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Biography

Dr. Mike Kalkbrenner is a Full Professor and Director of the M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at New Mexico State University (https://cep.nmsu.edu/academic-programs/counseling-guidance-m-a.html). He received his doctorate in counselor education and supervision from Old Dominion University. He earned his M.S. in mental health counseling from The College at Brockport, State University of New York. Dr. Kalkbrenner’s research agenda is centered on two major themes including, 1. Measurement and evaluation of dimensions of integrated mental and physical wellness and 2. Psychometrics and college student mental health. He utilizes quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research paradigms, with an emphasis on quantitative methodology in psychometrics and other multivariate statistical analyses. He has published more than 50 articles in high-impact peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Kalkbrenner’s teaching pedagogy is based on John Dewey’s theory of experiential learning and the flipped classroom in which the instructor is responsible for the learning environment and students are responsible for their own learning. Dr. Kalkbrenner has clinical experience providing counseling to a variety of populations in an array of different settings, including medical residents, veterans, college students, and children.

 

Research Awards: 

2022 Outstanding Scholar Award in The Professional Counselor: https://tpcjournal.nbcc.org/2022-tpc-outstanding-scholar-award-winner-concept-theory/

2020 Outstanding Aggie Researcher Award

2018 Outstanding Scholar Award in The Professional Counselor: http://tpcjournal.nbcc.org/2018-tpc-outstanding-scholar-award-winner-quantitative-or-qualitative-research/

 

Recent Publications:

 *Italicized denotes student collaborations

Sun, H., Kalkbrenner, M.T., & Doyle, V. (2025). Validation of scores on the Lifestyle Practices and Health Consciousness Inventory-2 with a national sample of veterans in the Unites States. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2025.2485062. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department and the flagship psychometric journal in my field.

 Goodman-Scott, E., Kalkbrenner, M.T., Olsen, J., & Betters-Bubon, J.J. (in press). Initial validation of scores on the MTSS Alignment Inventory. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department.

 Kalkbrenner, M.T., & Peterson, S. (2025). Barriers to seeking counseling among U.S. Military service members. Journal of Counseling & Development. 103(1), 15-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12542. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department and the flagship journal in my field.

 Kalkbrenner, M.T., & Esparza, S. (2025). Barriers to seeking counseling among a national sample of U.S. physicians: The Revised Fit, Stigma, and Value Scale. The Professional Counselor. 15(2), 99-114.  https://doi.org/10.15241/mtk.15.2.99. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department.

Wang, J., Kalkbrenner, M.T., & Begeny, J. (2025). Development and initial validation of scores on the Teacher’s Motivation Assessment for Coaching (T-MAC). Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10474412.2025.2475502

 Kalkbrenner, M.T., & Gainza Perez, M.A. (2025). Factorial invariance of scores on the Lifestyle Practices and Health Consciousness Inventory-2: An international sample from the United States and United Kingdom. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2024.2441135. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department and the flagship psychometric journal in my field.

Wang, J., Kalkbrenner, M.T., & Schaner, R. (2025). Measurement invariance of scores on the Teacher Stress Scale: National sample of PreK-12 teachers. Psychology in the Schools. 62(1), 149-166. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pits.23317. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department.

 Kalkbrenner, M.T., Sun, H., & Peterson, S. (2025). Psychometric evaluation of wellness-based screeners: National sample of U.S. physicians. Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 47(1), 74-94. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2024.2441135. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department.

Kalkbrenner, M.T., Zackery, S.L., & Zhao, Y. (2024). Factorial invariance of scores on the Inner Wealth Inventory: A nation-wide sample of adults in the United States. The Professional Counselor. 14(2), 198-211. http://doi.org/10.15241/mtk.14.2.198. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department.

Kalkbrenner, M.T. (2024). Choosing between Cronbach’s coefficient alpha, McDonald's coefficient omega, and coefficient H: Confidence intervals and the advantages and drawbacks of interpretive guidelines. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. 57(2), 93-105. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2023.2283637. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department and the flagship psychometric journal in my field.

Kalkbrenner, M.T., Vernace, A.L., & Glasser, H. N. (2024). Inner-Wealth: Predicting lower levels of depression and anxiety severity. Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 46(2), 134-152. https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.46.2.03. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department.

Kalkbrenner, M.T. (2024). Structural invariance of The Global Wellness Model: A national sample. Journal of Counseling & Development. 102(1), 107-118. http://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12492. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department and the flagship journal in my field.

Kalkbrenner, M.T., Gainza Perez, M.A., & Hubbard, J.S. (2024). Measurement invariance of scores on the Somatic Symptom Scale-8: National sample of non-clinical adults in the United States. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. 57(3), 263 – 275. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2023.2243269. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department and the flagship psychometric journal in my field. 

Kalkbrenner, M.T., Huycke, M., & Sun, H. (2024). Factorial Invariance of college students’ scores on The Lifestyle Practices and Health Consciousness Inventory. Journal of American College Health. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2308269. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department.

Kalkbrenner, M.T., Hunt, A.J., Ryan, A.F., & Rahman, S.R. (2024). Psychometric properties of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 with adults in the United States. Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 46(1), 74-94. https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.46.1.05. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department.

Kalkbrenner, M.T., Bradley, M., & Sun, H. (2024). Development and initial validation of scores on The Lifestyle Practices and Health Consciousness Inventory-2: Brief Version. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. 57(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2023.2193339. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department and the flagship psychometric journal in my field.

Kalkbrenner, M.T. & Carlisle, K. L. (2024). Structural pathways between social support and mental health among STEM students: Implications for college student psychotherapy. Journal of College Student Mental Health. 38(2), 341-356. https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2023.2183164. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department. 

Kalkbrenner, M. T., & Flinn, R. E. (2024). Psychometric Properties of Scores on the Mental Distress Response Scale among First-Generation College Students: Implications for Retention. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 26(3), 844–860. https://doi.org/10.1177/15210251221123041. High quality journal ranking per the CEP department.