimenez, Doctoral Student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology - Team Member
