Vivian L. Tamkin, PhD, is a dual state licensed, community-oriented psychologist (CA and WI). Dr. Tamkin holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology and a minor in Child Clinical Psychology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (SIUC). She received her bachelor’s degree in Child Development, with an emphasis in Child Mental Health from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in Northridge, CA, and her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks College and Children’s Center in Pasadena, CA. Dr. Tamkin completed a pre-doctoral internship at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a specialized clinical postdoctoral fellowship in Child Development and Infant Mental Health from the Irving B. Harris Program in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado, Denver, School of Medicine. Dr. Tamkin also completed a mentored research fellowship in the Health Disparities Research Scholars T-32 Training Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health. At present, Dr. Tamkin is a fellow in the NAPA Parent-Infant Mental Health Fellowship Program, as well as a fellow with the Life Course Research Intervention Network (LCIRN).
Dr. Tamkin’s qualitative research program systematically examines the lived experiences of racial and emotional socialization messaging in Black/African Americans across the life span. Specifically, her research interests are centered in the following areas: African American/Black maternal and young child relations, messaging related to emotional health and well-being, and reflective functioning. Utilizing a multi-method qualitative approach (e.g., in-depth, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, video data), Dr. Tamkin’s target outcome is to operationalize reflective functioning through a culturally attuned lens to better inform the development and implementation of Black/African American maternal and child interventions across the life course.
In her down time, Dr. Tamkin enjoys hanging out with her partner, her family, jazz (Sarah Vaugh is her absolute favorite!), and Pilates.