The Clinton David Dennard Center for Changing Lives is a nonprofit organization in Texas. We use outreach research to contribute to knowledge about how to promote positive human development. The Dennard Center includes graduate students, undergraduates, and faculty from multiple institutions.
Our mission is to share a vision of positive change. We aim to:
Our mission is to share a vision of positive change. We aim to:
- Promote positive youth development and enhance the life chances of all young people;
- Stimulate the dissemination of all articles, books, reports, and other communications related to promoting positive youth development; and
- Prepare students to contribute to the science and practice of positive youth development.
The Waco Youth Development Project
Each year, undergraduate psychology students provide developmental mentoring to high school students seeking to become first in their families to complete college. In working with these young people, our approach is supportive and collaborative, not didactic. We aim to create the relational conditions for positive identity development, including a sense of mattering to others.
The Psychosocial Development Laboratory
Our research lab builds on our outreach efforts by connecting theoretical models of self and identity development to the practice of promoting positive development. In doing so, our goal to advance an applied developmental science of identity.
For example, we designed, implemented, and evaluated a program for empowering nontraditional college students, which we called the Making Career and Education Choices Workshop. The journal activities used in the program are available here: MCEC Journal. Our evaluation, which was published in the journal Identity in 2025, revealed that participating in the program was associated with increases in exploration of and commitment to a direction in life. The research report for this study is available here.
Each year, undergraduate psychology students provide developmental mentoring to high school students seeking to become first in their families to complete college. In working with these young people, our approach is supportive and collaborative, not didactic. We aim to create the relational conditions for positive identity development, including a sense of mattering to others.
The Psychosocial Development Laboratory
Our research lab builds on our outreach efforts by connecting theoretical models of self and identity development to the practice of promoting positive development. In doing so, our goal to advance an applied developmental science of identity.
For example, we designed, implemented, and evaluated a program for empowering nontraditional college students, which we called the Making Career and Education Choices Workshop. The journal activities used in the program are available here: MCEC Journal. Our evaluation, which was published in the journal Identity in 2025, revealed that participating in the program was associated with increases in exploration of and commitment to a direction in life. The research report for this study is available here.
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In addition to our applied developmental research, we also aim to contribute to the broader research literature on adolescent and young adult development. One product of this work is the second edition of Identity Formation, Youth, and Development: A Simplified Approach, published in 2025. This book uses identity theory to reframe thinking about what scientists, educators, and practitioners can do to help young people navigate the opportunities and challenges they face in making the transition to adulthood. Here's a quote from the back cover:
“This book’s spirit is open, curious, and practical. What is the self? How are the self and identity different from each other? How can one achieve a purpose driven and ethical life? Why does living in a late modern society make a serious tussle with one’s identity commonplace? By thoughtfully answering these kinds of historically nagging and/or nuanced questions about the self and identity, the authors in the process, leave traditional boundaries, arguments, and dichotomous thinking far behind and encourage the reader to do the same. The authors offer an original vision of what identity can be and how it can be supported. And, by sharing what is known about a diverse range of science-based, actionable solutions to the problems of identity development, this book is a vital resource for caring adults who support this and future generations. This book delivers – in its ideas and in practice. In this book, the authors challenge us to work towards an inclusive vision and authentic inter-generational concern for the development and welfare of humanity as the only ‘in-group’ of any real importance, which is a sorely needed message that we should take to heart and be inspired by.” --Laura Ferrer-Wreder, Stockholm University
Students who join the Psychosocial Development Lab contribute to and lead research on self and identity development. They initiate new projects, present at research conferences, and write research reports. They receive training in state-of-the-science statistical modeling techniques and methods for integrating quantitative and qualitative analyses.
Students in the lab are highly active and productive researchers. During the 2025-2026 academic year alone, they produced 25 student-led research presentations at local and regional conferences and symposia. A complete list of recent student presentations is available here: 2025 student research presentations.
Students in the lab are highly active and productive researchers. During the 2025-2026 academic year alone, they produced 25 student-led research presentations at local and regional conferences and symposia. A complete list of recent student presentations is available here: 2025 student research presentations.